غَرَّدَ الديكُ الصَدوحُ

فَاِسقِني طابَ الصَبوحُ

The cock crowed melodiously

The warbling rooster has begun to crow,

So serve me the sweet dawn’s drink

So pour the drink, for the morning draught is sweet.

وَاِسقِني حَتّى تَراني

حَسَناً عِندي القَبيحُ

And serve me till you see me

And keep on pouring until you see that I

Good, though bad I think

Deem the ugly to be beautiful to meet.

قَهوَةً تَذكُرُ نوحاً

حينَ شادَ الفُلكَ نوحُ

Coffee that reminds of Noah

A vintage wine that remembers the days of Noah,

When Noah built the ark

From the time when Noah raised the Ark on high.

نَحنُ نُخفيها وَيَأبى

طيبُ ريحٍ فَتَفوحُ

We hide its scent, but it refuses

We try to hide it, yet it refuses to be hid,

As its perfume spreads wide

Its fragrant aroma wafts and fills the sky.

فَكَأَنَّ القَومَ نُهبى

بَينَهُم مِسكٌ ذَبيحُ

It's as if the people were robbed

It is as if the gathering shares a spoil

Among them musk is slaughtered

Of pierced musk-pods scattered in their midst.

أَنا في دُنيا مِنَ العَب

باسِ أَغدو وَأَروحُ

I in a world of playthings live

I dwell within a world of al-Abbas,

Rising at dawn, resting at eve

Coming and going, by his grace exist.

هاشِمِيٌّ عَبدَلِيٌّ

عِندَهُ يَغلو المَديحُ

A Hashemite, an Abdalite am I

A Hashemite, of noble 'Abdali line,

For whom praise is not enough

In whose presence praise grows high in value.

عَلَمُ الجودِ كِتابٌ

بَينَ عَينَيهِ يَلوحُ

The book of generosity is a sign

The mark of generosity is a clear decree

Before his eyes glowing

That shines radiant between his eyes to view.

كُلُّ جودٍ يا أَميري

ما خَلا جودَكَ ريحُ

All generosity, my prince

All generosity, O my noble Prince,

Except yours is but wind

Save yours, is merely wind that passes by.

إِنَّما أَنتَ عَطايا

أَبَداً لا تَستَريحُ

You are only ever gifts

For you are nothing but eternal gifts,

That never take rest

That never rest, nor cease as time does fly.

بُحَّ صَوتُ المالِ مِمّا

مِنكَ يَشكو وَيَصيحُ

The voice of wealth complains of

The voice of Wealth has grown hoarse with strain,

What you take and beg

Complaining of you, crying out in protest:

ما لِهَذا آخِذٌ فَو

قَ يَدَيهِ أَو نَصيحُ

None can stop your hands

"Is there no one to restrain his open hands,"

Or advise and dissuade

"Or offer him counsel to put this to rest?"

جُدتَ بِالأَموالِ حَتّى

قيلَ ما هَذا صَحيحُ

So generous you are with wealth

You lavished wealth until the people said:

It is said, can this be true?

"Surely, this man is not of sound mind!"

صُوِّرَ الجودُ مِثالاً

فَلَهُ العَبّاسُ روحُ

Generosity is pictured

If Generosity were fashioned into a form,

Abbas is its soul

Al-Abbas would be the soul therein confined.

فَهوَ بِالمالِ جَوادٌ

وَهوَ بِالعِرضِ شَحيحُ

Generous he is with wealth

He is a spendthrift with his flowing gold,

Stingy he is with honor

But a miser when his honor is defined.