إلى الصون مدّت تلمسان يداها

إلى الصون مدّت تلمسان يداها

ولبّت فهذا حسن صوت نداها

ولبّت فهذا حسن صوت نداها

Tlemcen stretched out her hands for protection.

Tlemcen has extended her hands seeking preservation,

And she answered—this is the lovely sound of her call.

And she responded, for such is the beauty of her call.

وقد رفعت عنها الإزار فلج به

وقد رفعت عنها الإزار فلج به

وبرد فؤاداً من زلال نداها

وبرد فؤاداً من زلال نداها

And she has lifted her wrap away—so enter through it,

She has lifted her veil, so press forward,

And cool a heart with her crystal-clear dew.

And soothe a heart with the cool waters of her dew.

وذا روض خدّيها تفتق نَوره

وذا روض خدّيها تفتق نَوره

فلا ترضَ من زاهي الرياض عداها

فلا ترضَ من زاهي الرياض عداها

And here the garden of her cheeks has burst into bloom;

Behold the garden of her cheeks, where blossoms have burst forth;

So be content with none but her among the splendid gardens.

Accept no other blooming gardens but hers.

ويا طالما عانت نقاب جمالها

ويا طالما عانت نقاب جمالها

عداةٌ وهم بين الأنام عداها

عداةٌ وهم بين الأنام عداها

And oh, how often her beauty’s veil was eyed

For long she has suffered beneath the veil of her beauty

By enemies—her foes among humankind.

From enemies, who are her true foes among mankind.

وكم رائمٍ رام الجمال الذي ترى

وكم رائمٍ رام الجمال الذي ترى

فأرداه منها لحظها ومناها

فأرداه منها لحظها ومناها

And how many a seeker sought the beauty you see,

How many suitors have sought the beauty you behold,

Only to be struck down by her glance and her wishes.

But her glance struck them down and denied their desire.

وحاول لثمَ الخال من ورد خدها

وحاول لثمَ الخال من ورد خدها

فضنّت بما يبغي وشطّ مداها

فضنّت بما يبغي وشطّ مداها

And tried to kiss the beauty spot on the rose of her cheek,

One attempted to kiss the beauty mark upon her rosy cheek,

But she withheld what he sought and remained far beyond reach.

But she withheld what he sought, placing herself far beyond reach.

وكم خاطبٍ لم يدع كفئاً لها ولم

وكم خاطبٍ لم يدع كفئاً لها ولم

يشم طرفاً من وشي ذيلِ رداها

يشم طرفاً من وشي ذيلِ رداها

And many a suitor was not deemed her match, nor did he

How many a wooer was deemed no match for her,

Smell even a corner of the embroidery on her robe’s hem.

Never catching even a scent from the embroidered hem of her robe.

وآخر لم يعقد عليها بعصمةٍ

وآخر لم يعقد عليها بعصمةٍ

وما مسّها مسّاً أبان رضاها

وما مسّها مسّاً أبان رضاها

And another never contracted a marriage bond with her,

Another failed to bind her with the knot of marriage,

Nor touched her in a way that revealed her consent.

And never touched her in a way that signaled her consent.

وخابت ظنون المفسدين بسعيهم

وخابت ظنون المفسدين بسعيهم

ولم تنل الأعدا هناك مناها

ولم تنل الأعدا هناك مناها

And the corrupters’ hopes were thwarted in their striving,

The expectations of the corrupt failed in their endeavors,

Nor did the enemies attain their wishes there.

And the enemies there did not attain their goals.

قد انفصمت من تلمسان حبالها

قد انفصمت من تلمسان حبالها

وبانت وآلت لا يحل عراها

وبانت وآلت لا يحل عراها

Their ties to Tlemcen had indeed been severed;

Their ties to Tlemcen have been severed,

And she parted, swearing none would untie her bonds

She parted from them, swearing her bonds would never be undone

سوى صاحب الإقدام في الرأي والوغى

سوى صاحب الإقدام في الرأي والوغى

وذي الغيرة الحامي الغداة حماها

وذي الغيرة الحامي الغداة حماها

Except one bold in counsel and in battle,

Save by one possessing boldness in judgment and in war,

And one of protective zeal, guarding her sanctuary in the morning.

One of jealous zeal, who protects her sanctuary this day.

ولما علمت الصدق منها بأنها

ولما علمت الصدق منها بأنها

أنالتني الكرسي وحزت علاها

أنالتني الكرسي وحزت علاها

And when I knew her sincerity, in that she

And when I perceived the truth from her—

Had granted me the throne, and I had attained her heights,

That she granted me the throne and I attained her heights,

ولم أعلمن في القطر غيري كافلاًُ

ولم أعلمن في القطر غيري كافلاًُ

ولا عارفا في حقها وبهاها

ولا عارفا في حقها وبهاها

And I knew no guardian in the land other than myself,

And knowing no other guardian in the land but myself,

Nor anyone who understood her due and her splendor,

Nor anyone who truly understood her rights and splendor,

فبادرت حزما وانتصاراً بهمّتي

فبادرت حزما وانتصاراً بهمّتي

وأمهرتها حبا فكان دواها

وأمهرتها حبا فكان دواها

So I hastened resolutely to her aid, driven by my determination,

I hastened with resolve and triumph through my zeal,

And I gave her love as her bridal dower, and it was her cure.

And gave her a dowry of love, which became her cure.

فكنت لها بعلا وكانت حليلتي

فكنت لها بعلا وكانت حليلتي

وعرسي وملكي ناشراً للواها

وعرسي وملكي ناشراً للواها

So I became her husband, and she became my wife,

So I became her husband, and she my lawful bride,

And my bride and my realm, as I unfurled her banner.

My consort and my kingdom, as I unfurled her banners.

ووشحتها ثوباً من العز رافلاً

ووشحتها ثوباً من العز رافلاً

فقامت بإعجابٍ تجرّ رداها

فقامت بإعجابٍ تجرّ رداها

And I draped her in a flowing robe of glory,

I adorned her in a trailing robe of glory,

So she rose in admiration, trailing her robe.

So she stood in proud admiration, trailing her train.

ونادت أعبد القادر المنقذ الذي

ونادت أعبد القادر المنقذ الذي

أغثتَ أناساً من بحور هواها

أغثتَ أناساً من بحور هواها

And she called: ‘O Abd al-Qadir, the deliverer—you who

And she called out: "O Abdelkader, the savior,

Rescued people from the seas of love for her,

You who have rescued people from the seas of caprice,

لانك أعطيت المفاتيح عنوة

لانك أعطيت المفاتيح عنوة

فزدني أيا عزّ الجزائر جاها

فزدني أيا عزّ الجزائر جاها

For you were given the keys by force,

For you were given the keys by conquest;

So increase my prestige, O glory of Algeria!

So increase my rank, O pride of Algeria!"

ووهران والمرساة كلا بما حوت

ووهران والمرساة كلا بما حوت

غدت حائزاتٍ من حماك مناها

غدت حائزاتٍ من حماك مناها

And Oran and al-Marsa, each with all it held,

Now Oran and the Harbor, with all they contain,

Gained what they wished for through your protection.’

Have attained their desires through your protection.