1. أَقبَلَت بِالجَمالِ ذاتُ البَهاءِ

    فَاِستَنارَت مِنها بدورُ السماءِ

    She of splendor came arrayed in beauty,

    and from her heaven's full moons took light.

  2. وَأَعارَت شَمسَ الضُّحى مِن سَناها

    فَتَبدَّتْ مُنيرةَ الأَرجاءِ

    She lent the morning sun some of her radiance,

    so it appeared illuminating every horizon.

  3. وَكَسَتها الكَمالَ ثَوبَ جَمالٍ

    وَحَبَتها الظُّهورَ غِبَّ الخَفاءِ

    She clothed it in perfection—a robe of beauty—

    and granted it manifestation after concealment.

  4. أَعلَمَتَني بِنَفحةٍ مِن شَذاها

    أنّما المِسكُ بعضُ ذاك الشذاءِ

    With a waft of her fragrance she taught me

    that musk is but a portion of that perfume.

  5. حَدّثَتني بِلُطفِها عَن نَسيمٍ

    عَن وُرودِ الرّياض ذاتِ البَهاءِ

    With her delicacy she spoke to me of a breeze

    from the roses of gardens full of splendor.

  6. فَهيَ نورٌ مِنَ العُيونِ مُضيءٌ

    وَاِحوِرارٌ في المُقلةِ الحَوْراءِ

    For she is a light shining from the eyes,

    and the contrast of white and black in the dark-pupiled eye.

  7. وَهيَ ماءُ الحَياءِ يَسري بحسنٍ

    في وُجوهِ الحِسانِ أهلِ الحَياءِ

    She is the water of modesty, flowing beautifully

    across the faces of beauties endowed with modesty.

  8. وَهيَ في جَبهةِ الزّمانِ ضِياء

    وَهيَ نورٌ في الغُرّةِ الغَرّاءِ

    She is radiance on the brow of time,

    and light on the gleaming forehead.

  9. وَهيَ في وَجنةِ المَحاسنِ حُسْنٌ

    وَجَمالٌ في الوَجنَةِ الحَسناءِ

    She is beauty on the cheek of loveliness,

    and comeliness on the beautiful cheek.

  10. وَهيَ روحٌ حَلَّت بِبالي فُؤادٌ

    وَحياةٌ لِمَيِّتِ الأَحياءِ

    She is a spirit that has entered a worn-out heart,

    and life to one dead among the living.

  11. أَسفَرت مثلَ الشّمسِ لَكِنْ تَبدَّت

    لَم تَزَل لا تَزولُ عِندَ اِستِواءِ

    She unveiled herself like the sun, yet appeared

    ever abiding, never declining at the zenith.

  12. دُرّةٌ لَيسَ مِثلَها في وُجودٍ

    قَلَّ مثلَ اليتيمَةِ العَصْماءِ

    A pearl whose like does not exist—

    rare is the like of that flawless, peerless pearl.

  13. لو غَدَت أَنجُمُ السَّماءِ عُقوداً

    وَهي فيها تَفَرَّدَت بِالضِّياءِ

    Were the stars of heaven to become necklaces,

    she alone among them would stand apart in radiance,

  14. وَتَردَّت تِلكَ النّجومُ لَدَيها

    مِن خُسوفٍ بِالحلّةِ السّوداءِ

    and those stars before her would clothe themselves

    in the black robe of eclipse.

  15. وَتَعزَّتْ عَن حُسْنِها حينَ وَلّى

    خجَلاً بِالضياءِ أَحلى عَزاءِ

    They would console themselves for their beauty when it fled

    in shame, finding the sweetest solace in her radiance.

  16. فَلِجيدي الهناءُ فيها تَحَلَّى

    وَلَهُ السَّعدُ غِبَّ ذاك الهناءِ

    So my neck has joy, adorned with her,

    and good fortune is its after that joy.

  17. وَلِرَأسي الفخارُ مِن حَيثُ أَضحَت

    خَيرَ تاجٍ مكلّلٍ بِالبَهاءِ

    My head has pride, since she has become

    the finest crown, wreathed in splendor.

  18. مُذْ غَدَت في النّظامِ خَيرَ قَصيدٍ

    فَهيَ قَصدي وَبُغيَتي وَمنائي

    Since she became the finest poem in verse,

    she is my aim, my desire, and my wish.

  19. أُهدِيَتْ مِنحَةً إِليَّ فَحَلَّت

    في مَحَلِّ القَبولِ ثمَّ الرِّضاءِ

    She was bestowed on me as a gift, and settled

    in the place of acceptance, then approval.

  20. قَد حَباني بِها مِنَ الفضلِ بَحرٌ

    وافرُ الفَضلِ كامِلٌ في السَّخاءِ

    An ocean of excellence has bestowed her on me,

    abundant in merit, perfect in generosity.

  21. أَعَجيبٌ إِهداؤُهُ الدّرَّ فَضلاً

    وَهوَ بَحرٌ لِلدُّرِّ ذو إهداءِ

    Is it strange that he graciously bestows pearls,

    when he is an ocean, a bestower of pearls?

