بَسمتsmiled بمقدمat the arrival of سؤددeminence وَمبرّةِand beneficence
بَسمت بمقدم سؤدد وَمبرّةِ
لركابكfor your retinue العاليexalted ثَغورmouths مَسرّةِdelight
لركابك العالي ثَغور مَسرّةِ
At the coming of eminence and beneficence smiled
With a smile you were welcomed, oh you of high ambition and benevolence
Mouths of delight, welcoming your exalted retinue.
For Egypt, her spirit has returned upon your arrival
وَلمصرand to Egypt عادَتreturned رُوحُهاher soul عِندَat اللقاthe reunion
وَلمصر عادَت رُوحُها عِندَ اللقا
وَاِستأنستand she found comfort بِكَin you ياO سَعيدSaʿid الدَولةthe realm
وَاِستأنست بِكَ يا سَعيد الدَولة
And Egypt's soul returned to her at the reunion,
And she was comforted by you, oh Sa'eed al-Dawla
And she found comfort in you, O Saʿid of the realm.
She rejoiced when you came giving victory
وَاِستَبشَرَتand she rejoiced لَماwhen أَتيتyou came مُؤيداًupheld
وَاِستَبشَرَت لَما أَتيت مُؤيداً
بِالنَصرby victory وَالإِقبالand good fortune ذاتshe possessed of الرفعةexalted rank
بِالنَصر وَالإِقبال ذات الرفعة
And she rejoiced when you came, upheld
and favor, you of high stature
By victory and good fortune—she of exalted rank.
The days have cleared for it with your return spreading
وَصفاand grew serene الزَمانtime لَهُfor him بعودكwith your return ناشِراًunfurling
وَصفا الزَمان لَهُ بعودك ناشِراً
علمbanner الفَخارglory متوّجاًcrowned بِالهيبةwith majesty
علم الفَخار متوّجاً بِالهيبة
And time grew serene for him as you returned, unfurling
The flag of pride crowned with awe
The banner of glory, crowned with majesty.
You remain thanked for your successful efforts
لاmay ... not زلتyou cease to be مَشكورpraised المَساعيthe endeavors ظافِراًvictorious
لا زلت مَشكور المَساعي ظافِراً
طُولthroughout المَدىall time بِإِقامةin residence وَبرحلةand on a journey
طُول المَدى بِإِقامة وَبرحلة
May you ever be praised for your endeavors, victorious
Throughout the long stretch, residing and traveling
For all time, in residence and on journeys,
Boasting among kings with intellect
مُتباهياًtaking pride بَينamong المُلوكkings بِفطنةin sagacity
مُتباهياً بَين المُلوك بِفطنة
لمحمدof Muhammad طوسونTusun رفيعlofty in الهمةresolve
لمحمد طوسون رفيع الهمة
Proud among kings of the sagacity
For Muhammad Tusun, lofty of resolve
Of Muhammad Tusun, lofty in resolve.
Never has Istanbul shone from a visit
ماas long as أَشرَقَتshone إِستانةٌIstanbul بِزيارةwith a visit
ما أَشرَقَت إِستانةٌ بِزيارة
صَدرتsprang forth بإِخلاصwith sincerity وَحُسنand goodness of طَويةinner intent
صَدرت بإِخلاص وَحُسن طَوية
So long as Istanbul shines with a visit
That came with sincerity and goodness of intent
That sprang from sincerity and good intent,
Or greeted you with whatever you wish of praise
أَوor قابلتكgreeted you بِماwith whatever تَشاءyou desire مِنof الثَناpraise
أَو قابلتك بِما تَشاء مِن الثَنا
وَالشُكرand thanks ألسنةٌtongues عقيبafter الأَوبةthe homecoming
وَالشُكر ألسنةٌ عقيب الأَوبة
Or you are greeted with the praise you desire
And gratitude tongues after obedience
And thanks, by tongues after your homecoming,
Nor has Majdi said upon return chronicling
أَوor قالsaid مَجديMajdi فيupon الإِيابthe return مُؤرخاًrecording the date
أَو قال مَجدي في الإِياب مُؤرخاً
لَكَfor you ياO سَعيدSaʿid بمصرin Egypt أَكرمthe noblest عودةreturn
لَكَ يا سَعيد بمصر أَكرم عودة
Or Majdi says upon the return, recording its date:
For you oh Sa'eed in Egypt the most gracious return
Yours, O Saʿid, in Egypt is the noblest return.
Partial English translation: 17 of 18 Arabic lines translated.