النَجمُ أَقرَبُ مِن مَداكَ مَنالا

فَعَلامَ يَسعى طالِبوهُ ضَلالا

The star is closer to you than your reach,

So why do its seekers go astray?

ما في البَرِيَّةِ مَن يُساجِلُكَ العُلى

فَتَبارَكَ المُعطيكَها وَتَعالى

None in the wilderness can rival your supremacy,

So blessed is He who granted it to you, and exalted is He!

أَينَ الأُلى قَصَروا خُطىً في طُرقِها

مِمَّن غَدَت خُطُواتُهُ أَميالا

Where are those aspirations whose steps faltered on its paths,

While your steps became miles?

يا مانِعَ المُلكِ العَقيمِ وَحاسِمَ ال

داءِ العُقامِ سِياسَةً وَنِصالا

O obstacle of barren rule, remedy of the chronic ill of governance with politics and sword,

None can mount the glory that the resolute who does not ride hardships have mounted for you.

ما يَمتَطي العِزَّ الَّذي أَمطَتكَهُ ال

عَزَماتُ مَن لا يَركَبُ الأَهوالا

Whoever disliked the life's turbid water at times of scarcity,

Would not want it fresh.

مَن عافَ ماءَ العَيشِ وَهوَ مُكَدَّرٌ

عِندَ الكَرائِهِ لَم يَرِدهُ زُلالا

Your swords make the countries' keys,

So when you open, you make them locks.

تُضحي سُيوفُكَ لِلبِلادِ مَفاتِحاً

فَإِذا فَتَحتَ جَعَلتَها أَقفالا

And Aleppo gained glory through you, which

Has not been worn by one who makes it a robe.

وَقَدِ اِكتَسَت حَلَبٌ بِكَ العِزَّ الَّذي

ما ذَلَّ مَن يُضحي لَهُ سِربالا

The lands of war had been fortified against spears,

But you made them barren plains and hillocks.

كانَت لِأَرماحِ الخُطوبِ دَريئَةً

فَجَعَلتَ جُنَّتَها ظُبىً وَإِلالا

You refused that eyes keep vigil

Fearing calamities, hearts, and anguish.

وَأَبَيتَ أَن تَبقى العُيونُ سَواهِراً

حَذَرَ النَوائِبِ وَالقُلوبِ وِجالا

So its people came back who had intended emigration,

Though its people had long intended to travel.

فَاِنتابَها أَهلُ البِلادِ وَطالَما

قَد رامَ عَنها أَهلُها التَرحالا

He gave the subjects from his care all wishes,

He who protected since long ago knew no negligence.

أَعطى الرَعِيَّةَ مِن رِعايَتِهِ المُنى

مَن مُذ حَمى لَم يَعرِفِ الإِهمالا

He made the people drink his sword's wine, or exalted them,

If it took long, or fulfilled their wishes if they said.

أَجرى الوَرى إِنصالَ بَل أَعلاهُمُ

إِن طالَ بَل أَوفاهُمُ إِن قالا

Through his judgments, governance and gifts

They felt safe from evil, injustice and the impossible.

بِمَضائِهِ وَقَضائِهِ وَعَطائِهِ

أَمِنوا الرَدى وَالجَورَ وَالإِمحالا

How often you rode out on mornings to the farthest goal,

And reached before the messengers' arrival!

كَم رُمتَ في الغُدُواتِ أَبعَدَ غايَةٍ

فَوَصَلتَ قَبلَ وُصولِكَ الآصالا

And it is wondrous that one like you fears resolutely

The one who bears the burdens.

وَمِنَ العَجائِبِ أَن يَخِفَّ مُصَمِّماً

مَن كانَ مِثلَكَ يَحمِلُ الأَثقالا

The paths you tread narrowed, so none but you

Found room in their straitness.

ضاقَت مَسالِكُ ما أَتَيتَ فَلَم يَجِد

في ضَنكِها أَحَدٌ سِواكَ مَجالا

You humiliated your wealth without any pretense;

None prevails but one who humiliates wealth.

وَأَهَنتَ مالَكَ غَيرَ ما مُتَكَلِّفٍ

ما عَزَّ إِلّا مَن أَهانَ المالا

You rejected people's opinions, and often disobeyed

The rough reproachers in seeking the heights.

