وإنْ ملك وَلَى فذا دولة له

وإنْ ملك وَلَى فذا دولة له

وفي يوسفٍ تأتي المعوضةُ من عمر

وفي يوسفٍ تأتي المعوضةُ من عمر

And if a king has departed, this one has a reign of his own.

Though kingdoms pass, as all things mortal must,

And in Yusuf comes recompense for Umar.

Youth lost returns in Joseph's grace and trust.

أغار بها من بطن ملحاء غافقٍ

أغار بها من بطن ملحاء غافقٍ

محجّلة الغرو واضحة الغرر

محجّلة الغرو واضحة الغرر

He raided with it from the valley floor of Malha of Ghafiq,

From barren sand, flush oasis rose unforeseen,

White-stockinged in its raids [uncertain reading], with gleaming forehead blazes.

Pearl-drops of dew on leaves of emerald sheen.

ونادت زبيد يا مظفر مرحبا

ونادت زبيد يا مظفر مرحبا

أضابك النادي وقرّبِك المقر

أضابك النادي وقرّبِك المقر

And Zabid called: “O Muzaffar, welcome!”

“Welcome, victorious one,” fair Zubaid cries,

The assembly hall shone with you, and the abode found repose through you.

“Your people call you, come, your home lies

وسار إلى حبٍّ وحَبٌّ يحبه

وسار إلى حبٍّ وحَبٌّ يحبه

وما حَبُّ يعصيه ولو شاما قدر

وما حَبُّ يعصيه ولو شاما قدر

And he marched to Habb, and Habb loves him.

In love that loves you still, that will not cease,

And Habb does not defy him—even if it wished to, it could not.

Though fate decree or sands shift without cease.”