يا أَيُّها المَلك المَنعوت في الكُتبِ

يا أَيُّها المَلك المَنعوت في الكُتبِ

بِالحَزم وَالعَزم بَينَ العَجم وَالعَربِ

بِالحَزم وَالعَزم بَينَ العَجم وَالعَربِ

O king, described in the books

O king renowned in books

as prudent and resolute among non-Arabs and Arabs,

For wisdom and resolve 'mongst Arabs and non-Arabs

وَمَن بِهِ مَصره الغَرّاء طالعها

وَمَن بِهِ مَصره الغَرّاء طالعها

أَضحى سَعيداً وَفازَت مِنهُ بِالأَرب

أَضحى سَعيداً وَفازَت مِنهُ بِالأَرب

And you, through whom your radiant Egypt's star

And he whose starry Egypt rose by it

has become fortunate, and she has gained from you her desire,

Became happy and gained much thereby

لا أَرتجيك لإنجاز الَّذي وَعدت

لا أَرتجيك لإنجاز الَّذي وَعدت

بِهِ مَعاليك مِن بَذلٍ وَمِن رُتب

بِهِ مَعاليك مِن بَذلٍ وَمِن رُتب

I do not appeal to you to fulfill what was promised

I do not plead with you to fulfil

by Your Excellency—bounty and ranks.

The promises your Highness made of gifts and ranks

فَأَنتَ غَيث وَإِنَّ الغَيث عادته

فَأَنتَ غَيث وَإِنَّ الغَيث عادته

يَأتي فيروي بِلا وَعدٍ وَلا طَلَب

يَأتي فيروي بِلا وَعدٍ وَلا طَلَب

For you are life-giving rain, and indeed rain's custom is

For you are a downpour, and a downpour's way

to come and quench thirst without promise or request.

Is to come unasked, pouring boons that none did seek

ولَم تَكُن مِنكَ عَينُ العَدل نائِمَةً

ولَم تَكُن مِنكَ عَينُ العَدل نائِمَةً

عَني وَإن أَدرَكنني حرفة الأَدب

عَني وَإن أَدرَكنني حرفة الأَدب

Nor has your eye of justice slumbered

Nor was the eye of justice sleeping in you

heedless of me, though the ill fortune of letters has overtaken me.

About me, though to making verse my craft I cleave