تَصامَمَ السَّمْعُ عن نَصْرٍ ومَصْرَعِه

تَصامَمَ السَّمْعُ عن نَصْرٍ ومَصْرَعِه

والعَيْنُ لم تُغضِ لكنْ دمْعُها جارِ

والعَيْنُ لم تُغضِ لكنْ دمْعُها جارِ

My hearing feigned deafness to Nasr and his death;

My ears refused aid, or his downfall to hear,

And my eye did not close, but its tears flowed.

My eyes did not turn, though streaming a tear,

كَذَّبتُ شَيْطانَ ناعِيهِ وصَدَّقَهُ

كَذَّبتُ شَيْطانَ ناعِيهِ وصَدَّقَهُ

عِلْمي بإِقْدامِ لَيْثٍ منه كَرَّارِ

عِلْمي بإِقْدامِ لَيْثٍ منه كَرَّارِ

I called his death-announcer’s devil a liar, yet he was proved right

I called the death-kneller a liar, yet knew,

by my knowledge of the daring of the ever-charging lion in him.

That the lion he named would never fear,

وغالَطَ النَّفْسَ إِشْفاقي فصَرَّحَ لي

وغالَطَ النَّفْسَ إِشْفاقي فصَرَّحَ لي

تَشْميرُهُ للرَّدى منْ خشْيةِ العارِ

تَشْميرُهُ للرَّدى منْ خشْيةِ العارِ

And my anxious concern misled my soul, but the truth was made plain to me

My care mocked my soul, so openly clear,

by his girding himself for death, out of fear of disgrace.

His will for the fray, no shame could deter,

نَعَوا وَشيكَ القِرى في كُلِّ مُجْدبَةٍ

نَعَوا وَشيكَ القِرى في كُلِّ مُجْدبَةٍ

يُغْني سَنى الوَجْه منهُ عن سنى النَّارِ

يُغْني سَنى الوَجْه منهُ عن سنى النَّارِ

They announced the death of one swift to offer hospitality in every barren land;

They wailed the towns near, all left dry and sere,

His face’s radiance suffices in place of firelight.

His youth's freshness, no fires could mar,

يَحْمي ويَقْري لدى حَرْبٍ ومَسْغَبةٍ

يَحْمي ويَقْري لدى حَرْبٍ ومَسْغَبةٍ

أبو الفُتوحِ فنِعْمَ المانِع القاري

أبو الفُتوحِ فنِعْمَ المانِع القاري

He protects and feeds guests amid war and famine—

He warms and feeds, amidst war and fear,

Abu al-Futuh—what an excellent protector and host!

Abu Al-Futuh, best guardian spears par,

سَمْحُ السَّجايا يُحِبُّ النَّاسَ كُلَّهُمُ

سَمْحُ السَّجايا يُحِبُّ النَّاسَ كُلَّهُمُ

مُسْتَحْصِدُ الوِدِّ وافٍ غيرُ غَدَّارِ

مُسْتَحْصِدُ الوِدِّ وافٍ غيرُ غَدَّارِ

Generous in character, he loves all people,

Of easy nature, all people holds dear,

Firm in affection, faithful, never treacherous.

Garnering friendship, no promise to mar.