ملأfilled الكونَthe universe بشراًwith joy عدلُهhis justice واعتدالهand his moderation
ملأ الكونَ بشراً عدلُه واعتداله
وأغنىand enriched البراياthe creatures برُّهhis goodness ونوالُهْand his bounty
وأغنى البرايا برُّه ونوالُهْ
His justice and moderation have filled the universe with joy.
His justice and moderation filled the universe with upright men,
And his goodness and bounty have enriched all creatures.
And his kindness and generosity made the wilds teem with life.
حوىcombined عزمَresolve كسرىKhosrow فيin مهابةِmajesty قيصرٍCaesar
حوى عزمَ كسرى في مهابةِ قيصرٍ
وماand not اسكندرAlexander فيin هزمdefeating داراDarius مثالهhis equal
وما اسكندر في هزم دارا مثاله
He combined Khosrow's resolve with Caesar's majesty.
The resolve of Chosroes pales before his august majesty,
And Alexander, even in defeating Darius, was not his equal.
And Alexander's feats in battle are no match for his example.
مَتىwhenever قِسْتَهyou compare him بِفَرْدٍwith one individual منهمof them ظلمتهyou wrong him
مَتى قِسْتَه بِفَرْدٍ منهم ظلمته
فقدfor indeed زينتadorned كلَّall الملوكthe kings خلالُهhis virtues
فقد زينت كلَّ الملوك خلالُه
Whenever you compare him with any one of them, you wrong him.
If you test him against any of them, you see only his justice,
For his virtues have adorned all kings.
For he embodies the finest qualities of all kings.
دلائلُevidence أخبارaccounts الخواقينthe khagans أجمعتْagreed unanimously
دلائلُ أخبار الخواقين أجمعتْ
علىon أنهthat he عنهمbeyond them منيعٌunattainable منالهhis stature
على أنه عنهم منيعٌ مناله
The evidence in the khagans' chronicles unanimously agrees
The accounts of past rulers unanimously agree
That his stature is beyond their reach.
That he is inaccessible, beyond their reach.
عظيمُgreat مقالٍspeech ماnot كباfaltered زندُfire-stick رأيهhis judgment
عظيمُ مقالٍ ما كبا زندُ رأيه
سنىُّsplendid فعالٍdeeds لاnot تُسامىare equaled فِعالهhis deeds
سنىُّ فعالٍ لا تُسامى فِعاله
Great in speech, the fire-stick of his judgment has never faltered.
His wisdom is supreme, his deeds too lofty to rival,
Splendid in deeds, his deeds cannot be matched.
His might inspires awe in enemies, his glory moves all hearts.
لهfor him هيبةٌawe عندamong العدىthe foes أصفيةٌAsaf-like
له هيبةٌ عند العدى أصفيةٌ
يَسيرmoves بهwith him نحوtoward القلوبthe hearts جلالهhis grandeur
يَسير به نحو القلوب جلاله
He inspires an Asaf-like awe among his foes.
Some say fortune favored him, but it was his reason and fairness.
His grandeur carries him toward people's hearts.
He dispelled the clouds of fancy by force of Egypt’s will.
يقولsay أناسٌsome people طالعَlooked upon السعدُgood fortune حظهhis lot
يقول أناسٌ طالعَ السعدُ حظه
وماand not السعدُgood fortune إلاexcept عقلهhis reason وعِقالهand his restraining cord
وما السعدُ إلا عقله وعِقاله
Some say good fortune has looked upon his lot.
Do you not see the light of recognition rising?
Yet fortune is only his reason and his restraining cord.
He fulfilled his promise to the ages against an ocean of foes.
محاerased غيْهبَthe darkness الأوهامdelusions قسراًforcibly بمصرهin his Egypt
محا غيْهبَ الأوهام قسراً بمصره
أماdo you not تبصرُsee العِرفانَknowledge يسموrises high هلالهits crescent
أما تبصرُ العِرفانَ يسمو هلاله
He forcibly erased the darkness of delusion in his Egypt.
His compassionate Nile inundates the fertile plains,
Do you not see knowledge's crescent rising high?
His surging bounty floats over the parched desert sands.
علىupon الدهرtime نذْرُa vow قدindeed وفىfulfilled فيهin it وعدهits promise
على الدهر نذْرُ قد وفى فيه وعده
ببحرِwith a sea خصمٍa rival قدindeed روتْناquenched our thirst سِجالُهits buckets
ببحرِ خصمٍ قد روتْنا سِجالُه
Time owed a vow, and in this has fulfilled its promise,
The scrolls of history were inscribed with the virtues of past sultans,
With a rival sea whose buckets have quenched our thirst.
