تَقيَّلَ أخْلاقَ أشْياخِهِ

بني المجدِ والشَّرفِ المُشْتَهِرْ

He modeled himself on the virtues of his forebears—

scions of glory and far-famed honor:

ليوثُ النِّزال غيوثُ النَّوالِ

اذا طَرقَ الحيِّ رَوْعٌ وضُرْ

lions in battle, rainclouds of bounty,

when terror and affliction fell upon the tribe.

فأدرَكَ ما أدركوا يافِعاً

ولم يرضَ ذلك حتى أبَرْ

Still a youth, he attained all that they attained,

and would not rest content until he outdid

من العاقرينَ صَفايا العِشارِ

اذا أخْمدَ النارَ جَدْبٌ وقُرْ

those who slaughter the choicest ten-month she-camels

when drought and cold have quenched the fire.

أغَرُّ اذا دَجَتِ الحادثاتُ

جَلا ليلهُنَّ برأيٍ أغَرْ

Radiant, when calamities deepened into darkness,

he dispelled their night with radiant judgment.

يُشمَّرُ للمجدِ عن ساقِهِ

ويسحبُ في الحلم فضْلَ الأُزُرْ

For glory he bares his leg and girds himself,

yet in forbearance lets his robe’s ample hem trail.

ويمضي اذا أحْجَمَ الدَّارعونَ

واِنْ طاشَ عِطفُ حليمٍ وقَرْ

He advances when armored warriors draw back,

and though a forbearing man’s composure fail, he remains steadfast.

ولا يمْنحُ العُذرَ ضيفانَهُ

ولكنْ اذا هو جادَ اعتْذرْ

He offers his guests no excuses;

but when he has given freely, he still apologizes.

فلا أعْثَرَ الدهرُ جَدَّ الوزيرِ

فنِعْمَ المَلاذُ ونِعْمَ الوَزَرْ

May Time never cause the vizier’s fortune to stumble—

how excellent a refuge, how excellent a bulwark!