لكَ المَجْدُ لا ما تدّعيهِ الأوائِلُ

لكَ المَجْدُ لا ما تدّعيهِ الأوائِلُ

وما في مَقالٍ بَعْدَ مَدْحِكَ طائِلُ

وما في مَقالٍ بَعْدَ مَدْحِكَ طائِلُ

Yours is glory, not what the ancients claim;

You deserve all glory, not what the ancients claim,

and no utterance after praising you has any worth.

And no eloquent speech after praising you avails,

وليسَ يؤدّي بَعْضَ ما أنتَ فاعِلٌ

وليسَ يؤدّي بَعْضَ ما أنتَ فاعِلٌ

إذا رُمْتُ وَصْفاً كلُّ ما أنا قائِلُ

إذا رُمْتُ وَصْفاً كلُّ ما أنا قائِلُ

And not even a fraction of what you do is conveyed,

And no one can fulfil some of what you have done,

when I attempt description, by all that I say.

If I tried describing, whatever I say fails,

أبوكَ وأنتَ السّابِقانِ إِلى العُلا

أبوكَ وأنتَ السّابِقانِ إِلى العُلا

على شِيَمٍ منْهُنَّ حَزْمٌ ونائِلُ

على شِيَمٍ منْهُنَّ حَزْمٌ ونائِلُ

Your father and you are the two foremost in reaching the heights,

You and your father preceded to greatness,

through virtues that include resolve and bounty.

On traits of resolve and attainment they prevail,

ولولاكُما لم يُعْرَفِ البأسُ والندىً

ولولاكُما لم يُعْرَفِ البأسُ والندىً

ولمْ يَدْرِ ساعٍ كيفَ تُبغى الفضائِلُ

ولمْ يَدْرِ ساعٍ كيفَ تُبغى الفضائِلُ

Without you both, valor and generosity would not be known,

Without you courage and chivalry are not known,

nor would any striver know how virtues are sought.

Nor does anyone know how virtues are gained,

وهل يَلِدُ الضِّرْغامُ إلا شَبيهَهُ

وهل يَلِدُ الضِّرْغامُ إلا شَبيهَهُ

ويُنجِبُ إلا الأكْرَمونَ الأماثِلُ

ويُنجِبُ إلا الأكْرَمونَ الأماثِلُ

Does the lion beget anything but its own likeness,

Does a lion not beget but its equal?

and do any but the noblest, most excellent sire noble offspring?

And do the noble not sire the virtuous and hale?

فلَيتَ أباً لا يُورِثُ الفَخْرَ عاقِرٌ

فلَيتَ أباً لا يُورِثُ الفَخْرَ عاقِرٌ

وأُمّاً إذا لم تُعْقِبِ المَجْدَ حائِلُ

وأُمّاً إذا لم تُعْقِبِ المَجْدَ حائِلُ

Would that a father who does not bequeath pride were barren,

Would that a father not leave glory barren,

and a mother who does not pass on glory were childless.

And a mother, if she bears no glory, she fails,

وأنت الذي إنْ هَزَّ أقْلامَهُ حَوى

وأنت الذي إنْ هَزَّ أقْلامَهُ حَوى

بِها ما نَبَتْ عنهُ الرِّماحُ الذّوابِلُ

بِها ما نَبَتْ عنهُ الرِّماحُ الذّوابِلُ

You are the one who, when he brandishes his pens, wins

You who if brandished his pens turned abodes

with them what slender spears have failed to reach.

To where the lofty spears and blades impale,

يَطولُ لِسانُ الفَخْرِ في مَكْرُماتِهِ

يَطولُ لِسانُ الفَخْرِ في مَكْرُماتِهِ

ويَقْصُرُ باعُ الدّهْرِ عمّا يُحاوِلُ

ويَقْصُرُ باعُ الدّهْرِ عمّا يُحاوِلُ

Pride's tongue grows long in recounting his noble deeds,

The tongue of glory is too short for your merits,

while time's reach falls short of what he attempts.

