طابَ الوِصال بِلا جام وَإِبريقِ

طابَ الوِصال بِلا جام وَإِبريقِ

فَهاتَ لي في التَهاني خَمرة الريقِ

فَهاتَ لي في التَهاني خَمرة الريقِ

Sweet is union, without goblet or ewer.

Union is sweet without goblet or ewer.

Then bring me, amid congratulations, the wine of your mouth.

So bring me, amid congratulations, the wine of your saliva.

وَناوِليني مِن الخَدّين ثانيةً

وَناوِليني مِن الخَدّين ثانيةً

ما اِحتاج بِالطَبع صافيها لِترويق

ما اِحتاج بِالطَبع صافيها لِترويق

And hand me a second draught from your two cheeks;

And offer me a second draught from your two cheeks;

naturally pure, it needs no clarification.

Its pure wine naturally needs no clarification.

وَلا تضنّي بِها بخلاً فَما حرمت

وَلا تضنّي بِها بخلاً فَما حرمت

مَع الحلال عَلى إِلفٍ وَصدّيق

مَع الحلال عَلى إِلفٍ وَصدّيق

Do not grudge it me out of stinginess, for it is not forbidden

And do not begrudge it out of stinginess, for it is not forbidden

with a lawful spouse, in intimacy and lovemaking.

Within lawful bounds, to a lover and a true friend.

وَلا نهى الشَرع عَن تَعزيز لذَّتِها

وَلا نهى الشَرع عَن تَعزيز لذَّتِها

بضمّ قامة مَيّاس وَمَعشوق

بضمّ قامة مَيّاس وَمَعشوق

Nor has sacred law forbidden heightening its delight

Nor has religious law forbidden heightening its pleasure

by embracing a swaying, beloved form,

By embracing a swaying, beloved figure,

يَرنو بِفاتك أَلحاظ حَواجبُها

يَرنو بِفاتك أَلحاظ حَواجبُها

شَبيهةٌ بقسيٍّ عِندَ تَفويق

شَبيهةٌ بقسيٍّ عِندَ تَفويق

who casts the deadly glances of his brows,

Who gazes with deadly glances, whose eyebrows

like bows when arrows are fitted to the string.

Resemble bows as arrows are nocked.

فُديتِ لا تُشمِتي بِالمطل عاذلتي

فُديتِ لا تُشمِتي بِالمطل عاذلتي

فَقَد نما فيك تَعذيبي وَتَأريقي

فَقَد نما فيك تَعذيبي وَتَأريقي

I would ransom you—do not, by delaying, let my censor gloat;

May I be your ransom! Do not let my reproacher gloat at your delay,

for through you my torment and sleeplessness have grown.

For my torment and sleeplessness on your account have grown.

وَكادَ سُهدي بِإِسراري يَبوح لِمَن

وَكادَ سُهدي بِإِسراري يَبوح لِمَن

لَم يَدرِ وَجداً أُواريه بِتلفيق

لَم يَدرِ وَجداً أُواريه بِتلفيق

My wakefulness almost betrayed my secret to one

And my sleeplessness almost betrays what I conceal to one

who knew nothing of the passion I hide with feigned excuses.

Who knows nothing of the longing I hide with pretenses.

وَالدَمعُ لَولا ثَباتي في الغَرام جَرى

وَالدَمعُ لَولا ثَباتي في الغَرام جَرى

مِن مُقلَتي تَحتَ أَقدامي بِتدفيق

مِن مُقلَتي تَحتَ أَقدامي بِتدفيق

But for the restraint of my constancy in love, tears would have poured

And tears, but for my steadfastness in love, would have flowed

from my eyes beneath my feet in torrents.

From my eye beneath my feet in torrents.

يا صاح خلِّ سَبيل الراهبين وَلا

يا صاح خلِّ سَبيل الراهبين وَلا

تَرغب عَن النسل أَو تركن لِتعويق

تَرغب عَن النسل أَو تركن لِتعويق

Friend, leave the path of monks, and do not

Friend, abandon the monks’ path, and do not

turn away from offspring or incline toward hindering it.

