سادَ المُلوكَ ثَلاثَةٌ ما مِنهُمُ

إِن حُصِّلوا إِلّا أَغَرُّ قَريعُ

Three kings have ruled, but gather them together,

Three have prevailed over kings; not one among them,

And they amount to no more than a hollow gourd.

If tested, is other than glorious and prime.

سادَ الرَبيعُ وَسادَ فَضلٌ بَعدَهُ

وَعَلَت بِعَبّاسِ الكَريمِ فُروعُ

The spring ruled for a time, as did superior Merit later;

Al-Rabi‘ held sway, and al-Fadl succeeded,

But by the generous ‘Abbas glory has been brought to flower.

And high rose the branches through noble Abbas.

عَبّاسُ عَبّاسٌ إِذا اِحتَدَمَ الوَغى

وَالفَضلُ فَضلٌ وَالرَبيعُ رَبيعُ

‘Abbas, ‘Abbas! When battle grows fierce,

Abbas is stern-faced when battle-fire blazes,

He is Merit indeed, as springtime is spring.

Al-Fadl is Bounty, and al-Rabi‘ is Spring.