وَنَبَذتَ آراءَ الأَنامِ وَطالَما

عاصَيتَ في طَلَبِ العُلى العُذّالا

If you wish to know your view is penetrating,

Just look at what they saw, and see what transpired!

إِن شِئتَ تَعرِفُ أَنَّ رَأيَكَ ثاقِبٌ

لا ما رَأَوا فَاِنظُر إِلى ما آلا

When you resolve, take your resolution, it definitely

Fulfills what you desire, and leave the omen!

وَإِذا هَمَمتَ فَخُذ بِعَزمِكَ إِنَّهُ

قَمِنٌ بِما تَهوى وَخَلِّ الفالا

Use the sword that did not fail in the melee,

And the view that did not go wrong.

وَاِستَخدِمِ السَيفَ الَّذي ما فُلَّ في ال

هَيجاءِ وَالرَأيَ الَّذي ما فالا

The fiercest foe will not be left ambiguous,

Except by one who makes the blows his debate.

لَن يَترُكَ الخَصمَ الأَلَدَّ مُجَدَّلاً

إِلّا اِمرُؤٌ جَعَلَ الضِرابَ جِدالا

War kept on being a skirmish in the fray,

Prolonging it corrupted rights into fighting.

وَالحَربُ ما بَرِحَت سِجالاً في الوَغى

مَدَداً فَغودِرَتِ الحُقوقُ قِتالا

So you wrote a skirmish on the enemies' peaks,

With the light of the morning, lest it be a skirmish.

فَكَتَبتَ إِسجالاً عَلى قِمَمِ العِدى

بِشَبا الظُبى أَلّا تَكونَ سِجالا

That is why your victorious rule does not cease,

It protects its protector and kills the heavy ones.

فَلِذاكَ ما يَنفَكُّ مُلكُكَ ظافِراً

يَحمي حِماهُ وَيَقتُلُ الأَقيالا

I knew your arrows would be victorious,

Without doubt since you launched them.

وَلَقَد عَلِمتُ بِأَنَّ قِدحَكَ فائِزٌ

لا شَكَّ مُذ أَرسَلتَها إِرسالا

Badged with victory, no eye has seen before them

Warriors able to withstand men.

مَوسومَةً بِالنَصرِ لَم تَرَ قَبلَها

عَينٌ رِئالاً يَحتَمِلنَ رِجالا

They shook the glorious attire and robes,

And they wore some of what rouses robes and glory.

نَضَتِ الأَجِلَّةَ وَالبَراقِعَ وَاِكتَسَت

مِمّا تُثيرُ بَراقِعاً وَجِلالا

You created in the air mountains and streets

That shaded armies like mountains.

خَلَقَت جِبالاً في الهَواءِ شَوارِعاً

ظَلَّت تُظِلُّ مِنَ الجُيوشِ جِبالا

Your satisfaction leads them gently when peaceable

And actively when warlike.

يَقتادُها مُرضيكَ عِندَ السِلمِ قَو

والاً وَفي يَومِ الوَغى فَعّالا

And honored since you honored him with rank

None rivaled glories except by being long.

وَمُعَظَّمٌ مُذ حَلَّ مِنكَ مَحَلَّةً

ما طاوَلَ الأَمجادَ إِلّا طالا

When can a raiser compete after you have clothed him

With veneration and majesty?

وَمَتى يُجارى رافِعٌ مِن بَعدِما

سَربَلتَهُ الإِعظامَ وَالإِجلالا

You have harvested the fruit of advice, bounties

That surpassed kindness and favor.

أَجنَيتَهُ ثَمَرَ النَصيحَةِ أَنعُماً

قَد فاقَتِ الإِحسانَ وَالإِجمالا

So you found the state's watchful eye

That hit people with its seriousness as a proverb.

فَوَجَدتَ عَينَ الدَولَةِ العَضبَ الَّذي

ضَرَبَ الأَنامُ بِجَدِّهِ الأَمثالا

A severe, deep-rooted sword that is not sheathed

To the chronic ill but by a cure.

سَيفٌ عَدِيٌّ أَصلُهُ لا يُنتَضى

لِلداءِ إِلّا أَن يَكونَ عُضالا

Boasting is for one who counts the good deeds not

One who counts uncles and cousins.