Shun offspring or yield to impediments.

فَما بَدا درُّ ثَغرِ الدَهرِ مُبتسماً

فَما بَدا درُّ ثَغرِ الدَهرِ مُبتسماً

إِلا بِأَعياد تَفريح وَتَشريق

إِلا بِأَعياد تَفريح وَتَشريق

Never do the pearls of Time’s smiling mouth appear

For Time’s mouth has never shown its pearls in a smile

except at festivals of joy and radiant celebration;

Except at festivals of rejoicing and the days of Tashriq,

أَو في مَواسم تَأهيلٍ أَهلّتُها

أَو في مَواسم تَأهيلٍ أَهلّتُها

مُضيئةٌ بَينَ هالات وَتَطويق

مُضيئةٌ بَينَ هالات وَتَطويق

or during seasons of marriage, whose crescents rise

Or in seasons of marriage, whose crescent moons

shining amid halos and encircling rings;

Shine amid halos and encircling rings,

أَو في زَواج وليّ العَهد مَن طُبعت

أَو في زَواج وليّ العَهد مَن طُبعت

لَهُ القُلوب عَلى ودّ وَتَوميق

لَهُ القُلوب عَلى ودّ وَتَوميق

or at the wedding of the crown prince, for whom

Or at the crown prince’s wedding—he for whom were fashioned

hearts were fashioned in affection and longing.

Hearts with affection and ardent love.

فَاشرح صَدور المَوالي بِالثَناء عَلى

فَاشرح صَدور المَوالي بِالثَناء عَلى

عَلياه وَانظم لآليه بتنسيق

عَلياه وَانظم لآليه بتنسيق

So gladden the loyalists’ hearts by praising

So gladden the followers’ hearts with praise of

his high estate, and string its pearls in ordered verse.

His eminence, and string his pearls in ordered sequence.

وَاركض مَعي في مَيادين المَديح وَقل

وَاركض مَعي في مَيادين المَديح وَقل

ما شئت في وَصفه مِن بَعد تَنميق

ما شئت في وَصفه مِن بَعد تَنميق

Gallop with me through the fields of panegyric, and say

And gallop with me through the arenas of praise, and say

whatever you wish in describing him, once duly adorned.

Whatever you wish in describing him, after polishing the words.

فَإِنَّهُ خَيرُ مَولود لخير أَب

فَإِنَّهُ خَيرُ مَولود لخير أَب

وَليدُه لِلمَعالي خَير مَخلوق

وَليدُه لِلمَعالي خَير مَخلوق

For the son is the finest child of the finest father—

For he is the best child born to the best father,

and his father, for lofty deeds, the finest creature

Whose son is the finest being for lofty achievements.

حَيث المهيمن مِن لُطف وَمِن كَرَم

حَيث المهيمن مِن لُطف وَمِن كَرَم

أَنشاه في عَصر تَشريف وَتَشويق

أَنشاه في عَصر تَشريف وَتَشويق

of the Sovereign, Possessor of kingship, in virtue and generosity.

For the Guardian, in kindness and generosity,

He raised him in an age of honor and eager hope.

Brought him forth in an age of honor and kindled longing,

وَأَيد الملك وَالدين القَويمَ بِهِ

وَأَيد الملك وَالدين القَويمَ بِهِ

في دَولة ذات تَمكين وَتَوثيق

في دَولة ذات تَمكين وَتَوثيق

Through him He strengthened kingship and the upright faith

And strengthened sovereignty and the upright faith through him,

within a firmly empowered, securely founded state—

Within a firmly established and securely consolidated state;

في دَولة لخديوي مصر راضيةٍ

في دَولة لخديوي مصر راضيةٍ

عَنهُ لِما فيهِ مِن حلم وَتَدقيق

عَنهُ لِما فيهِ مِن حلم وَتَدقيق

a realm of Egypt’s Khedive, content

In the realm of Egypt’s khedive, well pleased

with him for the forbearance and discernment within him.

