بقيتَ بهاء الدينِ ما وضح الضحى

وما غردت فوق الغصون السواجعُ

You remained the splendor of faith when dawn had not yet brightened,

Nor had the nightingales trilled above the branches.

وما أنشأت ريحُ الجنوب سحابةً

ومدَّ أتيٌّ بالمذانبِ دافِعُ

The southern breeze had not yet formed a cloud,

Nor had a downpour driven the torrents on.

لثروةِ مِعْدامٍ ونُصْرة خائفٍ

وزيْنِ نديٍّ أتْمكَتْهُ المجامعُ

For the wealth of the destitute and the aid of the fearful,

And the beauty of the supple whom assemblies had flexed.

فنِعم مُناخُ الطَّارقينَ عشيَّةً

اذا أخمدتْ نار اليَفاع الزعازعُ

So excellent is the climate of the night visitors in the evening

When the flames of panic and tremors are extinguished.

يوَدُّ الكثيفُ الجونُ جاد مسفُّه

نداكَ ولم تُنْصبْ اليه الذرائعُ

The dense, abundant cloud desires to rain its downpour on you,

And you did not set up means to it.

وتخشى الخفاف البيض بأسك والقنا

اِذ الذمر نِكس والمشيَّعُ كانِعُ

And the pure white doves fear your might and prowess

When the predators slink away diminished and the defenders tower.

أراك أبا الفضلين لا الفَضلِ وحده

فعلمك فيَّاضٌ وجودكَ واسعُ

I see you, Abu al-Fadl, not just Fadl alone,

For your knowledge is overflowing and your generosity spacious.

هزيمان منك الفقرُ والجبر حجةً

وجوداً فسهْلٌ مستريحٌ وناصعُ

Defeat at your hands is the lot of poverty and destiny the proof,

Present and at ease, smooth and gleaming.

فلا الجودُ اِلا والتبرُّعُ جلُّهُ

ولا قطْعَ اِلا والمُجادلُ بارعُ

So generosity is nothing but voluntary giving in its entirety,

And severance is naught but the disputant is clever.

يُقرِّبُ منه عزمهُ كلَّ نازحٍ

فتدنو له الآرابُ وهي شواسِعُ

His resolve brings every émigré near,

So the vast deserts approach him.

اذا شطَّ مأثور الأماني وأصبحتْ

شماليلُهُ في الأمرِ وهي طوالعُ

When the traditions of wishes flood forth

And its rising signs at your command emerge.

نَضا للمباغي صارماً من نَفاذهِ

تودُّ مضاهُ المُرهفاتُ القواطِعُ

Keen against the covetous, sharp from his penetration,

The discerning blades desire his edge.

فهُنِّئَتِ الأعياد منه بمثلها

مواسمهُ في الخير عوجٌ رَواجعُ

The holidays through him were congratulated with their like,

His seasons of good persist inclining and returning.