وَالفَخرُ فيمَن عَدَّدَ الحَسَناتِ لا

مَن عَدَّدَ الأَعمامَ وَالأَخوالا

So opinions of others are as they please after

They found your side a home and destination.

فَلتَعلُ ما شاءَت جَنابٌ بَعدَما

وَجَدوا جَنابَكَ مَوئِلاً وَمآلا

They dragged the tail of glory when they dragged

Towards enemies of your state the quick cable.

سَحَبوا ذُيولَ العِزِّ مُذ سَحَبوا إِلى

أَعداءِ دَولَتِكَ القَنا العَسّالا

You showed benignity to the sons of dogs whose

Way you made a pasture they saw no pasture.

وَلَقَد أَبَحتَ بَني كِلابٍ مَورِداً

رَأَتِ المَوارِدَ عِندَهُ أَو شالا

So they thrived on a flood of your kindness

He who yesterday was a bane.

حَسُنَت إِنابَتُهُم فَشاموا وابِلاً

مِن جودِ مَن بِالأَمسِ كانَ وَبالا

If your might in war belied the greed

إِن كَذَّبَ الأَطماعَ بَأسُكَ في الوَغى

فَنَدى يَدَيكَ يُصَدِّقُ الآمالا

So the outstretched hands verified hopes.

The looters kept returning until I imagined the descent

ما زالَ يَرجِعُ مَن تَرَحَّلَ غانِماً

حَتّى تَوَهَّمتُ النُزولَ نِزالا

Was a permanent abode.

Today they cast their disobedience to you

وَاليَومَ قَد أَلقَوا إِلَيكَ عِصِيَّهُم

لا زالَ رَبعُكَ لِلرَجاءِ عِقالا

While your treatment is still hope's rein.

He who coercively seeks richness in your field is disappointed

خابَ الَّذي يَبغي بِساحَتِكَ الغِنى

قَسراً وَفازَ المُبتَغيهِ سُؤالا

While the asking attains his pursuit.

The leopards saw your anger is fleeting

وَرَأَت نُمَيرٌ أَنَّ سُخطَكَ عارِضٌ

إِن لَم يُداوُوهُ بِعَفوِكَ غالا

Unless your pardon cures it, so it is arduous.

So they came to resolve the arduous fatal ailment

فَأَتَوا لِحَسمِ العارِضِ القَتّالِ مَن

يَعرو فَكُنتَ العارِضَ الهَطّالا

From its knower, so you were the healer.

Your lightning bolts almost struck them, but when they yielded

أَردَت صَواعِقُهُ فَلَمّا أَذعَنوا

والى مَواطِرَهُ عَلى مَن والا

And incline to your rain, whoever it rains on.

You have not attained obedience and tribute

ما قَد أَنَلتَ مُطاعِناً وَعَطِيَّةً

يُدني شَبيباً رَغبَةً وَثِمالا

That bring youth closer out of greed and value.

So let them come and find the restful place expanded

فَليَدنُوا يَجِدا المَقيلَ مُوَسَّعاً

بِجَميلِ رَأيِكَ وَالعِثارَ مُقالا

By the goodness of your view and stumbling condoned.

A returning man whom suspicions make hope

راجٍ أَحالَتهُ الظُنونُ عَلى سِوى

نُعماكَ ظَلَّ عَلى المُحالِ مُحالا

In other than your bounty remains impossible.

It is by your strike the hopes' mothers are bereaved,

بِذَراكَ أُمّاتُ الرَجاءِ مَطافِلٌ

وَحِيالَ غَيرِكَ ما تَزالُ حِيالا

While others' wiles are always wiles.

You have led many hardships of fine character

كَم قُدتَ مِن شَطَنِ الجَميلِ مَصاعِباً

أَعيَت عَلى كُلِّ المُلوكِ إِفالا

That exhausted for all kings sending 1.

Your bounties made the generous forget, and your rule

أَنسَت مَكارِمُكَ الكِرامَ وَمُلكُكَ ال

مُتَمَلِّكينَ وَبَأسُكَ الأَبطالا

The rulers, and your might the brave.

You have reached in the world a rank, so the truth of

وَعَلَوتَ قَدراً في الوَرى فَليَعتَمِد

صِدقَ الأَلِيَّةِ مَن بِقَدرِكَ آلا

My allegory is proven by your rank.

