الناصر الملك الموفى بذمته

الناصر الملك الموفى بذمته

ومن ندى كفه يغني عن الديم

ومن ندى كفه يغني عن الديم

The champion, the king victorious through and through—

Al-Nasir, the king faithful to his pledge,

the bounty that falls from his hand makes the long rains needless.

and whose palm’s bounty makes steady rains needless;

ومن إذا جرد البيض الصوارم في ال

ومن إذا جرد البيض الصوارم في ال

هيجاء أغمدها في البيض والقمم

هيجاء أغمدها في البيض والقمم

He who, when bright, keen swords are bared in the

and who, when he draws the gleaming, keen-edged swords in the

tumult of war, sheathes them in helmets and crowns of heads;

fray, sheathes them in helmets and the crowns of heads;

ومن حوى الملك من بعد الطماعة في ان

ومن حوى الملك من بعد الطماعة في ان

تزاعه بشبا الهندية الخدم

تزاعه بشبا الهندية الخدم

who seized the kingdom, after aspiring to

and who secured the kingdom after covetous hopes of wresting

wrest it away, with the edges of Indian blades that serve him;

it away, by the edges of keen Indian blades;

ورد طاغية الإفرنج يحسب ما

ورد طاغية الإفرنج يحسب ما

رجاه من ملك مصر كان في الحلم

رجاه من ملك مصر كان في الحلم

and drove back the tyrant of the Franks, who thought that what

and drove back the Franks’ tyrant, who thought that what

he had hoped for—the realm of Egypt—had only been a dream.

he had hoped for—dominion over Egypt—had been a dream.

ولى وراحته صفر وقد ملئت

ولى وراحته صفر وقد ملئت

بعد الطماعة من يأس ومن ندم

بعد الطماعة من يأس ومن ندم

He turned away, his palm empty, though it was filled,

He turned away, his palm empty, yet it had been filled

after all his coveting, with despair and regret.

after covetous hopes, with despair and regret.

يصعدون على ما فاتهم نفسا

يصعدون على ما فاتهم نفسا

لو لافح البحر أضحى الموج كالحمم

لو لافح البحر أضحى الموج كالحمم

They breathe out, over what escaped them, a sigh

They heave a sigh over what escaped them—

that, were it to scorch the sea, would turn the waves to embers.

were it to scorch the sea, the waves would be like burning coals.

وفي السلامة لولا جهلهم ظفر

وفي السلامة لولا جهلهم ظفر

لمن أراد نزال الأسد في الأجم

لمن أراد نزال الأسد في الأجم

Yet in safe escape—were it not for their ignorance—lay triumph

And in escaping unharmed—were it not for their ignorance—lies victory

for anyone who sought to face lions in the thickets.

for whoever seeks combat with lions in the thickets.

وهم أسود الشرى لكن أذلهم

وهم أسود الشرى لكن أذلهم

ملك لديه الأسود الغلب كالغنم

ملك لديه الأسود الغلب كالغنم

Though they are the lions of al-Sharā, they were humbled by

And they are lions of al-Shara, yet they were humbled by

a king before whom mighty lions are like sheep.

a king before whom thick-necked lions are like sheep.