طِبَاعٌ كمثل الراح بالماء جَزْلةٌ

طِبَاعٌ كمثل الراح بالماء جَزْلةٌ

عِذابٌ وأخلاق ألذُّ من الشَهْدِ

عِذابٌ وأخلاق ألذُّ من الشَهْدِ

Dispositions, rich as wine mingled with water,

Characters are like winds in water, pouring down

sweet, and manners sweeter than honey.

Torment and morals sweeter than honey

بعثتَ بنجليك اللَّذَين نمتُهما

بعثتَ بنجليك اللَّذَين نمتُهما

وِلادتُك العُلْويّةُ الأبِ والجَدِّ

وِلادتُك العُلْويّةُ الأبِ والجَدِّ

You sent your two sons, both nurtured

You brought forth my two delightful sons whom I raised

by your lofty lineage, through father and grandfather.

Your sublime birth, to father and ancestors

غُلامَينِ حازا الفهم قبل ابتداهُما

غُلامَينِ حازا الفهم قبل ابتداهُما

ونالا جسيماتِ المكارم في المهد

ونالا جسيماتِ المكارم في المهد

Two boys who gained understanding before they came into being,

Two boys who grasped understanding before it dawned

and attained great virtues in the cradle.

And attained the great virtues while in the cradle

فناطقتُ شِبلَيْ قَسْوَرٍ حين وافَيَا

فناطقتُ شِبلَيْ قَسْوَرٍ حين وافَيَا

ولاحظتُ من حُسنَيهما قمرَيْ سعد

ولاحظتُ من حُسنَيهما قمرَيْ سعد

So I conversed with two lion cubs when they arrived,

So I addressed two lion cubs when they came

and saw in their beauty two moons of good fortune.

And saw in their beauty two auspicious moons

فعاشا رفيقيْ غِبطةِ وسلامةٍ

فعاشا رفيقيْ غِبطةِ وسلامةٍ

يزيدانِ فيما يَحوِيان على الحدّ

يزيدانِ فيما يَحوِيان على الحدّ

So may they live, companions of bliss and well-being,

May they live as two friends of pride and safety

surpassing the bounds in what they possess.

Ever increasing in what they contain and excel

غدت لك عندي بازديارهما يدٌ

غدت لك عندي بازديارهما يدٌ

تملَّكُ لفظي فيك للشكر والحمد

تملَّكُ لفظي فيك للشكر والحمد

Through their visit, you have gained a claim upon me,

For me, their visit to you is a hand

binding my words about you to gratitude and praise.

That possesses my words in thanks and praise

فهذا الذي عندي وقلَّ لك الثنا

فهذا الذي عندي وقلَّ لك الثنا

على أنَّ ما أُخفِيه أضعافُ ما أبدي

على أنَّ ما أُخفِيه أضعافُ ما أبدي

So this is what I have to offer; my praise is too little for you,

So this is what I have, and little I say to you

though what I conceal is many times what I reveal.

Though what I conceal is manifold what I express