حدثتنا عن الغريم الليالي

حدثتنا عن الغريم الليالي

والمقادير بعد صمت الرجالِ

والمقادير بعد صمت الرجالِ

The nights have told us of the adversary,

You told us of the nightly enemy

and the fates, after men fell silent.

And fate after the silence of men

وشهدنا من الرواية فصلاً

وشهدنا من الرواية فصلاً

بيِّناً للمُمَثِّل الفعّالِ

بيِّناً للمُمَثِّل الفعّالِ

And we witnessed an act of the drama,

We witnessed a clear chapter

a revealing one, by the energetic actor.

For the active performer

واطلعنا ونحن في مبدء الوث

واطلعنا ونحن في مبدء الوث

بة منه على المدى والمآل

بة منه على المدى والمآل

And we discerned, while still at the outset of his leap,

We saw, as we began the document

its extent and its final outcome.

Its scope and conclusion

أي خير لمصر ينوي فأرضى

أي خير لمصر ينوي فأرضى

جدة القوم وانتقال الحال

جدة القوم وانتقال الحال

What good does he intend for Egypt, that I should be content with

What good for Egypt does he intend to please

the people's prosperity and their changed condition?

The old folks and change of state?

يحلم القوم بالمنى من مرامي

يحلم القوم بالمنى من مرامي

هِ ولم يحلموا بغير المحال

هِ ولم يحلموا بغير المحال

The people dream of wishes fulfilled through his designs,

The people dream of wishes from his goals

yet they have dreamed of nothing but the impossible.

And dreamt not but of the impossible

ويرون السلام منه ذماماً

ويرون السلام منه ذماماً

وأراه وسيلة المحتال

وأراه وسيلة المحتال

And they see his peace as a pledge of protection,

They see peace from him a bridle

but I see it as the schemer's tool.

And I see it a means of the deceiver

وأخاف الذي يريد من الصل

وأخاف الذي يريد من الصل

ح ولو جاء في مقام السؤال

ح ولو جاء في مقام السؤال

And I fear what he seeks through peace,

And I fear what he wants from accord

even if he comes as a supplicant.

Even if it came in place of inquiry