إِلَيكَ التَهاني تستحث وُفودُها

إِلَيكَ التَهاني تستحث وُفودُها

وَفيكَ القَوافي يُستَمالُ شُرودُها

وَفيكَ القَوافي يُستَمالُ شُرودُها

Toward you, congratulations urge their delegations onward.

To you congratulations hasten their delegations,

And for you, the wayward rhymes are coaxed back.

And in you rhymes are gently stirred their inspirations.

وَتُسلِكُنا فيها مَعانيكَ هَينَةً

وَتُسلِكُنا فيها مَعانيكَ هَينَةً

إِذا اِستَصبَحَت أَقبالُها وَنُجودُها

إِذا اِستَصبَحَت أَقبالُها وَنُجودُها

Your qualities guide us through them with ease,

Through them your gentle meanings guide us easily,

when their slopes and uplands glow with morning light.

When their rises and gifts dawn in the morning's radiations.

تُعاتِبُ عَزمي فيكَ كُلَّ خَليقَةٍ

تُعاتِبُ عَزمي فيكَ كُلَّ خَليقَةٍ

عَلَيها سَرابيلُ العُلى وَبُرودَها

عَلَيها سَرابيلُ العُلى وَبُرودَها

Every trait of yours reproaches my resolve,

My determination in you reproaches every being,

clad in glory's tunics and mantles.

Over it the garments of highness and its coldness.

كَأَنّي قَرَضتُ الشِعرِ قَبلَ زَمانِهِ

كَأَنّي قَرَضتُ الشِعرِ قَبلَ زَمانِهِ

لِيوجِبَ في يَومٍ عَلى نَشيدِها

لِيوجِبَ في يَومٍ عَلى نَشيدِها

It is as though I composed poetry before its time,

As if I had borrowed poetry before its time,

to make their praise-song obligatory one day.

To oblige it one day for its chant.

وَكُنتُ إِذا ما اِعتَمتُ صَمتي عَنِ الثَنا

وَكُنتُ إِذا ما اِعتَمتُ صَمتي عَنِ الثَنا

أُكَلِّفُ نَفسي خُطَّةً ما تُريدُها

أُكَلِّفُ نَفسي خُطَّةً ما تُريدُها

And whenever I chose silence instead of praise,

And if I was silent from praise,

I burdened my soul with a course it did not want.

I would assign myself a plan that it wants.

فَإِن كُنتُ لِلحُسنى عَميداً وَصاحِباً

فَإِن كُنتُ لِلحُسنى عَميداً وَصاحِباً

فَإِنّى مَديحاً صَبَّها وَعَميدَها

فَإِنّى مَديحاً صَبَّها وَعَميدَها

For if I was goodness's lover and companion,

So if I am a pillar of beauty and its companion,

then in praise I am her ardent lover and lovesick devotee.

Then I am the praise it poured and its pillar.

وَإِن صيغَ عِقدُ المَدحِ فيكَ فَطالَما

وَإِن صيغَ عِقدُ المَدحِ فيكَ فَطالَما

تَحَلَّت بِكَ العَلياءَ وَاِزدانَ جيدُها

تَحَلَّت بِكَ العَلياءَ وَاِزدانَ جيدُها

And if praise's necklace is fashioned for you, how often

And if the contract of praise is forged in you,

has glory adorned herself with you and embellished her neck!

The sublime adorned itself with it and its necklace shone.

كَأَنَّكَ مِن ماءِ الشَهامَةِ مَنهَلٌ

كَأَنَّكَ مِن ماءِ الشَهامَةِ مَنهَلٌ

تَظَلُّ العُلى حَرى إِلَيهِ كُبودُها

تَظَلُّ العُلى حَرى إِلَيهِ كُبودُها

You are like a watering place of chivalry's waters,

As if you are from the water of glory a spring,

for which glory's livers remain parched.

To which the lofty necks yearn, and its camels.

