سفر الزمان بواشح من بشره

سفر الزمان بواشح من بشره

وافتر باسم ثغره من ثغره

وافتر باسم ثغره من ثغره

Time unveiled itself with gleams of his cheer,

The era traveled with radiant smiles on its face,

and its smiling mouth parted in a smile drawn from his.

And it shone until the embers of its night flew away as sparks when its dawn ignited.

وأضاء حتى خلت فحمة ليله

وأضاء حتى خلت فحمة ليله

طارت شراراً في توقد فجره

طارت شراراً في توقد فجره

And it shone until I thought the charcoal of its night

Its sides swayed as if the pourer of spirits gave gentleness to its wine.

had flown as sparks in the blazing of its dawn.

Its breaths waved as if it let out the finest aromas from its essence.

وتمايلت أعطافه فكأنما

وتمايلت أعطافه فكأنما

أعطاه ساقي الراح رقة خمره

أعطاه ساقي الراح رقة خمره

And its flanks swayed, as though

Its beauty increased brilliantly, as if spring scattered its magnificent flowers over it.

the wine-cupbearer had lent it the delicacy of his wine.

It swaggered in the garments of beauty haughtily,

وتفاوحت أنفاسه فكأنما

وتفاوحت أنفاسه فكأنما

فض اللطائم فيه جانب عطره

فض اللطائم فيه جانب عطره

And its breaths grew fragrant, as though

With the beauty of the days of happiness and its prime.

a portion of his perfume had broken open perfume-laden caravans within it.

With the generous left hand that sings with its most generous right hand,

وازداد باهر حسنه فكأنما

وازداد باهر حسنه فكأنما

نثر الربيع عليه باهر زهره

نثر الربيع عليه باهر زهره

And the splendor of its beauty grew, as though

And the one who attained the glory of the age entirely.

spring had strewn its dazzling blossoms upon it.

To whom Yemen extended good tidings, and Iraq, due to his merit,

واختال في حلل الجمال تطاولاً

واختال في حلل الجمال تطاولاً

بجمال أيام السعيد وعصره

بجمال أيام السعيد وعصره

And it strutted in beauty's robes, exulting

And whom Syria and Egypt appointed.

in the beauty of al-Saʿīd's days and age;

So it illuminated a full moon in the sky of its pride,

بالياسر المغني بأيسر جوده

بالياسر المغني بأيسر جوده

والمقتني عز الزمان بأسره

والمقتني عز الزمان بأسره

through the openhanded giver, who enriches with the least of his bounty,

And its beautiful traits are buds of flowers.

and possesses all the glory of time.

Or don't you see how the days honored him,

من طالت اليمن العراق بفضله

من طالت اليمن العراق بفضله

وسمت على أرض الشآم ومصره

وسمت على أرض الشآم ومصره

He through whose excellence Yemen surpassed Iraq

And became fragrant from the mention of him?

and rose above the land of al-Shām and his Egypt.

The generous preceded in good deeds for them, and showed the incapacity of those

فأضاء بدراً في سماء فخاره

فأضاء بدراً في سماء فخاره

وصفاته الحسنى ثواقب زهره

وصفاته الحسنى ثواقب زهره

So he shone as a full moon in the sky of his glory,

Who did not comprehend them, and clarified the excuse of the incapable.

and his fairest qualities are its brilliant, piercing stars.

It is as if the lofty paths were summarized for him preferentially,

أو ما ترى الأيام كيف تبجلت

أو ما ترى الأيام كيف تبجلت

عن سعيه وتعطرت من ذكره

عن سعيه وتعطرت من ذكره

And do you not see how the days have grown majestic

And those hostile to him went astray in his wake.

through his striving, and fragrant through his mention?

He revived the acquaintances of every acquaintance through them,

سبق الكرام لها وأبدى عجز من

سبق الكرام لها وأبدى عجز من

لم يحوها وأبان عاجز عذره

لم يحوها وأبان عاجز عذره

He outstripped the noble in winning them, and showed the failure of whoever

And erased the landmarks of those hostile to him by his aversion to them.

did not attain them, exposing the feebleness of his excuse.

And he bestowed blessings on the land from them,

فكأنما اختصرت له طرق العلى

فكأنما اختصرت له طرق العلى

فضلاً وضل عداته في إثره

فضلاً وضل عداته في إثره

It is as though the paths to eminence were shortened for him

The era spoke in thanks for it and for him.

as a favor, and his enemies lost their way in his wake.

So praise depends on his benevolence,

أحيا معارف كل معروف بها

أحيا معارف كل معروف بها

ومحا معالم منكريه بكره

ومحا معالم منكريه بكره

He revived in them the familiar marks of every good deed,

Between the creativity of his prose or poetry.

and erased the traces of his deniers with his onslaught.

And life is moist under the shade of his widespread shadow,

وأفاض منها للبرية أنعماً

وأفاض منها للبرية أنعماً

نطق الزمان بشكرها وبشكره

نطق الزمان بشكرها وبشكره

And from them he poured favors forth for humankind;

And roses are sweet from the springs of his righteousness.

time voiced thanks for them and thanks to him.

