إن أطرب الأسماع مدح مهذب

إن أطرب الأسماع مدح مهذب

فمديح إسماعيل أعظم مطرب

فمديح إسماعيل أعظم مطرب

If praise of a refined man delights the ears,

The most pleasing sounds are refined praise poems,

then praise of Ismail is the greatest delight.

Yet the praise of Isma'il is the greatest bard.

الصدق حليته فكان جلاؤه الـ

الصدق حليته فكان جلاؤه الـ

ـصديق يروى عنه طيب المنصب

ـصديق يروى عنه طيب المنصب

Truthfulness is his ornament; its radiance is the

Honesty is his ornament, so his clarity was that of a friend,

Truthful One, whose noble lineage is recounted.

From whom is narrated the fragrance of high moral character.

كم سامع عن نبله من مغرب

كم سامع عن نبله من مغرب

ومعاين من فضله من معرب

ومعاين من فضله من معرب

How many Westerners have heard of his nobility,

How many a western listener of his nobility,

and how many Arabic speakers have witnessed his generosity!

And how many an eastern witness of his virtues.

في مصر من آثاره ما طاول الـ

في مصر من آثاره ما طاول الـ

أهرام طولا في الزمان المجدب

أهرام طولا في الزمان المجدب

In Egypt, among his works are those that rivaled the

In Egypt are his achievements, tall as the

pyramids in stature in a time of drought.

Pyramids through time immemorial.

ففعاله منها الغناء لمعدم

ففعاله منها الغناء لمعدم

وبناء تلك لغير شي موجب

وبناء تلك لغير شي موجب

For his deeds bring relief to the destitute,

His actions gave life to the destitute there,

whereas those were built for no compelling purpose.

And the building of these was not without cause.

واحب عبد للمليك من انتحى

واحب عبد للمليك من انتحى

نفع العباد بفرصة المترقب

نفع العباد بفرصة المترقب

And the servant dearest to the Sovereign is one who seeks

The most beloved servant of the King was he who

to benefit the people at the chance he watches for.

Brought benefit to the people when chances arose.

امثال إسماعيل من تشدو له

امثال إسماعيل من تشدو له

زمر المحافل باثناء الطيب

زمر المحافل باثناء الطيب

It is men like Ismail for whom

The likes of Isma'il, who assemblies applaud with

the companies in assemblies sing gracious praise.

Joyful cheers during his reign.

متفرد لله في معروفه

متفرد لله في معروفه

ومن السيادة يغتدى في موكب

ومن السيادة يغتدى في موكب

Unique in the kindness he does for God's sake,

Singular to God in his good deeds,

he goes forth in the morning in a procession by virtue of his eminence.

Yet from authority he partakes in procession.

من لا يخيب راجيا لنواله

من لا يخيب راجيا لنواله

ولو انه استجداه ابعد مطلب

ولو انه استجداه ابعد مطلب

One who never disappoints a seeker of his bounty,

He who never disappoints one hopeful of his gifts,

even if that seeker begs him for the most far-fetched favor.

Though petitioned for the furthest desire.

شهم ليومي كرة واريكة

شهم ليومي كرة واريكة

كفؤ لقومي مزبر او مقضب

كفؤ لقومي مزبر او مقضب

Gallant on days of the battle-charge and the couch,

Valorous he is, a frequent bestower of bounty,

a match for the men of the pen or the sword.

Competent for my people, whether frowning or glad.

تلقاه ما بين الصفوف مصاولا

تلقاه ما بين الصفوف مصاولا

مثل الهصور ببزة لا مخلب

مثل الهصور ببزة لا مخلب

You find him fighting among the ranks,

You find him amidst the ranks, sword in hand,

like a fierce lion in battle dress, not with a claw.

Like a lion with no need of claw.

ما قال لا الا وآلت كالالي

ما قال لا الا وآلت كالالي

نفعا لنفي محرم في المذهب

نفعا لنفي محرم في المذهب

He never said 'no' unless it became a boon,

Never did he say no, but it came about

beneficial in rejecting what his creed forbids.

With benefits, removing unlawful in creed.

كل القلوب على محبته انطوت

كل القلوب على محبته انطوت

فاللسن تنشر مدحه في الاحقب

فاللسن تنشر مدحه في الاحقب

All hearts have enfolded themselves in love for him,

All hearts closed upon love of him,

so tongues spread his praise through the ages.

So tongues broadcast his praise openly.

لو كنت حسان البلاغة لم اكن

لو كنت حسان البلاغة لم اكن

بعض الثناء عليه بالمستوعب

بعض الثناء عليه بالمستوعب

Were I Hassan in eloquence, I could not

If I were Hassān in rhetoric, I would not be

fully encompass even part of the praise of him.