لَقَد شَمِلَت مِنكَ الجَميعُ بِلُطفِها

لَقَد شَمِلَت مِنكَ الجَميعُ بِلُطفِها

شَمائِلَ يُزري بِالشُمولِ وُرودُها

شَمائِلَ يُزري بِالشُمولِ وُرودُها

From you, they have embraced everyone with their kindness—

From you all creation is included in its kindness,

qualities whose coming puts wine to shame.

Attributes that eclipse the inclusion and its roses.

وَقَد فُزتُ حَظّاً بِالمُعَلّى مِنَ العُلى

وَقَد فُزتُ حَظّاً بِالمُعَلّى مِنَ العُلى

فَتَقَدَّحَ ناراً في يَدَيكَ صُلودُها

فَتَقَدَّحَ ناراً في يَدَيكَ صُلودُها

And I won glory's highest lot as my share,

And I have won the supreme share of the supreme,

and its hard stones sparked fire in your hands.

So its embers blazed in your hands fiercely.

حَصَلتُ عَلى شَمِّ المَعالي فَلَم يَزَل

حَصَلتُ عَلى شَمِّ المَعالي فَلَم يَزَل

بِأُفقِ العَنانِ البَدرَ وَهوَ حَسودُها

بِأُفقِ العَنانِ البَدرَ وَهوَ حَسودُها

I attained honor's towering heights, and still

I attained the scent of glories, so it never ceased

the full moon at the clouds' horizon envies them.

At the horizon of possibilities to envy the full moon and its enviers.

صَبَوتُ إِلَيها وَهيَ نَحوَكَ قَد صِبتُ

صَبَوتُ إِلَيها وَهيَ نَحوَكَ قَد صِبتُ

فَلا غَروَ أَن تَفتَنَّ بِحُسنِكَ غيدُها

فَلا غَروَ أَن تَفتَنَّ بِحُسنِكَ غيدُها

I yearned for her, while she had already inclined toward you;

I poured to it while it poured to you,

so no wonder her graceful maidens are enchanted by your beauty.

So no wonder its affection is tempted by your beauty.

غَلَبتُ القَوافي كُلَّها وَسَبَقتُها

غَلَبتُ القَوافي كُلَّها وَسَبَقتُها

وَإِن يَزرُ بِالدرِ النَضيدِ نَضيدُها

وَإِن يَزرُ بِالدرِ النَضيدِ نَضيدُها

I mastered all the rhymes and outstripped them,

I overcame all rhymes and preceded them,

though their ordered array puts strung pearls to shame,

Even if the rare pearl rivals its matcher.

بِهِمَّةِ مِقدامِ العَزيمَةِ لا تَرى

بِهِمَّةِ مِقدامِ العَزيمَةِ لا تَرى

عَياءَ وَلا وَقعُ الصِعابِ يَؤودُها

عَياءَ وَلا وَقعُ الصِعابِ يَؤودُها

with a bold, resolute spirit that knows no

With the resolve of steadfast determination, it does not see

weariness, nor is it burdened by hardships' blows,

Disgrace, nor the impact of difficulties subdue it.

وَأَخلاقُ مَيمونِ النَقيبَةِ ما يَني

وَأَخلاقُ مَيمونِ النَقيبَةِ ما يَني

يَصوبُ بِها غَيثُ الثَنا وَيجودُها

يَصوبُ بِها غَيثُ الثَنا وَيجودُها

and the virtues of one blessed in temperament; unceasingly

And the morals of the auspicious leader what wishes

the rain of praise descends upon them and drenches them.

Its praise rain pours and bestows.

فَتى لَو أَعارَ الشَمسَ ضَوءَ جَبينِهِ

فَتى لَو أَعارَ الشَمسَ ضَوءَ جَبينِهِ

لَمّا ساغَ تَحتَ الدَجُنِّ يَوماً رُبودُها

لَمّا ساغَ تَحتَ الدَجُنِّ يَوماً رُبودُها

A youth who, if he lent the sun his brow's radiance,

A youth, if the sun borrowed the light of his forehead,

would make its repose beneath dark clouds forever unfitting.

The darkness would not have endured its coldness any day.

