بِنِهاية الأَرَب اِغتنم لَكَ مَأربا

فَهوَ الرَبيع زَها بِأَزهار الرُبى

At the end of spring, seize for yourself a meadow,

For it is spring adorned with the blossoms of meadows.

رقّت شَمائله وَراقَ شَميمها

طَبعاً فَكانَ إِلى الطِباع محبّبا

Its features have softened and its fragrance is delightful,

Naturally it became beloved to nature.

وَسَما عَلى وَرد الخَمائل مورداً

يصبي النُفوس لِنَشر أَنفاس الصِبا

And it rained upon the meadows of beauty a downpour

That inspires souls to spread the breaths of youth.

أَعجب بِهِ سفراً بَدا لَكَ مُسفِرا

عَن أَوجه الحُسن البَديع لِتعجبا

Marveling at it, a journey appeared to you a revelation

Of the beautiful faces of beauty, for marveling.

أَبدى فَأَبدَع مِن وَقائع مَن مَضوا

عَرَباً فَأَعرب في البَيان وَأَغرَبا

It revealed and created from the events of those who passed

Arabs, so it spoke eloquently and strangely.

لا رَيبَ في فَضل المُؤلّف أَنَّهُ

وَرد المَناهل فَاِستَخارَ الأَعذَبا

There is no doubt in the merit of the author, that

He frequented the springs, so he chose the sweetest.

ما زالَ يُحسن خدمة الوَطَن الَّتي

شَرفت إِلى أَن لاحَ ثمّة كَوكَبا

He kept excelling in serving the nation which

Honored him until a star shone there.

لا تُنكرنَّ يَد السَخيِّ فَإِنَّها

حتم عَلَيهِ وَلَو تَخلّل بِالعَبا

Do not deny the hand of the generous one, for it

Obligates him even if interspersed with play.

وَالهمّة الإسكندريّة طالَما

سارَت مشرّقةً وَسِرت مغرّبا

The Alexandrian ambition has always

Traveled shining and traveled setting.

أَكرم بِصاحبها الَّذي صحب النهى

وَجَلا مِنَ الراح المُسلسل مشربا

It honored its owner who accompanied propriety

And surpassed from the resting place the chained drink.