لَئِن مرّ بالفُسطاطِ عيشي فقد حلا

لَئِن مرّ بالفُسطاطِ عيشي فقد حلا

بعبدِ العزيزِ الماجدِ الطرفَينِ

بعبدِ العزيزِ الماجدِ الطرفَينِ

Though my life in al-Fustat grew bitter, it has grown sweet

If my life in Fustat was bitter, it has now grown sweet,

through ʿAbd al-ʿAziz, noble on both sides of his lineage.

Through Abdul Aziz, glorious in both lines of descent,

فتىً زانَ قيساً بَل مَعَدّاً فعالُهُ

فتىً زانَ قيساً بَل مَعَدّاً فعالُهُ

وما كُلُّ ساداتِ الشعوبِ بِزَينِ

وما كُلُّ ساداتِ الشعوبِ بِزَينِ

A youth whose deeds adorned Qays—nay, Maʿadd.

A youth whose deeds adorned Qays, nay, all of Ma'add,

And not every chief of the peoples is an adornment.

For not every master of the people is a true ornament.

تناول وُدّي من بعيدٍ فَنالَهُ

تناول وُدّي من بعيدٍ فَنالَهُ

جَرى سابقاً في المجدِ ليس بِرَينِ

جَرى سابقاً في المجدِ ليس بِرَينِ

He reached for my affection from afar and won it.

He reached for my affection from afar and attained it,

He raced ahead in glory, no laggard.

Racing ahead in glory, neither tarnished nor slow.