ألا حي عني يا نسيم نقولا

ألا حي عني يا نسيم نقولا

ومهما تشأ في مدح ذاك فقولا

ومهما تشأ في مدح ذاك فقولا

Come, greet Nicola for me, O breeze,

Ah, greet Nicola for me, O breeze,

and whatever praise of that man you wish, speak it.

And say whatever you wish in that man's praise.

وبلغ بلطفٍ يا نسيم تحيتي

وبلغ بلطفٍ يا نسيم تحيتي

فأنت لذي لطف بعثت رسولا

فأنت لذي لطف بعثت رسولا

Gently convey, O breeze, my greeting,

And gently convey my greeting, O breeze,

for to me you are gentleness itself, whom I have sent as a messenger.

For you were sent as a messenger to a man of kindness.

فوالله طول الدهر لم انس انسه

فوالله طول الدهر لم انس انسه

ولم أنس معروفاً له وجميلا

ولم أنس معروفاً له وجميلا

By God, throughout all time I have never forgotten the joy of his company,

For, by God, through the years I have not forgotten his companionship,

nor forgotten any kindness or gracious deed of his.

Nor have I forgotten his favors and gracious deeds.

ولو عشت عمر النسر لم أوف شكره

ولو عشت عمر النسر لم أوف شكره

ولو كان باعي بالثناء طويلا

ولو كان باعي بالثناء طويلا

Even if I lived an eagle’s lifetime, I could not fully repay the thanks I owe him,

And even if I lived a vulture's lifetime, I could not thank him as he deserves,

even if my reach in praise were long.

And even if my reach in praise were long.

إذا قيل من في الناس أعظم حاذق

إذا قيل من في الناس أعظم حاذق

وأذكى نطاسي نقول نقولا

وأذكى نطاسي نقول نقولا

When it is asked, “Who among mankind is the greatest master of his craft,

When asked, “Who among people is the finest practitioner

and the most brilliant physician?” we answer: “Nicola.”

And the most discerning physician?” we say, “Nicola.”

ابقراط لو يبقى لقرط سمعه

ابقراط لو يبقى لقرط سمعه

بأقراط حكماتٍ عدمن مثيلا

بأقراط حكماتٍ عدمن مثيلا

Hippocrates, were he still alive, would deck his ear

Were Hippocrates still alive, his hearing would be adorned

with earrings of wisdom that have no equal.

With earrings of wise sayings that have no equal.

نسينا ابن سينا اذ رأينا شفاءه

نسينا ابن سينا اذ رأينا شفاءه

فكم من عليل قد شفى وغليلا

فكم من عليل قد شفى وغليلا

We forgot Avicenna when we beheld his healing:

We forgot Ibn Sina when we saw his healing;

how many a sick man—and how much burning anguish—has he cured!

For he has healed so many sufferers and quenched so much burning thirst!

على انه طبٌّ رفيق بذي الضنا

على انه طبٌّ رفيق بذي الضنا

رقيق الحواشي لا يمل عليلا

رقيق الحواشي لا يمل عليلا

Moreover, he is a skilled physician, gentle with one wasted by illness,

Moreover, he is a skilled physician, gentle with the afflicted,

refined in manner, never weary of a patient.

Tender in manner, never tiring of a patient.

ولكنه شهم كريم وماجد

ولكنه شهم كريم وماجد

جليل المزايا كم يسر خليلا

جليل المزايا كم يسر خليلا

And he is noble-hearted, generous, and illustrious,

Yet he is gallant, generous, and noble,

distinguished in virtue—how often he gladdens a friend!

Of noble qualities—how often he gladdens a dear friend!

نديم لبيب ذو شمائل قد حكت

نديم لبيب ذو شمائل قد حكت

نسيم شمالٍ بل سمون شمولا

نسيم شمالٍ بل سمون شمولا

A discerning companion, whose fine qualities resemble

A wise boon companion, whose traits have mirrored

the north wind’s breeze—nay, surpass it altogether.

A northern breeze—nay, they have surpassed wine.

له سيرةٌ تسمو بحسن سريرة

له سيرةٌ تسمو بحسن سريرة

فدام له المدح الجميل جزيلا

فدام له المدح الجميل جزيلا

His outward conduct is exalted by the goodness of his inner nature;

His conduct is exalted by the goodness of his inner character;

so may fair praise of him endure in fullest measure.

So may beautiful praise endure for him in abundance.