لِكُل وَفاء في الغَرام حميدِ

نجازٌ بِوَعد ناسخٍ لِوَعيدِ

For every loyalty in love there is a praiseworthy achievement,

A promise fulfilled that annuls every threat.

وَأنَّى لِجفني أَن يُلِمَّ بِهِ الكرى

وَفي كَبدي الحرَّى الخدود حَديد

How can my eyelids ever be at peace

When in my liver there is burning agony, cheeks like iron plates?

وَما ذاك إلا من صُدودٍ أحاله

إِلى سَقمٍ يَسعى لَهُ بمزيد

This is but from the one who repulsed me

And sent me to an illness that seeks to grow.

فَلو طاف بي في النَوم وَهوَ محرّمٌ

عَليّ خَيالٌ جاءَني بعتيد

If he who is forbidden to me roams in my sleep

As an apparition that brings me news,

على أَنّني لا أَستطيع مِن الجَوى

نُهوضاً لذي قرب وَلا لبعيد

Still I cannot, because of my burning agony,

Rise for one near or distant.

وَعازلتي في حُب لَيلى تَلومني

وَمثلي لا يُصغي لِلوم بليد

My exclusivity in the love of Layla blames me,

But one like me pays no heed to sluggish blame.

وَتطمع في السلوان مني وَدونه

مَواقفُ خطب للمحب شَديد

And yet she hopes for affection from me, and without it

Stand stern tribulations for an ardent lover.

وَما الهَجر عِند العاشِقين بضائر

لصبٍّ بنبل الغانيات شَهيد

Estrangement is no harm to lovers -

A youth is martyred by arrows from singing girls' tents.

وَما كل ما يَبدو من الشرك باعِثاً

عَلى سلوة في دين كُل مريد

Not everything that appears to be idolatry

Inspires negligence in the faith of every devotee.

وَهذا حديث في الصبابة قد رُوِي

بإسناده عن عامرٍ وَلبيد

These are traditions of youth that have been transmitted

With their chains of authority, from Amr and Lubayd.

فخلِّي ملامي عَنكِ في الحب واعدلي

عَن النصح إِن النُصح غَيرُ مُفيد

So cease your blaming me for love, and be just,

For advice is of no benefit.

وَإني على حُلو التقاضي ومرّه

لراضٍ بما يرضاه كُل رَشيد

And I, in the sweetness of accord and its bitterness,

Am content with what satisfies every reasonable person.

فانِّيَ لا أَبغي وَلو سَفَكوا دَمي

خلوَّ فؤادي مِن بنات زَبيد

I do not wish, even if they shed my blood,

That my heart be devoid of the daughters of Zubayd.

وَلا أَشتكي ما بي لصدّ ولا خنىً

وَلا لسهاد قاتل ومبيد

Nor do I complain of those who repel or betray me,

Or the slayer and annihilator.

وَلكنني أَخفي على الناس صبوتي

وَأرمي بِشُهب الصَبر كُلَّ مَريد

Rather, I conceal my love-madness from people

And cast at it the stars of patience, every falling star.

وَلا أنثني في كل حال عَن الثَنا

عَلى الصَدر خَير الدين خَير عَميد

I do not incline in any state from praising

The One of excellent religion, the excellent pillar.

هُوَ الكَوكَب الأَسنى المُضيء بدولة

يلقِّبه سلطانُها بِوَحيد

He is the brilliant star shining in his realm,

Titled by its sultan "The Only One".

هُوَ العالم السامي عَلى كل عاقلٍ

برأيٍ جَليلٍ في الأُمور سَديد

He is the sublime scholar above every sage

With clear, sound opinion in all matters.

هُوَ الحازم الشَهم الَّذي سيف عرفه

حَمى في حِمى أَركان كُل مشيد

He is the resolute, valiant one whose sword protected

Within its sheath the pillars of every erected structure.

وَجاد عَلى قاصٍ ودانٍ مِن الوَرى

بِبحر نَوال وافر وَمديد

He gave generously to both near and far

With an abundant, copious sea of bounty.

وَمَنبع هذا البَحر مِنه بتونس

جَرى كَسحاب أَو كَخيل بريد

The source of this sea from him is in Tunisia,

Flowing like a raincloud or cavalry in early dawn.

فعمَّ جَميع الأَرض شَرقاً وَمَغرِباً

بِصالح زَرع يَزدَهي بِحَصيد

It has encompassed all the land, east and west,

With righteous agriculture flourishing in its harvest.

وَأَيد ملك الصادق الوعد بِالَّذي

كَساه وَقاراً رَغم أَنف عَنيد

It has aided the True King of his promise

Raising him in spite of the nose of the obstinate.

فَيا بَطَلاً مِنهُ حَباني بِطالع

سَعيد عَلى طُول الزَمان حَميد

So O hero who granted me an auspicious rising

Fortunate for all time, praiseworthy!

لَكَ السَعد إني في مَديحك أَوّلٌ

وَلَست بثان في اِنتِقاء قَصيد

Good fortune is yours - I am the first in your praise

And am not second in selecting an ode.

وَنَظمي وَنَثري قَد وَقفتهما عَلى

ثَناك بإجماعٍ عَليك أَكيد

I have dedicated my poetry and prose to

Praising you with the consensus of all who affirm you.

وَوَصيت أَخداني بِذاك وَعترتي

وَسائر أَولادي وَكُل حَفيد

And I have instructed my brethren and family

And all my children and every grandchild

وَما بغيتي إِلّا رضاك وَذمة

بِها يبلغ الأَوطارَ كُلُّ وَليد

That my only desire is your satisfaction and a pledge

By which every newborn reaches maturity.

وَمَن كانَ مَنسوباً إِليك وَقَد سَما

بِحُسن اِمتِداح في علاك فَريد

Whoever is affiliated with you and has soared

To excellence in unique praise of your loftiness,

فَلا ينظم الأَشعار إِلّا تأدباً

وَمَجداً بِهِ يَزداد قَدر عَبيد

Let him compose poetry only with propriety

And glory which thereby increases the worth of your servants.

كَما ازداد مَجدي بامتداحك شهرة

وَرفعة مَغبوط بحلية جيد

Just as my glory has increased in renown and merit

From praising you, fortunate in adornment and beauty.

فَعش حامياً لِلدين وَالملك طاوياً

بِنَشر لِواء النَصر ذكرَ طَريد

Live protecting the religion and kingdom, spreading

The banner of victory, mention called out loud!

وَقابل سَفيراً مِن بِلاد بَعيدة

يَهنّي بِعام لِلسُرور جَديد

And receive an ambassador from distant lands

Congratulating on a new year of joy.

وَبَين يَدي علياك يشدو مؤرخاً

لِعامك خَير الدين عيد سَعيد

And before your lofty presence he sings, chronicling

For your year - O Best of Religions, happy new year!