لأبي العَلاءِ فَضائِلٌ مَشهورَةٌ

حَلَّت مَحَلَّ الفَرقَدَينِ عَلاءَ

Abū al-ʿAlā possesses virtues renowned,

Raised in loftiness to the station of the Farqadān stars.

فَلِذاكَ قَدَّمَهُ الأَميرُ عَلى الأُلى

كانوا لَهُ لَولا الإله رُعاءَ

For that reason, the emir preferred him to those

Who—were it not for God—had tended him.

جَزلَ المَواهِبِ وَالفَضائل قَد حَوى

جوداً وَرَأياً ثاقِباً وَغَناءَ

Abundant gifts and virtues he has gathered:

Generosity, penetrating judgment, and competence.

يا مَن إِذا ذُكِرَ الكِرامُ فَأَنَّهُ

فيها المُقَدَّم نَجدَةً وَعَطاءَ

O you who, whenever noble men are named,

Are foremost among them in valor and giving;

وَإِذا الأَماكِنُ أَظلَمَت أَقطارُها

بِالبُخلِ كانَ لِمُعتَفيهِ ضِياءَ

And when the regions of every place grow dark

With miserliness, you are a light to whoever seeks your bounty.

إِنّي دَعَوتُكَ لِلنَّوائِبِ دَعوَةٍ

لَمّا رَأَيتُكَ للأنامِ لَجاءَ

I have called upon you against calamities,

When I saw that you were a refuge for humankind.

وَإِذا الزَمانُ نَبا بحر نَبوَةً

قَصَدَ الأَكارِمَ غُدوَةً وَعِشاءَ

And whenever Time recoils in a harsh rebuff,

The noble are sought morning and evening.

وَلَقَد ظَنَنتُ بِكَ الجَميل فَكُن كَما

أَمَّلتُ تَغنَم مِدحَةٌ وَثناءَ

I have indeed expected kindness from you—so be as

I hoped, and you will win praise and acclaim.