أَنفحةُ الرَوض رَقَّت في صَبا السَحرِ

أَنفحةُ الرَوض رَقَّت في صَبا السَحرِ

مِن بَعدِ ما باتَ وَالأنداءُ في سَمَرِ

مِن بَعدِ ما باتَ وَالأنداءُ في سَمَرِ

Did a breath of the garden grow gentle in the east breeze before dawn,

The meadow's breeze softened in the dawn's eve

after the garden spent the night in converse with the dewdrops?

After the night passed with the friends in chatter

لا بَل تَحيَّةُ مَحضِ الوُدِّ بلَّغَها

لا بَل تَحيَّةُ مَحضِ الوُدِّ بلَّغَها

بَرٌّ شَريف المَعالي ماجِدُ النَفَرِ

بَرٌّ شَريف المَعالي ماجِدُ النَفَرِ

No, rather a greeting of pure affection, conveyed

Nay, it is but a greeting of pure affection

by a kindly man of noble attainments and illustrious kin.

From a noble, glorious, valiant man

أَمّا لعمرُ أَبي يَحيى لَقَد وَصلت

أَمّا لعمرُ أَبي يَحيى لَقَد وَصلت

من بِرّه صِلَةٌ أَحلى مِن الظَفرِ

من بِرّه صِلَةٌ أَحلى مِن الظَفرِ

Indeed, by the life of Abu Yahya, there has come

By my father's life, indeed your kindness

from his kindness a gift sweeter than victory.

Reached me, sweeter than triumph

يا مَن وَرَدتُ الوَفاءَ الغَمر مرتوياً

يا مَن وَرَدتُ الوَفاءَ الغَمر مرتوياً

مِن عهدهِ إِذ يُساقى الناسُ بالغُمَرِ

مِن عهدهِ إِذ يُساقى الناسُ بالغُمَرِ

O you whose abundant fidelity I approached, drinking my fill

O you whose loyalty like abundant rain quenched me

from your pledge, while people are served from a small cup.

When people are watered during drought

أَحرَزتَ سرو السَجايا ثُمَّ قارَنهُ

أَحرَزتَ سرو السَجايا ثُمَّ قارَنهُ

ظَرفَ اللِسان اِقتِرانَ الكأس بِالوَتَرِ

ظَرفَ اللِسان اِقتِرانَ الكأس بِالوَتَرِ

You attained nobility of character; then it was joined by

You attained the sublime nature's cypress, pairing it

grace of speech, like the pairing of the cup with the musical string.

With eloquent tongue, like a goblet and lute in tune

إِذا اِعتَبَرتُ مِنَ الأَخلاقِ أَنفسَها

إِذا اِعتَبَرتُ مِنَ الأَخلاقِ أَنفسَها

كُنتَ المُنافِسُ فيهِ الساميَ القَدرِ

كُنتَ المُنافِسُ فيهِ الساميَ القَدرِ

Whenever I assessed the most precious of virtues,

When I examine souls themselves for morals

you were the contender in virtue, exalted in rank.

You compete therein with the highest rank

عَلَيكَ مِني سَلامٌ لا يَزال لَهُ

عَلَيكَ مِني سَلامٌ لا يَزال لَهُ

فَرضٌ تُؤَديهِ آمالٌ إِلى بُكَرِ

فَرضٌ تُؤَديهِ آمالٌ إِلى بُكَرِ

Upon you be my greeting, ever attended by

Upon you from me, a greeting that still

a duty that hopes discharge until the early mornings.

Has an obligation hopes fulfil at dawn