And time’s life too small for all you unveil,

وحَيٍّ من الأعداءِ تُبدي شِفاهُهُمْ

وحَيٍّ من الأعداءِ تُبدي شِفاهُهُمْ

نَواجِذَ مَقْرونٌ بِهنَّ الأنامِلُ

نَواجِذَ مَقْرونٌ بِهنَّ الأنامِلُ

And many an enemy clan whose lips expose

Alive, their lips bare enemy teeth,

back teeth, with fingertips pressed against them:

Hooked fingers matched with curved nails,

فمِنْهُم بِمُستَنِّ المَنايا مُعَرِّسٌ

فمِنْهُم بِمُستَنِّ المَنايا مُعَرِّسٌ

تُطيفُ بهِ سُمْرُ القَنا والقنابِلُ

تُطيفُ بهِ سُمْرُ القَنا والقنابِلُ

some of them camp where deaths run their course,

Among them are some wedded to death’s blades,

encircled by brown spear-shafts and troop companies;

Encircled with spear points and missiles that flail,

وآخِرُ تَستَدْني خُطاهُ قُيودُهُ

وآخِرُ تَستَدْني خُطاهُ قُيودُهُ

وهُنَّ بساقَيْ كُلِّ عاصٍ خَلاخِلُ

وهُنَّ بساقَيْ كُلِّ عاصٍ خَلاخِلُ

another's fetters draw his footsteps close together,

Another whose steps are fettered by shackles,

and they are anklets upon every rebel's two legs.

Like bangles around the legs of all rebels they trail,

أزَرْتَهُمُ بَيضاً كأنّ مُتونَها

أزَرْتَهُمُ بَيضاً كأنّ مُتونَها

أجَنَّ المَنايا السّودَ فيها الصّياقِلُ

أجَنَّ المَنايا السّودَ فيها الصّياقِلُ

You sent bright swords to visit them, as though their backs

You clothed them in white as if the swords’ blades

had black deaths concealed within them by the polishers.

Had extracted the black from them leaving pure white shale,

ولم يَبْقَ إلا من عَرَفْتَ وعنده

ولم يَبْقَ إلا من عَرَفْتَ وعنده

مكائِدُ تَسري بينهنَّ الغَوائِلُ

مكائِدُ تَسري بينهنَّ الغَوائِلُ

None remained but the one you know, who harbors

But some remained whom you know and plot against,

plots among which deadly treacheries creep.

With schemes passing between them night and day without fail,

أطَلْتَ له باعاً قَصيراً فمَدَّهُ

أطَلْتَ له باعاً قَصيراً فمَدَّهُ

إِلى أمَدٍ يَعْيَى بهِ المُتَطاوِلُ

إِلى أمَدٍ يَعْيَى بهِ المُتَطاوِلُ

You lengthened his short reach, and he stretched it

You gave him a short reach but extended it,

to a distance that wearies even one who stretches far.

To a span exhausting those who assay and scale,

وخاتَلَ عن أضْغانِهِ بتَودُّدٍ

وخاتَلَ عن أضْغانِهِ بتَودُّدٍ

وهلْ يَمْحَضُ الوُدَّ العدوُّ المُخاتِلُ

وهلْ يَمْحَضُ الوُدَّ العدوُّ المُخاتِلُ

He masked his grudges with displays of affection;

He deserted his grudges with friendliness,

but does a deceitful enemy ever offer sincere affection?

But does a foe’s affection stay true or curtail?

لَئِنْ ظَهَرَتْ منهُ خَديعةُ ماكِرٍ

لَئِنْ ظَهَرَتْ منهُ خَديعةُ ماكِرٍ

فسَيْفُكَ لا تَخفى عليه المَقاتِلُ

فسَيْفُكَ لا تَخفى عليه المَقاتِلُ

If a schemer's deception should emerge from him,

If his deception appears for he is sly,

then no mortal spot is hidden from your sword.

Your sword will, no fighter can it veil,

وكم يوقِظُ الأحْقادَ من رَقَداتِها

وكم يوقِظُ الأحْقادَ من رَقَداتِها

وتَرْقُدُ في أغمادِهِنّ المَناصِلُ

وتَرْقُدُ في أغمادِهِنّ المَناصِلُ

And how often he awakens hatreds from their slumbers,

How many dormant hatreds it can awaken

while sword-blades sleep within their scabbards.

While in their sheaths the blades stay and impale,

فرَوِّ غِرارَ المَشْرَفيّ بهِ دَماً

فرَوِّ غِرارَ المَشْرَفيّ بهِ دَماً

فأُمُّ الذي لا يتْبَعُ الحَقَّ ثاكِلُ

فأُمُّ الذي لا يتْبَعُ الحَقَّ ثاكِلُ

So quench the Mashrafi sword-edge's thirst with his blood,

Show the perfidy of the lofty one with his blood,

for the mother of one who will not follow truth is bereaved—

For she who does not follow truth is depraved and frail,

بيومٍ ترَدّى بالأسنّةِ فاسْتَوَتْ

بيومٍ ترَدّى بالأسنّةِ فاسْتَوَتْ

هَواجِرُهُ من وَقْعِها والأصائِلُ

هَواجِرُهُ من وَقْعِها والأصائِلُ

on a day cloaked in spearheads, when alike became

On a day when his steeds recoiled from the clash,

its blazing noons and late afternoons beneath their blows.

