هيit is صفعةa slap سرdelighted الصحافةthe press وقعهاits impact
هي صفعة سر الصحافة وقعها
ورجاand hoped for بيانeloquence مثلهاone like it وبديعand rhetorical art
ورجا بيان مثلها وبديع
It is a slap whose impact delighted the press,
and eloquence and rhetorical art hoped for one like it.
كانتhad been تؤملهاhoping for it البلادthe country ليرعوىso he might come to his senses
كانت تؤملها البلاد ليرعوى
غِرa naïve fool ويعرفand might know قدرهhis worth المخدوعthe deluded man
غِر ويعرف قدره المخدوع
The country had hoped for it, to bring to his senses
a naïve fool, and make the deluded know his worth.
عظمتwas grievous علىto منthe one who نالهاreceived it فكأنهso it was as though he were
عظمت على من نالها فكأنه
منby كفthe palm of كلevery أخىpossessor of نهىreason مصفوعslapped
من كف كل أخى نهى مصفوع
It fell hard upon the one who received it, as though he were
slapped by the palm of every man of reason.
Sol 6.1