And good fortune is submissive to him, fluctuating

فالمدح موقوف على إحسانه

فالمدح موقوف على إحسانه

مابين بارع نظمه أو نثره

مابين بارع نظمه أو نثره

So praise is reserved for his beneficence,

Between his high deterrence or command.

whether in exquisite verse or prose.

And the sovereign smiles with joy, inclining with intoxication

والعيش رطب تحت وارف ظله

والعيش رطب تحت وارف ظله

والورد عذب من مناهل بره

والورد عذب من مناهل بره

And life is fresh beneath his ample shade,

When he became the crown to his lofty temple, and the necklace around his neck.

and the draught is sweet from the springs of his kindness.

Unique among people in his protection,

والسعد منقاد له متصرف

والسعد منقاد له متصرف

ما بين عالي نهيه أو أمره

ما بين عالي نهيه أو أمره

And good fortune submits to him, acting

And exclusively caring for people in his victory.

between his exalted prohibition or command.

He is the one whose outstanding merit

والملك مبتسم الثغور مورد ال

والملك مبتسم الثغور مورد ال

جلباب نشوان يميل بسكره

جلباب نشوان يميل بسكره

And sovereignty smiles at its mouths, rose-tinted in its

Witnesses have attested, marking his value with the loftiness of his worth.

robe, drunken, swaying with its intoxication,

He stood firm in the battle with his enemies,

لما غدا تاجاً لمفرق عزه ال

لما غدا تاجاً لمفرق عزه ال

سامي وعقداً في ترائب نحره

سامي وعقداً في ترائب نحره

since he became a crown upon the head of its glory—

With determined resolve in the thoughts of his mind.

lofty—and a necklace upon the breastbones of its chest.

Fluctuating in obeying the two kings however

متفرد دون الأنام بصونه

متفرد دون الأنام بصونه

متكفل دون الأنام بنصره

متكفل دون الأنام بنصره

Unique among humankind in preserving it,

He wanted, whether beneficial or harmful to him.

alone among humankind in pledging it victory;

Utmost in advice, created for

وهو الذي شهدت بباهر فضله

وهو الذي شهدت بباهر فضله

شيم سمت قدراً بسامي قدره

شيم سمت قدراً بسامي قدره

and he is the one whose dazzling excellence is attested by

His loyalty, secretly and openly.

qualities raised in worth by his lofty worth.

God protected the system for his hand,

ثبت المواقف في لقاء عداته

ثبت المواقف في لقاء عداته

ماضي العزائم في مجاول فكره

ماضي العزائم في مجاول فكره

Steadfast in his stand when confronting his enemies,

And ordained the wellbeing of his country under his cover.

unfaltering in resolve in the arenas of his thought.

He took the initiative against the hostile, kindling

متصرف في طاعة الملكين في

متصرف في طاعة الملكين في

ما رامه من نفعه أو ضره

ما رامه من نفعه أو ضره

Acting with authority in obedience to the two kings in

The fire of fury with its white and black stones.

whatever he seeks of benefit or harm;

He deduces hidden meanings with his subtlety,

متناهياً في النصح مجبولاً على

متناهياً في النصح مجبولاً على

إخلاصه في سره أو جهره

إخلاصه في سره أو جهره

utmost in sincere counsel, naturally inclined to

And sees the unseen from the mirrors of his mind.

sincerity, in private or in public.

The world would not be too narrow for a seeker,

حفظ الإله به النظام لدسته

حفظ الإله به النظام لدسته

وقضى بسير بلاده في ستره

وقضى بسير بلاده في ستره

God preserved through him the order of its throne,

If its vast range was from his chest.

and decreed that its lands should proceed under his protection.

It is as if the palm of his hand in his chivalry

متقحماً فيه العجاج مضرماً

متقحماً فيه العجاج مضرماً

نار الهياج ببيضه وبسمره

نار الهياج ببيضه وبسمره

Plunging into battle-dust in its service, kindling

Was an overflowing sea from the overflowing of its ocean.

the fire of battle with his white swords and tawny spears.

It is as if the lightning of clouds shone

يستنبط المعنى الخفي بلطفه

يستنبط المعنى الخفي بلطفه

ويرى المغيب من مرايا فكره

ويرى المغيب من مرايا فكره

He draws out hidden meaning with his subtlety,

From his cheerfulness, and their downpour from his droplets.

and sees the unseen through the mirrors of his thought.

God gave him good fortune, for he

ماكانت الدنيا تضيق بطالب

ماكانت الدنيا تضيق بطالب

لو أن واسع صدرها من صدره

لو أن واسع صدرها من صدره

The world would not be too narrow for a seeker,

Enriched the destitute and remedied the poverty of the poor.

if the breadth of its breast came from his.

