1. باهت حماه بفضل عثمان الذي

    قد فاق قدراً سامياً بين الملا

    Hama boasted of the excellence of Uthman, who

    Excelled in lofty rank among the people.

  2. افديه من اسم شريف الذكران

    أنقصت عيناً منه زاد تفضلا

    I would ransom him—what a name of noble renown!

    Subtract an ʿayn from it, and it grows in excellence.

  3. فالصحب بين العرب قد سادوا به

    قدماً وفيه الترك قد بلغوا العلا

    For the companions among the Arabs attained eminence through it

    Of old; and through it the Turks reached the heights.

  4. فحروفهُ عدد الحواس فان تجد

    عجزاً فذاك العجز كم قد اكملا

    For its letters number the senses; so if you find

    A lack—how often that very lack has brought perfection!

  5. عين السعيد تكفكفت فغدا بها

    بين الأفاضل سيداً متجللاً

    The ʿayn of 'the fortunate' was withdrawn; thereby he became

    Among the eminent, a lord arrayed in dignity.

  6. كم ساد داود البصير بعلمه

    ولكم سرى بالكون ذكراً في العلا

    How often Dawud the discerning excelled through his knowledge,

    And how often his lofty renown spread throughout the world!

  7. ولكم غدا يثني نقولا بالورى

    عن فضل عثمانٍ ونيشي مجزلاً

    And how often Nicolas came to praise among mankind

    The bounty of Uthman Wanishi, lavishly.

  8. بحرٌ عميمٌ دافقٌ عمَّ السَواحل

    فيضه وإلى الجبال توصلا

    A vast, surging sea: all the shores were covered

    By its flood, which also reached the mountains.

  9. كم منه شنفنا المسامع بهجةً

    وكم التقطنا منه درًّا يُجتلى

    How often we adorned our ears with joy from it,

    And how often we gathered from it pearls to be admired!