قَدم الرَئيسُ مقدَّماً في سَبقِهِ

قَدم الرَئيسُ مقدَّماً في سَبقِهِ

وَكَأَنَّما الدُنيا جَرَت في طَرقِهِ

وَكَأَنَّما الدُنيا جَرَت في طَرقِهِ

The chief arrived, foremost in precedence;

The president led the way with his precedence,

And as though the world flowed within his seed.

As if the world flowed in his paths.

فَجِبالُها من حِلمِهِ وَبِحارُها

فَجِبالُها من حِلمِهِ وَبِحارُها

مِن جودِهِ وَرِياضِها من خُلقِهِ

مِن جودِهِ وَرِياضِها من خُلقِهِ

For its mountains come from his forbearance, and its seas

Its mountains are of his forbearance, its seas

From his generosity, and its gardens from his character.

Of his generosity, its meadows of his ethics.

وَكَأَنَّما الأَفلاكُ طوع يَمينِهِ

وَكَأَنَّما الأَفلاكُ طوع يَمينِهِ

كَالعَبدِ مُنقاداً لِمالِك رقِّهِ

كَالعَبدِ مُنقاداً لِمالِك رقِّهِ

And as though the heavenly spheres obeyed his right hand,

As if the planets obeyed his right hand

Like a slave, submissive to the master who holds him in bondage.

Like a slave controlled by his master's leash.

قَد قاسَمتَهُ نُجومُها فَنحوسُها

قَد قاسَمتَهُ نُجومُها فَنحوسُها

لعدُوِّه وَسعودُها في أُفقِهِ

لعدُوِّه وَسعودُها في أُفقِهِ

Their stars have shared their fortunes with him: their ill luck

Its stars shared with him their good fortunes

Is for his enemy, and their good fortune is on his horizon.

And bad fortunes for his enemy on his horizon.

ما زِلتُ مُشتاقاً لِنور جَبينِهِ

ما زِلتُ مُشتاقاً لِنور جَبينِهِ

شوقَ الرِياضِ إِلى السَحابِ وَودقِهِ

شوقَ الرِياضِ إِلى السَحابِ وَودقِهِ

I have never ceased yearning for the light of his brow,

I have continued longing for the light of his forehead,

As gardens long for clouds and their rain,

Like the yearning of the meadows for the clouds and their drizzle.

حَتّى بَدا من فَوقِ أَجرَدَ سابِحٍ

حَتّى بَدا من فَوقِ أَجرَدَ سابِحٍ

اِن قالَ فُتُّ الريحَ فاه بِصِدقِهِ

اِن قالَ فُتُّ الريحَ فاه بِصِدقِهِ

Until he appeared atop a sleek, swimming steed—

Until he appeared above a smooth swimmer

If it said, "I outstripped the wind," it would speak the truth.

If he said the wind blew, it was with his truthfulness.

يَحكي السَحابَ طُلوعُهُ فَصَهيلُهُ

يَحكي السَحابَ طُلوعُهُ فَصَهيلُهُ

مِن رَعدِهِ وَمَسيرُهُ من بَرقِهِ

مِن رَعدِهِ وَمَسيرُهُ من بَرقِهِ

Its appearance resembles the clouds: its neighing

His sunrise describes the clouds, his neighing

Comes from their thunder, and its movement from their lightning.

Of his thunder, his march of his lightning.

فَنَظَمتُ مدحاً وَلا وَفاءَ بِمِثلِهِ

فَنَظَمتُ مدحاً وَلا وَفاءَ بِمِثلِهِ

وَسَجدتُ شُكراً لا نهوضَ بحقِّهِ

وَسَجدتُ شُكراً لا نهوضَ بحقِّهِ

So I composed praise, though such praise cannot suffice;

So I composed praise without the like of its fulfillment,

And I prostrated myself in thanks, unable to rise to what he deserves.

And I prostrated in thanks without rising to his right.