كسِيَتْ بدولَتِكَ اليالي نُورا

كسِيَتْ بدولَتِكَ اليالي نُورا

واهتَزَّتِ الدنيا إِلَيْكَ سُرُورا

واهتَزَّتِ الدنيا إِلَيْكَ سُرُورا

The nights were clothed in light by your reign,

Your state has adorned the nights with light

and the world stirred with joy toward you.

And the world shook with joy towards you

وإِذا تأَمَّلْتَ المُنى أَلْفَيْتَها

وإِذا تأَمَّلْتَ المُنى أَلْفَيْتَها

قَدَراً لكُمْ ولَنَا بِكُمْ مَقْدُورا

قَدَراً لكُمْ ولَنَا بِكُمْ مَقْدُورا

And when you contemplate wishes, you find them

And if you look at wishes, you find

a destiny for you, and through you decreed for us.

A fate for us and for you destined by you

وإِذا تفاخَرَتِ الملوكُ وُجِدْتُمُ

وإِذا تفاخَرَتِ الملوكُ وُجِدْتُمُ

من كُلِّ ملكٍ أَوْجُهاً وصُدورا

من كُلِّ ملكٍ أَوْجُهاً وصُدورا

And when kings vie in boasting, you are found

And if the kings boast, you are found

the faces and forefronts of every kingdom.

The noblest of face and chest of every king

وخلعتُمُ فِي العالَمينَ مساعِياً

وخلعتُمُ فِي العالَمينَ مساعِياً

حلَّيْنَهُنَّ مَفارِقاً ونحورا

حلَّيْنَهُنَّ مَفارِقاً ونحورا

And you bestowed upon the worlds achievements

And you have in the two worlds exerted

that adorned their head-partings and throats.

Efforts that adorned them, departing and subjugating

وإِذا الدهورُ تساجَلَتْ أُلْفِيتُمُ

وإِذا الدهورُ تساجَلَتْ أُلْفِيتُمُ

يَا آل تُبَّعَ للدُّهورِ دُهورا

يَا آل تُبَّعَ للدُّهورِ دُهورا

And when the ages vie, you are found,

And if eras contend, I find you

O house of Tubbaʿ, to be ages unto the ages.

O House of Tubba', eras upon eras

من كل دهرٍ لا يزالُ كَأَنَّهُ

من كل دهرٍ لا يزالُ كَأَنَّهُ

لَوْحٌ يلُوحُ بفخْرِكُمْ مَسْطُورا

لَوْحٌ يلُوحُ بفخْرِكُمْ مَسْطُورا

Each age forever seems to be

Of every era that does not cease as if

a tablet shining, inscribed with your glory.

It is a tablet displaying your pride inscribed

يُتْلى فَتَنْشَقُهُ النفوسُ كأنما

يُتْلى فَتَنْشَقُهُ النفوسُ كأنما

بالمِسْكِ خَطَّ غُواتُهُ الكافورا

بالمِسْكِ خَطَّ غُواتُهُ الكافورا

It is recited, and souls breathe it in, as though

It is recited, so souls split as if

its devotees had inscribed camphor with musk.

With musk its beauty the camphor inscribed

لكُمُ سماءُ الملكِ مَا زَالَتْ بكُمْ

لكُمُ سماءُ الملكِ مَا زَالَتْ بكُمْ

تُزْهى فتشرِقُ أنجماً وبدورا

تُزْهى فتشرِقُ أنجماً وبدورا

Yours is the sky of sovereignty, ever through you

For you is the sky of the kingdom, it has not ceased with you

exultant, shining with stars and full moons.

To be adorned, so it shines with stars and full moons

ولكم رياضُ الأَرضِ تَسْقُونَ الورى

ولكم رياضُ الأَرضِ تَسْقُونَ الورى

نِعَماً فتنبِتُ حامِداً وشَكُورا

نِعَماً فتنبِتُ حامِداً وشَكُورا

And yours are earth's gardens: you water humankind

And for you are the gardens of earth you water mankind

with blessings, and they bring forth the praising and the grateful.

