سل الخطيّ والبيض الصقالا

فهنّ عن الرجال كشفن حالا

Ask the slender script and the white paper,

For they reveal men's inner states.

وسل يوم النزال عداة حربٍ

بوادي التيم تشتعل اشتعالا

And ask on the day of battle the enemies of war,

In the valley of Taym, blazing with fire.

ويوماً أقبلت رايات قيسٍ

يقدنَ الخيل تعترك الحبالا

And one day the banners of Qays arrived,

Leading horses, their reins entangled.

بفتيانٍ يرون الموت عزّاً

وشيبٍ طالما اقتحموا النزالا

With young men who see death as honor,

And elders who have long stormed into battle.

ونصر اللَه صاحبها يميناً

وآي العز قارنها شمالا

God granted victory to its leader,

The signs of might flanking it on the left.

نحوط بها الكماة على عتاقٍ

مضمرةٍ يسابقن الخيالا

With it we attack the archers on steeds

Galloping, racing like thoughts.

لديهم من سراة الشوف أسدٌ

إلا فاكرم بهم أسداً رجالا

Among them is a lion of courage from the plateau of Shawf,

Who honored lions, though he surpassed men.

إذا كروا تخالهم بزاةً

وإن ثبتوا حسبتهم جبالا

When they advance, you'd think them buzzing flies,

And if they stand firm, you'd reckon them mountains.

قد اعتادت رماحهم انتصاراً

وقد ألفت عداتهم انخذالا

Their spears are accustomed to triumph,

And their enemies accustomed to defeat.

فلو حملت كتائبهم والقوا

عزائمهم على أحدٍ لزالا

Were their battalions to attack

With their resolute souls, none could withstand.

كرام سادهم شهم بشيرٌ

فلم يزل اسمه للنصر فالا

The noble heroes led by Shir,

Whose name is ever linked with victory.

شهابيٌّ اشد الناس باساً

وأقداماً وأحسنهم خلالا

Shahabi, the boldest, the firmest footed,

And the best of them in character.

يلاقي الحرب مبتسماً إذا ما

بكت مقل الرماح دماً سجالا

He greets war smiling when

Spear blades weep blood shed in battles.

ويعترك الخطوب إذا توالت

بحزمٍ يستخف به الثقالا

And plunges into the fray when perils come in succession

With poise making light of the heaviest.

كميٌ كم له عند المعالي

مواقع ذكرهن قد استطالا

How many glories does he own

When recounting would take long?

إذا مالت خواطره لامرٍ

بعون اللَه ادركه ونالا

When he intends a matter,

He attains it, with God's help.

قد اكتسبت سيوف الهند منه

مضاءً والمثقفة اعتدالا

The swords of India gained from him

Radiance, and the polished became keener.

أقام بسفح راشيا خميساً

تخاف الدهر سطوته منالا

He camped for five days below the mountain Rashia

Fearing his might would be diminished.

فاضرم في ذراها نار حربٍ

تصب على العداة بها النكالا

He kindled in its valleys war's fire

To rain vengeance upon the foe.

ولاقاهم وهل يخشى لقاهم

فتىً ألقى على اللَه اتكالا

And met them - would he fear to meet them? -

A youth relying solely on God.

فغروا واستظلوا في حماها

وظنوا الثلج يمنعهم قتالا

So they took fright and sought refuge

Thinking the snow would prevent the fight.

فسورهم بفرسان المنايا

وطوقهم مثقفةً طوالا

He drove them with the knights of doom

And hemmed them with steeds in a ring.

فخافوا سيفه وبه استجاروا

وقد طرحوا السنة والنصالا

They feared his sword and sought protection from it,

Having cast aside spear and blade.

فاطلقهم لوجه اللَه مناً

وذلهم يزيدهم خبالا

He spared them, for God's sake, from death,

And humiliated them, adding to their disgrace.

فولوا والمنايا شاهداتٌ

اسنتها تريد بهم تبالا

They retreated while Death bore witness,

Its tongues eager to take them.

وأصبح نائلاً أجراً ونصراً

وحمداً طائلاً ما الدهر طالا

And he attained reward, victory and praise

That will endure forever.

ومرفوع المقام لدى وزير

مهيبٍ يملأ الدنيا جلالا

And lofty station with a minister

August, filling the world with awe.

همامٌ أعظم الوزراء قدراً

وأشرفهم وأوسعهم نوالا

Himam, greatest of viziers in rank,

Noblest and most bountiful.

تفيض يمينه عدلاً وبذلاً

ويهمي جفن صارمه وبالا

His right hand flows with justice and generosity,

And his stern eyelid swells with wrath.

يفل برأيه خد المواضي

ويفرط عزمه الحلق المذالا

By his counsel the cheek of domains smiles

And his resolve makes the necks of the vile bend.

فلو طلبت اسنته عدواً

ولو فوق السماك هوى ومالا

If his tongue sought a foe,

Though atop the skies he sped and leaned.

ومن شاء افتخاراً أو سمواً

بغير علائه ظن المحالا

Let him who wishes glory or loftiness

Without his merits think the impossible.

فعبداللَه يسمو كل حرٍ

ويعلو كل ذي همم فعالا

For Abdullah exalts all the free

And raises all with mighty deeds.

لقد جازى الأمير بكل خيرٍ

جزاه اللَه اقبالاً تعالى

Indeed, the Emir rewarded with all good,

May God reward him with ascendance.

واتحفه بأنعامٍ شريفٍ

يشرف قدره السامي كمالا

And gifted him noble favors,

Befitting his sublime worth.

فقلده المهابة سيف نصر

والبسه من العز الجمالا

He appointed him the sword of victory,

And clothed him in the robe of might.

تهنَّ يا أميراً ضاء مجداً

وافنى باكتساب الحمد مالا

Rejoice, O Emir, shining with glory,

And perish acquiring praise and wealth.

بأنعامٍ واقبال ونصرٍ

وسعدٍ لن يزوال ولن يزالا

With favors, ascendance, victory,

Fortune never to fade or fail.

وخذ عذرا أتتك على هناءٍ

بغيرك قط لم ترم اتصالا

Excuse me, I came to you in joy

Never having aligned with another.

فتاة مدائحٍ ترجو قبولاً

إذا ما افتر مبسمها وقالا

A maiden of eulogies hoping for acceptance,

If her smile shone and she spoke.

ودم ما اهتز عسال وضاءَت

مهندةٌ وجال فتىً وصالا

The writhing of a supple bough delights,

As does a shining youth and union.