لكل مقام في علاك مقال

تصدقه بالجود منك فعال

Every station in your high glory has its fitting speech,

confirmed by the earnest munificence of your deeds.

وعندك إن ضاق المجال لمادح

محاسن فيها للمديح مجال

And with you, when room grows tight for one who praises,

your virtues still leave ample room for praise.

مناقب يا ذخر الأئمة أصبحت

إليهن أعناق الثناء تمال

Virtues, O treasure of the imams, have become

the goal toward which the necks of praise incline.

سما الناصر المحيي إلى الغاية التي

ينال عنان النجم حين تنال

The life-giving Victor rose to the furthest height,

seizing the star’s rein whenever he reached for it.

وألف أضداد المعالي بهمة

لها كل يوم نعمة ونكال

With a resolve he made the foes of lofty honor know

each day both its bounty and exemplary chastisement.

وفي كل قلب من سطاه مهابة

وفي كل كف من نداه سجال

In every heart, awe of his might has taken root,

and from his bounty every palm receives brimming bowls.

قرى وقراع طالما فاض منهما

على الخلق وبل دائم ووبال

Hospitality and battle—how often from them have overflowed

upon creation lasting rain and crushing ruin.

جفان وأجفان تدفق منهما

على قدر سجليه ردى ونوال

Great serving-bowls and weeping eyelids: from both there pours,

each in its proper stream, death and largesse.

رأيتك لم تقنع بمنصبك الذي

علا فنجوم الأفق عنه سفال

I saw that you were not content with the rank

whose height leaves even the horizon’s stars below.

فباشرت مكروه الوغى في مواطن

حرام المنايا بينهن حلال

You plunged into the hated press of battle, in fields

where death, forbidden elsewhere, is lawful.

وهل يفخر الصمصام إلا بطعنة

وإن راق منه جوهر وصقال

What glory can the sword claim except through a thrust,

though its substance gleams and its polish charms?

ولما تشكى الأمن خوفاً من العدى

وكاد الهدى يسطو عليه ضلال

When safety complained of fear before the foe,

and error nearly overpowered right guidance,

نهدت إلى الأفرنج تزجي كتائباً

تغل بها أعناقهم وتغال

you rose against the Franks, driving battalions

that shackled their necks and bore them away.

فولوا وقد أبقت عليهم نفوسهم

سباسب حالت دونها ورمال

They turned and fled, kept alive by their own will to live;

vast wastes and sands came between you and them.

وأتبعتهم ركضاً على كل سابح

إذا لريح كلت لم يصبه كلال

You pursued them at full gallop on every swimming steed;

even if the wind grew weary, no weariness touched it.

جياد إذا جردتها يوم غارة

فليس لها غير الوشيج ظلال

Horses which, when you strip them for a raid,

have no shade except the towering spears.

طوالع في ليل القتام غوارب

عليهن من نسج القتام جلال

Stars rising through the battle’s dark night, then setting,

clothed in robes woven from its gloom.

يثير غباراً كلما قذي الهدى

بفتنة طاغ كان منه كحال

They raise dust whenever right guidance’s eye is smarting

from a tyrant’s sedition; in them lies its salve.

رميت بها بهرام عن قوس عزمة

تبيت لها الأقدار وهي نبال

With them you shot Bahram from the bow of resolve,

while fate’s decrees passed the night as arrows.

وأدركتهم إدراك من لا يفوته

مرام ولا ينأى عليه منال

You overtook them as one whom nothing escapes,

whose aim is never distant nor attainment beyond reach.

سريت بها والليل وحف شبابه

فصبحتهم إذ شاب منه قذال

You traveled with them while night was wrapped in youth,

and fell upon them at dawn, when its forelock had whitened.

ولما اشتملت الليل برداً إليهم

جرت بالذي تهوى صبا وشمال

When night enfolded their host within its mantle,

the east and north winds ran as they desired.