With blessings, so it grows lush and grateful

فتهنَّ يَا يَحْيى تُرَاثَ مآثِرٍ

فتهنَّ يَا يَحْيى تُرَاثَ مآثِرٍ

أَحرزْتَ منها حظَّكَ الموفورا

أَحرزْتَ منها حظَّكَ الموفورا

So rejoice, Yahya, in an inheritance of glorious deeds,

So congratulations O Yahya, you have inherited

from which you have secured your ample share.

From it your abundant share

من كل ذِي مُلْكٍ نَمَوْكَ فأَنْجَبُوا

من كل ذِي مُلْكٍ نَمَوْكَ فأَنْجَبُوا

بدراً لفخْرِهِمُ المنيرِ مُنِيرا

بدراً لفخْرِهِمُ المنيرِ مُنِيرا

From every royal forebear who begot you, bringing forth

From every possessor of kingdom, your growth they begot

a shining full moon for their radiant glory.

A full moon for their pride, an illuminating illuminator

واستودَعُوكَ شمائِلاً ومحاسِناً

واستودَعُوكَ شمائِلاً ومحاسِناً

كَرُمَتْ فكنت بحفظِهِنَّ جديرا

كَرُمَتْ فكنت بحفظِهِنَّ جديرا

And they entrusted you with qualities and virtues

And they entrusted you with traits and beauties

of noble worth; you were worthy to preserve them.

That became honorable, so you were worthy of protecting them

فوصلْتَ مَا وصلُوا من النسبِ الَّذِي

فوصلْتَ مَا وصلُوا من النسبِ الَّذِي

بِذَرَاكَ عُوِّذَ أَن يُرى مهجورا

بِذَرَاكَ عُوِّذَ أَن يُرى مهجورا

So you joined the ties of kinship they had joined,

So you connected what they connected of lineage which

sheltered by your protection from ever being forsaken.

With your descendants was protected lest it be seen abandoned

فَحَكَمْتَ فِي حَكَمٍ بشملٍ جامعٍ

فَحَكَمْتَ فِي حَكَمٍ بشملٍ جامعٍ

نورَيْن زادَهُما التألُّفُ نورا

نورَيْن زادَهُما التألُّفُ نورا

Thus you decreed for Hakam a union joining

So you judged with an all-encompassing just rule

two lights, to which harmony added light.

Two lights which their harmony increased in light

قَمَرَيْنِ لَمْ يعرِفْ لتِلْكَ نظيرَةً

قَمَرَيْنِ لَمْ يعرِفْ لتِلْكَ نظيرَةً

هَذَا ولا هَذِي لذاكَ نَظيرا

هَذَا ولا هَذِي لذاكَ نَظيرا

Two moons: no equal to her had been known

Two moons neither this nor that was known

by him, nor by her any equal to him.

To have a peer, nor that to this a parallel

فَلأَمْتَ شَعْبَهُمَا بسوقِ ولِيمَةٍ

فَلأَمْتَ شَعْبَهُمَا بسوقِ ولِيمَةٍ

راح الثَّرى بدمائِها مَمْطُورا

راح الثَّرى بدمائِها مَمْطُورا

So you joined their branches, bringing in a wedding feast

So you united their people with the market of a feast

whose blood left the earth drenched.

The ground was perfumed with their blood

تحكي مَصارِعَ من عُدَاتِكَ لَمْ تَجِدْ

تحكي مَصارِعَ من عُدَاتِكَ لَمْ تَجِدْ

من حُكْمِ سيفِكَ فِي البلادِ مُجِيرا

من حُكْمِ سيفِكَ فِي البلادِ مُجِيرا

Recalling the deaths of those foes of yours who found

It tells of the deaths of those hostile to you, you did not find

no protector in the land from your sword's judgment.

