1. إذا عُدَّتْ سَراةُ الجودِ طُرَّاً

    فسعد الدين متبوعُ السَّماحِ

    When all the chiefs of generosity are counted,

    Sa'd al-Din is generosity's leader.

  2. طليقُ الوجهِ لا جَهْمٌ قطوبٌ

    ولا هيَّابةٌ عند الكفاحِ

    Open of countenance, neither grim nor scowling,

    Nor fearful in close combat.

  3. إذا ما اسْتَنَّ في بأسٍ وجُودٍ

    أبَرَّ على الغوادي والصِّفاحِ

    When he races in valor and generosity,

    He surpasses morning rainclouds and broad sword blades.

  4. رضاهُ وسُخْطُهُ في مُعْتَفِيهِ

    وفي الأعداء من سَمٍّ ورَاحِ

    His favor and his wrath, for his suppliants

    And for his foes, are poison for the latter and wine for the former.

  5. بنانٌ مثلُ سَحِّ الغَيْثِ رِفْداً

    وودهٌ مثلُ مُنْبَلَج الصَّباحِ

    His fingers pour bounty like torrential rain,

    And his affection is like the breaking dawn.

  6. شَبا الأقوالِ والأقلام منهُ

    أشدُّ من المواضي والرماحِ

    The sharp points of his words and pens

    Are mightier than keen swords and spears.

  7. تصولُ لها ذِمٌ وشِفارُ بيضٍ

    فيهزمُهنَّ بالغُرِّ الفِصاحِ

    Censure and the edges of gleaming swords assail them,

    So he routs them with brilliant, eloquent words.

  8. بقلبي من سَجايا المجْدِ فيه

    هوى العِزْ هاةٍ بالخوْدِ الرَّداحِ

    For the noble traits within him, my heart feels

    The passion of a woman-shunning man for a full-hipped maiden.