خَليلي جَفاني حينَ عاندَني دَهري

خَليلي جَفاني حينَ عاندَني دَهري

وَسالم أَعدائي وَبالغ في نَهري

وَسالم أَعدائي وَبالغ في نَهري

My friend forsook me when my fate turned against me,

My friend abandoned me when fate turned against me,

And made peace with my enemies, going to extremes in rebuking me.

And my enemies wished me well and plotted my demise.

وَأَوقَعني مِن كَيده في حَبائلٍ

وَأَوقَعني مِن كَيده في حَبائلٍ

بِها كُدت لا أَنجو بِجسمي مِن الضر

بِها كُدت لا أَنجو بِجسمي مِن الضر

And through his scheming he ensnared me in traps

He ensnared me in his schemes, nearly undoing me,

In which I nearly failed to escape bodily harm.

With ploys that almost destroyed my person.

وَعامَلَني بَعدَ الوَفا مِنهُ مُدةً

وَعامَلَني بَعدَ الوَفا مِنهُ مُدةً

بِما هُوَ مَطبوع عَلَيهِ مِن الغَدر

بِما هُوَ مَطبوع عَلَيهِ مِن الغَدر

And after being faithful for a time, he treated me

After loyalty, he treated me for a time

With the treachery ingrained in his nature.

With innate betrayal and guile.

وَباب الرَجا بِاليَأس أَصبَح مرتجاً

وَباب الرَجا بِاليَأس أَصبَح مرتجاً

عَليّ وَكُلٌّ قَد تَحدّث في أَمري

عَليّ وَكُلٌّ قَد تَحدّث في أَمري

And the door of hope was shut fast by despair

The door of hope through despair was shut to me,

Against me, and everyone had spoken of my plight.

As all spoke of my affairs.

فَمن قائل عَما قَليل جَوادُهُ

فَمن قائل عَما قَليل جَوادُهُ

بِهِ في الوَغى يَكبو وَيَنقاد للأَسر

بِهِ في الوَغى يَكبو وَيَنقاد للأَسر

So one said, 'Before long, his steed

Some said his steed of little worth

Will stumble with him in battle and be led into captivity.'

In battle rears and bends to captivity.

وَمِن قائل هَيهات يَهزم جَمعَهم

وَمِن قائل هَيهات يَهزم جَمعَهم

وَيَحظى عَلى رَغم الفَوارس بِالنَصر

وَيَحظى عَلى رَغم الفَوارس بِالنَصر

And another said, 'Never will he rout their host

Others said never shall he rout their numbers

And win victory despite the horsemen.'

And gain victory despite the horsemen.

وَمِن قائل حاشا تلين شكيمة

وَمِن قائل حاشا تلين شكيمة

لَهُ وَهوَ في الهَيجاء أَثبَت مِن صَخر

لَهُ وَهوَ في الهَيجاء أَثبَت مِن صَخر

And another said, 'Never shall his resolve weaken,

Still others said, Never shall his resolve weaken

For in battle he is firmer than rock.'

When embroiled, he is firmer than rock.

وَلا سِيَما لَما رَأوني مؤيداً

وَلا سِيَما لَما رَأوني مؤيداً

مِن اللَه بِالتَوفيق في الكَر وَالفر

مِن اللَه بِالتَوفيق في الكَر وَالفر

Especially when they saw me supported

Especially when they saw me, aided

By God, with success in charge and retreat,

By God in advance and retreat alike,

وَصَح لَدَيهم أَنَّني مِن عصابة

وَصَح لَدَيهم أَنَّني مِن عصابة

بِنصرتها نالَ الثَنا حسَن الذكر

بِنصرتها نالَ الثَنا حسَن الذكر

And they knew for certain that I belonged to a band

And knew I belonged to a fellowship

For supporting which the man of fair renown won praise—

Whose aid brought fair renown.

رَئيس بَني الإنشا وَأَبلَغ مَن غَدا

رَئيس بَني الإنشا وَأَبلَغ مَن غَدا

جَديراً عَلى حُسن الصَنيعة بِالشُكر

جَديراً عَلى حُسن الصَنيعة بِالشُكر

Chief of the scribes, and the most eloquent of those who became

Chief of the virtuous, who when stirred

Worthy of thanks for their gracious deeds.

Was worthy of thanks for his excellent deed.

لَهُ اللَه مِن شَهم لَبيب قَد اِزدَهى

لَهُ اللَه مِن شَهم لَبيب قَد اِزدَهى

بِهِ الفَضل وَالإِحسان في السر وَالجَهر

بِهِ الفَضل وَالإِحسان في السر وَالجَهر

God bless him—a noble, discerning man, a source of pride

God gave him a wise soul that grew

To excellence and kindness, in private and in public.

In merit and benevolence, concealed and revealed.

فَلا زالَ لِلصَدر السَعيد مُباشراً

فَلا زالَ لِلصَدر السَعيد مُباشراً

بِدَولته ذات المآثر في مَصر

بِدَولته ذات المآثر في مَصر

May he ever serve the fortunate chief minister as an official,

He still resides, blessed of chest,

In his government, rich in glorious deeds, in Egypt.

In his land of great deeds, Egypt.

وَلا زلت أثني عَنهُ في كُل محفل

وَلا زلت أثني عَنهُ في كُل محفل

بِما راق مِن نظم بَديع وَمِن نَثر

بِما راق مِن نظم بَديع وَمِن نَثر

And may I ever praise him in every gathering

And I never cease to praise him in any assembly,

With whatever is pleasing in exquisite verse and prose.

With pleasing verse and prose alike.

وَإني لأَرجو أَن أُهنيه عاجِلاً

وَإني لأَرجو أَن أُهنيه عاجِلاً

بِمرتبة مِنهُ لَها رفعة القَدر

بِمرتبة مِنهُ لَها رفعة القَدر

And I do hope soon to congratulate him

And I hope to congratulate him soon

On a rank bestowed by him, lofty in esteem,

With a rank befitting its prestige.

وَأُنشده في ذَلِكَ الوَقت قائِلاً

وَأُنشده في ذَلِكَ الوَقت قائِلاً

لَكَ السَعد طُول الدَهر يُهدَى مِن الصَدر

لَكَ السَعد طُول الدَهر يُهدَى مِن الصَدر

And recite to him at that time, saying:

And recite to him these words:

'Good fortune is bestowed on you by the chief minister for all time.'

Joy be yours always, guided from the heart!