لعباسنا الثاني علا الفرمان

لعباسنا الثاني علا الفرمان

وَللملك أَفراح بِنَيل أَمان

وَللملك أَفراح بِنَيل أَمان

For our Abbas the Second, the firman has risen high,

For our Abbas the Second, the firman rose high,

And kingship rejoices at gaining security;

And the realm has celebrations on attaining security.

وِللقطر إِيناس وَعز وَبَهجة

وِللقطر إِيناس وَعز وَبَهجة

لما نالَهُ الوالي برفعة شان

لما نالَهُ الوالي برفعة شان

The land has fellowship, might, and gladness

And the country has comfort, honor, and joy,

For the lofty rank its governor has attained.

When the governor received it with his standing raised.

لَهُ فرمان النَصر جاءَ مُؤيداً

لَهُ فرمان النَصر جاءَ مُؤيداً

لِدَولة إِعزاز وَحُسن تَداني

لِدَولة إِعزاز وَحُسن تَداني

To him came the firman of victory, confirmed,

For him, victory's firman came in support

For a state of honor and gracious concord.

Of a reign of honor and gracious closeness.

أَتاه مِن السُلطان وَالملك الَّذي

أَتاه مِن السُلطان وَالملك الَّذي

تَوَسم فيهِ ما بَدا لِعَيان

تَوَسم فيهِ ما بَدا لِعَيان

It came from the Sultan and King who

It came to him from the sultan and king who

Discerned in him what was plain to every eye:

Discerned in him what had become plain to sight:

وَما هُوَ إِلا الحَزم وَالعَزم وَالنُهى

وَما هُوَ إِلا الحَزم وَالعَزم وَالنُهى

وَعَدل تَسامى في بَديع زَمان

وَعَدل تَسامى في بَديع زَمان

Nothing but prudence, resolve, and wisdom,

Nothing but firmness, resolve, and wisdom,

And justice ascending in a wondrous age.

And justice that rose high in a wondrous age.

تَخيره مِن صَفوة المَجد وَالعُلا

تَخيره مِن صَفوة المَجد وَالعُلا

لِتَحصين ملك مِن طرو تَفاني

لِتَحصين ملك مِن طرو تَفاني

He chose him from the choicest heights of glory

He chose him from the choicest of glory and eminence,

To fortify a realm against the onset of ruin;

To fortify a kingdom against the onset of destruction.

وَما اِختارَهُ إِلا لِتَأييد مُلكه

وَما اِختارَهُ إِلا لِتَأييد مُلكه

وَإِن البَرايا دُونَهُ بُرهان

وَإِن البَرايا دُونَهُ بُرهان

He chose him only to strengthen his dominion,

He chose him only to strengthen his rule,

And all creation besides him is the proof.

And all people falling short of him are proof.

لَقد وَضَع الأَشياء في خَير مَوضع

لَقد وَضَع الأَشياء في خَير مَوضع

لِيَحفظ مُلكاً مِن هُجوم هَوان

لِيَحفظ مُلكاً مِن هُجوم هَوان

He has set all things in their rightful place,

He has indeed set things in their best place,

To preserve a kingdom from the assault of disgrace.

To preserve a kingdom from the onslaught of disgrace.

ولا غُرو في تِلك الإِرادة مُطلَقاً

ولا غُرو في تِلك الإِرادة مُطلَقاً

فَما صادفت إِلّا أَعَز مَكان

فَما صادفت إِلّا أَعَز مَكان

No wonder, then, at that unfettered will:

There is no wonder at all in that decision,

It encountered only the noblest station.

For it found only the most honored place.

فَإِن خديوي مَصر أَول ماجد

فَإِن خديوي مَصر أَول ماجد

يُشار إِلَيهِ في العُلا بِبنان

يُشار إِلَيهِ في العُلا بِبنان

For Egypt’s Khedive is foremost among the glorious,

For Egypt's khedive is foremost among noble men,

A man to whom fingers point upon the heights;

Pointed to with a finger among the exalted.

وَأَول من في مَهدِهِ نال سُؤدداً

وَأَول من في مَهدِهِ نال سُؤدداً

وَمال إِلى العَليا بِكُل جنان

وَمال إِلى العَليا بِكُل جنان

The first who gained sovereignty while still in his cradle,

And the first to attain lordly distinction in his cradle,

And inclined toward the highest glory with his whole heart.

And turn toward the heights with all his heart.

لَقَد جَرَب الأَيّام وَهِيَ لَهُ صَفَت

لَقَد جَرَب الأَيّام وَهِيَ لَهُ صَفَت

بِآرائِهِ الغَرا وَحُسن بَيان

بِآرائِهِ الغَرا وَحُسن بَيان

He tested the days, and they grew clear for him

He has indeed tried the days, and they grew clear for him,

Through his splendid counsels and eloquence.

Through his brilliant judgments and fine eloquence.

