بأبي قسوراً كَريم المُحيّا

بأبي قسوراً كَريم المُحيّا

صادق الوَعد بِالعُهود وَفيّا

صادق الوَعد بِالعُهود وَفيّا

With my father I would ransom a lion of noble countenance,

By my father as a generous host

True to his promise, faithful to covenants,

True to his word, fulfilling his promises

سافر الحزم في جَميع القَضايا

سافر الحزم في جَميع القَضايا

وَافر العَزم في اللِقا حَيدريا

وَافر العَزم في اللِقا حَيدريا

His firmness manifest in every affair,

Wisely travelling in all affairs

Full of resolve, Haydar-like in battle,

With abundant resolve, brave like Haydar

أَوحَد الطوبجيان خَير أَمير

أَوحَد الطوبجيان خَير أَمير

فَضله عَمَّ دانياً وَقصيا

فَضله عَمَّ دانياً وَقصيا

Peerless among the artillerymen, the finest emir;

The sole pride of the Tuways, the best prince

His bounty has embraced those near and far.

Whose virtues surpass the knowledgeable and ignorant

زادَهُ اللَه رفعة وَسَناء

زادَهُ اللَه رفعة وَسَناء

وَمَقاماً عَلى الدَوام عَليا

وَمَقاماً عَلى الدَوام عَليا

May God increase him in eminence and splendor,

May God grant him glory and splendor

And grant him a lofty station for all time;

And an exalted position forever

وَرَعاه محافظاً لِقلاعٍ

وَرَعاه محافظاً لِقلاعٍ

في بَني مَصر بُكرةً وَعَشيا

في بَني مَصر بُكرةً وَعَشيا

And protect him as guardian of fortresses

And protect him as guardian of fortresses

Among Egypt’s sons, morning and evening.

In Egypt’s sons, morning and evening

قاصماً بالحسام ظَهر عَدوٍّ

قاصماً بالحسام ظَهر عَدوٍّ

كانَ في مَوقف النِزال قَويا

كانَ في مَوقف النِزال قَويا

Breaking with his sword the back of an enemy

Shattering with his sword the back of every foe

Who was strong in the arena of combat;

Who was strong in the field of battle

قاسِماً بَينَ جُنده باجتهاد

قاسِماً بَينَ جُنده باجتهاد

قسمةً لا يَزال فيها رَضيا

قسمةً لا يَزال فيها رَضيا

Apportioning among his troops with diligence

Apportioning among his troops with diligence

An allotment with which he remains content;

A share in which they remain content

ناشِراً في الحُصون أَعلام نَصر

ناشِراً في الحُصون أَعلام نَصر

طاوياً عمر مَن تمرّد طيّا

طاوياً عمر مَن تمرّد طيّا

Unfurling banners of victory in the strongholds,

Raising in the fortresses banners of victory

Folding up, utterly, the life of whoever rebelled;

Folding the life of all who rebelled

محرقاً في الوَغى بِنار هَوان

محرقاً في الوَغى بِنار هَوان

كُلَّ مَن كانَ طاغياً وَعَصيا

كُلَّ مَن كانَ طاغياً وَعَصيا

Burning in battle with the fire of humiliation

Burning in the fray with humiliating fire

Everyone who was tyrannical and rebellious.

Every tyrant and disobedient one

ما تَحلى بِمدحه وَتَباهى

ما تَحلى بِمدحه وَتَباهى

مُخلصٌ مِن نَداه صارَ مَليا

مُخلصٌ مِن نَداه صارَ مَليا

So long as one adorns himself with praise of him and takes pride in it—

He whom a sincere praiser adorns and boasts

A devoted man made wealthy by his bounty—

Becomes weary from his call

وَغَدا في ثَنائه كُلُّ وَقت

وَغَدا في ثَنائه كُلُّ وَقت

هائِماً سالِكاً صِراطاً سَويا

هائِماً سالِكاً صِراطاً سَويا

And becomes, in praising him, at every moment

And starts praising him all the time

Enraptured, treading an upright path;

Wandering, travelling a straight path

طامِعاً في نجاز وَعد كَريم

طامِعاً في نجاز وَعد كَريم

مِنهُ أَضحى عَلى السؤال جريا

مِنهُ أَضحى عَلى السؤال جريا

Hoping for the fulfillment of a generous promise

Longing for the noble's promise to be fulfilled

From him, he has become bold in asking;

He has become quick to answer a request

راجياً مِن عُلاه حسنَ شَمولٍ

راجياً مِن عُلاه حسنَ شَمولٍ

يَجعَل البائس الفَقير غَنيا

يَجعَل البائس الفَقير غَنيا

Hoping from his eminence for kindly, encompassing care

Hoping for his elevation's good favor

That makes the wretched poor man rich;

To make the miserable poor wealthy

باسِطاً بِالدُعاء راحَة عَبدٍ

باسِطاً بِالدُعاء راحَة عَبدٍ

صالح لَم يَزَل صَدوقاً صَفيا

صالح لَم يَزَل صَدوقاً صَفيا

Extending in prayer the palm of a servant—

Spreading with prayer the relief of a servant

Salih, ever truthful and sincere—

Truthful and pure, never ceasing

وَاثِقاً أَنَّهُ يُجاب إِلى ما

وَاثِقاً أَنَّهُ يُجاب إِلى ما

رامَ بَينَ الأَنام ما دامَ حَيا

رامَ بَينَ الأَنام ما دامَ حَيا

Confident that he will be granted what

Confident that he will be answered as long as

He seeks among humankind, as long as he lives.

He lives among people and intends good

كَيفَ لا وَهوَ آمنٌ لَيسَ يَخشى

كَيفَ لا وَهوَ آمنٌ لَيسَ يَخشى

في جِوار الأَمير ظُلماً بَغِيّا

في جِوار الأَمير ظُلماً بَغِيّا

How could he not, when he is safe and does not fear

Why wouldn't he, when he feels safe and has no fear

Oppressive injustice under the emir’s protection?

Of injustice in the prince's company

فَلَكم في حِماه عاشَ نَزيلٌ

فَلَكم في حِماه عاشَ نَزيلٌ

نازحٌ عَن ذَويه عَيشاً هَنيا

نازحٌ عَن ذَويه عَيشاً هَنيا

For how many a guest has lived in his sanctuary,

So many have lived under his protection

Far from his kin, a life of ease!

Refugees far from their people, living comfortably

وَلَكم مَعسرٍ أَصاب يَساراً

وَلَكم مَعسرٍ أَصاب يَساراً

مِنهُ أَمسى بِهِ جَواداً سَخيّا

مِنهُ أَمسى بِهِ جَواداً سَخيّا

And how many a poor man has attained prosperity

And so many afflicted have gained wealth

From him, becoming through it openhanded and generous!

From him they became generous and open-handed

هَذِهِ بَعض ما حَوى مِن خِلال

هَذِهِ بَعض ما حَوى مِن خِلال

كانَ معنُ السَخاء مِنها خَليّا

كانَ معنُ السَخاء مِنها خَليّا

These are some of the virtues he possesses,

These are some of the virtues contained

Of which Ma‘n the Generous was bereft.

In him, while benevolence was their essence