And the archers despite their skills, they flail,

وغارَ على الشّمسِ العَجاجُ فإنْ سَمَتْ

وغارَ على الشّمسِ العَجاجُ فإنْ سَمَتْ

لتَلْحَظَها عيْنٌ ثَنَتْها القَساطِلُ

لتَلْحَظَها عيْنٌ ثَنَتْها القَساطِلُ

And dust jealously guarded the sun; if there rose

The clouds eclipsed the sun, so if an eye,

an eye to gaze at it, thick dust-clouds turned it back.

Glanced at it, the spears would turn it and curtail,

وحُلِّيَتِ الأعناقُ فيهِ منَ الظُّبا

وحُلِّيَتِ الأعناقُ فيهِ منَ الظُّبا

قَلائِدَ لا يَصْبو إليهنّ عاطِلُ

قَلائِدَ لا يَصْبو إليهنّ عاطِلُ

Necks were adorned that day with blade-edges:

The necks were adorned there with repairs of mail,

necklaces no unadorned wearer desires.

Necklaces no indolent soul did accost or hail,

بِكَفٍّ تُعيرُ السُّحْبَ من نَفَحاتِها

بِكَفٍّ تُعيرُ السُّحْبَ من نَفَحاتِها

فتُرخي عَزالِيها الغُيوثُ الهَواطِلُ

فتُرخي عَزالِيها الغُيوثُ الهَواطِلُ

With a hand that lends the clouds some of its bounties,

With a grip that shames the clouds with its blows,

so pouring rain-clouds loosen their spouts,

So its abundant rains cascade without fail,

وهِمَّةِ طَلاّعٍ إِلى كُلِّ سُؤدَدِ

وهِمَّةِ طَلاّعٍ إِلى كُلِّ سُؤدَدِ

لهُ غايةٌ منْ دونِها النّجْمُ آفِلُ

لهُ غايةٌ منْ دونِها النّجْمُ آفِلُ

and the resolve of one who scales every height of eminence,

With ambitions set to every mighty summit,

whose goal lies so high that the star sets beneath it.

Beyond which the stars decline, weaken and fail,

ففازَ غياثُ الدّينِ منكَ بِصارِمٍ

ففازَ غياثُ الدّينِ منكَ بِصارِمٍ

على عاتِقِ العَلْياءِ منهُ الحَمائِلُ

على عاتِقِ العَلْياءِ منهُ الحَمائِلُ

Thus Ghiyath al-Din has gained in you a keen sword,

Thus the aid of faith, with your cutting blade,

whose baldrics rest upon the shoulder of lofty glory.

Upon the shoulders of the lofty, became impaled,

ودانَ لهُ حَزْنُ البِلادِ وسَهْلُها

ودانَ لهُ حَزْنُ البِلادِ وسَهْلُها

وأنت المُحامي دونَها والمُناضِلُ

وأنت المُحامي دونَها والمُناضِلُ

The land's rugged ground and plains submitted to him,

The land’s grief and plains bent to it,

and you are the one who shields and fights for it.

While you defend and fight for it without fail,

فما بالُ زَوْراءِ العِراقِ مُنيخَةً

فما بالُ زَوْراءِ العِراقِ مُنيخَةً

بمُعْتَرَكٍ تَدْمى لديهِ الكَلاكِلُ

بمُعْتَرَكٍ تَدْمى لديهِ الكَلاكِلُ

Why, then, does Iraq's Zawra kneel

Why does deception-clad Iraq now bow down,

on a battlefield where chests bleed?

At a fray where skulls are crushed with flails?

تَشيمُ من الهَيجاءِ بَرْقاً إذا بَدا

تَشيمُ من الهَيجاءِ بَرْقاً إذا بَدا

هَمَى بالنّجيعِ الوَرْدِ منهُ المَخائِلُ

هَمَى بالنّجيعِ الوَرْدِ منهُ المَخائِلُ

She watches for battle's lightning; when it appears,

It lightens with red sparks when passions flare,

its rain-promising clouds pour down rose-red gore.