وَجاري اللَيالي حَزمه بِتَدبر

وَجاري اللَيالي حَزمه بِتَدبر

بِهِ النَصر وَالتأَييد يَجتَمِعان

بِهِ النَصر وَالتأَييد يَجتَمِعان

His prudence kept pace with the nights through careful thought;

And his firmness matched the nights with deliberation,

In it, victory and confirmation are united.

Through which victory and support unite.

وَشَبَ خَبيراً بِالسِياسة عالِماً

وَشَبَ خَبيراً بِالسِياسة عالِماً

فَكُل بَعيد بِالتَدبر دان

فَكُل بَعيد بِالتَدبر دان

He matured versed in statecraft and full of knowledge,

He grew up expert in statecraft and learned,

So every distant thing yielded to deliberation.

So every distant thing is near through deliberation.

وَنال مِن العَلياء أَعلى مَكانة

وَنال مِن العَلياء أَعلى مَكانة

وَفازَ بِما أَزرى بِعَقد جُمان

وَفازَ بِما أَزرى بِعَقد جُمان

He attained the loftiest station of high glory

And attained the highest station in the heights,

And won what put a necklace of pearls to shame.

And won what put a necklace of pearls to shame.

غَدا ثانِياً لَكنَهُ هُوَ أَوَل

غَدا ثانِياً لَكنَهُ هُوَ أَوَل

وَلَيسَ لَهُ بَينَ البَرية ثاني

وَلَيسَ لَهُ بَينَ البَرية ثاني

He became the Second, yet he is the First,

He became the Second, yet he is foremost,

And among all creation he has no second.

And among mankind he has no second.

وَفي فِكرِهِ السامي خَفي كَظاهر

وَفي فِكرِهِ السامي خَفي كَظاهر

فَإِن كِلا الأَمرين يَستَويان

فَإِن كِلا الأَمرين يَستَويان

In his lofty thought, the hidden is like the manifest,

In his lofty thought, the hidden is like the visible,

For both matters are equal there.

For both things are alike.

لَدَيهِ تَرى الأَمرين لا شَكَ واحِداً

لَدَيهِ تَرى الأَمرين لا شَكَ واحِداً

فَفَكر عُلاه وَالسَنا إِخوان

فَفَكر عُلاه وَالسَنا إِخوان

With him you see the two, beyond all doubt, as one:

In his view, you see the two as one, beyond doubt,

His exalted thought and radiance are brothers.

For his exalted thought and radiance are brothers.

وَلَكن فيهِ الفكر أَكبَر مِن سَنا

وَلَكن فيهِ الفكر أَكبَر مِن سَنا

وَفي الحُكم أَمضى مِن مَضاء يَماني

وَفي الحُكم أَمضى مِن مَضاء يَماني

Yet in him thought is greater even than radiance,

But in him, thought is greater than radiance,

And in judgment he is keener than a Yemeni blade.

And in judgment, keener than a Yemeni blade's edge.

وَما ذَمَ حَمل السَيف إِلّا لحلية

وَما ذَمَ حَمل السَيف إِلّا لحلية

فَأَغناهُ فكر عَن سُيوف طعان

فَأَغناهُ فكر عَن سُيوف طعان

He faulted the bearing of a sword except as ornament,

And he censured bearing the sword only for adornment;

For thought spared him the need of thrusting swords.

So thought spared him the swords of combat.

فَفي كُل علم عَقله يُدرك العُلا

فَفي كُل علم عَقله يُدرك العُلا

وَفي الحُب أَبدى غاية الحَيوان

وَفي الحُب أَبدى غاية الحَيوان

In every field of knowledge, his mind apprehends the heights,

For in every science his intellect attains the heights,

And in love he displayed life’s utmost fullness.

And in love he revealed life's ultimate aim.

فَكَم حَدَث العلم الشَريف بِفَضلِهِ

فَكَم حَدَث العلم الشَريف بِفَضلِهِ

وَكَم فازَ مِن أَسرارِهِ بِمَعاني

وَكَم فازَ مِن أَسرارِهِ بِمَعاني

How many a noble science arose through his bounty,

How often noble learning has spoken of his merit,

And how many meanings were won from its mysteries.

And how often he gained meanings from its secrets.

وَكُل مُلوك الأَرض تَشهد أَنَّهُ

وَكُل مُلوك الأَرض تَشهد أَنَّهُ

جَدير وَلَيسَ إِثنان يَختَلِفان

جَدير وَلَيسَ إِثنان يَختَلِفان

All the kings of the earth bear witness that he

And all the kings of earth attest that he

Is worthy—and no two disagree.

Is worthy; no two disagree.

وَمِن مَجدِهِ نال العُلا فَرمانه

وَمِن مَجدِهِ نال العُلا فَرمانه

فَجاءَ بَعيد اليَمن في رَمَضان

فَجاءَ بَعيد اليَمن في رَمَضان

Through his glory, his firman attained the heights,

And through his glory his firman attained eminence,

Arriving rich in good omen in Ramadan.

So it came with far-reaching good fortune in Ramadan.

