عكفتُ عَلى الآداب قَبل فطامي

عكفتُ عَلى الآداب قَبل فطامي

وَهمتُ بِها حَتّى بَلغت مَرامي

وَهمتُ بِها حَتّى بَلغت مَرامي

I devoted myself to the literary arts before my weaning,

I devoted myself to literature before I was weaned,

And was enamored of them until I reached my goal.

And I aspired to it until I achieved my goal.

وَبادرت مضمار الحَماسة وَالثَنا

وَبادرت مضمار الحَماسة وَالثَنا

بِسابق فكر في المَدائح سامي

بِسابق فكر في المَدائح سامي

And I hastened to the racecourse of heroic verse and praise,

I hastened into the arena of enthusiasm and praise

With swift-running thought, lofty in songs of praise.

With leading thoughts in sublime eulogies.

وَجاريت في مَدح السَعيد وَشبله

وَجاريت في مَدح السَعيد وَشبله

وَأَوطانه وَالجُندِ كُلَّ همام

وَأَوطانه وَالجُندِ كُلَّ همام

And I vied in praising al-Sa'id and his lion-cub,

And I flowed in praising the happy one and his cub

And his homelands and the troops—with every gallant man.

And his homelands and the soldiers, all determined.

فَكُنت وَلا أَنفكُّ أَوّلَ قائم

فَكُنت وَلا أَنفكُّ أَوّلَ قائم

بِواجب شكرٍ طابَ فيهِ كَلامي

بِواجب شكرٍ طابَ فيهِ كَلامي

So I was—and still remain—the first to undertake

Thus I was and did not cease to be the first

The duty of gratitude, in which my words were sweet.

To perform the duty of gratitude in which my words prospered.

وَمَعْ ذاكَ لَم أَحصر مَناقبَه الَّتي

وَمَعْ ذاكَ لَم أَحصر مَناقبَه الَّتي

تجلّ عَن الإحصا بِأَلف إِمام

تجلّ عَن الإحصا بِأَلف إِمام

Yet even so, I did not encompass his virtues, which

And with that, I did not limit his merits which

Are too great to be counted by a thousand masters.

Transcend counting with a thousand leaders.

لِأَنِّيَ لَم أَفخَر بِنَشر فضائلٍ

لِأَنِّيَ لَم أَفخَر بِنَشر فضائلٍ

لعرفانه المَولى زَعيم عصام

لعرفانه المَولى زَعيم عصام

For I have not boasted of proclaiming virtues

Because I did not boast of spreading virtues

In recognition of him—the master, a guarantor of protection.

For acknowledging the Master, chief of warriors.

وَكَيفَ وَدِيوان الجُيوش مذ اِنتمى

وَكَيفَ وَدِيوان الجُيوش مذ اِنتمى

لَهُ زانَهُ مِنهُ بَديعُ نِظام

لَهُ زانَهُ مِنهُ بَديعُ نِظام

And how could I, when the armies' bureau, since it came

And how could I when the army's register since he joined

Under him, has been adorned with his wondrous order?

Was adorned by him with the most excellent system.

وَقامَ بِتَدبير الأُمور سَداده

وَقامَ بِتَدبير الأُمور سَداده

وَإِرشاده الأَسنى أَتمّ قِيام

وَإِرشاده الأَسنى أَتمّ قِيام

And his sound judgment undertook the management of affairs,

And he managed affairs wisely,

And his loftiest guidance did so to perfection.

And his finest guidance and leadership were perfect.

وَكرّ عَلى الأَعدا فَبدّد شَملَهم

وَكرّ عَلى الأَعدا فَبدّد شَملَهم

وَجرَّعهم في النقع كَأسَ حِمام

وَجرَّعهم في النقع كَأسَ حِمام

And he charged the foes, scattering their ranks,

He attacked the enemies and scattered their alliance

And made them drink death's cup amid the battle-dust.

And made them drink in the battle the cup of annihilation.