And the meadow’s roses are razed with nails,

تَحيدُ الرِّجالُ الغُلْبُ عنْ غَمَراتِها

تَحيدُ الرِّجالُ الغُلْبُ عنْ غَمَراتِها

وتَسْلَمُ فيهنَّ النِّساءُ المَطافِلُ

وتَسْلَمُ فيهنَّ النِّساءُ المَطافِلُ

Mighty men shrink from its raging depths,

Men are helpless against its flooding,

while women with young children remain safe within them.

And invading women there prevail,

كأنَّ الإِلى طاروا إِلى الحَرْبِ ضَلّةً

كأنَّ الإِلى طاروا إِلى الحَرْبِ ضَلّةً

نَعامٌ يُباري خَطْرَةَ الرّيحِ جافِلُ

نَعامٌ يُباري خَطْرَةَ الرّيحِ جافِلُ

As though those who flew to war, misguided,

As if the gods had erroneously flown to war,

were fleeing ostriches racing a gust of wind.

Ostriches vying with the winds that assail,

ومِنْ أينَ يَسْتَولي منَ العُرْبِ رامِحٌ

ومِنْ أينَ يَسْتَولي منَ العُرْبِ رامِحٌ

على بَلَدٍ فيهِ منَ التُّرْكِ نابِلُ

على بَلَدٍ فيهِ منَ التُّرْكِ نابِلُ

And how could an Arab spearman take

From where can an Arab horseman conquer,

a town in which a Turkish archer stands?

A land that hurls so many Turkish hails?

أبابِلُ لا وادِيكِ بالرِّفْدِ مُفْعَمٌ

أبابِلُ لا وادِيكِ بالرِّفْدِ مُفْعَمٌ

لدَيْنا ولا نادِيكِ بالوَفْدِ آهِلُ

لدَيْنا ولا نادِيكِ بالوَفْدِ آهِلُ

O Babylon, your valley is not brimming with bounty

No, not your plains overflowing with visitors,

for us, nor your gathering-place thronged with visitors.

Nor your valleys abundant with tribes that hail,

لَئِنْ ضِقْتِ عني فالبِلادُ فَسيحةٌ

لَئِنْ ضِقْتِ عني فالبِلادُ فَسيحةٌ

وحَسْبُكِ عاراً أنني عَنْكِ راحِلُ

وحَسْبُكِ عاراً أنني عَنْكِ راحِلُ

If you have grown too narrow for me, the lands are vast;

If you spurn me, lands are ample,

it is shame enough for you that I depart from you.

And it suffices that I depart and sail,

وإنْ كُنتِ بالسِّحْرِ الحَرامِ مُدِلَّةً

وإنْ كُنتِ بالسِّحْرِ الحَرامِ مُدِلَّةً

فعِندي من السِّحْرِ الحَلالِ دَلائِلُ

فعِندي من السِّحْرِ الحَلالِ دَلائِلُ

And if you boast of forbidden sorcery,

If you are ensnared by forbidden sorcery,

I possess proofs of lawful enchantment:

I have proofs made of sorcery that is hale,

قَوافٍ تُعيرُ الأعْيُنَ النُّجْلَ سِحْرَها

قَوافٍ تُعيرُ الأعْيُنَ النُّجْلَ سِحْرَها

فكُلُّ مكانٍ خَيَّمَتْ فيهِ بابِلُ

فكُلُّ مكانٍ خَيَّمَتْ فيهِ بابِلُ

rhymes that lend their magic to wide eyes,

Ships that shame eyes with their magic,

so every place where they pitch their tents is Babylon.

Wherever they berth, Babylon does not avail,

وأيُّ فَتًى ماضي العَزيمَةِ راعَهُ

وأيُّ فَتًى ماضي العَزيمَةِ راعَهُ

مُلوكُكِ لا رَوّى رِباعَكِ وابِلُ

مُلوكُكِ لا رَوّى رِباعَكِ وابِلُ

And what a youth of unwavering resolve was dismayed

Which valiant frightened by your kings,

by your kings! May no downpour water your dwellings.

Did not water your plains or make floods that trail?

أغَرُّ رَحيبٌ في النّوائِبِ ذَرْعُهُ

أغَرُّ رَحيبٌ في النّوائِبِ ذَرْعُهُ

لأعْباءِ ما يأتي بهِ الدّهْرُ حامِلُ

لأعْباءِ ما يأتي بهِ الدّهْرُ حامِلُ

Radiant, with ample fortitude amid calamities,

A shelter most vast against disasters,

he bears the burdens of whatever time brings.

