سِر فَالسَعادَةُ حَيثُ كُنتَ تَكونُ
وَمِنَ السَعادَةِ سَيرُكَ المَيمونُ
Travel on, for happiness lies wherever you are,
And happiness will ensure your prosperous journey.
الحَزمُ هادٍ وَالسِياسَةُ مَركَبٌ
وَالعَزمُ حادٍ وَالمَضاءُ قَرينُ
Resolute is purpose, and politics a ship;
Determined is resolve, and fulfillment a mate.
لَكَ كُلَّ عامٍ رِحلَةٌ تَبغي بِها
ما عَزَّ مِن آمالِنا فَيَهونُ
Each year you take a trip, seeking
What remains of hopes so they diminish.
تَرِدُ المَوارِدَ ما يُكَدِّرُ صَفوَها
قَولُ الوُشاةِ وَلِلوُشاةِ شُؤونُ
You repel turbid intrusions into serenity
With tales spread by talebearers, who have their ways.
سِر فَالقُلوبُ عَلى ركابِكَ حُوَّمٌ
يَبدو لِعَينِكَ سِرُّها المَكنونُ
Travel on, for hearts flock to follow you,
Though their secret love remains unseen to you.
صَحِبَتكَ تَعلَمُ أَنَّ بِرَّكَ زادُها
وَالبِرُّ بِالحُبِّ الصَريحِ ضَمينُ
Your company knows your kindness is their provision,
And kindness thrives on sincere, open love.
اطلُع بِيَلدِزَ كَوكَباً مُتَوَقِّداً
تَنجابُ عَنهُ غَياهِبٌ وَدُجونُ
Raise the Yildiz as a flaming star,
Illuminating darkness and gloom all around.
وَالقَ الخَليفَةَ قَد تَهَلَّلَ وَجهُهُ
بِشراً وَخَفَّ إِلَيكَ وَهوَ رَصينُ
The Caliph's face lit up with joy at the sight of you,
Composed, and he softened toward you in welcome.
وَتَذَكَّرا العَهدَ القَديمَ وَجَدِّدا
عَهداً عَنِ الوُدِّ المَتينِ يُبينُ
Recall past ties, renewing a pact
Of firm, enduring affection made clear.
كَثُرَت ظُنونُ الجاهِلينَ وَقَلَّما
تَبقى إِذا وَضَحَ اليَقينُ ظُنونُ
Doubts spread by the ignorant are many, but seldom
Do doubts remain when truth grows manifest.
كَذَبوا فَما اِنتَقَضَ الَّذي أَبرَمتُما
وَالظَنُّ في بَعضِ الأُمورِ يَخونُ
They lied, but pacts you two have made stay unbroken,
For in some matters, doubt itself deceives.
أَتَهيجُهُم طَشيوزُ وَهيَ سَحابَةً
تَمضي كَما يَمضي السَحابُ الجُونُ
Their provocations are a passing cloud
That passes like a wisp of vapor.
إِنَّ الخَليفَةَ لَيسَ يِعدُو عِلمُهُ
أَنَّ الأَميرَ حُسامُهُ المَسنونُ
Indeed, the Caliph’s wisdom comprehends
The Prince’s sword remains sheathed.
وَمِنَ السِياسَةِ أَن يَظَلَّ مُذَرَّباً
تَعنو لَهُ هامُ العِدى وَتَدينُ
Statecraft requires feigning disarray
While enemies’ schemes are frustrated and fade.
عَبّاسُ إِنَّكَ لِلَّذينَ تَسوسُهُم
حِصنٌ يَرُدُّ العادِياتِ حَصينُ
Abbas, you are a fortress shielding
Against hostile raids, impenetrable.
يَأبى اِشتِدادَ الخَطبِ حينَ تَروضُهُ
عَزمٌ لَهُ النُوَبُ الشِدادُ تَلينُ
When gripped by adversity, resolute will
Subdues the harshest blows until they soften.
