1. يا حُسنَ رَيحانةٍ رَيّانةٍ عبقت

    لَو أُنصفَت سُميِّت رَوضَ الرياحينِ

    Oh, the beauty of a lush basil plant, breathing fragrance!

    Were it given its due, it would be called a garden of fragrant herbs.

  2. تضمَّنت من افانين الرشاقة ما

    قد فاق بالحسن ازهار الافانينِ

    It contains such varied forms of grace

    That have surpassed in beauty the blossoms on the boughs.

  3. حظُّ البصارئر منها في محاسنها

    حظُّ النواظر من زهو البساتينِ

    The delight discerning minds take in its beauties

    Is the delight eyes take in the splendor of gardens.

  4. لِلَّها إِسكندر المفضال منشئها

    فهو الجدير بشكرٍ غير مَمنونِ

    God be praised for Iskandar, its generous creator!

    For he is worthy of unceasing thanks.

  5. اهدى لنا من لآلي بحر فكرتهِ

    درّا نضيراً ولكن غير مكنونِ

    He gave us, from the pearls of the sea of his thought,

    Lustrous pearls—and yet not hidden away.