  22. فَهوَ حَبرُ العلومِ كَنزُ فُهومٍ

    عَلَمُ الفضلِ مُفردُ العُلَماءِ

    For he is a master of learning, a treasury of understanding,

    the standard of excellence, unique among scholars.

  23. بَهجةُ الوقتِ تحفةُ الدّهرِ فَرداً

    مَنهَجُ القصدِ رَوضةُ الأدباءِ

    The delight of the hour, the age's peerless gift,

    the path of right purpose, the garden of men of letters.

  24. جُملَةُ المَجدِ مفردُ الفخرِ فَذٌّ

    عَن نَظيرٍ في العزِّ والعلياءِ

    The sum of glory, unique in pride, unmatched

    by any peer in honor and eminence.

  25. حَسَنُ الوجهِ وَالصّفاتِ جَميعاً

    مُرتَضى الفِعلِ أَشرَفُ الشرفاءِ

    Fair of face and of all his qualities,

    pleasing in deed, the noblest of the noble.

  26. فَهوَ سِبْطُ الرّسولِ وَهوَ عَليٌّ

    كَرَّمَ اللَّهُ وَجهَهُ بِالضّياءِ

    He is a descendant of the Messenger, and he is Ali;

    may God honor his face with radiance.

  27. كَعبَةُ العِزِّ وَهوَ رُكني اليَماني

    فَإِلَيهِ في المُعضِلاتِ اِلتِجائي

    The Kaaba of honor, he is my Yemeni Corner;

    to him I turn for refuge in difficult matters.

  28. قِبلةُ القَصدِ نَحوَهُ وَجْهُ قَصدي

    أَنا وَجَّهتُه بِدونِ اِمتِراءِ

    The qibla of purpose; toward him the face of my intention

    I myself have turned, without doubt.

  29. جامِعُ العِلمِ في زَوايا فهومٍ

    رَكَعَت عِندَها نُهى الفضلاءِ

    A gatherer of knowledge in the recesses of understanding,

    before which the minds of the eminent have bowed.

  30. وَخَطيبٌ في مِنبَرٍ مِن بَيانٍ

    مِنهُ ذَلَّت مَصاقِعُ الخطباءِ

    An orator on a pulpit of eloquence,

    by whom the most eloquent orators are humbled.

  31. فَلَهُ خُلُقٌ كَالنّسيمِ فَلَو فا

    حَ لأضحى ورْداً نباتُ الفلاءِ

    For his character is like a breeze; were it to waft—

    forth, the desert's plants would become roses.

  32. وَلَهُ خَلقٌ يُنبِئُ الحُسنُ عَنهُ

    إِذْ تَمَنَّتْهُ أَنجُمُ الجَوزاءِ

    He has a form that beauty itself proclaims,

    for the stars of al-Jawza have coveted it.

  33. وَمَضاءٌ كَلَمحِ طَرْفٍ وَعَزمٍ

    عَلَّمَ النَّجمَ مِنهَ حُسْنَ المضاءِ

    And swiftness like the flash of an eye, and resolve

    that taught the star, by his example, the beauty of swift passage.

  34. وَعُلومٌ قَد فاقَتِ البحرَ وُسْعاً

    وعطاءٌ يفوقُ قطرَ السماءِ

    And learning that has surpassed the sea in breadth,

    and giving that exceeds the rain of heaven.

  35. وحَياءٌ في غَيرِ حَقٍّ جَليلٌ

    ووقارٌ قد زينَ بالإغضاءِ

    And great modesty, except in matters of right,

    and dignity adorned with a lowered gaze.

  36. شَمسُ هُدىً في مَطلعِ الخيرِ تَبدو

    حَيثُ حَلَّت في جَبهَةِ العَلياءِ

    A sun of guidance appears at goodness's rising-place,

    where it has settled on the brow of eminence.

  37. فَاِفخَري يا رَشيدُ عِزّاً وَتيهاً

    وتحلَّيْ بحلّةِ الخُيَلاءِ

    So exult, O Rashid, in honor and pride,

    and adorn yourself in the robe of pride.

  38. ثمَّ دوسي بِأَخمصَيك الثُّريَّا

    تَمنحيها بِالدَّوْسِ حُسْنَ اِعتِلاءِ

    Then tread the Pleiades with both soles,

    granting them, by your tread, the beauty of elevation.

  39. فَلَقَد كُنتِ يا فَريدَةَ عقدٍ

    صَدَفاً لِليَتيمَةِ العَصْماءِ

    For you have been, O unique jewel of a necklace,

    the shell for the flawless, peerless pearl.

  40. وَإِلَيكِ اِنتماؤُهُ بِاِنتِسابٍ

    فَلك السّعدُ غِبَّ ذا الاِنتماءِ

    And to you he belongs by affiliation,

    so good fortune is yours after this belonging.

  41. فَحَماكِ الإِلهُ مِن كلِّ شَيْنٍ

    وَحَباكِ القديمُ حُسْنَ البقاءِ

    May God protect you from every blemish,

    and the Eternal grant you a fair continuance.

