لبني التاج ركن مجد خطير — أبو المعالي الطالوي

The House of al-Taj has a pillar of mighty glory,

firmly rooted in the heights as Mount Thabir stands firm.

Each of them, in loftiness, is a full moon in its heaven,

dazzling the eye with radiant light—

especially that magnificent orator who sur—

passed, in spoken prose, the poetry of Jarir;

he who mounted the towering pulpit of eminence,

while the moons’ orbits hung beneath his heights.

Thus his stations have risen so high

as to transcend all likeness, just as they surpass all peer.

Here, take from me two adornments: an embroidery of silk,

and poetry like a garden in luxuriant bloom.

In both, fair beauty delighted the eye—

what a sight to delight the discerning gaze!

Yet poetry, to my mind, is finer

in its meanings than fabric woven of silk.

So rule over it as you please, a king,

as a prince exercises command over his subject.

In the eyes of a young man blessed with wealth,

the poor man’s excuse makes amends for falling short.

May you abide forever amid the twin delights

of lasting joy and sweet gladness,

for as long as Fortune’s bird mounts the arak’s pulpit

as a preacher beneath the shades of happiness.