أمسى دمشقيُّ الأمير ودهرُه

ملقٍ عليه بركَهُ وجِرانَهُ

The prince of Damascus spent his days

Bowed under the weight of his troubles and sorrows

والَى عليه مصيبتين أفاضتا

عبراتِه واستذكَتا أحزانَهُ

And was afflicted by two tribulations that made

His tears flow and revived his grief

بأخ شقيقٍ بعد أُمٍّ برةٍ

بالأمس قطَّع منهما أقرانَهُ

For his dear brother and kind mother

Whose companionship was torn from him yesterday

وأجلُّ رُزءيه أخوه فإنه

قد كان مُنصَلَهُ وكان سنانَهُ

His greatest agony is for his brother

Who had been his confidant and mainstay

فليُحيِه الملك الهُمام فلم يَفُت

مَحياهُ قدرتَهُ ولا سلطانَهُ

So may the magnificent king restore him to life

For his power did not fail him, nor his dominion

وحياتُه لي أن أقوم مقَامَه

وأسُدُّ من دار الأمير مكانَهُ

And that I may take his place

And guard the prince's house in his stead

كيلا أرى أحداً يُقاتُ برزقه

غيري ويُوطَنُ بَعده أوطانَهُ

Lest I see anyone enjoy his income

Or settle in his lands after him

ومتى خلفتُ أخي هناك فإنما

أنا روحُه إن لم أكن جثمانَهُ

And when I take my brother's place

I will be his soul even if not his body

فهل الأمير بذاك مُسعِفُ عبدِهِ

متطولاً ومُكمِّلاً إحسانَهُ

So will the prince aid his servant in this

Prolonging and completing his benevolence?

أم لا فعبدُك باسطٌ لك عذرَه

إمَّا أبيتَ ولائمٌ حرمانَهُ

Or not, and your servant spreads before you his excuse

Whether you refuse him and deprive him of fellowship

أنَّى يلومُك طائعاً من لا يرى

ما دمتَ حياً أن يلومَ زمانَهُ

How can one willingly blame you

As long as you live, or blame the times?

وأظن أنك لا محالَة مُسعِفي

ظناً سيتْبَعُ شكُّه استيقانَهُ

I think without doubt you will help me

A belief I am sure will prove true

لِترُبَّ ما قد كنت توليه أخي

عندي وتعمرَ جانبي عمرانَهُ

That you may care for what you entrusted my brother

And rebuild my side into civilisation

لستَ الذي يُولي الوليَّ صنعيةً

حَتىُ إذا حَين الوليِّ أحانَهُ

You are not one who would appoint a successor

Only to replace him when the time suits you