With him for his forbearance and meticulous judgment.

يا أَيُّها الصَدر أَنتَ البَدر في أُفق

يا أَيُّها الصَدر أَنتَ البَدر في أُفق

تَهواك شَمس الضُحى فيهِ بِتحقيق

تَهواك شَمس الضُحى فيهِ بِتحقيق

O chief minister, you are the full moon in a firmament

O chief, you are the full moon on a horizon

where the morning sun truly longs for you.

Where the morning sun truly loves you.

وَمِنكَ تَأتي بِأَشبال غَطارفة

وَمِنكَ تَأتي بِأَشبال غَطارفة

يَخشاهمُ كُلُّ جبارٍ وَزنديق

يَخشاهمُ كُلُّ جبارٍ وَزنديق

From you come noble, lionhearted sons

And from you she will bring forth noble lion cubs,

feared by every tyrant and heretic,

Whom every tyrant and heretic fears.

وَيتقي بَأَسَهُم في كُلِّ مُعتركٍ

وَيتقي بَأَسَهُم في كُلِّ مُعتركٍ

صَعبُ الشَكيمة مِن أَبناء عمليق

صَعبُ الشَكيمة مِن أَبناء عمليق

whose might is dreaded in every battlefield

And their might on every battlefield is dreaded

by the iron-willed descendants of ʿAmliq.

By the unyielding among the sons of Amliq.

وَيَنشرون لِواء العَدل في وَطَن

وَيَنشرون لِواء العَدل في وَطَن

لِلعلم فيهِ غُصونٌ ذاتُ تَوريق

لِلعلم فيهِ غُصونٌ ذاتُ تَوريق

They will spread the banner of justice in a homeland

And they unfurl the banner of justice in a homeland

where learning has branches thick with leaves.

Where learning has branches that put forth leaves.

وَكَيفَ لا وَمقالاتي أَدلَّتُها

وَكَيفَ لا وَمقالاتي أَدلَّتُها

غَنية فيكَ عَن نَصٍّ بِتَصديق

غَنية فيكَ عَن نَصٍّ بِتَصديق

How could it be otherwise, when my own verses are its proofs,

And how could it be otherwise? The proofs of my words

and, in your case, need no cited text to confirm them?

Need no written confirmation in your case.

فَقَد مَلأت بِقاع الأَرض أَجمعها

فَقَد مَلأت بِقاع الأَرض أَجمعها

بِنُور إِنصاف ذي حَقٍّ وَمَحقوق

بِنُور إِنصاف ذي حَقٍّ وَمَحقوق

You have filled every region of the earth

For you have filled all the regions of the earth

with the light of equity for claimant and respondent alike.

With the light of justice for those with rights and those deprived of them.

وَنِلتَ مَنزلة لا شَكَ أَنتَ لَها

وَنِلتَ مَنزلة لا شَكَ أَنتَ لَها

أَهل بِمَجدٍ تَليدٍ غَير مَسبوق

أَهل بِمَجدٍ تَليدٍ غَير مَسبوق

You have attained a station—you are doubtless worthy of it—

And you have attained a rank for which you are, without doubt,

through ancient glory no one has surpassed.

Worthy, with ancestral glory none has surpassed.

وَبِالخُصوص فَفي الأَحكام رَأيُك قَد

وَبِالخُصوص فَفي الأَحكام رَأيُك قَد

أَضاءَ في كُل مَفهوم وَمَنطوق

أَضاءَ في كُل مَفهوم وَمَنطوق

Above all, in judgments, your opinion has

And especially in rulings, your judgment has

illuminated every implication and express wording.

Cast light on every implicit and explicit meaning.

