بِالأَمْسِ أُكْبِرَ صَرْحُ جَدِّكَ
وَاليَوْمَ أُكْبِرَ صَرْحُ جِدَّكْ
Yesterday your grandfather's palace was grand,
And today your father's palace is grander.
مَا كانَ جَدُّكَ بِالمَآثِر
وَالْمَفَاخِرِ غَيْرَ نَدِّكْ
Your grandfather was unmatched in his virtues and glories,
Except by your father, his heir.
وَصَفَ المُؤَرِّخ جَاهَهُ
إِذْ جَدَّهُ عَالٍ كَجَدكْ
The historian described his grandeur,
When his father was eminent like yours.
فَكَأنَّنَا فِيمَا نُطَالِعُ عَنْهُ
نَشْهَدُ فَضَلَ كَدِّكْ
So in what we read about him,
We witness your father’s superiority.
فِي مِصْرَ كَانَ بِمَجْدِهِ
مَا أَنْتَ فِي مِصْرَ بِمَجْدِكْ
In Egypt he was glorified,
As you are now glorified in Egypt.
وَبِعَهْدِهِ زَهِيَتْ
مُوَاطِنهُ كَزَهْوَتِهَا بِعَهْدِكْ
And in his era, his lands flourished,
As they now flourish in your era.
أَعْظمْتُ هَمَّك وَالمَعَالِي
وَاقِعَاتٌ دُونَ قَصْدِكْ
I exalt your ambitions and ascensions,
Events below your aim.
إِنْ عُزَّ قَصْرُكَ فِي الْقُصُورِ
أَلسْتَ أَنْتَ فَسِيح وَحْدِك
If your palace is the greatest of palaces,
Are you not yourself ample and independent?
يَا أَيُّها الْخِلُّ العَزِيزُ
وَكُلُّ وُدٍّ بَعْضُ وُدِّكْ
O noble successor,
Every love is part of your love.
يَا طَالِبَ الغَايَاتِ تُدْرِكُهَا
وَإِنْ بَعُدَتْ بِجَهْدِكْ
O seeker of goals, you will attain them
Even if they are distant, by your effort.
يَا خيْرَ بِذَّالٍ لِسَعْيكَ
غَيْرَ بَخالٍ بِرِفْدِكْ
O best rewarder of your endeavor,
Not stingy with your generosity.
هَذِي العَرُوسُ أَعَزُّ مَا
أُوتِيتَ مِنْ آيَاتِ وَجْدِكْ
This bride is the most precious
Of the signs you were granted in passion.
بِنْتُ الفَرِيدَةِ فِي الجواهِرِ
خَيْرِ وَاسِطَةٍ لَعَقْدِكْ
The unique pearl among jewels,
The best intermediary for your bond.
فَتَّانَةٌ بِالحُسْنِ عَامِدَةٌ
إِلى الحُسْنَى كعَمْدِكْ
A beauty upright in charm,
Leaning toward the beautiful like your pillar.
مِن آلِ نَحَّاسٍ وَنِعْمَ
العُنْصُرِ الثَّانِي لِوَلْدِكْ
From the house of Nahhas, an excellent
Second element for your offspring.
أَفَكانَ بَاهِرُ خُلْقُهَا
أَمْ خُلْقَها سَبَباً لِوَجْدكْ
Was her radiant creation the cause
Or was her creation the cause of your fervor?
