سألتُ إِلهَ العرشِ رَبَّ مُحمَّدِ

بَقاءَ الوزير أحمدَ بن مُحمَّدِ

I asked the Lord of the Throne, the Lord of Muhammad

For the survival of Vizier Ahmed ibn Muhammad

مُطاعاً إذا أمْضى أوامِرَ يوْمِهِ

به آمِناً شَرَّ العواقبِ في غَدِ

Obeyed when he executes the commands of his day

With him I feel safe from the evils of tomorrow

إذا لَثَمتْ صيدُ الملوكِ بِساطَه

حوى الفخر أدناهم إلى الكُمِّ واليد

When the prey of kings kiss his carpet

Pride carries the lowest of them to prudence and kindness

فما هو إِلا النَّجمُ في أُفقِ العُلى

به طالبُ العَلْياء والمجْد يهْتدي

He is but the star on the horizon of loftiness

With him the seekers of glory and honor are guided

أغَرُّ لَموعُ البِشْر سهلٌ حجابُه

وشيكُ قِرى الضِّيفان طلاع أنجُد

Deceitful is the flash of mortals, his veil easy to lift

And the lodging of the two guests is soon to appear

يُؤنِّسُ بالألطافِ كلَّ مُنَفَّرٍ

ويحوي من الإحسان كلَّ مُشرَّدِ

He comforts every outcast with his kindness

And shelters with benevolence every homeless

فيسْمَحُ بالإِكرامِ غير مُخادَعٍ

ويبْدأ بالمعروفِ غيرَ مُصَرَّدِ

He is generous without being deceitful

And initiates good without being forced

ونَشْوانُ من حُبِّ المعالي كأنما

سَقتْهُ أحاديث العُلى خمر صرخد

His joy from the love of noble deeds is as if

The sublime words have quenched him with pure wine

أعار مُنيفَ الطَّوْدِ فضل أناتِه

وعزْمتَهُ حَدَّ الحُسامِ المُهنَّدِ

He lent the excellence of his achievements to Munif Al-Tawd

And his resolve to the sharp polished sword

فلم يحفل الهوجاءَ أورَقُ شامخٌ

ولم يرهب القِرْضابُ هامَة أصْيد

So he did not care for the howling paper rustling in the wind

Nor feared the short necked hyenas

يضيقُ بأدنى العار ذرعاً وصدرهُ

رحيبٌ يُباري كل مَرْتٍ وفدفد

Narrowness hurts him even slightly and his chest is spacious

Rivaling every honored arrival

ويهْدي سَناهُ الطَّارقين عَشيَّةً

إلى جودهِ من قَبْلِ نارٍ ومَوْقِدِ

And his lofty years guide those who come at night

To his generosity without need for fire or hearth

يلوذُ بعضْبٍ مُصْلت النَّصل جارُه

وفي حلم محجوب الغِرارين مُغْمَد

Some take refuge in his justly used sword

While his forbearance sheaths the fierce warriors

يفمحو بصفْحٍ منهُ كلَّ كبيرةٍ

ويحْمي ببأسٍ منه كل مُطَرَّدِ

With his pardon he erases any great sin

And with his power protects every outcast

إذا مطلتْ أيامُه وعْدَ مَفْخَرٍ

تَعلَّقها فِعْلَ الغَريمِ اليَلَنْدَد

If his days exceed the promise of pride

Clinging to the acts of the abject flexible enemy

فيقْتادُهُ تاجُ الملوكِ بعَزْمَةٍ

كما انقاد مَخْشوشٌ بساعِد أيِّد

So the crown of kings leads him resolutely

As an obedient trained horse with a strong hand