أزارتك المهفهة اللعوب

ولم يشعر بزورتها الرقيب

Did the slender, playful maiden visit you,

without the watcher knowing of her visit,

فظلت من السرور كخوط بانٍ

تداعبه بصولتها الجنوب

so that for joy you were like a supple bān-tree branch

that the south wind toys with in its onrush?

أم البشرى التي وردت فسرت

برياها الخواطر والقلوب

Or does the glad news that arrived and gladdened

thoughts and hearts with its fragrance

تهز بمنكبيك كما يهز ال

قنا العسالة القرم اللبيب

set your shoulders swaying, just as the

supple spears are brandished by the discerning champion?

ونارٌ تلك أم أكباد قومٍ

من الحساد تحرق أو تذوب

And is that a fire, or the livers of people

among the envious, burning or melting?

أم الشمع الذي فرحاً بحظوى

سعيد الملك أضرمه منيب

Or the candles that, rejoicing in the favor

of King Saʿīd, Munīb set alight?

أميرٌ عنده لأسير خطبٍ

ألمَّ بحيِّه الفرج القريب

A prince with whom, for one captive to a calamity

that befell his quarter, relief is near.

مكارمه تتيه على الغوادي

كما تاهت على الشيخ الكعوب

His generous deeds look down on the morning rainclouds,

as the buxom maiden looked down on the old man.

به المنصورة ازدانت وكانت

كجوف العير أجفل عن ذيب

Through him al-Manṣūrah was adorned; it had been

like the belly of an ass that bolted from a wolf.

فلا زالت تسر بك المعالي

سروراً لا تزعزعه الخطوب

So may lofty honors never cease rejoicing in you,

with a joy that calamities cannot shake.

ولا برحت سعود سعيد شمساً

ولكن ما لها أبداً غروب

And may Saʿīd’s fortunes never cease to be a sun,

and yet one that never sets.