شُغفتُ بضمّ الغيد مِن عَهد نَشأتي

شُغفتُ بضمّ الغيد مِن عَهد نَشأتي

وَهِمتُ بِلَثم الجيد في مَهد صَبوَتي

وَهِمتُ بِلَثم الجيد في مَهد صَبوَتي

I have been enamored of embracing graceful maidens since my earliest days.

Since my youth I have yearned to embrace the tender branch,

And I was enraptured by kissing the neck in the cradle of my youthful passion.

And dreamed of kissing the soft cheek in the cradle of my adolescence.

وَصلّيت بِالعشاق في مَسجد الهَوى

وَصلّيت بِالعشاق في مَسجد الهَوى

إِماماً لِزُهدي في الغَرام وَعفَّتي

إِماماً لِزُهدي في الغَرام وَعفَّتي

And I led the lovers in prayer in the mosque of love,

I prayed with lovers in the mosque of passion,

As imam, for my abstinence in passion and my chastity.

As imam leading my abstinence in love and chastity.

وَآثرت ذلي في الصَبابة بِالَّتي

وَآثرت ذلي في الصَبابة بِالَّتي

سَبتني عَلى عزي وَجاهي وَرفعَتي

سَبتني عَلى عزي وَجاهي وَرفعَتي

And I preferred my abasement in longing for her

I preferred the one who elevated me in my prime

Who captivated me, over my honor, standing, and exalted rank.

Over my glory, status, and loftiness.

وَخاطَرتُ وَحدي في لقاء عَواذلٍ

وَخاطَرتُ وَحدي في لقاء عَواذلٍ

تَمادوا عَلى حَربي بِروحي وَمُهجَتي

تَمادوا عَلى حَربي بِروحي وَمُهجَتي

And alone, in confronting reproachers, I risked

I risked myself alone to meet charming rogues

My soul and heart's blood, as they persisted in their war against me.

Who continued to fight me with my soul and my skull.

وَأَلقيتُ نَفسي في مَهاوي مَهالك

وَأَلقيتُ نَفسي في مَهاوي مَهالك

بِها طابَ لي كأسُ الرَدى دُونَ سَلوَتي

بِها طابَ لي كأسُ الرَدى دُونَ سَلوَتي

And I cast myself into abysses of deadly peril,

I flung myself into deadly abysses

Where the cup of death was sweeter to me than forgetting my love.

Where the cup of misguidance tasted sweet without my sobriety.

وَبِالصَبر جاءَ النَصر وَالفَتح وَانقضت

وَبِالصَبر جاءَ النَصر وَالفَتح وَانقضت

لَيالي رَقيب كانَ مغرىً بِقتلتي

لَيالي رَقيب كانَ مغرىً بِقتلتي

And through patience came victory and conquest, and ended

With patience came triumph and victory, and there passed

The nights of a watcher who was bent on killing me.

The nights of the sentinel who had been tempted to kill me.

وَفُزت بِوَعدٍ مِن سليمى وَإِنَّني

وَفُزت بِوَعدٍ مِن سليمى وَإِنَّني

عَلى ثقة مِن أَنَّهُ وَعدُ عزة

عَلى ثقة مِن أَنَّهُ وَعدُ عزة

And I won a promise from Sulayma, and indeed I

And I won a promise from my Sulayma, and indeed

Am certain that it is a promise of ʿAzza.

I am confident that it is a promise of honor, not betrayal.

وَما مطلها في مذهب الحُب عَن قلى

وَما مطلها في مذهب الحُب عَن قلى

تَميل بِهِ في سَيرِها عَن مَودّتي

تَميل بِهِ في سَيرِها عَن مَودّتي

Nor is her delay, in love's creed, born of aversion

It was not her doctrine in love to turn away from my heart

Through which she would turn, in her course, from loving me.

Which inclined along its path away from my affection,

وَلَكنها قَد صَدّها عَن وَفائِها

وَلَكنها قَد صَدّها عَن وَفائِها

مَديحي لِخَير الدين في خَير دَولة

مَديحي لِخَير الدين في خَير دَولة

Yet she has been kept from fulfilling her promise

But rather she was prevented from keeping faith

By my praise of Khayr al-Din in the finest realm.

By my praising the best of religion in the best state—

لَهُ اللَه مِن صَدرٍ نَبيلٍ بِتُونسٍ

لَهُ اللَه مِن صَدرٍ نَبيلٍ بِتُونسٍ

يدبّر أَمر الملك فيهِ بِهمة

يدبّر أَمر الملك فيهِ بِهمة

God bless him—what a noble chief minister in Tunis!

To whom God gave, in the breast of Tunis,

There he directs the kingdom's affairs with resolve.

A noble heart to manage the affairs of the kingdom with resolve

وَينصر بالآراء سُلطانها الَّذي

وَينصر بالآراء سُلطانها الَّذي

هُوَ الصادق السامي مَلاذ البَرية

هُوَ الصادق السامي مَلاذ البَرية

And with counsel supports its sultan, who

And support its sultan’s authority—he who is truthful and sublime, sanctuary of humankind,

Is the exalted al-Sadiq, humankind's refuge.