وَأَخنى عَلى المَغرور يَوم نِزاله

وَأَخنى عَلى المَغرور يَوم نِزاله

بِوَخزِ عوالٍ أَو بِطَعنِ حسام

بِوَخزِ عوالٍ أَو بِطَعنِ حسام

And he brought ruin on the arrogant man on the day of his combat,

He was relentless towards the arrogant on the day of fighting

By piercing with long lances or thrusting with a keen sword.

With the stab of spears or the thrust of swords.

وَحلّ جَميع المُشكلات بحكمة

وَحلّ جَميع المُشكلات بحكمة

يَمانية تَقضي بحسم خصام

يَمانية تَقضي بحسم خصام

And he solved every difficulty with wisdom

And he resolved all problems with wisdom

Of Yemen, decreeing a decisive end to disputes.

That rules and ends conflict.

وَأَرغم بِالإِنصاف أَنف معاندٍ

وَأَرغم بِالإِنصاف أَنف معاندٍ

ظَلوم سَفيه الرَأي نسلِ لِئام

ظَلوم سَفيه الرَأي نسلِ لِئام

And through justice he rubbed a defiant man's nose in the dust,

And he forced the nose of an unjust, foolish, wicked opponent

An oppressor, foolish in judgment, offspring of the base.

To submit against his will.

وَأَلف ما بَين القُلوب بِرأفة

وَأَلف ما بَين القُلوب بِرأفة

وَغَيث نَوالٍ بالمبرّة هامي

وَغَيث نَوالٍ بالمبرّة هامي

And he united hearts through compassion,

And he united hearts with kindness

And a rain of bounty pouring down in kindness.

And rain of gifts pouring copiously.

وَأَحيا بِتقدير العَزيز مُروءةً

وَأَحيا بِتقدير العَزيز مُروءةً

تحلَّى بِها في مصر جيدُ كِرام

تحلَّى بِها في مصر جيدُ كِرام

And by the Mighty One's decree he revived chivalry,

And he revived with the honoring of the dear one, morals

With which the necks of noble men in Egypt were adorned.

With which the neck of the generous in Egypt was adorned.

وَقابل بالإِحسان عِندَ شِفائه

وَقابل بالإِحسان عِندَ شِفائه

طَبيباً عَن الجسم اللَطيف يُحامي

طَبيباً عَن الجسم اللَطيف يُحامي

And, upon recovering, he repaid with kindness

And when cured, he reciprocated the physician

A physician who defended his delicate body.

Who cared for his delicate body with kindness.

وَأَولاه ما فَوق المُنى بِسَماحة

وَأَولاه ما فَوق المُنى بِسَماحة

ثَناه عَلَيها في المحافل نامي

ثَناه عَلَيها في المحافل نامي

And generously bestowed on him more than he could wish for,

And granted him beyond wishes with generosity

For which praise of him grows in gatherings.

For which he was praised in grand gatherings.

فَلا زالَ مَشكور المَساعي موفَّقاً

فَلا زالَ مَشكور المَساعي موفَّقاً

إِلى الخَير ما لاحَت بدورُ تمام

إِلى الخَير ما لاحَت بدورُ تمام

So may he ever be thanked for his efforts and granted success

So he still has successful efforts with gratitude,

In goodness, as long as full moons shine,

Guided to good until the cycle is complete.

وَما فازَ مِنهُ في الحِمى كُلُّ خائف

وَما فازَ مِنهُ في الحِمى كُلُّ خائف

بِأَمنٍ وَإِنعامٍ وَعزِّ مقام

بِأَمنٍ وَإِنعامٍ وَعزِّ مقام

And as long as every fearful soul gains from him within the sanctuary

And none attained safety in his protection, favor and lofty position

Safety, favor, and an honored station,

Except those in fear.

وَما اِزداد تَشريفاً بِهِ مَدحُ مخلصٍ

وَما اِزداد تَشريفاً بِهِ مَدحُ مخلصٍ

لِعلياه في بدءٍ وَحسن ختام

لِعلياه في بدءٍ وَحسن ختام

And as long as he further ennobles a devoted man's praise

And no sincere praise of his sublime status

Of his eminence, in its opening and graceful close.

Increased at the beginning and good conclusion.