يا ناقِلاً خَبرَ الأَجوادِ مُتَّبِعاً

آثارَ فِعلِهمُ في كُلِّ ما سَلَكُوا

O you who convey the news of the generous ones, following

Their tracks in all they have trodden,

إِذاَ سَأَلتَ عَنِ الدُّنيا وَوَاحِدِهَا

فَقُل دِمَشقُ وموُسَى الأَشرَفُ المَلِكُ

If you are asked about the world and its one,

Say: Damascus, and Musa the most noble king,

المُستَنيرُ سَناً والَّيلُ مُعتكرٌ

والمُستَشيطُ سَطَاً والخَيلُ تَعتَرِكُ

The one illuminated as the days, while the nights are dark,

The one pulling out his sword, while the horses clash,

مَلكٌ تَبَرُّيَمينُ الُمقسِمينَ إِذاَ

قالوا بِغيرِ ارِتيابٍ إِنَّهُ مَلَكُ

A king whom those who swear, swear by without hesitation,

Saying undoubtedly: he is the king,

يُخفِي الصنَّيعةَ لُطفاً وهي ظاهِرةٌ

ويَستُرُ البِرَّ عَفواً وَهوَ منُهتِكُ

He hides benevolence out of kindness though it is apparent,

And veils righteousness out of pardon though it is exposed,

راقَت صفاتُ مَعَالِيهِ فَلَيسَ غَلا

مَن قالَ إِنَّ السهُّا من دوُنِها دَركُ

The attributes of his glories have flown so it is no wonder,

That one who says the meteors apart from it are but sparks,

تَوَدُّ شُهبُ الدُّجَىَ حُباً لأخمصِهِ

وَوَطئِهِ لَو رَماها في الثرَّى الفَلَكُ

The tails of the nightly darkness love to caress his feet,

As if the orbit wishes to cast them in the ground as pegs,

تَناقضَت رَاحتاهُ فهي يَومَ وغَىً

في الَفتكِ غُرٌّو في الآراءِ مُحتنِكُ

His two hands contradicted each other; one day in the havoc of war,

They are ferocious, and in views and opinions they wrestle,

قَد أَسعدَ اللهُ مَن أَمسَى بِراحَتهِ

في الحادِثاتِ بِحَبلِ اللهِ يَمتَسِكُ

God has granted success to whoever spends his evening

In events, holding onto God's rope.