Successor to the Prophet’s descendants, inherited from his father and noble ancestors,

خَليفة أَبناء البتول وَراثة

خَليفة أَبناء البتول وَراثة

لَهُ عن أَبيه وَالجُدود الأَجلة

لَهُ عن أَبيه وَالجُدود الأَجلة

Successor to the sons of al-Batul, through an inheritance

Protector of the sanctity of his homelands with valor,

Passed to him from his father and illustrious forebears.

Bringing low the tyrant, hard of will,

وَحامي حِمى أَوطانه بِبَسالة

وَحامي حِمى أَوطانه بِبَسالة

يَلين لَها الجَبار صَعب الشَكيمة

يَلين لَها الجَبار صَعب الشَكيمة

And defender of his homelands' bounds, with valor

And here he is resurrecting, through it, every institution

Before which the mighty man, stubborn of will, grows meek.

Of Idris, its patron, the imam of imams,

وَها هُوَ قَد أَحيا بِها كُلَّ دارس

وَها هُوَ قَد أَحيا بِها كُلَّ دارس

لإدريس مَولاها إِمام الأَئمة

لإدريس مَولاها إِمام الأَئمة

And behold, he has revived there every faded trace

And appointing to this breast, in the shade of his justice,

Of Idris, its lord, imam of imams.

The direct execution of judgments among the people—

وَناطَ بِهَذا الصَدر في ظل عَدله

وَناطَ بِهَذا الصَدر في ظل عَدله

مُباشرة الأَحكام بَينَ الرَعية

مُباشرة الأَحكام بَينَ الرَعية

And entrusted to this chief minister, beneath the shade of his justice,

So he took up the duties and governed it

The administration of rulings among the subjects.

As his patron desired, with wisdom and resolve.

فَقامَ لَها بِالواجِبات وَساسَها

فَقامَ لَها بِالواجِبات وَساسَها

كَما شاءَ مَولاه بِحَزم وَحكمة

كَما شاءَ مَولاه بِحَزم وَحكمة

So he fulfilled his duties toward them and governed them

And how could it not be so when he is deserving, due to his superiority,

As his lord wished, with resolve and wisdom.

To outstrip all peers in every faith,

وَكَيفَ وَقَد أَضحى جَديراً لِفَضله

وَكَيفَ وَقَد أَضحى جَديراً لِفَضله

بِسَبق عَلى الأَقران في كُل ملَّة

بِسَبق عَلى الأَقران في كُل ملَّة

And how could it be otherwise, when his excellence has made him worthy

And, for what he was granted of knowledge, intelligence,

Of precedence over his peers in every faith?

And support of God’s religion, the highest rank?

وَنالَ بِما أُوتي مِن العلم والذكا

وَنالَ بِما أُوتي مِن العلم والذكا

وَتَأييد دين اللَه أَعظَم رتبة

وَتَأييد دين اللَه أَعظَم رتبة

And he has attained, through the knowledge and intelligence bestowed on him,

So O you who surpassed all creation in virtues

And through upholding God's religion, the highest rank.

Beyond enumeration, for they are too many to count,

فَيا ذا الَّذي سادَ الوَرى بِمنَاقب

فَيا ذا الَّذي سادَ الوَرى بِمنَاقب

تَجل عَن الإِحصاء إِذ هِيَ عُدّت

تَجل عَن الإِحصاء إِذ هِيَ عُدّت

So, O you who have surpassed humankind through virtues

O you through whom the sun of knowledge dawned

Too great to number whenever they are counted!

And illuminated the cosmos in every place,

وَيا مَن بِهِ شَمس المَعارف أَشرَقَت

وَيا مَن بِهِ شَمس المَعارف أَشرَقَت

وَمِنها أَضاء الكَون في كُل بُقعة

وَمِنها أَضاء الكَون في كُل بُقعة

And O you through whom the sun of learning has risen,

O scholar whose benefit encompassed

And from it the universe took light in every place.

All of God's servants universally,

وَيا عالماً في واحد عم نَفعه

وَيا عالماً في واحد عم نَفعه

جَميع عِباد اللَه في كُل وجهة

جَميع عِباد اللَه في كُل وجهة

And O world embodied in one man, whose benefit has reached

O you through whom the hand of leadership reached

All God's servants in every direction.

Above the celestial spheres, beyond the qualified,

وَيا مَن بِهِ دست الصَدارة قَد سَما

وَيا مَن بِهِ دست الصَدارة قَد سَما

عَلى فلك الأَفلاك فَوق الأَهلة

عَلى فلك الأَفلاك فَوق الأَهلة

And O you through whom the throne of high office has soared,

O you whom the assemblies constantly praise

Above the sphere of spheres, over the crescent moons.

For every servant owes clear duties,

وَيا مَن ثَناه في المحافل دائِماً

وَيا مَن ثَناه في المحافل دائِماً

عَلى كُل عَبدٍ واجبٌ بِأَدلة

عَلى كُل عَبدٍ واجبٌ بِأَدلة

And O you whose praise in assemblies is always

O you who, when called, answers those who come to you

A duty upon every servant, as proofs attest.

