رِياض سَما في عَصره بِسَدادِهِ

رِياض سَما في عَصره بِسَدادِهِ

عَلى كُل مَن أَجرى مَذاكي جيادِهِ

عَلى كُل مَن أَجرى مَذاكي جيادِهِ

Riyad rose above his age through sound judgment,

Riyad rose in his age through his sound judgment,

surpassing all who set their seasoned steeds to race.

Above all who raced their full-grown steeds.

وأَحرَز كُل السَبق في دَولة عَلَت

وأَحرَز كُل السَبق في دَولة عَلَت

بِتَوفيقها العالي حَليف رَشاده

بِتَوفيقها العالي حَليف رَشاده

He won every prize for precedence in a state that rose high

And won complete preeminence in a state that rose

through its exalted good fortune, allied with his guidance.

Through its exalted Tawfiq, ally of his sound judgment.

وَفي خدمة الأَوطان أَبدى كِفايةً

وَفي خدمة الأَوطان أَبدى كِفايةً

تَلوح عَلَيهِ مِن زَمان وَلاده

تَلوح عَلَيهِ مِن زَمان وَلاده

In serving the homelands he displayed a competence

And in serving his homelands, he showed an ability

plain in him from the very moment of his birth.

That had shone in him since the time of his birth.

وَفي نَفعِها ما زاره هاتف الكَرى

وَفي نَفعِها ما زاره هاتف الكَرى

بِلَيل لَهُ فيهِ دَوام سهاده

بِلَيل لَهُ فيهِ دَوام سهاده

While benefiting them, the herald Sleep never visited him

And while serving their good, sleep's herald never visited him

by night; his wakefulness was unceasing.

At night, when his wakefulness was unbroken.

وَلا عاقه يَوماً عَن النُصح عائق

وَلا عاقه يَوماً عَن النُصح عائق

وَلا راعَهُ هَول بِفرط اِزدِياده

وَلا راعَهُ هَول بِفرط اِزدِياده

No obstacle ever kept him from sincere counsel,

No obstacle ever held him back from sincere counsel,

nor did any terror frighten him, however fiercely it grew,

Nor did any terror frighten him, however greatly it grew.

إِلى أَن بَدَت في مَصر أَعلام نَصره

إِلى أَن بَدَت في مَصر أَعلام نَصره

وَفاضَ عَلَيها فَيض نيل اجتِهاده

وَفاضَ عَلَيها فَيض نيل اجتِهاده

until in Egypt the banners of his victory appeared,

Until in Egypt the banners of his victory appeared,

and over them poured the flood—the Nile of his endeavor.

And the Nile-flood of his diligence poured over her.

فَأَحيا لِأَهليها مَواتَ بقاعها

فَأَحيا لِأَهليها مَواتَ بقاعها

وَأَروى رَوابيها بِماء عهاده

وَأَروى رَوابيها بِماء عهاده

He revived for its people the dead expanses of its lands

So he revived for her people the barren tracts of her land,

and watered its uplands with the water of his pledged care.

And watered her uplands with the water of his showers.

لَهُ اللَه مِن شَهم دعاه عزيزها

لَهُ اللَه مِن شَهم دعاه عزيزها

لِتأييدها في حفظها بِجِهاده

لِتأييدها في حفظها بِجِهاده

God preserve him—what a valiant man! Egypt's mighty sovereign summoned him

God be with him, that gallant man whom her ruler summoned

to support her and defend her through his striving.

To strengthen her, safeguarding her through his striving.

فَلبّاه مِن دار الأَجانب عائِداً

فَلبّاه مِن دار الأَجانب عائِداً

إِلى الوَطن المألوف طبق مراده

إِلى الوَطن المألوف طبق مراده

He answered from the land of foreigners, returning

So he answered him, returning from the land of foreigners

to the familiar homeland, exactly as he desired.

To his familiar homeland, in keeping with his wish.

وَقامَ بِأَعباء الرِسالة وَاثِقاً

وَقامَ بِأَعباء الرِسالة وَاثِقاً

مِن اللَه في دَفع العَنا عَن عِباده

مِن اللَه في دَفع العَنا عَن عِباده

He shouldered the burdens of the mission, confident,

And shouldered the mission's burdens, confident

trusting God to ward affliction from His servants.

In God as he warded hardship from His servants.

وَجرّد لِلباغي مِن العَدل مُرهَفاً

وَجرّد لِلباغي مِن العَدل مُرهَفاً

بِهِ صَدَّهَ عَن غَيِّه وَعِناده

بِهِ صَدَّهَ عَن غَيِّه وَعِناده

Against the aggressor he unsheathed a sharpened sword of justice,

And against the transgressor unsheathed a keen blade of justice,

and with it repelled him from his error and obstinacy.

With which he turned him from his waywardness and defiance.

