1. عيد فطر عَلى الرَعايا سَعيدُ

    حَيث سرّ القُلوب فيهِ سَعيدُ

    A happy Eid al-Fitr for the subjects,

    in which Saʿīd gladdened hearts.

  2. وَكَسا مصر حلة السَعد لَما

    جاءَ بِالعَدل وَاِصطَفاه المَجيد

    And he clothed Egypt in the robe of good fortune when

    he came with justice, and the Glorious One chose him.

  3. أَيّد اللَه مُلكه وَرَعاه

    فَهوَ بَحر للمكرمات مَديد

    May God strengthen his reign and watch over him;

    he is a vast sea of noble deeds.

  4. هُوَ سَيف الجُنود في يَوم حَرب

    هُوَ حُصن للحادِثات مشيد

    He is the army's sword on the day of battle;

    he is a lofty fortress against calamities.

  5. هُوَ بَين الوَرى أَجلّ إِمام

    رَأيه في الأُمور رَأي سَديد

    He is the most august leader among humankind;

    his judgment in affairs is sound.

  6. كَيف لا وَهوَ للتمدّن أَحيا

    بِفُنون مِنها تَحلّى الوُجود

    How could he not be, when he revived civilization

    through arts with which existence was adorned?

  7. وَرَثى للعلوم بَعد أَبيه ال

    داوري مَن لَهُ الصدور عَبيد

    And he showed compassion for the sciences after his father, the

    sovereign, whose slaves the grandees were.

  8. فَحَبا بِالنَوال مِنهُ بَنيها

    وَمَحا الجَهل فَهوَ نعم الوَليد

    So he lavished his bounty on their sons,

    and erased ignorance—an excellent son indeed.

  9. وَحَمى مَصره بِحَزم وَبَأس

    وَحَماس قوّاه عَزمٌ شَديد

    And he guarded his Egypt with resolve and might,

    and zeal reinforced by strong determination.

  10. وَاِعتَنى بِانتقا الجُيوش فَأَضحى

    لا يُباريه في النَجاح عَميد

    And he took care in selecting the troops, so that now

    no commander rivals him in success.

  11. فَلمن راعه رَصاصٌ وَبَمبٌ

    وَسُيوف يَنبتُّ مِنها الوَريد

    So, for whoever threatens him, there are bullets and bombs,

    and swords by which the jugular is severed,

  12. وَرِماحٌ مَديدة لَيسَ يَنجو

    بِمَنيع الدروع مِنها مَريد

    and long spears—there is no escape

    from them for any rebel, even in stout armor;

  13. وَجِيادٌ تَمُرُّ مرّ سَحاب

    بِرِجال لَهُم قُلوب حَديد

    and steeds that pass like clouds,

    bearing men with hearts of iron;

  14. وَجوارٍ تَنساب مثل الأَفاعي

    في حباب يَغوص فيهِ طَريد

    and ships that glide like serpents

    through foaming water where the fugitive sinks;

  15. وَصُفوفٌ المُشاة تَبدو كسدّ

    مِن حَديد لِلمفسدين تَذود

    and ranks of infantry appearing like a wall

    of iron, driving evildoers back.

  16. وَالسَواري عَلى المَذاكي تُنادي

    يا سَعيد الزَمان أَنتَ الفَريد

    And the cavalry on seasoned steeds call out:

    “O Saʿīd of the age, you are the peerless one!”

  17. وَالكبورجيّةُ السَعيدة في كل

    لِ نَهار لَها اِجتِهاد جَديد

    And the fortunate bridge corps, each

    day, shows fresh endeavor.

  18. وَشراعات فنّها الآن صارَت

    في اِنتِشار تَغار مِنهُ البُنود

    And the sails of its craft have now

    spread so wide that banners envy them.

  19. وَالأَريب المهندس الشَهم يَأتي

    بِصَحيح الأَخبار حينَ يَرود

    And the clever, gallant engineer brings

    reliable reports when he scouts.

  20. وَالدراغون في المَيادين تَزهو

    كَزُهور الرِياض وَهيَ أُسود

    And the dragoons shine proudly on the field,

    like garden flowers, though they are lions.

  21. وَالكماة الطوبجيّة الغرّ تَرمي

    برجوم مِنها الرَواسي تَميد

    And the illustrious artillery champions fire

    missiles that make the steadfast mountains sway.

  22. وَحماة السَواحل الكُل صانوا

    ما لَدَيهُم وَخاب خَصم عَنيد

    And the defenders of the coasts have all safeguarded

    what they possess, and the stubborn enemy has failed.

  23. وَسل الزرخ عَن هُجوم بَليل

    فيهِ بَرق يَبدو لَهُم وَرُعود

    And ask the cuirassiers about a night attack,

    where lightning flashes before them and thunder resounds.

  24. هَل لَهُم في النِزال قَط شَريكٌ

    أَم سِواهُم للأسد فيهِ يَصيد

    Have they ever had a peer in combat,

    or does anyone else hunt lions there?

  25. وَإِذا الأوجيان حلّوا بِأَرض

    لَعدوّ ضاقَت عَلَيهِ الحُدود

    And when the chasseurs encamp in the land

    of an enemy, his own borders hem him in.

  26. وَجَميع الجُيوش صارَت صُفوفاً

    باحتِشام يَزينه تَأييد

    And all the troops have formed ranks,

    with dignity graced by sustaining aid.

