سرgo علىwith اليمنgood fortune والهناand joy حيثماwherever سرwent (continued in the next line)
سر على اليمن والهنا حيثما سر
تَyou (verb suffix) ليلقاكso that it may meet you فيهin it وجهٌa face سعيدhappy
تَ ليلقاك فيه وجهٌ سعيد
Go with good fortune and joy wherever you go—
Travel to the right, my love, wherever you travel,
So that a happy face may meet you there.
That you may find there a face made happy,
أنتyou نعمhow excellent المأمونal-Ma'mun; the trusted one للملكfor the realm تحميyou protect
أنت نعم المأمون للملك تحمي
سرجهits saddle كاتباًas a scribe ونعمand how excellent الرشيدal-Rashid; the rightly guided one
سرجه كاتباً ونعم الرشيد
You are a fine Ma'mun for the realm, protecting
You are the trustworthy guardian of the king you protect
Its saddle as a scribe—and a fine Rashid.
Riding his steed a scribe and the rightly-guided one,
إنif يكنis بيتكyour house الطويلlofty; long فخاراًa source of pride
إن يكن بيتك الطويل فخاراً
إنَّindeed بيتthe verse الثناof praise عليكof you مديدlong; enduring
إنَّ بيت الثنا عليك مديد
If your lofty house is a source of pride,
If your tall house is made of clay,
The verse praising you is long indeed.
Then our house of praise upon you is extended