وَلَو لا بَسَ الظَلماءَ نورَ جَنانِهِ

وَلَو لا بَسَ الظَلماءَ نورَ جَنانِهِ

لَما اِحتيجَ مِن نورِ الصَباحِ وَقودُها

لَما اِحتيجَ مِن نورِ الصَباحِ وَقودُها

And if his heart's light mingled with the darkness,

And if he had not dressed the darkness with the light of his soul,

it would need no kindling from the morning's light.

The light of dawn would not have needed fuel.

وَلَو مَزَجَ اللَهُ الحَياةَ بِلُطفِهِ

وَلَو مَزَجَ اللَهُ الحَياةَ بِلُطفِهِ

لَمّا اِحتَمَلَت سَقمَ الجُسومِ جُلودِها

لَمّا اِحتَمَلَت سَقمَ الجُسومِ جُلودِها

And if God mingled life with his gentleness,

And if God had mixed life with his kindness,

the bodies' skins would never bear sickness.

Diseased bodies would not have endured their skins.

نَشا كَلَفاً بِالمَكرُماتِ فَلَم تَزَل

نَشا كَلَفاً بِالمَكرُماتِ فَلَم تَزَل

لَهُ نَفَحاتٌ لَيسَ يَجحَد جودُها

لَهُ نَفَحاتٌ لَيسَ يَجحَد جودُها

He grew up enamored of noble deeds, and always

He grew accustomed to generosity so its fragrant breezes never ceased,

has had gifts whose generosity none can deny.

Which no ingrate can deny its munificence.

إِلى الغايَةِ القُصوى مَنازِعُ هَمِّهِ

إِلى الغايَةِ القُصوى مَنازِعُ هَمِّهِ

فَأَقرَبُ هاتيكَ المَغازي بِعيدِها

فَأَقرَبُ هاتيكَ المَغازي بِعيدِها

The strivings of his ambition reach the furthest goal;

To the farthest extent the concerns of his resolve,

so the nearest of those aims is their farthest.

So near are those conquests to its hands.

توليهِ ذاتَ الأَروعِيَّةِ نَفسَهُ

توليهِ ذاتَ الأَروعِيَّةِ نَفسَهُ

عَلى عَقَباتٍ لا يُرامُ كُؤودِها

عَلى عَقَباتٍ لا يُرامُ كُؤودِها

His soul, endowed with intrepidity, gives him mastery

Entrusting the holder of the most honorable self,

over obstacles whose steep ascent cannot be attempted.

Over obstacles whose knobs are not desired.

يَهتِكَ أَستارَ المَغالِقِ حَزمَهُ

يَهتِكَ أَستارَ المَغالِقِ حَزمَهُ

لَدى مُعضِلاتٍ لا يُنادي وَليدُها

لَدى مُعضِلاتٍ لا يُنادي وَليدُها

His resolve rends the veils of things locked shut,

His rationality tears the veils of dilemmas,

amid dire problems whose infant goes uncalled.

By predicaments whose newborn cannot be called upon.

إِذا اِعتَرَضَت دَهمُ عَوابِسٍ في الوَرى

إِذا اِعتَرَضَت دَهمُ عَوابِسٍ في الوَرى

فَمِنهُ لَهُم مَهديها وَرَشيدُها

فَمِنهُ لَهُم مَهديها وَرَشيدُها

When dark, scowling calamities confront humankind,

Whenever the attacks of frowning misfortunes confront,

from him they gain their guide and their sage.

He is their guide and their well-guided one.

عَلى مُلتَقى سُبُلِ المَعاني تَخالُهُ

عَلى مُلتَقى سُبُلِ المَعاني تَخالُهُ

فَمُبتَدِرٌ مِن كُلِّ صَوبٍ يَصيدُها

فَمُبتَدِرٌ مِن كُلِّ صَوبٍ يَصيدُها

You imagine him where the paths of meanings meet,

At the crossroads of meanings' paths his wit meets them,

a swift pursuer, hunting them from every direction.

So from every direction comes one who hunts them.