لَذا زَينت مَصر وَأَشرَق نُورَها

لَذا زَينت مَصر وَأَشرَق نُورَها

لاتمام أنس في رُسوم تَهاني

لاتمام أنس في رُسوم تَهاني

Therefore Egypt was adorned, and her light shone forth,

Thus Egypt was adorned, and its light shone,

Completing her delight in ceremonies of congratulation.

To complete the joy in rites of congratulation.

وَقَد بَدَت الرايات مِن كُل دَولة

وَقَد بَدَت الرايات مِن كُل دَولة

لِتَظهَر إِجلالاً بِغَير تَواني

لِتَظهَر إِجلالاً بِغَير تَواني

The banners of every state appeared

And banners appeared from every state,

To display reverence without delay.

To show reverence without delay.

وَقَد سَكَنت جَواً لتؤذن بِالعُلا

وَقَد سَكَنت جَواً لتؤذن بِالعُلا

فَكانَت كَطَير مُحسن الطَيران

فَكانَت كَطَير مُحسن الطَيران

They hung still in the air, proclaiming high glory,

They settled in the air to proclaim exalted rank,

Like birds consummate in flight,

And were like a bird skilled in flight,

يَروح وَيَغدو في المُلك كُلَها

يَروح وَيَغدو في المُلك كُلَها

وَلَكن لَهُ مَصر أَجل مَعاني

وَلَكن لَهُ مَصر أَجل مَعاني

Coming and going throughout the whole dominion;

Going at dusk and dawn throughout the whole realm;

Yet Egypt holds for him the noblest meanings.

Yet for it, Egypt holds the noblest meanings.

فَمَصر لَها البُشرى برفعة شَأنِها

فَمَصر لَها البُشرى برفعة شَأنِها

وَفيها السَنا وَالأُنس يَقتَرِنان

وَفيها السَنا وَالأُنس يَقتَرِنان

So Egypt has glad tidings in her elevated standing;

For Egypt has glad tidings of its elevated standing,

Within her, radiance and fellowship are joined.

And there radiance and joy unite.

وَزينتها لا شَك أَعظَم زينة

وَزينتها لا شَك أَعظَم زينة

وَفيها تَبدى كَوكَب اللَمَعان

وَفيها تَبدى كَوكَب اللَمَعان

Her adornment is, without doubt, the greatest adornment,

And its adornment is surely the grandest adornment,

And in her the star of brilliance appeared.

And within it the star of brilliance appeared.

وَفيها الثاني رَتلت لِجَنابَكُم

وَفيها الثاني رَتلت لِجَنابَكُم

وَتَطرب مِن آلائكم بِمَثاني

وَتَطرب مِن آلائكم بِمَثاني

Within her, congratulations were chanted before Your Excellency

And there she chanted of the Second for Your Highness,

And rejoiced in your blessings with repeated praises.

And rejoices in your bounties with repeated refrains.

وَفي رَفع رايات إِلَيكَ إِشارة

وَفي رَفع رايات إِلَيكَ إِشارة

بِأَنكَ تَرقي في مُنى وَأَمان

بِأَنكَ تَرقي في مُنى وَأَمان

In the raising of banners toward you lies a sign

And in the raising of banners is a sign to you,

That you ascend amid fulfilled hopes and security.

That you rise amid hopes and security.

وَدُمت خِديوي مَصر بِالملك في هَنا

وَدُمت خِديوي مَصر بِالملك في هَنا

وَلا زِلت مَشكوراً بِكُل لِسان

وَلا زِلت مَشكوراً بِكُل لِسان

May you remain Khedive of Egypt, reigning in happiness,

And may you endure, Egypt's khedive, in happy sovereignty,

And continue to be thanked by every tongue.

And never cease to be praised by every tongue.

وَدامَ لَكَ الإِنصاف وَالعَدل خادِما

وَدامَ لَكَ الإِنصاف وَالعَدل خادِما

وَمَدحك يا عَباس لَيسَ بِفاني

وَمَدحك يا عَباس لَيسَ بِفاني

May equity and justice remain your servants,

And may equity and justice always serve you,

And may praise of you, Abbas, never perish.

And praise of you, O Abbas, is imperishable.

وَعاش الرَعايا خاضِعين لِبابكم

وَعاش الرَعايا خاضِعين لِبابكم

وَداعين مَهما قَد بَدا الملوان

وَداعين مَهما قَد بَدا الملوان

May the subjects live in submission at your gate,

And may the subjects live, submissive at your gate,

Praying as long as the two alternators—day and night—appear.

And praying whenever night and day return.

وَكُلَهُم يَوم التَشَرف أَرخوا

وَكُلَهُم يَوم التَشَرف أَرخوا

لِعَباس عاشَ النَصر بِالفرمان

لِعَباس عاشَ النَصر بِالفرمان

On the day of honor, all of them set down the date:

And on the day of honor they all recorded the date:

“For Abbas, victory lived through the firman.”

For Abbas, long live victory through the firman!