وأوقدت نيران الوغى بذوابل

سرت ولها زرق النصال ذبال

You kindled the fires of battle with lances

whose iron points glowed like coals and whose shafts were wicks.

وأتبعتها والكف تقوى بأختها

ببيض تصون المجد وهي مذال

Then followed them—one hand strengthening its sister—

white blades that guard glory though their sheaths are humbled.

إذا هجرت أغمادها لم يكن لها

سوى قطع أوصال الطغاة وصال

Once they forsake their scabbards, they have no reunion

except by severing the tyrants’ limbs.

فهن شجا في حلق كل معاند

وهن على قلب الولي زلال

What a choking thorn they are in every rebel’s throat,

though to a loyal heart they are clear, sweet water.

عماد مليك يكثر البأس والندى

إذا قل نزل في الورى ونزال

Mainstay of a king abundant in courage and liberality

whenever hospitality or combat grows scarce among men.

هو القاسم السجلين عفواً ونقمة

وحاسم داء الدهر وهو عضال

He apportions two overflowing gifts: pardon and punishment,

and heals the age’s sickness though it is incurable.

تكفل هم الملك عن قلب كافل

غدا وهو فينا عصمة وثمال

He took upon himself the kingdom’s care with a guardian heart,

and became among us a refuge and support.

تقيل الأماني عنده تحت رحمة

بها عثرات المسلمين تقال

Hopes seek their noonday rest beneath his mercy,

through which the Muslims’ stumbles are forgiven.

تروح الأيادي من يديه خفيفة

وتغدو على الأعناق وهي ثقال

Favors leave his hands lightly,

but settle heavily upon the necks of those obliged.

أبوك الذي تسطو الليالي بحده

وأنت يمين إن سطا وشمال

Your father is he whose blade assails the nights,

while you are his right hand—and his left when he strikes.

أب علم الأيام أحسن سيرة

لعينيك منها قبلة ومثال

The schooling of the days knew no finer course

than the example and guidance placed before your eyes.

لرتبته العظمى وإن طال عمره

إليك مصير واجب ومآل

His highest rank, however long his life,

must come to you as its destined end and home.

تخالسك اللحظ المصون ودونها

حجاب شريف لا انقضى وحجال

Its guarded gaze steals glances at you, though before it stand

a noble veil and curtained chambers never breached.

لقد راقها بل شاقها واستفزها

إليك جلال باهر وخلال

Your splendor has delighted it—indeed enthralled and stirred it:

a radiant majesty and beauty drawing it toward you.

جبينك حسناً بل يمينك منة

يفيض جميل منهما وجمال

Your brow is loveliness; your right hand is beneficence:

from both flow beauty and gracious deeds.

خليلي قولا للأجل نيابة

فقد منعتني هيبة وجلال

My two companions, speak for me before the August One,

for awe and majesty have kept me silent.

إخالك لا ترضى الكواكب معشراً

وأنت لأبناء الخلافة خال

I think you would not accept the stars as your clan,

though you are maternal uncle to the heirs of the caliphate.

ستخفر غسان بكم ويزيدها

على أن آل المصطفى لك آل

Ghassan will glory in you and take pride,

while the family of the Chosen One is your own family.

فدى لبني رزيك من ليس مثلهم

وهل للنجوم النيرات مثال

May all unlike them be ransomed for the sons of Razin;

can the radiant stars have any peer?

ملوك أرتنا كل فضل مغيب

لهم شيم محمودة وخصال

Kings who showed us every hidden excellence,

masters of praiseworthy ways and qualities.

تقول مساعيهم لكل منافس

ترفق فما كل الرجال رجال

Their deeds say to every rival,

“Easy—mere men are not all truly men.”

غيوث إذا ضن السحاب بوبله

ليوث إذا صل الحديد وصالوا

Rainclouds when clouds withhold their downpour,

lions when iron is drawn and they charge.

هم علموني مدحهم بكرامة

وجود أطابوا منهما وأطالوا

They taught me to praise them through the honor

and generosity they made wholesome and enduring.