His titles enumerate triumphs, his ties confirm accounts of merit.
يغيضُebbs علىbefore العافيthe suppliant الجنوحthe yielding فراتُهhis sweet water
يغيضُ على العافي الجنوح فراتُه
ويطفوand rises علىover الجافيthe harsh one الجموحِthe headstrong زلالهhis limpid water
ويطفو على الجافي الجموحِ زلاله
His sweet water ebbs before the yielding suppliant,
His achievements among men are a source of pride,
And his limpid water rises over the harsh, headstrong man.
His perfect qualities know no bounds.
دفاترُregisters تاريخhistory السلاطينthe sultans سُطرتْwere inscribed
دفاترُ تاريخ السلاطين سُطرتْ
مناقبُهمtheir virtues فاستجمعتهاand so gathered them all خِصالهhis qualities
مناقبُهم فاستجمعتها خِصاله
The registers of the sultans' history were inscribed
The resolve of his determination leaves all people stunned,
With their virtues, which his qualities have gathered in full.
His arrows never miss their mark when loosed.
تلقبهُstyle him ألقابُtitles فخرٍglory وسؤددand lordship
تلقبهُ ألقابُ فخرٍ وسؤدد
وتروىand is narrated لناto us ماwhat صحَّwas reliable عنهfrom him اتصالهits transmission
وتروى لنا ما صحَّ عنه اتصاله
Titles of glory and lordship are bestowed on him,
We always see him victorious over the enemy,
And what is reliably transmitted of him is related to us.
Bending to loosen the shackles of those who are bound.
مآثرهhis exploits بينamong الأنامhumankind مفاخرٌglories
مآثره بين الأنام مفاخرٌ
وآثارهُand his works لاnot تنتهيcome to an end وكمالهand his perfection
وآثارهُ لا تنتهي وكماله
His exploits are glories among humankind.
His noble traits show tenderness to those abused by fate,
And his works and his perfection know no end.
While good fortune smiles on those embraced by his left hand.
دَهتْastounded كلَّevery ذيpossessor of فهمunderstanding عزائمُresolves حزمهhis decisiveness
دَهتْ كلَّ ذي فهم عزائمُ حزمه
وماand never فوفَتْunclear; perhaps 'were nocked' إلاexcept that أصابتhit نِبالهhis arrows
وما فوفَتْ إلا أصابت نِباله
His decisive resolves have astounded everyone of understanding.
Egypt now has an enviable status crowned with glory,
And whenever his arrows were [nocked], they hit their mark.
Thanks to a protector drawn from the most distant parts.
نراهwe see him دوماًalways ظافراًvictorious بغريمهover his adversary
نراه دوماً ظافراً بغريمه
ويحنوand is tender علىtoward منwhoever كبلتهhave fettered him حِبالهhis cords
ويحنو على من كبلته حِباله
We always see him victorious over his adversary,
Muhammad of righteous deeds, Ali of noble traits,
And he is tender toward anyone his cords have fettered.
Whose boundless merits cannot be counted.
أماindeed أنهhe is مولَىa lord شمائلُهhis character traits بهاin them
أما أنه مولَى شمائلُه بها
حنانٌtenderness لمنfor whoever تجنىacted unjustly عليهagainst him شِمالهhis left hand
حنانٌ لمن تجنى عليه شِماله
Indeed, he is a lord whose character contains
Not even Macedonia that nurtured Alexander
Tenderness for anyone his left hand has wronged.
Can boast of nursing him on her lap as a babe.
لمصرَfor Egypt بهthrough him شأنٌdistinction طريفnew زهتْgloried بهin it
لمصرَ به شأنٌ طريف زهتْ به
وعزٌّand honor منيفlofty قدindeed أظلتhave sheltered ظِلالهits shadows
وعزٌّ منيف قد أظلت ظِلاله
Through him Egypt has a new distinction in which she glories,
He conquered realms Alexander never trod,
And lofty honor whose shadows have sheltered her.
If the Prince's uncle is not his compatriot.
ألاlo أيهاO المرتابُthe doubter فيabout أنthat دارناour homeland
ألا أيها المرتابُ في أن دارنا
تفوقsurpass علىover كلall الرجالthe men رجالهits men
تفوق على كل الرجال رجاله
O you who doubt that our homeland
With the Khedive's sword the injustice of the aggressors has ceased,
Has men who surpass all other men,
Their howling packs now slink away with tails between their legs.