That which time brings heavily he can avail,

فَتى الحَيِّ يَرْمي بالخُصومِ وراءَهُ

فَتى الحَيِّ يَرْمي بالخُصومِ وراءَهُ

حَيارى إذا التَفَّتْ علَيهِ المَحافِلُ

حَيارى إذا التَفَّتْ علَيهِ المَحافِلُ

The clan's champion flings his opponents behind him,

A live coal that hurls foes behind him,

bewildered, when assemblies gather around him.

Bewildered when assemblies upon him prevail,

مَتى تُسْلَبُ الجُرْدُ الجيادُ مِراحَها

مَتى تُسْلَبُ الجُرْدُ الجيادُ مِراحَها

إليكَ كما يَسْتَنْفِرُ النّحْلَ عاسِلُ

إليكَ كما يَسْتَنْفِرُ النّحْلَ عاسِلُ

When will sleek, noble steeds be stripped of their high spirits

When are steeds stripped of their fine coats,

in hastening to you, as a honey-gatherer sends bees flying?

As bees are mustered by one who does harvest and flail?

تُقَرَّطُ أثْناءَ الأعِنّةِ والثّرى

تُقَرَّطُ أثْناءَ الأعِنّةِ والثّرى

يُواري جَبينَ الشّمْسِ والنّقْعُ ذائِلُ

يُواري جَبينَ الشّمْسِ والنّقْعُ ذائِلُ

They wear earrings of looping reins, while the soil

During the clash, earth covers the sun’s brow,

hides the sun's brow, and dust trails its skirts.

As the clouds’ darkness with dawn does impale,

إذا نَضَتِ الظَّلْماءُ بُرْدَ شَبابِها

إذا نَضَتِ الظَّلْماءُ بُرْدَ شَبابِها

مَضَتْ وخِضابُ اللّيلِ بالصُّبْحِ ناصِلُ

مَضَتْ وخِضابُ اللّيلِ بالصُّبْحِ ناصِلُ

When darkness has shed the cloak of its youth,

It wheeled over Iraq’s expanse its clouds,

they go forth, as night's dye fades with the dawn.

Led by the house of Isaac, costume-clad and in mail,

ولَفَّتْ على صَحْنِ العِراقِ عَجاجَها

ولَفَّتْ على صَحْنِ العِراقِ عَجاجَها

يُقَدّمُها مِن آلِ إسْحاقَ باسِلُ

يُقَدّمُها مِن آلِ إسْحاقَ باسِلُ

They wrap the open plain of Iraq in their dust,

If it travelled, the night in white is moonlit,

led by a valiant man of the house of Ishaq.

And the hue of dawn travelling in clouds is hailed,

إذا ما سَرى فاللّيْلُ بالبِيضِ مُقْمِرٌ

إذا ما سَرى فاللّيْلُ بالبِيضِ مُقْمِرٌ

ولَوْنُ الضُّحى إن سارَ بالنّقْعِ حائِلُ

ولَوْنُ الضُّحى إن سارَ بالنّقْعِ حائِلُ

If he travels by night, bright swords make the night moonlit;

Courage, when war casts off its cloak,

and if he marches, dust alters the morning's hue.

Its resolve never wavering, nor plans that fail,

هُمامٌ إذا ما الحَرْبُ ألْقَتْ قِناعَها

هُمامٌ إذا ما الحَرْبُ ألْقَتْ قِناعَها

فلا عَزْمُهُ واهٍ ولا الرَّأْيُ فائِلُ

فلا عَزْمُهُ واهٍ ولا الرَّأْيُ فائِلُ

A bold hero who, when war casts off its veil,

If sorrows clouded the blissful nights,

has neither weak resolve nor unsound judgment.

It purified them from their glooms with traits and tales,

وإنْ كَدَّرَتْ صَفْوَ اللّيالي خُطوبُها

وإنْ كَدَّرَتْ صَفْوَ اللّيالي خُطوبُها

صَفَتْ مِنْهُ في غَمّائِهنَّ الشّمائِلُ

صَفَتْ مِنْهُ في غَمّائِهنَّ الشّمائِلُ

And if the nights' calamities disturb their serenity,

His pride refused to be diminished through mediation,

his virtues remain clear amid their darkest trials.