وَأَصبح مَقصوص الجَناح مشرّداً

وَأَصبح مَقصوص الجَناح مشرّداً

بِما قَد جَنى مِن جَورهِ وَفَساده

بِما قَد جَنى مِن جَورهِ وَفَساده

The aggressor became wing-clipped and scattered

And he became a clipped-wing outcast,

for the tyranny and corruption he had committed.

For the tyranny and corruption he had committed.

يَعضّ عَلى كَفيهِ مِنهُ نَدامة

يَعضّ عَلى كَفيهِ مِنهُ نَدامة

لِتفريطه في عَيشه وَمَعاده

لِتفريطه في عَيشه وَمَعاده

He bites both hands because of it, in remorse

He bites both his palms in remorse for it,

for squandering both his worldly life and his hereafter.

For his neglect of his life and his hereafter.

وَعَما قَليل في جَهنم يَنزوي

وَعَما قَليل في جَهنم يَنزوي

عَلى أَثر المَدحور أَهل وِداده

عَلى أَثر المَدحور أَهل وِداده

Before long he will cower in Hell,

And before long they will cower in Hell,

with the vanquished man's adherents following in his wake.

Those devoted to him, in the vanquished man's wake.

وَتَنتَظم الأَحوال في ظل عادل

وَتَنتَظم الأَحوال في ظل عادل

تَدوم رَصيناتٍ أُصولُ عِماده

تَدوم رَصيناتٍ أُصولُ عِماده

Affairs will fall into order beneath a just ruler

And affairs fall into order in a just ruler's shade,

whose firm principles—the foundations of his power—will endure.

The foundations of his pillars remaining firm.

وَيَتخذ البَدر المُنير بِمُلكه

وَيَتخذ البَدر المُنير بِمُلكه

لَدَيهِ وِساداً تَحتَ نَفس وِساده

لَدَيهِ وِساداً تَحتَ نَفس وِساده

Within his realm he takes the radiant full moon

And in his realm he takes the shining full moon

as a cushion beneath his very pillow.

As a pillow at his side, beneath his very own pillow.

وَيَبقى عَلى طُول الزَمان مُؤيداً

وَيَبقى عَلى طُول الزَمان مُؤيداً

بِنَصر عَزيز في حُصون مهاده

بِنَصر عَزيز في حُصون مهاده

Throughout all time he shall remain supported

And through all time he remains upheld

by mighty victory within the strongholds of his realm.

By mighty victory in the strongholds of his abode.

وَيَخدمه هذا المُشير كَما يَشا

وَيَخدمه هذا المُشير كَما يَشا

بِدَولته في طارف بِتلاده

بِدَولته في طارف بِتلاده

This minister serves him just as he wishes,

And this marshal serves him as he wishes,

throughout his reign, in new acquisitions and inherited possessions.

In his state, in new holdings alongside his ancestral ones.

فَما مِثله في جَدِّه وَاِهتمامه

فَما مِثله في جَدِّه وَاِهتمامه

وَيقظته في حُكمه وَاِنتِقاده

وَيقظته في حُكمه وَاِنتِقاده

None equals him in earnestness and diligence,

For none is his equal in his earnestness and care,

in vigilance, judgment, and searching scrutiny.

And his vigilance in judgment and discernment.

وَلَيسَ لَهُ فيما نَراه مَناظر

وَلَيسَ لَهُ فيما نَراه مَناظر

يُناظره في حَزمه وَسَداده

يُناظره في حَزمه وَسَداده

As far as we can see, he has no peer

And, as we see it, he has no rival

to match him in prudence and sound judgment.

To match him in resolve and sound judgment.

وَطاعَته فَرض عَلى كُل عاقل

وَطاعَته فَرض عَلى كُل عاقل

يقابل مَولاه بِحُسن اِنقياده

يقابل مَولاه بِحُسن اِنقياده

Obedience to him is a duty for every rational man

And obedience to him is a duty for every sensible person

who meets his sovereign with gracious submission.

Who meets his master with dutiful submission.

فَلَولاه ما ردّت بِأَمر مَظالم

فَلَولاه ما ردّت بِأَمر مَظالم

وَلا راج بَيت المال بَعد كَساده

وَلا راج بَيت المال بَعد كَساده

Were it not for him, grievances would not have been redressed by decree,

For without him, no wrongs would have been redressed by decree,

nor would the public treasury have revived after its stagnation.

Nor would the treasury have flourished after its stagnation;

وَلا مُستحق حازَ باقي حُقوقه

وَلا مُستحق حازَ باقي حُقوقه

بِمَصر من الإيراد قَبل نَفاده

بِمَصر من الإيراد قَبل نَفاده

No rightful claimant would have obtained the balance of his dues

Nor would a rightful claimant have received the rest of his dues

in Egypt from the revenues before they ran out.

