وذي كرمٍ يعطي معاقل ملكه

إذا مدحنا زفَّت إليه عقائله

He of generous spirit gives the fortresses of his kingdom,

When we praise him, his maids hasten to him,

يقول ولا والله ما قال قائلٌ

بأحسنَ مما جود كفَّيه فاعله

He says - No, by God, no speaker has said

Better than what his open hands have done.

شجاعٌ يخاف الليثُ ثعلب رمحه

إذا حلقتْ عقبانهُ وأجادله

A brave man whom the lion fears the claws of his spear

When his hawks wheel and contend with him,

شديدُ غرامٍ بالشجاعة والنَّدى

فيا شدَّ ما عابت فخابت عواذله

Strongly enamored is he of bravery and munificence,

Oh how excellent is he whom his damsels reproached and failed.

عزيزٌ به ذلَّ الصَّليب وأهله

أواخرهُ من سؤددٍ وأوائله

Mighty is he by whom the cross and its people were abased

Its latter and its former multitudes.

جرى نيله ردفاً لينل بنانهِ

وسال إلى أن ليس يوجد سائله

His Nile flowed in torrents to water his villages,

And flowed on until none were left to beg of it.

فما الغيث إلاَّ منجلاتٌ بروقهُ

وما الروض إلاَّ حاملاتٌ خمائله

The rain is but the flashing gleams of its lightning,

And the meadow but the portresses of its weapons.