He outpaced it though sin to him does unveil,

أبَى طَوْلُه أن يُسْتَفادَ بِشافِعٍ

أبَى طَوْلُه أن يُسْتَفادَ بِشافِعٍ

نَداهُ ومَعْصيٌّ لَدَيْهِ العَواذِلُ

نَداهُ ومَعْصيٌّ لَدَيْهِ العَواذِلُ

His munificence refuses to let an intercessor procure

None but the ambitious embraced ambition,

his bounty; and reprovers go unheeded in his presence.

Nor did the hopeful clutch at hopes that flail,

فلَمْ يحْتَضِنْ غَيْرَ الرّغائِبِ راغِبٌ

فلَمْ يحْتَضِنْ غَيْرَ الرّغائِبِ راغِبٌ

ولمْ يتَشَبَّثْ بالوَسائِلِ سائِلُ

ولمْ يتَشَبَّثْ بالوَسائِلِ سائِلُ

So no seeker has clasped anything but coveted gifts,

To you retreats, son of nobles, a lauded one,

and no petitioner has clung to means of intercession.

With calamities of time assailing him with travails,

إليكَ أوَى يا بْنَ الأكارِمِ ماجِدٌ

إليكَ أوَى يا بْنَ الأكارِمِ ماجِدٌ

لَهُ عِنْدَ أحداثِ الزّمانِ طَوائِلُ

لَهُ عِنْدَ أحداثِ الزّمانِ طَوائِلُ

To you has come for refuge, O son of the noblest, a man of honor

Its rhymes trail their hems to you,

with scores to settle with the misfortunes of time.

As the bows of archers smile when arrows impale,

تَجُرُّ قَوافيهِ إليكَ ذيولَها

تَجُرُّ قَوافيهِ إليكَ ذيولَها

كما ابْتَسَمَتْ غِبَّ الرِّهام الخَمائِلُ

كما ابْتَسَمَتْ غِبَّ الرِّهام الخَمائِلُ

His rhymes trail their skirts toward you,

And with you the glory’s sanctity is guarded,

as leafy groves smile after light rains.

So the afflicted with might eternal came to you and hailed,

وعندكَ تُرْعى حُرْمَةُ المَجْدِ فارْتَمى

وعندكَ تُرْعى حُرْمَةُ المَجْدِ فارْتَمى

إليكَ بهِ دامي الأظَلّينِ بازِلُ

إليكَ بهِ دامي الأظَلّينِ بازِلُ

With you the sanctity of glory is guarded, so there sped

Stars and journey saw him suffering,

to you, bearing him, a mature camel with both footpads bloodied.

Like a waning crescent, famished, frail and hale,

بَراهُ السُّرى والسَّيْرُ وهْوَ منَ الضّنى

بَراهُ السُّرى والسَّيْرُ وهْوَ منَ الضّنى

حَكاهُ هِلالٌ كالقُلامَةِ ناحِلُ

حَكاهُ هِلالٌ كالقُلامَةِ ناحِلُ

Night travel and journeying wore it down, and in its wasting

Scant is his consideration of the humble lowly one,

a crescent, thin as a nail-paring, resembled it.

Though streams are plentiful for those who seek and avail,

قَليلٌ إِلى الرِّيِّ الذّليلِ الْتفاتُهُ

قَليلٌ إِلى الرِّيِّ الذّليلِ الْتفاتُهُ

وإنْ كَثُرَتْ لِلْوارِدينَ المَناهِلُ

وإنْ كَثُرَتْ لِلْوارِدينَ المَناهِلُ

It pays little heed to a draught of humiliation,

Where the lofty and debater are weak and frail,

though watering-places abound for those who come to drink.

It is no novelty that I gain heights through you,

وها أنا أرْجو من زَمانِكَ رُتبَةً

وها أنا أرْجو من زَمانِكَ رُتبَةً

يَقِلُّ المُسامي عِنْدَها والمُساجِلُ

يَقِلُّ المُسامي عِنْدَها والمُساجِلُ

Here I am, hoping in your time for a rank

For the likes of you are hoped for, and I their likes who flail,

where rivals in eminence and competitors are few.

ولَيسَ بِبِدْعٍ أن أنالَ بِكَ العُلا

ولَيسَ بِبِدْعٍ أن أنالَ بِكَ العُلا

فمِثْلُكَ مأمُولٌ ومِثْليَ آمِلُ

فمِثْلُكَ مأمُولٌ ومِثْليَ آمِلُ

It is no wonder that through you I attain the heights:

for one like you is looked to with hope, and one like me hopes.