Able to fully praise him.

اولاه سيدنا العزيز ولاية

اولاه سيدنا العزيز ولاية

كبرى فقام بها قيام مجرب

كبرى فقام بها قيام مجرب

Our august lord entrusted him with an office,

Our noble master appointed him to great

a great one, and he discharged it as a seasoned man would.

Governorship, which he assumed as seasoned and adept.

فاعد اعمال الفلاح لمتعب

فاعد اعمال الفلاح لمتعب

واجد آمال النجاح لمعتب

واجد آمال النجاح لمعتب

So he prepared fruitful labors for the weary,

He strengthened the works of farmers in their toil,

and renewed hopes of success for the aggrieved.

And found hopes of success for the troubled.

وابان عن حزم وعزم صادق

وابان عن حزم وعزم صادق

فيما قضاه من الامور مدرب

فيما قضاه من الامور مدرب

And he showed prudence and true resolve,

He showed resolve and true determination

in the affairs he settled, a man well practiced.

In his rulings and affairs like the well-trained.

حتى استوى في مدحه وثنائه

حتى استوى في مدحه وثنائه

كل الورى من حاضرين وغيب

كل الورى من حاضرين وغيب

Until there was accord in praising and extolling him

Until he was equal in his praise, glorification

among all mankind, present and absent alike.

By all the world's inhabitants, present and absent.

تلك المعالي لا ينال مرامها

تلك المعالي لا ينال مرامها

كم تعبت خلقا ولما تكثب

كم تعبت خلقا ولما تكثب

Those lofty honors—their goal cannot be attained;

Those noble aspirations are not attained

how many people they have wearied, yet still not drawn near!

By much striving of creation in stubbornness.

كالبدر تنظره قريبا حين اذ

كالبدر تنظره قريبا حين اذ

هو في التمام لمشرق ولمغرب

هو في التمام لمشرق ولمغرب

Like the full moon: you see it near at a time when

He is like the moon—you see it near when

it is full for those in the East and those in the West.

It is full in the east and west.

تلك المكارم ليس يمكن حصرها

تلك المكارم ليس يمكن حصرها

ابدا لمقول مطرى او مطنب

ابدا لمقول مطرى او مطنب

Those noble deeds cannot be fully enumerated,

Those virtues cannot be enumerated,

ever, by the tongue of a panegyrist or one speaking at length.

Ever by a rambling or craving speaker.

لا يزدهيه سودد عن ضارع

لا يزدهيه سودد عن ضارع

كلا وليس بمعرض عن مسغب

كلا وليس بمعرض عن مسغب

No eminence makes him too proud to heed a supplicant;

No miser can increase him in generosity,

no indeed, nor does he turn away from the hungry.

Never is he averse to one begging.

سالمت دهري بالامير وباسمه

سالمت دهري بالامير وباسمه

فلقد كفاني العمر غاية ما ربي

فلقد كفاني العمر غاية ما ربي

I made peace with my fate through the prince and his name,

My life was secured by the Prince and his name

for he has fulfilled my utmost wishes for a lifetime.

For he completed my years, the extent I was nurtured.

ان الذي نعش البلاد بعدله

ان الذي نعش البلاد بعدله

يحيى كذلك اهلها ويمر بي

يحيى كذلك اهلها ويمر بي

Indeed, he who revived the country through his justice

He who revived the country with his justice

likewise gives life to its people and passes my way.

Likewise gives life to its people and passes by me.

من ذا يصدق ان نفسا حالكا

من ذا يصدق ان نفسا حالكا

يهدى إلى رائيه طلعة كوكب

يهدى إلى رائيه طلعة كوكب

Who would believe that a pitch-dark breath

Who can believe a soul as calamitous as mine

could offer its beholder the visage of a star?

Can be guided to behold his starry rising?

فلاشكرن له اياديه التي

فلاشكرن له اياديه التي

روت عظامي بالنعيم الصيب

روت عظامي بالنعيم الصيب

So I shall surely thank him for his favors, which

So I thank his hands that

have drenched my bones in bliss pouring like rain.

Quenched my bones with bountiful wine!

ولأنظمن من المدائح فيه ما

ولأنظمن من المدائح فيه ما

إن قيل أطرب كل من لم يطرب

إن قيل أطرب كل من لم يطرب

And I shall surely compose praises of him that,

And I will compose praise poems of him

if recited, delight all who have never felt delight.

That, if recited, give joy to those unstirred!