لعمرك ما علمت لأي داعي

جرى هذا الفراق بلا وداع

By your life, I never knew for what reason

this parting came about without farewell.

وحقك قد ألمت به واني

لا علم بعده قرب اجتماع

And by your honor, I have grieved over it, and I

surely know that, after it, reunion is near.

فاني راجعٌ لك عن قريب

واني بالذي ترضاه ساعي

For I shall return to you before long,

and I strive for whatever pleases you.

وما اهواك حباً في حطام

ولكن في شمائلك البداع

And I do not love you out of love for worldly goods,

but for your wondrous qualities.

فكم شاهدت منك صفات مجد

صفت من كل اكدار الرعاع

For I have witnessed in you so many noble qualities,

free of all the rabble's impurities!

واشهد انك الفرد المفدى

وانك جامع نخب الطباع

And I attest that you are peerless, one for whom lives are offered,

and that you unite the choicest traits of character;

وانك في الورى فعال خير

جميل الصيت مشكور المساعي

and that among humankind you are ever doing good,

of fine repute, thanked for your endeavors.

وأنت الشهم محمود المزايا

وممدوح الخصال بلا نزاع

And you are noble-hearted, praised for your virtues,

and praised for your character beyond dispute.

وانك بالسماح شهرت حتى

احبتك الاباعد بالسماع

And you have become so renowned for generosity

that even distant strangers have loved you by report.

لديك الجار في حصن منبع

غريق في عطاياك الوساع

With you, a neighbor dwells in an [impregnable] fortress,

drowned in your abundant gifts.

واني مادح لك طول دهري

وللعهد الذي منا مراعي

And I shall praise you throughout my life,

and remain faithful to the pledge between us.

فلست أرى الندامة في امتداحي

ولست ترى الندامة في اصطناعي

For I see no cause for regret in praising you,

nor will you regret showing me favor.

فجرب وامنع الاحسان عني

فهل تلقى مديحي في امتناع

Then test it, and withhold kindness from me:

will you then find my praise withheld?

فلا زالت عداك على انخفاض

ولا زالت علاك على ارتفاع

So may your enemies forever decline,

and may your eminence forever rise.