1. A delegation of leaders and wise men
Above the highest ranks, the greatest
١. وَفْدَ الْحِمَى مِنْ قَادَةٍ وَأُولِي نُهىً
فَوْقَ التَّصارِيفِ الكِبَارِ كِبَارِ
2. Guide those seeking you for your affairs
In the West, the source of all lights
٢. أَرْشِدْ بِكُمْ مُسْتَطْلِعِينَ لِشَأْنِكُمْ
فِي الْغَرْبِ كُلَّ مَطَالعِ الأَنْوَارِ
3. Its platforms shook at the sound of your voices
And opinion was stirred, every fruit
٣. هُزَّتْ مَنَابِرُهُ بِعَالِي صَوْتِكُمْ
وَأُثِيرَ فِيهِ الرَّأْيُ كُلَّ مَثَارِ
4. Your eyes flowed in its pages
Filling them and running with rivers
٤. سَالَتْ عُيُونُ بَيَانِكُمْ فِي صُحْفِهِ
فَمَلأْنَهَا وَجَرَيْنَ بِالأَنْهَارِ
5. And there appeared to Egypt in it glimmers of wisdom
Captivating minds with its brilliant signs
٥. وَبَدَتْ لِمِصْرَ بِهِ بَوَادِرُ حِكْمَةٍ
سَبَتِ الْعُقُولَ بِآيِهَا الأَبْكَارِ
6. If the hostile deny what they are branded with
Can brands be cleansed by denial?
٦. إِنْ أَنْكَرَ الْعَادُونَ مَا وَصِمْوا بِهِ
هَلْ تَطْهُرُ الْوَصَمَاتُ بِالإِنْكَارِ
7. Or they shun words for every polished one
Of you, so some praise in estrangement
٧. أَوْ أَهْجَرُوا قَوْلاً لِكُلِّ مُهَذَّبٍ
مِنْكُمْ فَبَعْضُ المَدْحِ فِي الإِهْجَارِ
8. Shall I begrudge what you have prepared
For a clan you ransomed, and homes?
٨. أَفَرِيدُ أَعْظِمْ بالَّذِي هَيَّأتَهُ
لِعَشِيرَةٍ فَدَّيْتَهَا وَدِيَارِ
9. Indeed Egypt is pleased with you
And succeed with the reward of the virtuous
٩. نَمْ إِن مصْراً عنْكَ رَاضِيَةٌ وَفُزْ
مِنْ شُكْرِهَا بِمَثُوبَةِ الأَخْيَار
10. I almost despair for I am certain
I sensed in you the will of the Creator
١٠. أَوْشَكْتُ أَجْزَعُ فانْتهَيْتُ بِأَنَّني
آنَسْتُ فِيكَ مَشِيئَةً لِلبَارِي