وَصَلَتْ رُقْعَةُ الأَمِيرِ الرَّئِيسِ

وَصَلَتْ رُقْعَةُ الأَمِيرِ الرَّئِيسِ

غُرَّةِ الدَّهْرِ وَالخَطِيرِ النَّفِيسِ

غُرَّةِ الدَّهْرِ وَالخَطِيرِ النَّفِيسِ

The letter has arrived from the emir, the chief,

The letter of the eminent Chief

the radiant glory of the age, eminent and precious.

Of the time reached me, so precious and dear

فَأَزَالَتْ مَا كُنْتُ أَشْكُو وَأَهْدَتْ

فَأَزَالَتْ مَا كُنْتُ أَشْكُو وَأَهْدَتْ

لِي نَعِيماً وَأَذْهَبَتْ كُلَّ بُوسِ

لِي نَعِيماً وَأَذْهَبَتْ كُلَّ بُوسِ

So it dispelled what I had complained of, and bestowed

It removed all my complaints and granted

bliss upon me, and banished all misery.

Me delight, taking away every sorrow

وَأَتى الشِّعْرُ مُبْرئاً وَشِفَاءً

وَأَتى الشِّعْرُ مُبْرئاً وَشِفَاءً

وَأَنِيساً يَفُوقُ كُلَّ أَنِيسِ

وَأَنِيساً يَفُوقُ كُلَّ أَنِيسِ

And the verse came as a healer and a cure,

And poetry came, healing and remedy

and as a companion surpassing every companion.

And a companion surpassing all companions

حَسَنَ اللَّفظ مُطْرباً كُلَّ من يَسْ

حَسَنَ اللَّفظ مُطْرباً كُلَّ من يَسْ

مَعُ إِطْرَابَ زَابَدات الْكُؤُوسِ

مَعُ إِطْرَابَ زَابَدات الْكُؤُوسِ

Lovely in wording, enrapturing everyone who

Pleasant words, gladdening all who hear

hears it, as foaming cups enrapture.

Along with the rapture of the cups’ intimates

قَدْ جَلاَهُ الطَّبْعُ الْمُغَاثُ بِحِذْقٍ

قَدْ جَلاَهُ الطَّبْعُ الْمُغَاثُ بِحِذْقٍ

لِعُقُولِ الْوَرَى جِلاَءَ الْعَرُوسِ

لِعُقُولِ الْوَرَى جِلاَءَ الْعَرُوسِ

Indeed, natural talent, aided by skill, has unveiled it

Nature endowed it with skill, to enlighten

to the minds of humankind, as a bride is unveiled.

The minds of all, like a radiant bride

أضْحَكَ اللهُ بِالأَمِيرِ زَمَانِي

أضْحَكَ اللهُ بِالأَمِيرِ زَمَانِي

وَلَقَدْ كَانَ قَبْلَهُ ذَا عُبُوسِ

وَلَقَدْ كَانَ قَبْلَهُ ذَا عُبُوسِ

God has made my days laugh through the emir,

God has brought joy to my time through the Chief

and indeed, before him, they had worn a frown.

Though before him it was ever so bleak

صِرْتُ مُذْ قَدَّرَ الإِلَهُ جُلُوسي

صِرْتُ مُذْ قَدَّرَ الإِلَهُ جُلُوسي

مَعَهُ سَيِّداً لِكُلِّ جَليسِ

مَعَهُ سَيِّداً لِكُلِّ جَليسِ

I have become, since God ordained my sitting

Since God decreed that I sit by his side

with him, a lord over every companion.

As a lord of all who would draw near

ضَاقَ شُكْرُ الْعُبَيْدِ عَنْ برِّ مَوْلًى

ضَاقَ شُكْرُ الْعُبَيْدِ عَنْ برِّ مَوْلًى

مِثْلَ ضِيقِ الغُفْرَانِ عَنْ إبْلِيسِ

مِثْلَ ضِيقِ الغُفْرَانِ عَنْ إبْلِيسِ

The humble servant’s gratitude is too narrow for a lord’s kindness,

The thanks of servants falls short of the grace

just as forgiveness is too narrow for Iblis.

Of a lord like the pardon falls short of Iblis