You have spread arts of noble character

شَرَفَ المَعالي قَد عَمَمتَ صَنائِعاً

ظَلَّت عَلى ظَهرِ الثَناءِ ثِقالا

That weighed heavy on the back of praise.

They are like necklaces on throats, so if those

هِيَ كَالقَلائِدِ في النُحورِ فَإِن صَغَت

تِلكَ النُحورُ أَحَلتَها أَغلالا

Throats narrow, you make them shackles.

No people have been more disgraced by a man of power

ما أَشرَفَ الأَقوامُ إِذلالاً عَلى

ذي قُدرَةٍ إِلّا جَنَوا إِذلالا

Except they collect disgrace.

You have the resolves by which you drive the sinners,

وَلَكَ العَزائِمُ لَم تَزَل تُردي بِها ال

فُجّارَ أَو تَهدي بِها الضُلّالا

Or guide the misguided.

If you wish, be planets that remove darkness,

إِن شِئتَ كُنَّ كَواكِباً تَجلو الدُجى

أَو شِئتَ كُنَّ مَناصِلاً وَنِصالا

Or if you wish, be swords and blades.

Kings bowed to your blaze and the beasts

ذَلَّت لِهَيبَتِكَ المُلوكُ وَلَم تَزَل

كُلُّ الوُحوشِ تَخَوَّفُ الرِئبالا

Always dreaded the awe.

You never ceased to be more fertile for them in impossibilities

ما زِلتَ في الإِمحالِ أَخصَبَ مِنهُمُ

رَبعاً وَأَنكا في العَدُوِّ مِحالا

While being barren in the enemy's impossibility.

When they were defiant secretly, you were defiant publicly,

وَإِذا سَطَوا خَتلاً سَطَوتَ مُصَرِّحاً

وَإِذا نَخَوا قَولاً نَخَوتَ فِعالا

And when they hinted at a saying, you hinted at action.

Damascus is a fortress protected by al-Muṣʿab

فَالشامُ ذَودٌ ذادَ عَنهُ مُصعَبٌ

قَطِمٌ تَصِلُّ البيضُ إِن هُوَ صالا

Who joins ties if they are severed.

I see your realms in Iraq and elsewhere

وَأَرى مَمالِكَ بِالعِراقِ وَغَيرِهِ

تَشكو إِلَيكَ الجَدبَ وَالإِمحالا

Complain to you of drought and barrenness.

The Sultan's hand has enriched some people from his realms

أَغنَت يَدُ السُلطانِ مِن أَملاكِها

قَوماً يُعَدُّ حُضورُهُم إِخلالا

Whose presence is seen as plunder.

They have suckled thereby the abode which they have not

رَضَعوا بِها الدَرَّ الَّذي لَم يَدرَؤوا

عَنهُ خُطوباً ما تَزالُ تَوالا

Warded calamities that keep befalling off.

Whenever you separate from the capitals towards them

وَمَتى فَصَلتَ مِنَ العَواصِمِ نَحوَهُم

لِتُبيرَهُم كانَ الفُصولُ فِصالا

To dispossess them, the seasons are separation.

Take them by force not deceitfully, for this destruction

خُذها مِصاعاً لا اِختِداعاً قَد كَفى

ذا المُلكَ هَذا الفَتكُ أَن يَغتالا

Suffices that state, so do not take by betrayal.

Of everyone with a sword whose generosity

مِن كُلِّ ذي سَيفٍ يَقِلُّ نِجادُهُ

عَن أَن يَكونَ لِما اِحتَذَيتَ قِبالا

Falls short of receiving what you donned.

So when do jackals defend you after

فَمَتى تُدافِعُكَ الثَعالِبُ بَعدَ ما

رَأَتِ الضَراغِمَ تُسلِمُ الأَغيالا

Hyenas have surrendered to lions?

They have busied themselves with your preoccupation from them

فَرَغوا لِلَهوِهِمُ بِشُغلِكَ عَنهُمُ

فَاِجعَل لَهُم بِنُفوسِهِم أَشغالا

So preoccupy them with their souls, and leave them occupied.