أَما لَت لَهُ كُلِّ القُلوبِ مِنَ الوَرى

أَما لَت لَهُ كُلِّ القُلوبِ مِنَ الوَرى

مَكارِمٌ تَترى في القُلوبِ قُيودَها

مَكارِمٌ تَترى في القُلوبِ قُيودَها

All human hearts have been inclined toward him

Do not all hearts in existence for him

by successive noble deeds whose chains bind those hearts.

Have generosities that shackle their hearts?

لَقَد أَلِفَ الأَفضالَ وَهوَ رَبيبُهُ

لَقَد أَلِفَ الأَفضالَ وَهوَ رَبيبُهُ

وَهَل تَألَفِ الأَغيالَ إِلّا اِسوَدَّها

وَهَل تَألَفِ الأَغيالَ إِلّا اِسوَدَّها

He has indeed grown familiar with virtues, being their foster-son;

He befriended virtues and he is their ward,

and do any haunt the thickets but their lions?

And do despicable deeds befriend except their blackened?

وَلا قَت بِهِ زَهرَ السُعودِ جُدودَهُ

وَلا قَت بِهِ زَهرَ السُعودِ جُدودَهُ

كَما تَتَلاقى في البُروجِ سُعودَها

كَما تَتَلاقى في البُروجِ سُعودَها

In him, his fortunes have met the bright stars of good luck,

Neither did his ancestral nobility match the flower of bliss,

as lucky stars converge in the zodiac's houses.

As they come together in the constellations their felicity.

رَعى اللَهُ مَن يَرعى المَوَدَّةَ وَالوَلا

رَعى اللَهُ مَن يَرعى المَوَدَّةَ وَالوَلا

بِباصِرَةٍ ما يَطَّبيها هُجودَها

بِباصِرَةٍ ما يَطَّبيها هُجودَها

May God protect him who preserves affection and loyalty

May God guard one who guards affection and loyalty,

with an eye that sleep cannot entice.

With insight that cannot be disturbed by its rejection.

أَيا حَسَناً لَم يَبقَ حَسَناً لِغَيرِهِ

أَيا حَسَناً لَم يَبقَ حَسَناً لِغَيرِهِ

بِرِفعَةِ شَأنٍ لَم يَزَل يَستَزيدَها

بِرِفعَةِ شَأنٍ لَم يَزَل يَستَزيدَها

O Hasan, who has left no beauty for anyone else,

O beauty that has left no beauty for others,

with an eminence he never ceases to increase.

With the elevation of rank that never ceases to increase it.

وَيا مَخولاً لا تارِكاً طارِفَ العُلى

وَيا مَخولاً لا تارِكاً طارِفَ العُلى

إِذا كانَ أَولاكَ الغِناءَ تَليدَها

إِذا كانَ أَولاكَ الغِناءَ تَليدَها

And O favored one, never forsaking newly gained glory,

O bestower, not one who deprives the lofty of joy,

even when its inherited share has already enriched you.

When the beautiful melody makes it an heir.

عَشِقنا مَعانيكَ الحِسانَ وَإِنَّها

عَشِقنا مَعانيكَ الحِسانَ وَإِنَّها

وَحَقُّكَ عَينٌ لا يُطاقُ صُدودَها

وَحَقُّكَ عَينٌ لا يُطاقُ صُدودَها

We have loved your beautiful qualities, and they—

We loved your beautiful meanings, and it is true about you an eye

by your honor, are wide-eyed beauties whose rejection is unbearable.

That cannot be resisted closing its lids.

تَضاحَكَ ثَغرُ الأُقحُوانِ ثُغورَها

تَضاحَكَ ثَغرُ الأُقحُوانِ ثُغورَها

وَتَفضَحُ وَاللَهُ الشَقيقُ خُدودَها

وَتَفضَحُ وَاللَهُ الشَقيقُ خُدودَها

The chrysanthemum's mouth exchanged smiles with their mouths,

The cheeks of gorgeousness smile, revealing their moles,

and, by God, their cheeks put the anemone to shame.

And by God, the radiant blush their cheeks.

