ظُلمٌ لِذا اليَومِ وَصفٌ قَبلَ رُؤيَتِهِ

لا يَصدُقُ الوَصفُ حَتّى يَصدُقُ النَظَرُ

Oppression is attributed to this day before beholding it

To describe this day unseen is an injustice; description rings false until the eye bears witness.

The description is not to be believed until the gaze proves true

The army crowded close until I found no path; neither ear nor eye could reach your royal carpet.

تَزاحَمَ الجَيشُ حَتّى لَم يَجِد سَبَباً

إِلى بِساطِكَ لي سَمعٌ وَلا بَصَرُ

The army crowded in until they could find no path

I was the most present of friends, yet the most absent; an eyewitness whose sight was wholly hearsay.

To reach your presence; I had hearing but no sight

Today the King of the Romans lifts his gaze, for your pardon is, to him, a victory won.

فَكُنتُ أَشهَدَ مُختَصٍّ وَأَغيَبَهُ

مُعايِناً وَعِياني كُلُّهُ خَبَرُ

So I witnessed an expert yet was absent from him

And should you answer but a trifle of his letters, he would forever boast above all other kings.

My witnessing and my own eyes were all hearsay

Their necks have rested for a time from swords, while the rest of the host lies in wait.

اليَومَ يَرفَعُ مَلكُ الرومِ ناظِرَهُ

لِأَنَّ عَفوَكَ عَنهُ عِندَهُ ظَفَرُ

Today the King of Rome lifts up his gaze

You may yet replace them with another folk, that the heads and necks of the people may recover.

For your pardon of him is for him a triumph

Likening your bounty to the morning clouds is a second bounty your hand bestows upon the rain.

وَإِن أَجَبتَ بِشَيءٍ عَن رَسائِلِهِ

فَما يَزالُ عَلى الأَملاكِ يَفتَخِرُ

And if you answer anything regarding his messages

The rising sun acquires its light from you, just as the moon derives its radiance from the sun.

He will still boast of power over the kingdoms

قَدِ اِستَراحَت إِلى وَقتٍ رِقابُهُمُ

مِنَ السُيوفِ وَباقي القَومِ يَنتَظِرُ

Their necks have rested for a time

From swords, while the rest of the people wait

وَقَد تُبَدِّلُها بِالقَومِ غَيرُهُمُ

لِكَي تَجِمَّ رُؤوسَ القَومِ وَالقَصرُ

You may exchange them for other people

To gather together the heads of the people and the palace

تَشبيهُ جودِكَ بِالأَمطارِ غادِيَةً

جودٌ لِكَفِّكَ ثانٍ نالَهُ المَطَرُ

Likening your generosity to rains coming down

Generosity from your palm, which rain attained

تَكَسَّبُ الشَمسُ مِنكَ النورَ طالِعَةً

كَما تَكَسَّبَ مِنها نورَهُ القَمَرُ

The rising sun borrows its light from you

As the moon borrowed its brightness from it