Sol 6.1

  1. أصابت علة الأعصاب يوماً

    فتاة حيرت عقل الرشيدِ

    One day a nervous ailment afflicted

    A girl who baffled a wise man's mind.

  2. وعالجها طبيب مستبدٌّ

    عبوس الوجه يأتي بالوعيد

    A domineering physician treated her,

    Grim-faced, he would come with threats.

  3. فلم تنل الشفاء على يديه

    فزاد الوهم بالقلب الكميد

    But she found no healing at his hands,

    So apprehension grew in her grief-stricken heart.

  4. وعادتها عجوز ثم قالت

    أفيقي ليس برؤك بالبعيد

    An old woman visited her, then said:

    "Rouse yourself—your recovery is not far off.

  5. وأعرف شيخة سَمَتِ اشتهاراً

    بإخراج المريدة والمريد

    And I know a woman healer of great renown,

    For driving out female and male demons."

  6. فنادتها خذي مالاً كثيراً

    لها وبها إليَّ الآن عودي

    She called to her: "Take plenty of money

    For her, and bring her back to me at once."

  7. وجاءتها بشيختها فحيت

    تحية ذات ميثاق أكيد

    She brought her the healer, who greeted her

    With a greeting bearing a firm pledge,

  8. وقالت ليس داؤك غير مسٍّ

    من الشيطان تدبير الحسود

    And said: "Your ailment is nothing but a touch

    From Satan—the work of an envious person.

  9. وقد وضع الكتابة في جراب

    وألقاه ببئر في الصعيد

    He has placed the written charm in a pouch,

    And cast it into a well in Upper Egypt.

  10. وسوف تراه عينك في رغيف

    مساء اليوم في الدور الجديد

    And your own eyes will see it in a loaf

    This evening, during the next bout."

  11. فما حان موعدها رأته

    فعادت وهي في فرح شديد

    As soon as her appointed hour came, she saw it,

    And returned, filled with intense joy.

  12. وأبرق وجهها بشراً فهبت

    هبوب الريح في بأس الحديد

    Her face shone with gladness, and she sprang up

    Like the wind, with the strength of iron.

  13. ورب مشعوذ أغنى مريضاً

    برقَّتِه عن الآسى العنيد

    And many a charlatan has spared a patient,

    Through his gentleness, the need for an obstinate physician.