So delegations enjoy in the gardens of his bliss,

وكأن راحة كفه لعفاته

وكأن راحة كفه لعفاته

بحر تدفق من تدفق بحره

بحر تدفق من تدفق بحره

And the palm of his hand seems, to his petitioners,

And his enemy suffers from the harshness of his capture.

a sea that surges from the surging of his sea.

The good extend the distance toward his lofty abode,

وكأنما برق السحائب لائح

وكأنما برق السحائب لائح

من بشره وقطارها من قطره

من بشره وقطارها من قطره

And it is as though the clouds' lightning flashes

And spread emanating from its diffusion.

from his cheerful face, and their rain from his rain.

He made the few in it as though they were

لله إنعام السعيد فإنه

لله إنعام السعيد فإنه

أغنى العديم وسد فاقة فقره

أغنى العديم وسد فاقة فقره

How wondrous is al-Saʿīd's bounty! For he

Brothers of abundant wealth from his abundance.

has enriched the destitute and met the need of his poverty.

And he became in it infatuated with the connection of generosity,

فالوفد ينعم في رياض نعيمه

فالوفد ينعم في رياض نعيمه

وعدوه يشقى بشدة أسره

وعدوه يشقى بشدة أسره

So the delegation enjoys the gardens of his bliss,

Passionate when the stingy speaks of estrangement.

and his enemy suffers from the strength of his grip.

O you who tries to describe the easiest of his descriptions,

والطيب يطوي البيد نحو فنائه ال

والطيب يطوي البيد نحو فنائه ال

سامي وينشر فائحاً من نشره

سامي وينشر فائحاً من نشره

And perfume crosses the deserts toward his courtyard—

Where is rhetoric from undertaking to limit it?

lofty—and spreads fragrance drawn from his scent.

Indeed, the Fortunate Son of the Fortunate is too lofty

عم البرية فالمقل كأنه

عم البرية فالمقل كأنه

فيها أخو المال الكثير لكثره

فيها أخو المال الكثير لكثره

His bounty has embraced all humankind, so the man of little means seems

For his eloquent achievements to be thanked in full.

among them a man of great wealth, through his abundance.

And the praise of the praisers of him are fruits

وغدا بوصل الجود فيها مغرماً

وغدا بوصل الجود فيها مغرماً

لهجاً إذا لهج البخيل بهجره

لهجاً إذا لهج البخيل بهجره

And he has grown enamored of keeping close to generosity there,

Of his efforts, and necklaces from his pearls.

devoted to it when the miser is intent on forsaking it.

So may his courtyard remain populated, his prosperity eternal,

يا من يحاول وصف أيسر وصفه

يا من يحاول وصف أيسر وصفه

أين البلاغة من تعاطي حصره

أين البلاغة من تعاطي حصره

O you who attempt to describe the least of his qualities,

And his life extended for him.

how could eloquence presume to encompass him?

And may the sight of him on the day of Eid bring joy,

إن السعيد ابن السعيد أجل أن

إن السعيد ابن السعيد أجل أن

يحصي مآثره البليغ بشكره

يحصي مآثره البليغ بشكره

Indeed, al-Saʿīd, son of al-Saʿīd, is too exalted for

For its illumination is the illumination of its prime.

the eloquent to number his glorious deeds in thanks to him.

Shawwal is no longer cheery during its Eid,

ومدائح المداح فيه نتائج

ومدائح المداح فيه نتائج

من سعيه وقلائد من دره

من سعيه وقلائد من دره

And the panegyrists' praises of him are fruits

Nor does fasting gain merit during its Night of Power without him.

of his striving, and necklaces strung from his pearls.

And if you fail in your duties of gratitude,

فليبق معمور الفناء مخلد ال

فليبق معمور الفناء مخلد ال

نعماء ممدوداً له في عمره

نعماء ممدوداً له في عمره

So may he endure, his courtyard thronged, everlasting in

You will demolish the structures of your pride.

bounty, his span of life prolonged.

Indeed, good deeds toward the generous remain

وليهن عيد الفطر رؤيته التي

وليهن عيد الفطر رؤيته التي

إشراقها إشراق غرة فطره

إشراقها إشراق غرة فطره

And may Eid al-Fiṭr rejoice in seeing him, a sight whose

And last, even if time destroys everything.

radiance is that of the bright brow of its feast,

ما عاد شوال ببهجة عيده

ما عاد شوال ببهجة عيده

وسما الصيام بفضل ليلة قدره

وسما الصيام بفضل ليلة قدره

as long as Shawwāl returns with the joy of its feast,

and fasting is exalted by the merit of its Night of Decree.

ومتى أخل بواجباتك شاكر

ومتى أخل بواجباتك شاكر

عن قدرة هدمت مباني فخره

عن قدرة هدمت مباني فخره

And whenever one who gives thanks neglects his duties to you,

though able, the edifices of his pride are demolished.

إن الصنائع في الكرام ودائع

إن الصنائع في الكرام ودائع

تبقى وإن فني الزمان بأسره

تبقى وإن فني الزمان بأسره

Indeed, favors bestowed on the noble are deposits

that endure, even if time should perish in its entirety.