  42. أَيّها الشَّهمُ مِنك شُرِّفْتُ فَضلاً

    بِعَروسٍ كَالغادةِ الغَيداءِ

    O noble-hearted one, I was graciously honored by you

    with a bride like a graceful, swaying maiden.

  43. بِنتُ فِكرٍ تَخَدَّرَت بِجَمالٍ

    وَلَها اللّطفُ كانَ خَيرَ خِباءِ

    A daughter of thought, secluded in beauty,

    and grace was the finest tent for her.

  44. وَهيَ بِكرٌ وَما لَها أَنا كُفؤٌ

    وَهيَ شَرعاً عَديمَةُ الأكفاءِ

    She is a virgin, and I am no worthy match for her,

    and by law she is without an equal match.

  45. وَهيَ سِحرٌ مِنَ البَيانِ حَلالٌ

    وَمِنَ الشّعرِ حِكمَةٌ بِاِعتِناءِ

    She is lawful enchantment fashioned from eloquence,

    and wisdom in poetry, carefully tended.

  46. لَو رَآها أَهلُ البَلاغَةِ تاهُوا

    وَأَقرُّوا بِالعَجزِ والإعْياءِ

    Were the masters of eloquence to see her, they would be bewildered

    and confess their helplessness and exhaustion.

  47. وَاِعتَلاهُم تَحيُّرٌ حينَ تُتلى

    وَاِعتَراهُم تَلجلُجُ الفَأفاءِ

    Bewilderment would overcome them when she is recited,

    and a stammerer's faltering would seize them.

  48. كُنتُ حُرّاً لَدَى الكِرامِ رَقيقاً

    وَشَريفَ الأَخوالِ وَالآباءِ

    I was free, yet a bondsman among the generous,

    and noble in maternal uncles and forefathers.

  49. مُذْ أَتَتني صَيَّرتني لَك عَبداً

    فَكَأنّي ملكتَني بالشِّراءِ

    Since she came to me, she has made me your slave,

    as though you had acquired me by purchase.

  50. فَلِجيدي جعلتَها عِقدَ دُرٍّ

    وَهيَ تَبدو لِلعبدِ عَقْدَ ولاءِ

    You made her a necklace of pearls for my neck,

    and to the slave she appears a covenant of allegiance.

  51. وَهيَ عِندي تَميمةٌ ثمَّ حِرزٌ

    أَتَداوى بِها وَفيها شِفائي

    She is, to me, an amulet and then a protective charm;

    I seek healing through her, and in her is my cure.

  52. كَيفَ أَرجو مِثالَها في نِظامي

    أَعَلى المُستحيلِ أبني رَجائي

    How can I hope for her like in my own verse?

    Do I build my hope upon the impossible?

  53. أَينَ لي مثلُها وَأَنَّى لِمِثلي

    حَيثُ أَنّي أُعَدُّ في الغَوغاءِ

    Where could I find her like, and how could one like me attain it,

    when I am counted among the rabble?

  54. كلّ مَن رامَ مِثلَها في نِظامٍ

    أَسلَمَتهُ أَوهامُهُ لِلشّقاءِ

    Whoever seeks her like in verse,

    his fancies surrender him to misery.

  55. ذاكَ فَضلُ اللَّهِ الكريمِ تَعالى

    وَهوَ فَيضٌ مِن فَيضِ ذي الآلاءِ

    That is the bounty of God, the Generous—exalted is He—

    an outpouring from the outpouring of the Lord of blessings.

  56. فَاِبقَ أَيُّها الإِمامُ بِخَيرٍ

    وَبِغَزٍّ يَبقى بِدونِ اِنتِهاءِ

    So remain, O Imam, in well-being,

    and in honor that lasts without end,

  57. وَتَفضَّلْ عَلى الفَقيرِ بِدُرٍّ

    أَيّها البّحرُ في السّخا وَالعَطاءِ

    and graciously bestow a pearl upon this poor man,

    O ocean of generosity and giving.

  58. وَاِحْبُ هَذي العجوزَ بِسِترٍ

    فَهوَ مَهرُ العَجوزةِ الشّوهاءِ

    And grant this old woman a covering,

    for it is the dowry of the ill-favored crone.

  59. وَاِرْقَ مِن ذَروَةِ المَعالي سَماءً

    بِسُرورٍ يوليكَ خيرَ هَناءِ

    And ascend from the summit of high honors heavenward,

    with joy that grants you the finest happiness,

  60. ما اِبنُ فَتحِ اللَّهِ المُهَيمنِ أَثنى

    في نِظامٍ عَلَيك خَيرَ الثناءِ

    as long as Ibn Fath Allah—God, the All-Guarding—offers

    the finest praise of you in verse,

  61. أَو تَغَنّى الحَمامُ فَوقَ غُصونٍ

    في صَباحٍ وَما شَدا في المَساءِ

    or doves sing upon branches

    in the morning, and as long as they warble in the evening.