أَهْدى الأَمِيرُ إِلَيْكَ خَيْرَ تَحيَّةٍ

أَهْدى الأَمِيرُ إِلَيْكَ خَيْرَ تَحيَّةٍ

مِنْ خَيْرِ بَسّامٍ أَغَرَّ بَشُوشِ

مِنْ خَيْرِ بَسّامٍ أَغَرَّ بَشُوشِ

The emir has sent you the finest greeting,

The prince sends you the best of greetings

from the best of men, ever smiling, radiant, and cheerful:

From the best of smiling faces that captivates with joy

عَضْبٌ لأَكْرَمِ دَوْلَةٍ وَبَهاءُ اَش

عَضْبٌ لأَكْرَمِ دَوْلَةٍ وَبَهاءُ اَش

رَفِ مِلَّةٍ وَزَعِيمُ أَيِّ جُيُوشِ

رَفِ مِلَّةٍ وَزَعِيمُ أَيِّ جُيُوشِ

A keen sword for the noblest realm, and the splendor of the noblest

Wrath for the most generous state, and the brilliance of rulers

faith, and commander of mighty armies.

The leader of any religion or army

مِنْ نَرْجِسٍ وَبَنَفْسَجٍ غَضٍّ وَتُفَّ

مِنْ نَرْجِسٍ وَبَنَفْسَجٍ غَضٍّ وَتُفَّ

احٍ كَوَشْيِ الْحُلَّةِ الْمَرْشُوشِ

احٍ كَوَشْيِ الْحُلَّةِ الْمَرْشُوشِ

Of narcissi and fresh violets, and

Of narcissus, violets, roses and jasmine

apples, like the speckled embroidery of a robe:

Like the embroidery of an ornamented robe

جُمَلٌ كَما قُضِيَتْ مَواعِدُ عاشِقٍ

جُمَلٌ كَما قُضِيَتْ مَواعِدُ عاشِقٍ

مِنْ ناصِحٍ فِي الْحُبِّ غَيْرِ غَشُوشِ

مِنْ ناصِحٍ فِي الْحُبِّ غَيْرِ غَشُوشِ

Bouquets, like a lover’s promises fulfilled

Phrases placed like the seats of a lover

by one sincere in love, not deceitful.

From an advisor in love, not deceitful

فَكَأَنَّها وَجْهُ الْحَبِيبِ إِذا رَنا

فَكَأَنَّها وَجْهُ الْحَبِيبِ إِذا رَنا

وَبِخَدِّهِ أَثَرٌ مِنَ التَّجْمِيشِ

وَبِخَدِّهِ أَثَرٌ مِنَ التَّجْمِيشِ

So they resemble the beloved’s face when he gazes,

So it is as if it were the face of the beloved, delighted

with a mark of amorous pinching on his cheek.

With a trace on his cheek from caressing