تَسَلَّيتُ إِذ بانَ الشَبابُ وَوَدَّعا

تَسَلَّيتُ إِذ بانَ الشَبابُ وَوَدَّعا

وَأَصبَح فَودي بِالمَشيبِ مُرَوَّعا

وَأَصبَح فَودي بِالمَشيبِ مُرَوَّعا

I consoled myself when youth departed and bade farewell,

I found solace when youth bid farewell,

I sought consolation when youth departed and bade farewell, and my temples became startled by the onset of gray hair.

and the hair at my temple was stricken with dread by gray.

And my cheek was stricken with age's dread.

I have refrained from my amusement and shunned my vanity; the passing of years is a sufficient preacher for those who heed.

وَأَقصَرتُ عَن لَهوي وَجانَبتُ باطِلي

وَأَقصَرتُ عَن لَهوي وَجانَبتُ باطِلي

كَفى واعِظاً مَرُّ السِنينَ لِمَن وَعى

كَفى واعِظاً مَرُّ السِنينَ لِمَن وَعى

I ceased my diversions and shunned my vanities;

I shunned my wantonness and falsehood,

How could I not, when the raven of age has alighted upon my locks, urging his offspring to gather, and they have answered in unison?

the passing years suffice as an admonisher for one who understands.

Time's march is mentor enough for the wise.

What have I to do with weaving verse, were it not for the virtues of a magnificent soul who voluntarily drove beneficence my way?

وَكَيفَ وَقد طارَ اِبنُ دَأيَةِ لِمَّتي

وَكَيفَ وَقد طارَ اِبنُ دَأيَةِ لِمَّتي

وَحَثَّ بَنيهِ فَاِستَجبنَ لهُ مَعا

وَحَثَّ بَنيهِ فَاِستَجبنَ لهُ مَعا

And how could I still indulge, when the crow of my locks has flown away

For Dhu Dawa's son took wing before me,

I have taken shelter in the lush shade of his protection, and through him, my barren lands have become fertile and green.

and urged its sons, so they answered it together?

And rallied his sons, and they obeyed his lead.

I shall offer him gratitude that, when its seal is broken, perfumes the mouths of speakers and enchants the listener's ear.

وَمالي وَنَظمَ الشِعرِ لَولا فَضائِلٌ

وَمالي وَنَظمَ الشِعرِ لَولا فَضائِلٌ

لِأَروعَ ساقَ العُرفَ لي مُتَبَرِّعا

لِأَروعَ ساقَ العُرفَ لي مُتَبَرِّعا

And what have I to do with composing verse, were it not for the virtues

Why would I versify, were it not for virtues

Saud, the most fortunate of the world's sons, offspring of its sun, who upheld the pillars of faith when they began to tremble.

of a noble man who freely brought me kindness?

To heighten the finest manners shown me.

The Imam of Guidance, Abdulaziz bin Faisal, protector of both faith and world, a true guardian to his flock.

تَفَيَّأتُ ظِلّاً وارِفاً في جَنابِهِ

تَفَيَّأتُ ظِلّاً وارِفاً في جَنابِهِ

فَأَصبَحتُ منهُ مُخصِبَ الرَبع مُمرِعا

فَأَصبَحتُ منهُ مُخصِبَ الرَبع مُمرِعا

I sheltered in spreading shade within his domain,

I sought shade, abundant, by his side,

And in his blessed son are the unmistakable traits of the father, that shall carry him to the highest summits of glory.

and through him my homestead became fertile and lush.

And by it my land was abundantly sown and watered.

Saud is the meteor of war when its cauldron boils over; he establishes for it a bustling marketplace of death.

سَأَشكُرُهُ شُكراً إِذا فُضَّ خَتمُهُ

سَأَشكُرُهُ شُكراً إِذا فُضَّ خَتمُهُ

يُؤَرِّجُ أَفواهاً وَيُطرِبُ مِسمَعا

يُؤَرِّجُ أَفواهاً وَيُطرِبُ مِسمَعا

I shall thank him with gratitude that, once its seal is broken,

I will thank him with gratitude whenever his seal is undone,

He stokes its blaze or extinguishes its inferno with polished blades dating back to the eras of Chosroes and Tubba.

perfumes mouths and delights the ear.

Opening mouths, delighting ears.

He is the burning star at the pinnacle of greatness; when terrifying calamities turn dark, he illuminates the gloom.

سُعودُ بَني الدُنيا سُلالَةُ شَمسِها

سُعودُ بَني الدُنيا سُلالَةُ شَمسِها

مُقيمٌ سَواءَ الدينِ حينَ تَزَعزَعا

مُقيمٌ سَواءَ الدينِ حينَ تَزَعزَعا

The good fortune of the world's people, offspring of its sun,

Saud, scion of glory, shoot of its sun,

He is the sea: when calm, it yields a harvest of pearls, but when it surges, you possess no defense against its tide.

upholding the heart of the faith when it was shaken—

Upholder of faith whenever it shakes.