سلْask المجدَglory عنabout تلكthose الميادينarenas هلwhether عداrun
سلْ المجدَ عن تلك الميادين هل عدا
ببهرتهاin their midst قرنa peer يباريrivals نضالهhis combat
ببهرتها قرن يباري نضاله
Ask Glory about those arenas: has there ever run
His son emulates his virtues when opposing any scheme,
In their midst a peer who could match his combat?
A man of easy temperament, yet fierce in the fray.
لهاit has الآنnow فيin كلall النواحيthe regions أدلةٌproofs
لها الآن في كل النواحي أدلةٌ
بهاthrough them زالceased عنfrom ربِّmaster of الجدالdisputation جدالهhis argument
بها زال عن ربِّ الجدال جداله
It now has proofs in every region,
They share a gracious disposition and noble traits,
Through which the master disputant has lost his argument.
Their beauty adorned with a radiant charm.
أتاحgranted لهاto her المولىthe Lord مليكاًa king قدindeed انتمىcame to belong
أتاح لها المولى مليكاً قد انتمى
إليهاto her ومنand from أقصىthe farthest البلادlands ارتحالهhis journey
إليها ومن أقصى البلاد ارتحاله
The Lord granted her a king who came to belong
You see amongst them a loquacious Abbas,
To her, having journeyed from the farthest lands.
Civil in peace yet irresistible in war.
محمدُMuhammad; praised أفعالٍdeeds عليُّAli; lofty مكارمnoble virtues
محمدُ أفعالٍ عليُّ مكارم
بديعُwondrous صفاتٍqualities لاnot تعدُّare counted فضالهhis bounties
بديعُ صفاتٍ لا تعدُّ فضاله
Muhammad, praised in deeds; Ali, lofty in virtues,
Sa'id's fortunate endeavors on the seas bring prosperity,
Wondrous in qualities, his bounties cannot be counted.
Motivated by doing good and seeking worthy goals.
وماand not مثلهاlike her مقدونياMacedonia إذwhen أتتْcame بهwith him
وما مثلها مقدونيا إذ أتتْ به
وقدand indeed كانwere فيهاin it حِملهhis gestation وفصالهand his weaning
وقد كان فيها حِمله وفصاله
Nor was Macedonia her equal when it brought him forth,
The cycle of time as his servant is honor enough,
And there his gestation and weaning took place.
Bowing obediently before him as he strides on.
منازلٌabodes منهاfrom them اسكندرAlexander فاتحُconqueror الورىhumankind
منازلٌ منها اسكندر فاتحُ الورى
إذاif لمnot يكنwas عمُّpaternal uncle الأميرthe prince فخالهthen his maternal uncle
إذا لم يكن عمُّ الأمير فخاله
Abodes whence came Alexander, conqueror of humankind—
The grip of his hand reigns over the heads of foes,
If not the prince's paternal uncle, then his maternal uncle.
When he moves among the people his glory is manifest.
بسيفby the sword الخديويthe Khedive صولةُonslaught البغيtyranny قدindeed عفتْvanished
بسيف الخديوي صولةُ البغي قد عفتْ
فلاthus no صائلٌassailant إلاexcept تداعىcollapsed صيالهhis onslaught
فلا صائلٌ إلا تداعى صياله
By the Khedive's sword, tyranny's onslaught has vanished.
Has not the Syrian plague been eliminated?
Thus every assailant's onslaught has collapsed.
Level plains and lofty hills now stand equal.
يضاهيهresembles him فيin أوصافهhis qualities الغُرِّthe splendid نجلُهhis son
يضاهيه في أوصافه الغُرِّ نجلُه
إذاwhen ماever (emphatic) تصدىsets himself نحوَtoward شأوٍa goal ينالهattains it
إذا ما تصدى نحوَ شأوٍ يناله
His son resembles him in his splendid qualities.
If the Druze rebels rise up, their ruin is assured,
If ever he pursues a goal, he attains it.
Oh wind! What misguidance has deceived them?
دماثةُgentleness أخلاقmanners الجميعall of them خليقةٌan innate disposition
دماثةُ أخلاق الجميع خليقةٌ
وقدand indeed زانهمadorned them خلقٌa character تجلىshone forth جمالهits beauty
وقد زانهم خلقٌ تجلى جماله
Gentleness of manners is the nature of them all,
Why do they await the ruler today after it's clear
And a character whose beauty shines forth has adorned them.
That their claims are baseless and void?
ترىyou see فيهمamong them عباسَهمtheir Abbas ذاpossessed of طلاقةٍcheerfulness
ترى فيهم عباسَهم ذا طلاقةٍ
لدىduring السلمpeace لكنbut لاnot يُطاقis bearable نزالهhis combat
لدى السلم لكن لا يُطاق نزاله
Among them you see their Abbas, cheerful of countenance
Nothing is difficult for the Almighty,
In peace—but his combat cannot be endured.
