إذا ذكر الكرام ذكى وفاحا

وأترع طيبه الملأ انشراحا

When the mention of the noble grows fragrant and wafts abroad,

And its perfume fills the gathering with delight,

ولاح على أولي المجد ابتهاجٌ

ينول كل ممدوحٍ نجاحا

And joy shines upon those endowed with glory,

Granting success to every praised man,

وهز الفوز أعطاف الغيارى

كما هزت أكفهمُ الرماحا

And victory shakes the flanks of the zealous,

As their hands shook the spears,

وحدَّث عن فطاحلهم همامٌ

يزف بحمدهم للروح راحا

And a valiant man speaks of their great men,

Bringing wine to the soul through praise of them,

فحيّهلا إلى قطب المعالي

وأنفعهم وأقطعم سلاحا

Then hasten to the pivot of lofty virtues,

And the most helpful of them, with the keenest weapon,

وخير السابقين ليوم روع

يدق به الجماجم والصفاحا

And the best of those first forward on a day of dread,

With it he crushes skulls and broad sword-blades;

بمشبع لبة العادي جراحاً

ومترع مهجة الصادي سماحا

To him who sates the assailant's upper chest with wounds,

And fills the thirsty one's heart to the brim with bounty;

بخرشيد الذي دكت ظباه ال

طلاح وشيدت يده الصلاحا

To Khurshid, whose blades crushed

Wickedness, and whose hand built up righteousness.

أليس هو الذي في الشام ألقت

لهيبته الضراغمة السلاحا

Is he not the one in al-Sham before whom

The lions laid down their weapons in awe of him?

فأهلك جائراً وحبا مجيراً

ونكل فاسقاً وحمى رداحا

So he destroyed an oppressor and rewarded a protector,

And punished an evildoer and protected a full-hipped woman.

إتى بعد الربيع لنا ربيعاً

ينولنا المسرة والنجاحا

After spring, he came to us as another spring,

Granting us joy and success.

فصار البرُّ في بيروت بحراً

وأصبح بحرها عذباً قراحا

So the land in Beirut became a sea,

And her sea became sweet and pure.

وكان الثغر منها في انثلامٍ

فأصبح يفضل الدرر الصحاحا

And her mouth had once been marred by gaps,

But now it surpasses flawless pearls.

تجود بجوهر البشرى علينا

صحائفه فنحسبها صحاحا

Showering upon us the gems of glad tidings

Are his pages, so we deem them true.