1. Magic was once ancient in Egypt
and its sorcery became scintillating verse.
١. وكانَ بمصرَ السحرُ قدْماً فأصبحتْ
وأسحارها أشعارُها تترقرقُ
2. What pleases me most is the flattery of its people,
even its water flatters excessively.
٢. ويعجبني منها تملُّقُ أهلِها
وقد زادَ حتّى ماؤُها يتملَّقُ