دَعَوناكَ وَالهِجرانُ دونَكَ دَعوَةً

أَتاكَ بِها يَقظانَ فِكرُكَ لا البُردُ

We called to you, though separation stood between us and you—a call

That came to you through your vigilant thought, not through messengers.

فَأَصبَحتَ مابَينَ العَدُوِّ وَبَينَنا

تَجارى بِكَ الخَيلُ المُسَوَّمَةُ الجُردُ

And so you found yourself between the enemy and us,

As the branded, sleek-coated horses raced on with you.

أَتَيناكَ أَدنى مانُجيبُكَ جُهدَنا

فَأَهوَنَ سَيرِ الخَيلِ مِن تَحتِنا الشَدُّ

We came to you—the least with which we could answer you was our utmost strength;

For the easiest gait of the horses beneath us was the headlong gallop—

بِكُلِّ نِزارِيٍّ أَتَتكَ بِشَخصِهِ

عَوائِدُ مِن حالَيكَ لَيسَ لَها رَدُّ

With every Nizari, brought to you in his own person

By customary obligations born of your two states—obligations none can refuse.

نُباعِدُهُم وَقتاً كَما يُبعَدُ العِدى

وَنُكرِمُهُم وَقتاً كَما يُكرَمُ الوَفدُ

At times we keep them distant, as enemies are kept away,

And at times we honor them, as delegations are honored.

وَنَدنو دُنُوّاً لا يُوَلَّدُ جُرأَةً

وَنَجفو جَفاءً لايُوَلِّدُهُ زُهدُ

We draw near with a nearness that breeds no presumption,

And keep aloof with an aloofness born of no indifference.

أَفضَت عَلَيهِ الجودَ مِن قَبلِ هَذِهِ

وَأَفضَلُ مِنهُ ما يُؤَمِّلُهُ بَعدُ

You lavished bounty upon him before this,

And better than that is what he hopes for afterward—

وَحُمرِ سُيوفٍ لا تَجِفُّ لَها ظُبىً

بِأَيدي رِجالٍ لا يُحَطُّ لَها لِبدُ

With crimson swords whose cutting edges never dry,

In the hands of men whose lion-manes are never brought low;

وَزُرقٍ تَشُقُّ البُردَ عَن مُهَجِ العِدى

وَتَسكُنُ مِنهُم أَينَما سَكَنَ الحِقدُ

And blue-tipped spears that split through cloaks to the enemies’ very lives

And lodge within them wherever hatred lodges;

وَمُصطَحَباتٍ قارَبَ الرَكضُ بَينَها

وَلَكِن بِها عَن غَيرِها أَبَداً بُعدُ

And companion steeds whose gallop drew them close abreast,

Though through them every other steed is left forever far behind.

نُشَرِّدُهُم ضَرباً كَما شَرَّدَ القَطا

وَنَنظِمُهُم طَعناً كَما نُظِمَ العِقدُ

We scatter them with blows as sandgrouse are scattered,

And string them with thrusts as a necklace is strung.

لَئِن خانَكَ المَقدورُ فيما نَوَيتَهُ

فَما خانَكَ الرَكضُ المَواصِلُ وَالجُهدُ

Though fate betray you in what you intended,

Neither the unbroken gallop nor the striving betrayed you.

تُعادُ كَما عَوَّدتَ وَالهامُ صَخرُها

وَيُبنى بِها المَجدُ المُؤَثَّلُ وَالحَمدُ

The onslaught shall be renewed, as you have made customary, with skulls for its stones;

By it, deep-rooted glory and praise are built.

فَفي كَفِّكَ الدُنيا وَشيمَتُكَ العُلا

وَطائِرُكَ الأَعلى وَكَوكَبَكَ السَعدُ

The world lies in your palm, and loftiness is your nature;

Your omen is the highest, and your star is auspicious.