1. فِيكَ خَطْبُ الْعُلَى فَدَحْ

    إِذْ تَوَلَّيْتَ يَا فَرَحْ

    Greatness suffered a grievous loss in you,

    when you departed, O Farah.

  2. عَثْرَةٌ دُونَ رَوْعِهَا

    عَثْرَةُ النَّسرِ إِذْ جَنَحْ

    A fall whose terror eclipsed

    the eagle's fall when it veered.

  3. إنَّ فَأْلاً بِهِ دَعَوْ

    كَ تَنَاهِى إِلى تَرَحْ

    Indeed, the good omen by which they named

    you ended in grief.

  4. بُحَّ صَوْتٌ لأُمَّةٍ

    أَسِفَ الْفَضْلُ أَنْ يُبَحُّ

    A nation's voice grew hoarse;

    excellence grieved that it should grow hoarse.

  5. يَا لَهُ كَوْكَباً خَبَا

    يَا لَهُ مُتْعَباً رَزَحْ

    Alas for him—a star gone dim!

    Alas for him—weary and weighed down!

  6. مَاتَ نَدْبٌ بِمِثْلِهِ

    قَلَّمَا عَصْرُهُ سَمَحْ

    A noble man has died, whose like

    his age had rarely bestowed.

  7. كَانَ بِالْحَزْمِ ضَابِطاً

    نَازِعَ النَّفسِ إِنْ جَمَحْ

    With firmness he held in check

    the soul's impulse whenever it ran wild.

  8. يُدْرِكُ المَطْلَبَ الأَشَـ

    ـقَّ وَفِي عَزْمِهِ مَرَحْ

    He attained the most arduous goal,

    with joy in his resolve.

  9. لَيْسَ تَثْنِيهِ عِلَّةٌ

    فَرْطَ مَا الرُّوحُ فِيهِ صحَّ

    No illness could turn him aside,

    so sound was the spirit within him.

  10. مَنْ يَعِشْ عَْش مَا جِدٍ

    نَهْدُهُ بَعْدَهُ وَضَحْ

    Whoever lives a noble life—

    his striving stands clear after him.

  11. إِمْضِ فِي الْجِدِّ وَانْتَهِزْ

    فُرَصَ المَجدْدِ مَا تُتَحْ

    Press on in earnest effort, and seize

    opportunities for glory whenever they arise.

  12. أَيُّ مَعْنىً لِعِيشَةٍ

    فِي اغْتِبَاقٍ وَمُصْطَبَحْ

    What meaning has a life

    spent in evening draughts and morning cups?

  13. يُعَمرُ الْعُمْرُ بِالعُلَى

    ذَلِكَ المَذْهَبُ الأَصَحُّ

    Life is made enduring through greatness;

    that is the soundest way.

  14. أَسَفاً أَنْ يَبِينَ مَنْ

    دُونَ أَوصَافِهِ المِدَحْ

    Alas, that one should depart

    whose qualities surpass all praise!

  15. كَانَ أَنْطُونُ كَاتِباً

    بِالهُدَى صَدْرُهُ انْشَرَحْ

    Antun was a writer;

    his breast opened wide with guidance.

  16. زينَ خُلْقاً وَخِلْقَةً

    بِالغَوَالِي مِنَ المِنَحْ

    He was adorned in character and form

    with precious gifts.

  17. وَعَلَى ذِهْنِهِ الْخُلُو

    صُ بِمَا شَاءَهُ فَتَحْ

    And purity, for his mind,

    unlocked whatever he desired.

  18. وَلَهُ مِنْ بِدَائِعِ الْفِكْـ

    ـرِ مَا قَلمَا سَنَحْ

    And he possessed wonders of thought

    such as seldom arise.

  19. يَجِدُ الطَّرْفُ بَيْنَهَا

    طُرَفاً كُلَّمَا سَرَحْ

    The eye finds among them

    marvels whenever it roams.

  20. عَشِقَ الْحَقَّن وَالَّذِي

    يَعْشِقُ الْحَقَّ مُفْتَضَحْ

    He loved truth; and whoever

    loves truth is disgraced

  21. بَيْنَ جِيلٍ عَدُوِّ مَنْ

    قَالَ صِدْقَاً وَمَنْ نَصَح

    among a generation hostile to whoever

    speaks honestly, and whoever gives sincere counsel.

  22. أَلْمَحَبَّاتُ وَالْكَرَامَا

    تُ فِيهِمْ لِمَنْ نَجَحْ

    Affection and honors

    among them belong to whoever succeeds.

  23. رَسَبَ الطَّبعُ بَيْنَهُمْ

    وَعَلا كُلَّ مُصْطَلَحْ

    Natural character sank among them,

    and every convention rose.

  24. فَتَوَطَّن الأَوْجِ يَا

    مَنْ شَدَا الأَرْضَ إِذْ نَزَحْ

    So dwell at the zenith, O

    you who sang to the earth when you departed.

  25. وَتَبَدَّلْ مِنْ بُؤْسِ أَيَّا

    مِكَ الخُلْدَ فِي فَرَحْ

    And exchange the misery of your days

    for eternity in joy.