By God, how much glory has he built? How many enemies destroyed? And how much wealth has he bestowed in charity?

إِمامُ الهُدى عَبدُ العَزيزِ بنُ فَيصَلٍ

إِمامُ الهُدى عَبدُ العَزيزِ بنُ فَيصَلٍ

حِمى الدينِ وَالدُنيا وَراعٍ لِمَن رَعى

حِمى الدينِ وَالدُنيا وَراعٍ لِمَن رَعى

the imam of guidance, Abd al-Aziz ibn Faisal,

Imam of guidance, Abd al-Aziz ibn Faysal,

A youth who grew up in the lap of leadership, suckling the milk of greatness while yet in his cradle.

the refuge of faith and worldly life, and a shepherd to those he tends.

Protector of faith and world who tends the flock.

A youth who confronts heavy burdens in person, even when the bold and gallant recoil in fear.

وَفي نَجلهِ المَيمونِ مِنهُ مخايلٌ

وَفي نَجلهِ المَيمونِ مِنهُ مخايلٌ

سَتُبلِغُهُ أَقصى مَدى مَن تَرَفَّعا

سَتُبلِغُهُ أَقصى مَدى مَن تَرَفَّعا

And in his blessed son are promising traits from him

In his fortunate son, reflections of him

Others raced alongside him, seeking to match his stride, but they became lost, wandering bewildered and lame in the wastelands.

that will bring him to the highest reach of those who rise.

Will carry him to the furthest goal of the lofty.

Hold your pace! For Glory itself has aspired to him, and in him, Glory finds satisfaction enough to ignore you all.

سُعودٌ شِهابُ الحَربِ إِن جاشَ غَلَيها

سُعودٌ شِهابُ الحَربِ إِن جاشَ غَلَيها

أَقامَ لَها سوقاً مِن المَوتِ مَهيعا

أَقامَ لَها سوقاً مِن المَوتِ مَهيعا

Saud is war's meteor; when its fury boils,

Saud, flame of battle - if it rages,

He possesses a hand that, when generous, enriches those who ask, and another that forces the adversary to taste concentrated poison.

he sets up for it a wide-open marketplace of death.

He steadies for it a market of death.

In him, generosity, valor, and wisdom are perfectly blended; toward such a goal let those who seek glory strive!

يَحُشُّ لظاها أَو يَبوخُ سَعيرُها

يَحُشُّ لظاها أَو يَبوخُ سَعيرُها

بِمَصقولَةٍ من عَهدِ كِسرى وتُبَّعا

بِمَصقولَةٍ من عَهدِ كِسرى وتُبَّعا

He stokes its flame, or its blaze dies down,

He drives off its fury or douses its blaze

A benefactor and a lavish spender—the nature of one devoted to seeking high honors by instinct, not by pretense.

with a polished blade from the age of Kisra and Tubba'.

With an Indian steel blade or old Yemeni.

Is his father not the one whose deeds you have witnessed, shining like rising stars in the firmament of glory?

هوَ الكَوكَب الوَقّادُ في قُنَّةِ العُلا

هوَ الكَوكَب الوَقّادُ في قُنَّةِ العُلا

إِذا ما دَجا الخطبُ المَهيلُ تُشَعشَها

إِذا ما دَجا الخطبُ المَهيلُ تُشَعشَها

He is the blazing star upon the summit of glory;

He is the guiding star in the perfect woman,

It is no wonder that Saud follows in his footsteps, ascending ambitiously to the very heights he reached.

when the terrifying crisis darkens, he shines forth.

If events should darken confused and obscured.

Thus are the cubs of lions: fierce predators, feared and dreaded for their assault and their looming threat.

هُوَ البَحرُ إِن يَسكُن فَدرٌّ جَناؤُهُ

هُوَ البَحرُ إِن يَسكُن فَدرٌّ جَناؤُهُ

وَإِن جاشَ لَم تَملِك لهُ عَنكَ مَدفَعا

وَإِن جاشَ لَم تَملِك لهُ عَنكَ مَدفَعا

He is the sea: when calm, its harvest is pearls;

He is the sea - if its expanse lies still

To you, O Saud, son of the Imam, I have driven my mount, traversing valleys, soft sands, and rugged terrain.

and when it surges, you have no means of warding it off.

It cannot be contained; if it rages, none can drive it back.

