المدحُ ليس لهُ بغيركِ رونقُ

المدحُ ليس لهُ بغيركِ رونقُ

مهما ينمِّق شاعرٌ ويُرقَقُ

مهما ينمِّق شاعرٌ ويُرقَقُ

Praise has no luster when offered to anyone but you,

Praise has no elegance without you,

however a poet adorns it and it is refined.

No matter how eloquent a poet embellishes and refines.

والشعرُ إِن يذخر بنشر فضيلةٍ

والشعرُ إِن يذخر بنشر فضيلةٍ

في الناسِ فهو بنشرِ فضلكِ أَليَقُ

في الناسِ فهو بنشرِ فضلكِ أَليَقُ

And if poetry is enriched by spreading virtue

And if poetry amasses in spreading virtue

among people, it is better suited to spreading your excellence.

Among people, spreading your grace is more fitting.

ان الذي خلق المحاسنَ كلَّها

ان الذي خلق المحاسنَ كلَّها

أَعطاكِ منها حلَّةً لا تُخلَقُ

أَعطاكِ منها حلَّةً لا تُخلَقُ

Indeed, the One who created all beautiful qualities

The one who created all beauty

gave you a robe of them that never wears out:

Granted you an attire from it that cannot be imitated.

شرفٌ إلى دعةٍ إلى أدبٍ إلى

شرفٌ إلى دعةٍ إلى أدبٍ إلى

ظرفٍ يحيطُ بذاكَ قلبٌ مشفِقُ

ظرفٍ يحيطُ بذاكَ قلبٌ مشفِقُ

nobility joined to serenity, to refinement, to

Nobility, gentleness, refinement,

charm, all encircled by a compassionate heart.

And charm surround a caring heart.

يا يومَ ضجَّ السوقُ من عجبٍ وقد

يا يومَ ضجَّ السوقُ من عجبٍ وقد

نظروا به امرأَةً أَتت تتسوَّقُ

نظروا به امرأَةً أَتت تتسوَّقُ

O day when the market clamored in amazement, as

O day the market bustled in wonder, when

they saw there a woman who had come to shop!

They saw a woman who came shopping,

عرفوا بها امرأَةَ العميدِ فراعهم

عرفوا بها امرأَةَ العميدِ فراعهم

ذاك الجلالُ به الوَداعةُ تُحدقُ

ذاك الجلالُ به الوَداعةُ تُحدقُ

They recognized her as the brigadier's wife, and were awed by

They recognized her as the General’s wife, so they were amazed

that majesty, encircled by gentleness.

By that grandeur and tenderness gazing at them.

وقفوا حيارى صامتين وكلهم

وقفوا حيارى صامتين وكلهم

متأَمِّلٌ فيما يرى متعمِّقُ

متأَمِّلٌ فيما يرى متعمِّقُ

They stood bewildered and silent, every one of them

They stood confused and silent, each

contemplating what he saw, reflecting deeply.

Observing thoughtfully what he saw.

أَعقيلةُ الجنرالَ تسعى مثلما

أَعقيلةُ الجنرالَ تسعى مثلما

تسعى النساءُ العاملاتُ وتعرِقُ

تسعى النساءُ العاملاتُ وتعرِقُ

Does the general's wife strive just as

The General’s wife striving just as

working women strive and sweat?

Working women strive and sweat.

ما صدَّقوا أَسماعهم فيما مضى

ما صدَّقوا أَسماعهم فيما مضى

حتى رأوا بعيونهم وتحقَّقوا

حتى رأوا بعيونهم وتحقَّقوا

They had not believed their ears before,

They did not believe their ears in the past,

until they saw with their own eyes and were certain.

Until they saw with their eyes and made sure

أَعطيتِهم مثلاً مفيداً إِنما

أَعطيتِهم مثلاً مفيداً إِنما

الأَمثال يحفظها اللبيبُ الأَحذقُ

الأَمثال يحفظها اللبيبُ الأَحذقُ

You gave them a useful example; only

You gave them a useful example, though

the discerning and most astute remember examples.

Maxims are preserved by the prudent sage.

ثم انثَنَيتِ وكلُّ طرفٍ شاخصٌ

ثم انثَنَيتِ وكلُّ طرفٍ شاخصٌ

حبّاً إِليكِ وكلُّ قلبٍ يخفقُ

حبّاً إِليكِ وكلُّ قلبٍ يخفقُ

Then you turned away, with every eye fixed

Then you walked away with every eye looking

lovingly on you, and every heart beating.

Lovingly at you and every heart throbbing,

ومضوا وكلهم لسانٌ قائلٌ

ومضوا وكلهم لسانٌ قائلٌ

من حاز مثلَكِ إِنه لموَفَّقُ

من حاز مثلَكِ إِنه لموَفَّقُ

And they departed, each a tongue saying:

And they left with each tongue saying,

"Whoever has someone like you is truly fortunate."

“He who has one like you is truly fortunate.”