Easing hardship is simple for Him however you ponder it.
مساعيendeavors سَعيِدSa'id فيon البحارthe seas سعيدةٌfortunate
مساعي سَعيِد في البحار سعيدةٌ
دواعٍcalls إلىtoward الخيراتgood deeds والاسمand the name فالهhis good omen
دواعٍ إلى الخيرات والاسم فاله
Sa'id's endeavors on the seas are fortunate,
Happy is he who casts down arms in the field
Calls toward good deeds, and his name is his good omen.
Where the exile and his wealth rest in peace.
كفىsuffices الدواريal-Dawari (unclear designation) فخراًas glory بأنin that زمانهhis time
كفى الدواري فخراً بأن زمانه
غداbecame عندهbefore him عبداًa slave عليهincumbent on it امتثالهobedience to him
غدا عنده عبداً عليه امتثاله
It is glory enough for al-Dawari that his time
It is a sanctuary, with no wrong for visitors;
Has become a slave before him, obliged to obey him.
A refuge in the hills, the peaks of which cannot be scaled.
نواصيforelocks الأعاديthe enemies تحتَbeneath قبضةِgrasp كفهhis hand
نواصي الأعادي تحتَ قبضةِ كفه
إذاwhen جالcharged فيamong قومٍa people تناءىextended far مجالهhis range
إذا جال في قومٍ تناءى مجاله
The enemies' forelocks lie beneath the grasp of his hand.
His policies of rule are rightly guided-
When he charges among a people, his reach stretches far.
He filled the cosmos with upright men, his justice and moderation.
أليسhas not منبعُwellspring الشامthe Levant قدalready زالvanished شُؤْمُهits ill omen
أليس منبعُ الشام قد زال شُؤْمُه
وصارand became سواءًalike سهلُهits plain وجبالهand its mountains
وصار سواءً سهلُه وجباله
Has not the Levant's wellspring lost its ill omen?
And its plain and mountains have become alike.
لئنif indeed قامrose أحياءُclans الدروزthe Druze لحتفهمto their doom
لئن قام أحياءُ الدروز لحتفهم
فياthen O ريحَwind منone whom أخَنىdestroyed عليهupon him ضلالهhis error
فيا ريحَ من أخَنى عليه ضلاله
If indeed the Druze clans rose to their doom,
Then, O wind of one whom his error has destroyed!
أينتظرونdo they await الحاكمal-Hakim اليومtoday بعدماafter
أينتظرون الحاكم اليوم بعدما
تبينbecame clear فيماin what يزعمونthey claim محالهits impossibility
تبين فيما يزعمون محاله
Do they await al-Hakim today, after
The impossibility of what they claim has become clear?
وماand not يمنٌYemen عندfor العزيزal-Aziz عسيرةٌdifficult
وما يمنٌ عند العزيز عسيرةٌ
ويسرُand the ease عسيرٍAsir عندهfor him ماwhat تخالهyou imagine it
ويسرُ عسيرٍ عنده ما تخاله
Nor is Yemen difficult for al-Aziz,
And Asir's ease for him is just as you imagine.
هنيئاًgood fortune لمنto whoever ألقىlaid down السلاحَarms بساحةٍin a court
هنيئاً لمن ألقى السلاحَ بساحةٍ
يُصانis safeguarded بهاthere نفسُlife النزيلthe guest ومالهand his property
يُصان بها نفسُ النزيل وماله
Good fortune to whoever lays down arms in a court
Where the guest's life and property are safeguarded.
ألمَّcame to حمىًa sanctuary لاno ضيمَoppression فيهin it لوافدٍfor a newcomer
ألمَّ حمىً لا ضيمَ فيه لوافدٍ
ولاذand sought refuge بطودwith a mountain لاnot تسامىare rivaled خِلالُهits virtues
ولاذ بطود لا تسامى خِلالُه
He has come to a sanctuary where no newcomer is wronged,
And sought refuge with a mountain whose virtues cannot be matched.
مناهجُهhis paths فيin حكمهhis rule مستقيمةٌstraight
مناهجُه في حكمه مستقيمةٌ
ملأfilled الكونَthe universe بِشراًwith joy عدلهhis justice واعتدالهand his moderation
ملأ الكونَ بِشراً عدله واعتداله
His paths in governance are straight.
His justice and moderation have filled the universe with joy.
Partial English translation: 62 of 76 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1