One protected from the judgement of your sword in the lands

فَجَزَرْتَ حَتَّى باتَ من عادَيْتَهُ

فَجَزَرْتَ حَتَّى باتَ من عادَيْتَهُ

حَذِراً يراقِبُ أن يكونَ جَزُورا

حَذِراً يراقِبُ أن يكونَ جَزُورا

So you slaughtered until whoever you opposed spent the night

So you deterred until he who opposed you

fearful, watching lest he become a camel for slaughter.

Became cautious, observing that he may be deterred

ورفَعْتَ فِي ظُلَمِ الدياجِي عَنْهُما

ورفَعْتَ فِي ظُلَمِ الدياجِي عَنْهُما

شقراءَ باتَ لَهَا السِّماكُ سَمِيرا

شقراءَ باتَ لَهَا السِّماكُ سَمِيرا

And in the darkness of night you raised on their behalf

And you raised above them in the darkness of night

a tawny flame, with al-Simak as its night companion.

A blonde whose pavilions the canopy emulated

ناراً تُمَثِّلُ تَحْتَ ظلِّ دُخانِها

ناراً تُمَثِّلُ تَحْتَ ظلِّ دُخانِها

كِسْفَ العَجاجِ وسيفَكَ المَشْهُورا

كِسْفَ العَجاجِ وسيفَكَ المَشْهُورا

A fire that beneath the shadow of its smoke portrays

A fire representing beneath its smoke's shadow

clouds of battle-dust and your unsheathed sword.

The hooves of the horses and your famed sword

وتخالُها زُهْرُ الكواكِبِ تَحْتَها

وتخالُها زُهْرُ الكواكِبِ تَحْتَها

قمراً تَغَشَّى دونَها ساهُورا

قمراً تَغَشَّى دونَها ساهُورا

And the bright stars beneath it take it for

And around it the blossoms of stars beneath it

a moon that has drawn a veil between itself and them.

A moon eclipsed beneath it, blackened

في مشهدٍ أَمسى نذيراً لِلْعِدى

في مشهدٍ أَمسى نذيراً لِلْعِدى

وغَدَا لَنَا بالقربِ منكَ بشيرا

وغَدَا لَنَا بالقربِ منكَ بشيرا

In a spectacle that at evening warned the enemy

In a scene that became at night a warner to the enemy

and at dawn, through nearness to you, brought us glad tidings.

And in the morning for us near you a bearer of good tidings

نُدْعى لَهُ الجَفَلى فحسبُكَ طاعَةً

نُدْعى لَهُ الجَفَلى فحسبُكَ طاعَةً

مِمَّنْ يجيبُكَ مَغْنَماً ونفيرا

مِمَّنْ يجيبُكَ مَغْنَماً ونفيرا

We are invited to it, one and all; sufficient obedience for you

To whom we call the cowardly, as obedience to you suffices

from whoever answers you for booty and battle,

Against he who responds to you with spoils and volunteers

ولمن يرى خَفْضَ النعيمِ مُحَرَّماً

ولمن يرى خَفْضَ النعيمِ مُحَرَّماً

يوماً تُرِيهِ لواءَكَ المنشورا

يوماً تُرِيهِ لواءَكَ المنشورا

and whoever deems the ease of luxury forbidden

And he who sees the lowering of grace forbidden

the day you show him your unfurled banner.

A day you show him your unfurled banner

فجَلَوْتَ من صَدَفِ المقاصِرِ دُرَّةً

فجَلَوْتَ من صَدَفِ المقاصِرِ دُرَّةً

حلَّيْتَ منها أَرْبُعاً وقُصُورا

حلَّيْتَ منها أَرْبُعاً وقُصُورا

So you unveiled a pearl from the shell of secluded chambers,

So you drew from the shells of failings a pearl

with which you adorned dwellings and palaces.

You adorned from it four palaces

بَكَرَ الربيعُ لَهَا بجودِكَ فاغْتَدَتْ

بَكَرَ الربيعُ لَهَا بجودِكَ فاغْتَدَتْ

تُسْقَى بِهِ ماءَ الحياةِ نَمِيرا

تُسْقَى بِهِ ماءَ الحياةِ نَمِيرا

Spring came early to her through your bounty, and she began

Spring blossomed for it through your generosity so it became

to be watered by it with the sweet water of life.

