1. بات المعنّى والدجى يبتلى

    والبرح لا وانٍ ولا منجلي

    The tormented lover passes the night, while darkness tests him;

    And anguish neither slackens nor lifts.

  2. والشهب في كل سبيل له

    بموقف اللُّوّام والعذل

    And the stars, along every path of his,

    Stand like reproachers and censurers.

  3. إذا رعاها ساهيا ساهرا

    رعينه بالحدق الغفّل

    When he watches them, distracted and sleepless,

    They watch him with heedless eyes.

  4. يا ليل قد جرت ولم تعدل

    ما أنت يا أسود إلا خلى

    O night, you have been unjust and shown no fairness;

    You, O black one, are merely free of care.

  5. تالله لو حكِّمت في الصبح أن

    تفعل خفت الله لم تفعل

    By God, were you given authority over the dawn to

    Act, you would fear God and refrain.

  6. أو طلت سيفا في جيوش الضحى

    ما كنت للأعداء ما أنت لي

    Or if you loomed, a sword amid the armies of morning,

    You would not be to enemies what you are to me.

  7. أبيت أشقى ويدير الجوى

    والكأس لا تفنى ولا تمتلي

    I pass the night in misery, while love's anguish passes the cup;

    And the cup neither empties nor fills.

  8. والخدّ من دمعي ومن فيضه

    يشرب من عين ومن جدول

    And my cheek, from my tears and their overflow,

    Drinks from a spring and from a stream.

  9. والشوق نار في رماد الأسى

    والفكر يذكي والحشا يصطلى

    And longing is fire in the ashes of sorrow;

    And thought fans it, while my breast burns.

  10. والقلب قوّام على أضلعي

    كأنه الناقوس في الهيكل

    And my heart keeps vigil over my ribs,

    As though it were the bell within the temple.

  11. غدت برب النفس من شِقوتي

    وبالركاب الأسعد المقبل

    It went forth at dawn with the Lord of the soul, away from my misery [wording unclear];

    And with the most auspicious, approaching cavalcade.

  12. أهلا برب النيل رب القرى

    رب البطاح الكثر مما يلى

    Welcome to the lord of the Nile, lord of the villages,

    Lord of the many plains within his dominion;

  13. الجامع العرشين في واحد

    واللابس التاجين في المحفل

    Who unites the two thrones in one,

    And wears the two crowns in the assembly;

  14. والساحب الذيل على عصره

    على ملوك الزمن الأوّل

    And trails his robe's train over his age,

    Over the kings of earlier times.

  15. أهلا بمولانا وسهلا به

    ومرحبا بالسيد المفضل

    Welcome to our lord, and a warm welcome to him;

    And welcome to the beneficent master.

  16. الممتطى متن السها عزة

    فلو أشار الدهر لم ينزل

    Who rides Suha's back in glory,

    Even if Time beckoned, he would not descend.

  17. المنعم المجزل عن نفسه

    عن جدّه عن جدّه المجزل

    The benefactor, lavish in his own right,

    From his grandfather, from his lavish grandfather;

  18. الجاعل الأمة من عدله

    والفضل بين الظل والمنهل

    Who places the nation, through his justice

    And bounty, between shade and a watering place.

  19. عاصمة النيل أزدهِى وأنجلي

    واتخِذي اليوم صنوف الحلى

    Capital of the Nile, be resplendent and shine forth;

    And put on today all manner of ornaments.

  20. واستعرضي الخيل ومدّى الع

    يد بالجحفل فالجحفل

    And review the horses, and prolong the festi-

    val with host after host.

  21. وأنت يا قصر ابتهج وابتهل

    وأهد الملا بالعلم المرسل

    And you, O palace, rejoice and pray fervently;

    And guide the gathering with the unfurled banner.

  22. وأزلف الوفد إلى ربهم

    وظلل السدّة واظّلل

    And bring the delegation close to their lord;

    And shade the threshold, and take shade yourself.

  23. ويا بني مصر أهرعوا وأضرعوا

    بحفظ مولى مصر والموئل

    And, O sons of Egypt, hasten and pray humbly

    For the safety of Egypt's lord and refuge.

  24. هذا لكم وجه الندى والهدى

    فاستقبلوه خير مستقبل

    Here, for you, is the face of bounty and guidance;

    So welcome him with the finest welcome.