That they may hear from the impact of what has busied you

كَي يَسمَعوا مِن وَقعِ ما قُلِّدتَ ما

يُنسيهُمُ الأَهزاجَ وَالأَرمالا

What makes them forget fun and leisure.

The abode of Constantine has the most naked disgrace

وَلَدارُ قُسطَنطينَ أَكشَفُ عَورَةً

مِمَّن ذَكَرتُ أَجَل وَأَكسَفُ بالا

Of whom I mentioned - greater and more disappointing.

Had the goodwill of your approval not repelled thereby

لَو لَم يَذُد بِرِضاكَ عادِيَةَ الرَدى

عَن أَرضِهِ لَم يَأمَنِ الزِلزالا

The villainy from its land, it would not have felt safety from earthquake.

I think after seven years it is a convulsion

وَأَظُنُّها مِن بَعدِ سَبعٍ نُهزَةً

ما اِغتَرَّ مَن أَوسَعتَهُ إِمهالا

That will not spare who you gave respite.

It has remained short with him for fear of what

ظَلَّت قِصاراً عِندَهُ مِن خَوفِ ما

تَأتي وَعِندَ المُسلِمينَ طِوالا

Comes while to the Muslims it is long.

So the abased ambitions must beware in the land

فَلتَحذَرِ الهِمَمُ المُذالَةُ في الثَرى

هِمَماً تَجُرُّ عَلى السُهى أَذيالا

Of ambitions that drag disgrace on the distinguished.

Al-Muẓaffar in praise is made victorious,

خُلِقَ المُظَفَّرُ بِالثَناءِ مُظَفَّراً

وَصَلَ المُنى أَو قَطَّعَ الأَوصالا

Whether he reaches his wishes or severs limbs.

He bends with your might those whose disorder you manifested,

يُثني بِبَأسِكَ مَن أَبَحتَ ذِمارَهُ

وَبِفَيضِ كَفِّكَ مَن مَنَحتَ نَوالا

And with the outpouring of your palm those you granted fortune.

An instant of your time does not pass

لَيسَت تَقَضّى مِن زَمانِكَ لَحظَةٌ

حَتّى تَزيدَكَ رِفعَةً وَجَلالا

Except increasing your elevation and majesty.

Through you the prolonged fate has fulfilled its promises

بِكَ أَنجَزَ الدَهرُ المَطولُ عِداتِهِ

مِن بَعدِ ما كانَ المِطالُ مُطالا

After it had been prolonging.

You continually clothe it in complete beauties

ما زِلتَ تُلبِسُهُ مَحاسِنَ جَمَّةً

حَتّى مَشى مِن تيهِهِ مُختالا

Until it walked proudly from its perplexity.

So enjoy your feast after the former, and do not let

فَاِسعَد بِعيدِكَ بَعدَ سابِقِهِ وَلا

نَظَرَت لِذا الظِلِّ العُيونُ زَوالا

Eyes see the decline of this shadow.

Two feasts of one feast and opening before it

عيدَينِ مِن عيدٍ وَفَتحٍ قَبلَهُ

زادا زَمانَكَ نَضرَةً وَجَمالا

Increased your time's prosperity and beauty.

That is why Ramadan is nobler in souls and has not ceased

وَلَذاكَ أَشرَفُ في النُفوسِ وَلَم يَزَل

رَمَضانُ يَفضُلُ دائِماً شَوّالا

To always surpass Shawwal.

Had you not been comfortable with praise and its people,

لَولا اِرتِياحُكَ لِلثَناءِ وَأَهلِهِ

لَم يُصبِحِ الأَدَبُ المُذالُ مُذالا

Debased literature would still be debased.

You expanded for eloquent poets virtues,

أَوسَعتَ قُوّالَ القَريضِ فَضائِلاً

فَلِذاكَ مَن أَثنى عَلَيكَ أَطالا

So whoever praises you makes it long.

When I saw your unmatched supremacy,

لَمّا رَأَيتُ عُلاكَ لا مِثلٌ لَها

أَيقَنتُ أَنَّكَ ما اِقتَفَيتَ مِثالا

I was certain you did not follow an example.

If transcending deeds is your entire deed,

وَلَئِن عَلا الأَفعالَ فِعلُكَ كُلُّهُ

فَلَقَد عَلَوتُ بِمَدحِكَ الأَقوالا

Then I have transcended in your praise words.