  27. وَالدودكجيْ مَع التَرنبيت ناغا

    ه البُروجيْ وَزال عَنا صُدود

    And the fifer, with the trumpet, was echoed

    by the bugler, and estrangement left us.

  28. وَبِعَذب الأَلحان غَنى المويسي

    قي فَتاقَت إِلى غِناه الكبود

    And with sweet melodies the musician sang,

    and livers yearned for his singing.

  29. وَبذكر السَعيد دندن فاشتا

    ق إِلى مَدحه البَليغ المُجيد

    And he hummed Saʿīd's name, awakening a longing

    in the eloquent master to offer him praise.

  30. وَأَجابَت بجوق يَشا في دُعاها

    للخديوي رَعيةٌ وَجُنود

    And they answered with a chorus of 'Long live!' in prayer

    for the Khedive—subjects and soldiers.

  31. في نَهار للمهرجان سَعيد

    فاضَ فيهِ عَلى الوَرى مِنهُ جُود

    On a joyous festival day,

    his bounty overflowed upon humankind.

  32. وَبلثم الأَعتاب فازَ كَبير

    وَصَغير وَمرشد وَرَشيد

    And the great succeeded in kissing the thresholds,

    and the small, the guide and the rightly guided.

  33. وَبعز التَشريف عز قَريب

    ذو احتِرام وَأَجنبيّ بَعيد

    And the glory of distinction exalted the near kinsman,

    a man of standing, and the far-off foreigner.

  34. وَلنا الدَهر قَد تَبَسم في عَص

    رك هَذا وَغابَ عَنا الحَسود

    And time has smiled upon us in

    this reign of yours, and the envious one has vanished from us.

  35. وَلِساني بِالمَدح أَطلَق في ظل

    لِكَ يا أَيُّها الأَمير السَعيد

    And my tongue is freer in praise beneath

    your shade, O Prince Saʿīd.

  36. وَإِلى ذاتك الشَريفة شُكري

    لَم يَزَل كُلَّما ذُكرت يَزيد

    And my gratitude to your noble person

    never ceases to increase whenever you are mentioned.

  37. فابقَ في نعمة وَأمر ونهيٍ

    وَسَداد للملك فيهِ صعود

    So remain amid blessing, commanding and forbidding,

    and sound judgment, through which the realm rises.

  38. وَاِغتَنم فُرصة السُرور بِمصر

    وَاحتكم بِالَّذي تَشا وَتُريد

    And seize the chance for joy in Egypt,

    and rule as you wish and desire.

  39. وَانصر العَدل في جَميع النَواحي

    بِزَمان للذكر فيهِ خُلود

    And uphold justice in every quarter,

    in an age when remembrance is immortal;

  40. بِزَمان شَيّدت فيهِ قِلاعاً

    وَحُصوناً عدوّها مَكمود

    in an age when you built citadels

    and fortresses whose enemy is consumed by grief.

  41. يا لَكَ اللَه مِن عَزيز مفدّى

    فيكَ حلم بِهِ المُلوك تَسود

    God preserve you—what a mighty one, for whom lives are pledged!

    In you is forbearance by which kings hold sway,

  42. وَثَبات وَرَأفة بِالرَعايا

    وَذَكاء عَلَيهِ قامَت شُهود

    and steadfastness and compassion for the subjects,

    and intelligence attested by witnesses,

  43. وَرَشاد وَهَيبة وَجَلال

    زانَهُ حكمة وَمَجد تَليد

    and wise guidance, awe and majesty,

    adorned by wisdom and ancestral glory,

  44. وَكَمال وَعفة وَعدول

    عَن سِوى العَدل فَهُوَ فعل حَميد

    and perfection, chastity and a turning away

    from all but justice—a praiseworthy deed;

  45. وَاِهتِمام وَيَقظة لِغَريم

    وَاحتِفال بِكُل نَفع يَعود

    and care, and vigilance against an adversary,

    and solicitude for every benefit that accrues.

  46. لا بَرحنا في كُل عام نهنّي

    ك بنظم قَد ضلّ عَنهُ لَبيد

    May we never cease, each year, to congratulate

    you with verse that eluded Labīd;

  47. وَعُيون الهَنا تُلاحظ شبلاً

    في المَعالي رواقه مَمدود

    and the eyes of bliss watch over a lion cub

    whose pavilion is outspread amid lofty honors.

  48. وَنَهاديك مَعْهُ في دار عزٍّ

    بِمَديح يَسر مِنهُ الودود

    And with him we exchange gifts with you in an abode of glory,

    with praise that delights the loving friend,

  49. ما اِزدَهَت مَصر بَهجة بِكَ وَاِزدا

    د بأرجائِها الصَفا وَالسُعود

    as long as Egypt shines with joy through you, and

    serenity and good fortune increase throughout its regions,

  50. وَتَوالى بِها السُرور وَأَضحَت

    كَعبة للوَرى إِلَيها الوُفود

    and joy follows joy there, and it becomes

    a Kaaba for humankind, to which delegations flock;

  51. أَو دَعاني علاك إِذ قال أَرّخ

    كُل وَقت لِلصَدر سرك عيد

    or your loftiness summons me, saying, “Record the date:

    At every moment, your joy is a feast for the heart.”