1. سفرت فخلنا بارقاً لاح من بدر

    بل البعض وهنا ظن يوشع في السفر

    You unveiled, and we thought a lightning flash had gleamed from a full moon.

    Rather, some feebly imagined Joshua in the Book.

  2. وخلنا محياك البهيج وخاله

    خيالاً من الليل البهيم على الفجر

    And we imagined your radiant face and its mole

    A shadow of pitch-black night upon the dawn.

  3. قفي تخبري عن حال حسنك في الغنى

    وعن حسن حالي في هواك على فقري

    Stay, and learn how your beauty fares in wealth,

    And how well I fare in loving you, despite my poverty.

  4. حكى عن أخيك البدر خالك نكتة

    على الوجه ان الحسن عمك في وفر

    Your mole told a witty tale of your brother, the full moon,

    Upon your face: beauty has suffused you in abundance.

  5. بحر الهوى أحرقت بل مذ بحره

    خذي بيدي أغرقت يا دمية القصر

    Love's heat has burned me; nay, since entering its sea,

    Take my hand: I have drowned, O palace idol!

  6. أما والهوى العذري مالي عاذلٌ

    بحبك بل كل الورى قبلوا عذري

    Indeed, by chaste love, I have no reproacher

    For loving you; rather, all humankind have accepted my excuse.

  7. وما شهدوا منك الجمال وإنما

    وصفتك بالاجمال في غزل الشعر

    And they have not seen your beauty; I have only

    Described you in outline in love poetry.

  8. وقد عرفوا من فضل ربي سجيتي

    بأني لم أكذب بنظم ولا نثر

    By my Lord's grace, they have come to know my nature:

    I have never lied in verse or prose.

  9. وإني لم امدح سوى من توفرت

    به موجبات المدح والحمد والشكر

    And I have praised only those in whom abound

    Reasons for praise, acclaim, and thanks.

  10. كمدحي الأمير المرتضى ذا العلا بما

    يليق إذا يتلى بأوصافه الغر

    As in my praise of Prince al-Murtada, lord of eminence, with words

    That, when recited, befit his radiant qualities.

  11. وإني إذا أغربت يوما بمدحه

    فلا حرج اني أحدث عن بحر

    And if one day I speak marvels in his praise,

    There is no blame: I am speaking of a sea.

  12. وقور له تعنو الأفاضل هيبةً

    وحلماً عليه أضعف الناس يستجري

    Dignified, before whom the eminent bow in awe,

    Yet through his forbearance, the weakest dare take liberties with him.

  13. سلالة أفراد الزمان الذي خلا

    كما هو معلوم سلافة ذا العصر

    Scion of the peerless men of bygone times,

    As is well known, the choicest wine of this age.

  14. فضيل به عرق السيادة ثابت

    الأب والجد الشهيرين بالفخر

    A virtuous man, in whom the root of lordship is firmly established—

    His father and grandfather both renowned for glory.

  15. له طارف المجد الرفيع بفضله

    وتالده السامي الذي منهما يسري

    His is newly won, lofty glory through his own merit,

    And its exalted inheritance, flowing from them both.

  16. ومن مثله والأصل والفضل والندا

    له وجميل الرأي والفعل والذكر

    Who is like him, when lineage, merit, and generosity

    Are his, with fine judgment, deeds, and renown?

  17. إذا تلت السمار رائق مدحه

    تفوح عليهم منه رائحة العطر

    When nighttime companions recite his delightful praise,

    The scent of perfume wafts from it over them.

  18. ولو درت الأطيار منه نشدةً

    تغنت بها من فوق أغصانها الخضر

    And if the birds knew a song of it,

    They would sing it from above their green branches.

  19. لقد ساد في كلا العلا غير أنه

    يبيض وجه العدل في حلك الدهر

    He has indeed excelled in both kinds of eminence, yet he

    Makes justice's face shine white amid time's darkness.

  20. همام له طبع سليم وهمة

    لديها صغيراً ينقضي أعظم الأمر

    A noble spirit, with sound character and a resolve

    Before which the greatest task is settled as a trifle.

  21. ومعرفة قد ضافرتها فراسة

    يكاد بأسرار الأنام بها يدري

    And knowledge reinforced by discernment,

    Through which he almost knows mankind's secrets.

  22. وجود حكى الجود انهلالاً وانما

    يلوح به برق الثراء من البشر

    And generosity matching rain in its pouring; it is only

    Through his cheerful mien that wealth's lightning flashes in him.

  23. وإن جاءه ذو الظلم يرجع خاسراً

    وإن جاءه المظلوم يرجع بالنصر

    And if a wrongdoer comes to him, he returns a loser;

    And if the wronged comes to him, he returns victorious.

  24. سمعت بما يزدان لفظي بذكره

    وآمل أن يزداد في خبري خبري

    I have heard of things whose mention adorns my words,

    And I hope my firsthand knowledge of what I have heard will grow.

  25. فلا زال مسرور الفؤاد منعما

    سعيداً طويل الباع والذيل والعمر

    May he ever remain glad of heart, blessed with comfort,

    Happy, with long reach, a long robe's train, and a long life.