Watered by it a flowing spring

فكسا المنازِلَ مَطْعَماً ومشارِباً

فكسا المنازِلَ مَطْعَماً ومشارِباً

وكسا الأَسِرَّةَ نَضْرَةً وسرورا

وكسا الأَسِرَّةَ نَضْرَةً وسرورا

So it clothed the dwellings in food and drink,

So it dressed the houses in delicious food and drinks

and clothed the couches in freshness and delight.

And dressed the beds in vitality and joy

كُلّاً كسوْتَ دَرَانِكاً ونمارِقاً

كُلّاً كسوْتَ دَرَانِكاً ونمارِقاً

وزرابِياً وأرائِكاً وخُدُورا

وزرابِياً وأرائِكاً وخُدُورا

All of them you arrayed in thick-piled rugs and cushions,

Each you dressed in gowns, carpets

and carpets, canopied couches, and curtained recesses.

And couches, and cushions

وتتابَعَتْ منك الجنودُ كَأَنَّما

وتتابَعَتْ منك الجنودُ كَأَنَّما

يَطَؤُونَ منها لُؤْلُؤاً منثورا

يَطَؤُونَ منها لُؤْلُؤاً منثورا

And troops from you followed one another, as though

And the soldiers continued from you as if

they trod there on scattered pearls.

Stepping on scattered pearls

وتَلأْلأَتْ فِيهَا بُرُوقُ مَجامِرٍ

وتَلأْلأَتْ فِيهَا بُرُوقُ مَجامِرٍ

يكسُونَ أَصْبارَ المُسُوكِ صَبِيرا

يكسُونَ أَصْبارَ المُسُوكِ صَبِيرا

And in them glittered the lightning-flashes of censers,

And the flashes of polished swords shone in it

as they clothed heaps of musk in a massed cloud,

Wearing the mail of interlinked rings

هَطِلاً بماءِ الوَرْدِ سَحَّ كَأَنَّما

هَطِلاً بماءِ الوَرْدِ سَحَّ كَأَنَّما

والى فَرَوَّضَ سُنْدُساً وحريرا

والى فَرَوَّضَ سُنْدُساً وحريرا

pouring rosewater, streaming as though

A downpour with rosewater poured as if

its ceaseless flow made gardens of brocade and silk.

To a groom it tailored gowns of silk

يومٌ لَكَ اكتُتِبَتْ شهادَاتُ النَّدى

يومٌ لَكَ اكتُتِبَتْ شهادَاتُ النَّدى

بالمِسْكِ فِي صُحُفِ الوجوهِ سُطُورا

بالمِسْكِ فِي صُحُفِ الوجوهِ سُطُورا

A day of yours when testimonies to generosity were inscribed

A day for you the dew's testimonies were written

in musk, line upon line, on the pages of faces.

In musk in the pages of faces in lines

تبدُو فَنَقْرأُ فِي بيانِ خُطوطِها

تبدُو فَنَقْرأُ فِي بيانِ خُطوطِها

جَدْوَى يَدَيْكَ وسعيَكَ المشكورا

جَدْوَى يَدَيْكَ وسعيَكَ المشكورا

They appear, and in their clear strokes we read

Appearing so we read in the expression of its lines

the bounty of your hands and your endeavors, gratefully praised.

The effort of your hands and your appreciated striving

للهِ أُمُّ مهيرَةٍ لم تعتَقِدْ

للهِ أُمُّ مهيرَةٍ لم تعتَقِدْ

فِي مَهْرِها العِلْقِ الخطيرَ خَطيرا

فِي مَهْرِها العِلْقِ الخطيرَ خَطيرا

Blessed be the mother of a dowered bride who did not deem

For God, Umm Muhaira did not believe

precious, costly treasure a worthy dower for her.