Even if I had burdened it with months of travel, and shod its hooves with stone after treading soft earth,

فَلِلَّهِ كَم مَجدٍ أَشادَ وَكَم عِدىً

فَلِلَّهِ كَم مَجدٍ أَشادَ وَكَم عِدىً

أَبادَ وَكم مالٍ أَفادَ تَبَرُّعا

أَبادَ وَكم مالٍ أَفادَ تَبَرُّعا

By God, how much glory he has built, and how many foes

O how much glory he built! How much injustice destroyed!

To meet you, my journey would still bring fulfillment, and through it, I would mend the fractures of my fortune.

he has destroyed, and how much wealth he has freely bestowed!

How much wealth he amassed - all generously given!

So take this poem, which boasts of your praise among mankind, adorned by your eminence in a decorated mantle.

فَتىً شَبَّ في حِجر الخِلافَةِ راضِعاً

فَتىً شَبَّ في حِجر الخِلافَةِ راضِعاً

ثُدِيَّ العُلا إِ كانَ في المَهدِ مُرضِعا

ثُدِيَّ العُلا إِ كانَ في المَهدِ مُرضِعا

A youth who grew in the lap of the caliphate, suckling

A boy raised in the caliphate’s lap, suckling

It springs from genuine affection, not from weariness, nor is it the speech of one who feigns his words.

the breasts of glory while still a nursling in the cradle.

The teat of glory, even when cradled.

He views your praise as a binding duty upon himself, even if the praise offered by others is but a voluntary act.

فَتىً يَتَلَقّى المُعضِلاتِ بِنَفسِهِ

فَتىً يَتَلَقّى المُعضِلاتِ بِنَفسِهِ

إِذا ما الجَريءُ الشَهمُ عنها تَكَعكَعا

إِذا ما الجَريءُ الشَهمُ عنها تَكَعكَعا

A youth who confronts difficult trials himself

A boy who tackles problems himself,

And send blessings, my Lord, upon the Chosen One, his kin, his companions, and all who supported his cause.

when the bold, valiant man shrinks back from them.

While the bold and valiant hold back in fear.

جَرى مَعَهُ قَومٌ يَرومونَ شَأوَهُ

جَرى مَعَهُ قَومٌ يَرومونَ شَأوَهُ

فَضَلّوا حَيارى في المَهامِهِ ضُلَّعا

فَضَلّوا حَيارى في المَهامِهِ ضُلَّعا

Others raced beside him, seeking to match his reach,

Some men plotted against him,

but lost their way, bewildered and exhausted in the wastes.

But they wandered lost in his feats of valor.

عَلى رِسلِكُم إِنَّ العُلا طَمَحَت لهُ

عَلى رِسلِكُم إِنَّ العُلا طَمَحَت لهُ

وَإِنَّ بهِ عَنكُم لها اليَومَ مَقنَعا

وَإِنَّ بهِ عَنكُم لها اليَومَ مَقنَعا

Take your time: glory has set its sights on him,

Your messengers - glory itself coveted him,

and today it finds in him enough, without needing you.

And through him today finds you amenable.

لهُ نَفحَةٌ إِن جادَ تُغني عُفاتَهُ

لهُ نَفحَةٌ إِن جادَ تُغني عُفاتَهُ

وَأُخرى تُذيقُ الضِدَّ سُمّا مُنَقَّعا

وَأُخرى تُذيقُ الضِدَّ سُمّا مُنَقَّعا

He has a breath of bounty that enriches his petitioners when he gives,

He has one breath that enriches generosity,

and another that makes the foe taste well-steeped poison.

Another that deals harsh poison when opposed.

تَشابَهَ فيهِ الجودُ وَالبأسُ وَالحِجى

تَشابَهَ فيهِ الجودُ وَالبأسُ وَالحِجى

إِلى هكَذا فَليَسعَ لِلمَجدِ مَن سَعى

إِلى هكَذا فَليَسعَ لِلمَجدِ مَن سَعى

In him, generosity, valor, and wisdom stand equal.

Munificence, valor and dignity are as one in him -

Toward such excellence let whoever strives for glory strive.

Thus should one strive for glory!

مُفيدٌ وَمِتلافٌ سَجيَّةُ مولَعٍ

مُفيدٌ وَمِتلافٌ سَجيَّةُ مولَعٍ

بِطَرقِ المَعالي صِبغَةً لا تَصَنُّعا

بِطَرقِ المَعالي صِبغَةً لا تَصَنُّعا

A gainer and lavish spender of wealth—the nature of one devoted

Useful, destructive - innate disposition

to pursuing lofty deeds, by nature, not pretense.

To lofty ways, guileless, unsought.