تَباهَت بِكَ الأَقلامُ أَنَّكَ رَبَّها

تَباهَت بِكَ الأَقلامُ أَنَّكَ رَبَّها

وَأَنَّكَ مَطبوعُ المَعاني مَجيدُها

وَأَنَّكَ مَطبوعُ المَعاني مَجيدُها

The pens have boasted of you, for you are their master,

The pens took pride that you are their nurturer,

and you are naturally gifted in meanings and masterful with them.

And you are the imprinter of meanings, their magnificent one.

فَخُذها مِنَ الشِعرِ العِراقي غادَةً

فَخُذها مِنَ الشِعرِ العِراقي غادَةً

تَناهَت إِلى ماءِ السَماءِ جُدودَها

تَناهَت إِلى ماءِ السَماءِ جُدودَها

So take her, a graceful maiden from Iraqi verse,

So take them from the Iraqi poetry, an antelope

whose forebears reach back to Ma' al-Sama'.

That attained the water of the sky, their loftiness.

عَلى غَيرِ عَهدٍ بِالثَناءِ وَلَم يَكُن

عَلى غَيرِ عَهدٍ بِالثَناءِ وَلَم يَكُن

حِداها إِلى ناديكَ إِلّا عُهودَها

حِداها إِلى ناديكَ إِلّا عُهودَها

Though unaccustomed to praise, nothing

Without being accustomed to praise, and it was not

has urged her to your assembly except her pledges.

Their limit to your association except their pledge.

وَقَد أَنفَذَتها نَحوَ مَدحِكَ هِمَّةً

وَقَد أَنفَذَتها نَحوَ مَدحِكَ هِمَّةً

تَجاذَبَها إِقدامُها وَقُعودَها

تَجاذَبَها إِقدامُها وَقُعودَها

And a resolve has sent her forth to praise you,

And they sent it to your praise with an ambition

tugged both by its daring and by its holding back.

That dragged them, its bravery and its stillness.

أَخا الحُسنِ فَاِهنَأ بِالزَفافِ الَّذي زَها

أَخا الحُسنِ فَاِهنَأ بِالزَفافِ الَّذي زَها

وَدامَت لَكَ الدُنيا وَأَنتَ سَعيدُها

وَدامَت لَكَ الدُنيا وَأَنتَ سَعيدُها

O brother of beauty, rejoice in the resplendent wedding,

O brother of beauty, so congratulate this wedding that beautified,

and may the world endure for you, with you its fortunate one.

And may the world last for you while you are its happy one.

وَدُم بِهَنا هَذا القَرانَ مُمَتَّعاً

وَدُم بِهَنا هَذا القَرانَ مُمَتَّعاً

قَرينُكَ مِن هَذي الحَياةِ غيدُها

قَرينُكَ مِن هَذي الحَياةِ غيدُها

And may you ever enjoy the bliss of this union,

And may this pairing last with joy,

with this life's graceful beauties as your companions.

Your partner from this life, her necklace.

بَقيتَ بَقاءَ الدَهرِ فَخراً لِأَهلِهِ

بَقيتَ بَقاءَ الدَهرِ فَخراً لِأَهلِهِ

وَخُلِّدَت لَو نَفسٌ يَرجى خُلودُها

وَخُلِّدَت لَو نَفسٌ يَرجى خُلودُها

May you endure as long as time, a glory to its people,

You remained for eternity pride of its people,

and be immortal, if any soul's immortality may be hoped for.

And if a soul was immortalized, its eternity would be hoped for.

وَلا زِلتَ بَدرَ الشَرقِ ماذَرَّ شارِقٌ

وَلا زِلتَ بَدرَ الشَرقِ ماذَرَّ شارِقٌ

وَما طَلعَةَ الإِصباحِ لاحَ عَمودُها

وَما طَلعَةَ الإِصباحِ لاحَ عَمودُها

And may you remain the East's full moon while any sun rises,

And you always were the full moon of the east whenever an appearer gleamed,

and as long as dawn's rising pillar of light appears.

And the rising of dawn, its pillar shone.