In her high bridal gift anything exalted

زُفَّتْ إِلَى حَكَمٍ بِحُكْمِكَ فاغْتدى

زُفَّتْ إِلَى حَكَمٍ بِحُكْمِكَ فاغْتدى

مَلِكاً مليكاً عِنْدَها وأميرا

مَلِكاً مليكاً عِنْدَها وأميرا

She was led as a bride to Hakam by your decree, and he became

She was led to your rule, so it became

a king, a sovereign, and a prince in her eyes.

A king noble with her and a prince

والسعْدُ قَدْ شمل السماءَ كواكِباً

والسعْدُ قَدْ شمل السماءَ كواكِباً

واليُمْنُ قَدْ حَشَدَ الهواءَ طُيُورا

واليُمْنُ قَدْ حَشَدَ الهواءَ طُيُورا

And good fortune had covered the sky with stars,

And happiness has covered the sky with planets

and blessing had thronged the air with birds.

And good fortune has gathered the air with birds

ولوِ ابْتَذَلْتَ بِهَا مَخَفَّةَ والِدٍ

ولوِ ابْتَذَلْتَ بِهَا مَخَفَّةَ والِدٍ

لَمْ تُعْطِها إِلّا السيوفَ مُهُورا

لَمْ تُعْطِها إِلّا السيوفَ مُهُورا

And had you disregarded, for her sake, a father's concern,

And if you had given her away negligently as a father

you would have given her no dowers but swords.

You would have given her nothing but famed swords

ولَمَا جَزَرْتَ لَهَا وليمةَ مُعْرِسٍ

ولَمَا جَزَرْتَ لَهَا وليمةَ مُعْرِسٍ

إِلّا الضَّراغِمَ عادِياً وهَصُورا

إِلّا الضَّراغِمَ عادِياً وهَصُورا

Nor would you have slaughtered for her a bridegroom's feast

And when you prepared a wedding feast for her

of anything but lions, pouncing and crushing.

Nothing but war horses, rancorous and enraged

ولكانَ يومَ الزَّحْفِ مَوْقِدَ نارِها

ولكانَ يومَ الزَّحْفِ مَوْقِدَ نارِها

حرباً تفور مَرَاجِلاً وقُدورا

حرباً تفور مَرَاجِلاً وقُدورا

And on the day of battle, the hearth of her fire would have been

And the day of battle its fire was

a war seething with cauldrons and pots.

A raging war, cauldrons boiling

ولما رفعت لَهَا دخاناً ساطِعاً

ولما رفعت لَهَا دخاناً ساطِعاً

إِلّا عَجاجاً فِي السماءِ ومُورا

إِلّا عَجاجاً فِي السماءِ ومُورا

Nor would you have raised for her towering smoke

And when you raised for her a lofty smoke

but clouds of dust and turbulence in the sky,

Nothing but horsemen in the sky and lances

حَتَّى تؤوبَ وَقَدْ مَلأْتَ بلادَنا

حَتَّى تؤوبَ وَقَدْ مَلأْتَ بلادَنا

نِعَمَ العِدى والناعماتِ الحُورا

نِعَمَ العِدى والناعماتِ الحُورا

until you returned, having filled our lands

Until she settled, and you have filled our lands

with the enemy's riches and delicate, fair-eyed women.

With enemy spoils and gentle maidens

فتملَّؤُوا يَا آلَ يحيى عُمْرَكُمْ

فتملَّؤُوا يَا آلَ يحيى عُمْرَكُمْ

فِي مُلْكِ يحيى بالمنى معمورا

فِي مُلْكِ يحيى بالمنى معمورا

So enjoy your lives to the full, O house of Yahya,

So you have fully lived, O House of Yahya, your lives

flourishing with fulfilled wishes under Yahya's rule.

In the kingdom of Yahya, prosperously populated

وسُقيتُمُ ورُعيتُمُ بحياتِهِ

وسُقيتُمُ ورُعيتُمُ بحياتِهِ

ووُقيتُمُ من فَقْدِهِ المحذورا

ووُقيتُمُ من فَقْدِهِ المحذورا

May you be watered and tended through his life,

And you were watered and nurtured by his life

and protected from the dreaded loss of him.

And protected from the feared loss of him