أَلَيسَ أَبوهُ مَن رَأَيتُم فِعالَهُ

أَلَيسَ أَبوهُ مَن رَأَيتُم فِعالَهُ

تَضيءُ نُجوماً في سَما المَجدِ طُلَّعا

تَضيءُ نُجوماً في سَما المَجدِ طُلَّعا

Is not his father the man whose deeds you have seen

Is not his father one whose deeds you saw

shine as rising stars in the sky of glory?

Shine as stars in glory's heaven?

وَلا غَروَ اَن يَحذو سُعودٌ خِصالَهُ

وَلا غَروَ اَن يَحذو سُعودٌ خِصالَهُ

وَيَرقى إِلى حَيثُ اِرتَقى مُتَطَلِّعا

وَيَرقى إِلى حَيثُ اِرتَقى مُتَطَلِّعا

And it is no wonder that Saud follows his qualities

No wonder Saud emulates his traits

and, aspiring, rises to the heights his father reached.

And climbs to the height where he aspired!

كَذلكَ أَشبالُ الأُسودِ ضَوارِياً

كَذلكَ أَشبالُ الأُسودِ ضَوارِياً

تُهابُ وَتُخشى صَولَةً وَتَوَقُّعا

تُهابُ وَتُخشى صَولَةً وَتَوَقُّعا

So too the cubs of lions, fierce hunters,

Thus the cubs of lions, predatory,

are held in awe and feared for their charge and the threat of it.

Are feared and held in awe, attacking with speed.

إِلَيكَ سُعودُ بنُ الإِمام زِجَرتُها

إِلَيكَ سُعودُ بنُ الإِمام زِجَرتُها

تُقَطِّعُ غيطاناً وَميثاً وَأَجرُعا

تُقَطِّعُ غيطاناً وَميثاً وَأَجرُعا

Toward you, Saud, son of the imam, I urged her onward,

To you, O Saud son of the Imam, they yielded,

crossing lowlands, soft ground, and bare sandy stretches.

Severing pacts and covenants, humbled.

وَلَو أَنَّني كَلَّفتُها السَيرَ أَشهُراً

وَلَو أَنَّني كَلَّفتُها السَيرَ أَشهُراً

وَأَنعَلتُها بعدَ المَدامِثِ جُرشُعا

وَأَنعَلتُها بعدَ المَدامِثِ جُرشُعا

And even had I made her travel for months

Had I tasked them with months of travel

and shod her with rugged ground after the soft stretches,

And shod them after roaming the valleys,

لِأَلقاكَ كانَت سَفرَتي تَجلُبُ المُنى

لِأَلقاكَ كانَت سَفرَتي تَجلُبُ المُنى

وَأَشعَبُ مِن دَهري بِها ما تَصَدَّعا

وَأَشعَبُ مِن دَهري بِها ما تَصَدَّعا

to meet you, my journey would have fulfilled my wishes,

My journey would have brought me fortune,

and through it I would have mended what had split apart in my life.

And my fate split with joy at their gift.

وَدونَكَها تَزهو بِمَدحِكَ في الوَرى

وَدونَكَها تَزهو بِمَدحِكَ في الوَرى

تُلَبَّسُ مِن عَلياكَ بُرداً مُوَشَّعا

تُلَبَّسُ مِن عَلياكَ بُرداً مُوَشَّعا

And take this poem, exulting in praising you among humankind,

Except through you they grow vain, praising you in earth,

clothed by your glory in an embroidered mantle.

Donning your supreme bestowals like gowns.

بَدَت مِن أَكيدِ الوُدِّ لا مُتَبَرِّماً

بَدَت مِن أَكيدِ الوُدِّ لا مُتَبَرِّماً

وَلا قائِلاً قَولاً به مُتَصَنِّعا

وَلا قائِلاً قَولاً به مُتَصَنِّعا

It sprang from steadfast love; its speaker is not resentful,

Uncomplainingly, desiring your affection,

nor does he utter words in affected pretense.

Not dissembling, or speaking with affectation,

يَرى مَدحَكُم فَرضاً عَلَيهِ مُحَتَّماً

يَرى مَدحَكُم فَرضاً عَلَيهِ مُحَتَّماً

إذا كان مَدحُ المادحينَ تَطَوُّعا

إذا كان مَدحُ المادحينَ تَطَوُّعا

He regards praising you as a duty binding upon him,

Seeing your praise an incumbent duty

when other praisers' praise is voluntary.

If praise of praisers is voluntary.

وَصلِّ على المُختار رَبّي وَآلهِ

وَصلِّ على المُختار رَبّي وَآلهِ

وَأَصحابِه وَالناصرينَ له معا

وَأَصحابِه وَالناصرينَ له معا

And bless the Chosen One, my Lord, and his family,

Pray upon the Chosen One, my Lord, and his family,

and his companions and those who support him, all together.

Companions and supporters together!