In Egypt, from the revenue before its depletion;

وَلا خَفَ حمل الدين عَن كاهل الوَرى

وَلا خَفَ حمل الدين عَن كاهل الوَرى

وَلا جفن مَخمور صَحا مِن رُقاده

وَلا جفن مَخمور صَحا مِن رُقاده

The burden of debt would not have eased from the people's shoulders,

Nor would the burden of debt have eased from the people's shoulders,

nor would a sleep-heavy eyelid have awakened from its slumber.

Nor would a drunken eyelid have awakened from its slumber;

وَلا خَمدت نيرانُ قَومٍ قَضوا عَلى

وَلا خَمدت نيرانُ قَومٍ قَضوا عَلى

زَعيم لَهُم مِن جَهلِهم بِبعاده

زَعيم لَهُم مِن جَهلِهم بِبعاده

Nor would the fires of a people have died down who had resolved

Nor would the fires of a people have died down, who condemned

in their ignorance to banish a leader of their own.

A leader of theirs, in their ignorance, to banishment.

وَلَولاه لَم تَربح تِجارةُ تاجرٍ

وَلَولاه لَم تَربح تِجارةُ تاجرٍ

وَلا جازَ زَرع بِالغِنى في حَصاده

وَلا جازَ زَرع بِالغِنى في حَصاده

Without him, no merchant's trade would have stirred,

And without him, no merchant's trade would have profited,

nor would any crop have attained abundance at harvest.

Nor would a crop have brought wealth at its harvest.

فَيا أَيُّها الصَدر الَّذي كانَ دائِماً

فَيا أَيُّها الصَدر الَّذي كانَ دائِماً

يُدافع عَن أَوطانهِ بِانفراده

يُدافع عَن أَوطانهِ بِانفراده

O Grand Vizier, who has always

So, O chief minister, who has always

defended his homelands single-handedly,

Defended his homelands single-handedly,

وَيَحمي حِماه وَحده بِثَباته

وَيَحمي حِماه وَحده بِثَباته

وَلِلخَطب كرٌّ حَوله بِسَواده

وَلِلخَطب كرٌّ حَوله بِسَواده

and alone protects his domain through his steadfastness,

And alone protects his domain through his steadfastness,

though calamity circles him in all its blackness:

While calamity charges around him with its dark host:

لَكَ النَصر تَوفيقٌ خديويُّ مَصرِه

لَكَ النَصر تَوفيقٌ خديويُّ مَصرِه

ظَهيرُك في أَجنادِهِ بِفُؤاده

ظَهيرُك في أَجنادِهِ بِفُؤاده

Victory is yours. Tawfiq, Khedive of Egypt,

Victory is yours; Tawfiq, Khedive of his Egypt,

is your supporter—with his troops and with his heart.

Is your supporter among his troops, with all his heart.

وَدُونك مني في الهَنا بِنت لَيلة

وَدُونك مني في الهَنا بِنت لَيلة

تَزف من الإقبال فَوقَ جَواده

تَزف من الإقبال فَوقَ جَواده

Here, take from me amid the rejoicing an ode born in one night,

And take from me, in celebration, a daughter of one night,

borne to you by good fortune upon its steed.

Borne as a bride by good fortune upon its steed.

وَقَد صاغَها مِن خالص الدر مخلص

وَقَد صاغَها مِن خالص الدر مخلص

لَعلياك قَد أَلقى زمام قِياده

لَعلياك قَد أَلقى زمام قِياده

A sincere devotee fashioned it from the purest pearls,

And a devoted man has fashioned her from pure pearls,

one who has cast the reins of his submission before your highness.

To your eminence he has yielded the reins of his submission.

فَعش رافِلاً في حلة العز ما حَلا

فَعش رافِلاً في حلة العز ما حَلا

لِصَب مَدى الدُنيا وَصال سُعاده

لِصَب مَدى الدُنيا وَصال سُعاده

Live, then, trailing your robes in the garment of glory, as long

So live, trailing the robe of glory, as long as

as union with his Su'ad delights a lover throughout his life;

Union with his Suad is sweet to a lover throughout this world's span;

وَما جاءَ فَرمان الوزارة ناطِقاً

وَما جاءَ فَرمان الوزارة ناطِقاً

بِمَدحك عِندَ العَرض بَعدَ اعتِماده

بِمَدحك عِندَ العَرض بَعدَ اعتِماده

as long as the decree of the vizierate comes forth proclaiming

And as long as the ministerial firman comes proclaiming

your praise upon its presentation, after its ratification;

Your praise upon presentation, after its approval;

وَما قالَ مَجدي في التَهاني مُؤرِّخاً

وَما قالَ مَجدي في التَهاني مُؤرِّخاً

رِياض وَزير واحد بِبِلاده

رِياض وَزير واحد بِبِلاده

and as Majdi said in congratulations, setting the date in a chronogram:

And as long as Magdi says in congratulations, giving a chronogram:

“Riyad is a peerless minister in his land.”

Riyad is the peerless minister in his land.