With resolve to repel affliction,

وَيا مَن إِذا نودي أَجاب مَن التَجا

وَيا مَن إِذا نودي أَجاب مَن التَجا

إليه بِإِقدام لدفع ملمة

إليه بِإِقدام لدفع ملمة

And O you who, when called, answer whoever seeks refuge

O you whom even the fierce lion fears when

In you, boldly coming forward to ward off calamity.

He transgresses against one under your protection,

وَيا مَن يَهاب اللَيث سَطوته إِذا

وَيا مَن يَهاب اللَيث سَطوته إِذا

تَعدّى عَلى من فازَ مِنهُ بذمة

تَعدّى عَلى من فازَ مِنهُ بذمة

And O you whose onslaught the lion fears whenever

O you who are the rain from which, without asking,

It attacks one who has won your protection.

The prosperous and distressed alike drink their fill,

وَيا مَن هُوَ الغَيث الذي مِنهُ يَرتوي

وَيا مَن هُوَ الغَيث الذي مِنهُ يَرتوي

بِغَير سؤال في رَخاء وَشدّة

بِغَير سؤال في رَخاء وَشدّة

And O you who are the rain from which one drinks one's fill,

Congratulations for what your Lord conferred on you—

Without asking, in prosperity and hardship.

For you alone are worthy of it, beyond doubt and question.

تَهنأ بِما أَولاك ربك من علا

تَهنأ بِما أَولاك ربك من علا

لَها أَنتَ أَهلٌ دُون شكٍّ وَمرية

لَها أَنتَ أَهلٌ دُون شكٍّ وَمرية

Rejoice in the eminence your Lord has bestowed on you,

The hearts of all beings are treasure chests

Of which you are worthy, without doubt or misgiving.

Filled with sincere love for you at all times.

فَإِن قُلوب العالمين خَزائن

فَإِن قُلوب العالمين خَزائن

لحبك بِالإِخلاص في كُل لحظة

لحبك بِالإِخلاص في كُل لحظة

For the hearts of humankind are treasuries

Answer my praise of you, when it reaches you,

Of sincere love for you at every moment.

With something to adorn it in robes of joy.

وَقابل مَديحي فيكَ عِندَ وصوله

وَقابل مَديحي فيكَ عِندَ وصوله

إِلَيكَ بما يَكسوه حلة بَهجة

إِلَيكَ بما يَكسوه حلة بَهجة

And receive my praise of you, when it comes

It comes hastening from a distant land

To you, with what clothes it in a robe of joy.

Hurriedly to convey my greetings to you,

فَقَد جاءَ يَسعى مِن بلاد بَعيدة

فَقَد جاءَ يَسعى مِن بلاد بَعيدة

عَلى عجل يُهدي إِلَيكَ تَحيتي

عَلى عجل يُهدي إِلَيكَ تَحيتي

For it has come hurrying from distant lands,

And to inform your sublimity that I

In haste, offering you my greeting.

Yearn for the partisans of the noblest community,

وَيُنهي إِلى عَلياك عَنيَ أَنَّني

وَيُنهي إِلى عَلياك عَنيَ أَنَّني

مشوق إِلى أَنصار أَشرف أُمة

مشوق إِلى أَنصار أَشرف أُمة

And reports to your exalted self, on my behalf, that I

And that you, my patron, are the first to stand

Am filled with longing for the champions of the noblest community.

For prescribed, recommended, and voluntary worship and tradition.

وَأَنك يا مَولاي أَول قائمٍ

وَأَنك يا مَولاي أَول قائمٍ

بِفرض وَمَندوب وَنفل وَسنة

بِفرض وَمَندوب وَنفل وَسنة

And that you, my lord, are foremost in observing

Your justice guides its light to every believer

Obligatory duties, recommended deeds, voluntary devotions, and the Sunna.

To thank you, enjoined before encountering you.

وَعدلك يَهدي نُورُه كُلَّ مؤمنٍ

وَعدلك يَهدي نُورُه كُلَّ مؤمنٍ

إِلى شكرك المَفروض من قبل رؤية

إِلى شكرك المَفروض من قبل رؤية

And the light of your justice guides every believer

So live long, commanding in the kingdom of Tunis, for as long

To the thanks owed you, even before seeing you.

As complete cycles rise in the lofty heavens,

فَعش آمراً في ملك تونس ما بَدَت

فَعش آمراً في ملك تونس ما بَدَت

بَدور تَمام في سَماء عَليّة

بَدور تَمام في سَماء عَليّة

So live on, commanding in the realm of Tunis, as long as there appear

And for as long as Majdi’s odes at their openings

Full moons in a lofty sky,

Proclaim, “Since my youth I have yearned to embrace the tender branch.”

وَما قال مَجدي في مطالع نَظمه

وَما قال مَجدي في مطالع نَظمه

شغفت بضمّ الغيد من عهد نَشأتي

شغفت بضمّ الغيد من عهد نَشأتي

And as long as Majdi says in the openings of his verse:

“I have been enamored of embracing graceful maidens since my earliest days.”