وجوه لها بشر إلي تهللت

وأيد أياديها علي تهال

Faces poured their gladness upon me,

and hands showered me with their favors.

قدمت عليهم وافداً فتفضلوا

وأعلوا محلي منعمين وعالوا

I came to them as an emissary, and they bestowed grace,

raising my station as benefactors while rising higher themselves.

فما عذر شعر لا يجود فيهم

وعذري مزاح بالعطاء مزال

What excuse has verse if it does not flow freely for them,

when the gifts that excuse me flow without end?

ولا شكر لي فيما أقول لأنني

أعبر عما شرفوا وأنالوا

No thanks are owed to me for what I say,

for I merely voice the honor and favor they bestowed.

ومستحسن للقول فيكم أجبته

كذا في صفات المحسنين يقال

To one who found my praise of you beautiful, I replied:

“That is how one must speak of those who do good.”

قصائد ما باتت بهن خواطري

على سرقات الانتحال تحال

Poems whose making never caused my mind

to be charged with plagiarism or borrowed lines.

ثقال الخطى إلا إليكم فإنها

خفاف الخطى في الارتجال عجال

Slow of step toward all others—but toward you

light-footed, swift in improvisation.

غدت منكم في أنفها خنزوانة

فليست بقصد الباخلين تذال

From you they departed provisioned in their very souls,

never again to be humbled before misers.

إذا كان رأي الناصر الملك ناصري

فإن صريح القول في حفال

If the victorious King’s judgment is my champion,

then candid speech will be granted its full measure.

فتى عنده فضل وفصل إذا التقى

جلاد على نصر الهدى وجدال

A young man in whom bounty and decision meet

when battle comes to defend guidance and argument.

وبين يراع الخط والخط غيرة

على يده العليا وغى وقتال

Between his pen line and the battle line there is rivalry

in the work of his exalted hand in war and combat.

يروقك في يمنى يديه يراعة

تراع بها أسد الشرى وتهال

Fair in his right hand is a white reed-pen,

before which the lions of the thicket shrink in fear and awe.

توهمتها مخلوقة في بنانه

لها من عروق الأشجعين حبال

I fancied it was created within his fingertips,

its cords formed from the veins of the bravest.

تبيت بها الآجال وهي قصيرة

وتضحي بها الآمال وهي طوال

Through it, lifespans pass a night made short,

while hopes greet a morning made long.

إذا اعتلقتها خمسة في ملمة

تحلل مكروه وحل عقال

When five fingers grasp it in a crisis,

it resolves what is hated and loosens bonds.

ليهنك صوم ترتجى بركاته

وتوزن أعمال به وتكال

Blessed be your fast, whose blessings are awaited

when deeds are weighed and measured.

رأت عينه منك الكمال الذي به

تهلل فيه النور وهو هلال

My eyes beheld in you the perfection by which

light rejoices even while it is only a crescent.

وأمطرت فيه المسلمين وغيرهم

سحاب ندى لا يقتضيه سؤال

You rained upon Muslims and others alike

a cloud of generosity unprompted by any plea.

كأنك في الدنيا وصي لآدم

وأولاده فيه عليك عيال

In this world you seem trustee for their forefather,

all his descendants dependents in your care.

أباحك حسن الذكر والأجر منهم

ومن ربهم عدل أتيح ومال

From them came to you fair renown and reward,

and from their Lord, justice, prosperity, and wealth.

لقد ملت السؤال مما أتيتها

ومالك من بذل النوال ملال

I have tired of asking after all that I have received,

while you never tire of bestowing gifts.

وأنت إذا عد الكرام حقيقة

وكل كريم ما عداك مخال

When the truly noble are counted, you are the one;

every other “noble” beside you is an impossibility.

بقيت وما للملك عنك معرج

وما لنعيم الدهر منك زوال

May you remain while God’s care never turns from you,

and may the age’s delight never depart from you.