هَيهات يبلغ فيكَ الحَمدُ غايته

هَيهات يبلغ فيكَ الحَمدُ غايته

مِن ناظم ما حَذا حَذو ابن مَعتوق

مِن ناظم ما حَذا حَذو ابن مَعتوق

Far indeed is praise from reaching its utmost in you

Praise of you can never reach its full measure

when voiced by a versifier who has not matched Ibn Maʿtuq’s stride—

From a poet who has not followed Ibn Maʿtuq’s example,

مِن ناظم قلّ أَن تحوى قَريحتُه

مِن ناظم قلّ أَن تحوى قَريحتُه

مِن الصِفات سِوى معشار مَطروق

مِن الصِفات سِوى معشار مَطروق

by a versifier whose gift can scarcely encompass

From a poet whose inspiration can scarcely encompass

even a tenth of the qualities already celebrated.

More than a tenth of the qualities already described.

تِلكَ الصِفات التي اِزدانَت بِها كُتبٌ

تِلكَ الصِفات التي اِزدانَت بِها كُتبٌ

لَم تُحصَ بِالعدِّ في سردٍ وَتعليق

لَم تُحصَ بِالعدِّ في سردٍ وَتعليق

Those are the qualities with which books have been adorned,

Those qualities with which books have been adorned,

too many to number in recital or commentary.

Too numerous to count, in exposition and commentary.

لا زلت في الدَولة الغَرّا بِها عَضداً

لا زلت في الدَولة الغَرّا بِها عَضداً

ما اِزداد لِلّه شُكراً كُلُّ مَرزوق

ما اِزداد لِلّه شُكراً كُلُّ مَرزوق

May you remain, through them, a pillar of the illustrious state

May you ever remain the illustrious state’s supporting arm,

as long as every blessed soul grows in gratitude to God;

As long as all who receive sustenance grow more thankful to God;

وَما سُررتَ بِهم مَع إِخوة نُبَلا

وَما سُررتَ بِهم مَع إِخوة نُبَلا

لِكُل مَدح عَلَيهم حسنُ تَطبيق

لِكُل مَدح عَلَيهم حسنُ تَطبيق

and may you rejoice in them alongside noble brothers,

And as long as you rejoice in them, with noble brothers,

upon each of whom every praise sits well;

To whom every praise fittingly applies;

وَما اِبتَهجت بِأَبطال سيوفُهم

وَما اِبتَهجت بِأَبطال سيوفُهم

بِالفَصل تحكم في الأَعناق وَالسُوق

بِالفَصل تحكم في الأَعناق وَالسُوق

and delight in heroes whose swords

And as long as you delight in heroes whose swords

render decisive judgment upon necks and shanks;

Pass judgment by severing necks and shins;

وَما اِفتَخرت بإسماعيل في ملأٍ

وَما اِفتَخرت بإسماعيل في ملأٍ

مِن المُلوك عَلى أَضراب برقوق

مِن المُلوك عَلى أَضراب برقوق

and take pride in Ismaʿil before an assembly

And as long as you glory in Ismaʿil before an assembly

of kings, above the peers of Barquq;

Of kings, above the likes of Barquq;

وَما اِزدَهى يَوم أنسٍ بِالزَفاف بِهِ

وَما اِزدَهى يَوم أنسٍ بِالزَفاف بِهِ

لِلبَدر وَالشَمس لذّاتٌ بِتَعشيق

لِلبَدر وَالشَمس لذّاتٌ بِتَعشيق

and may a day of wedding fellowship shine splendidly through him,

And as long as a day of delight glows with the wedding,

with moon and sun joined in the delights of union.

Where the full moon and sun savor the pleasures of loving union;

أَو قالَ مَجدي بإِخلاص يؤرخه

أَو قالَ مَجدي بإِخلاص يؤرخه

بِناء يُمنٍ عَلى شمس لِتَوفيق

بِناء يُمنٍ عَلى شمس لِتَوفيق

Or Majdi said, sincerely setting its date:

Or Majdi says sincerely, recording its date:

“An edifice of good fortune upon a sun, for Tawfiq.”

An auspicious marriage to a sun for Tawfiq.