فَتحُواthey opened السماءَthe sky وطاردواand they pursued العقباناthe eagles
فَتحُوا السماءَ وطاردوا العقبانا
وجرواand they raced علىupon متنthe back of الهواthe air فُرساناas horsemen
وجروا على متن الهوا فُرسانا
They conquered the sky and chased the eagles,
They opened the sky and chased away the eagles
And raced as horsemen upon the back of the air.
And rode on the surface of the air like horsemen
والجوُّand the air ودَّعbade farewell to عزَّهُits glory وهناءهُand its ease
والجوُّ ودَّع عزَّهُ وهناءهُ
مذsince صيَّروهُthey made it لخيلهمfor their horses ميداناan arena
مذ صيَّروهُ لخيلهم ميدانا
And the air bade farewell to its glory and ease
The air bid farewell to its glory and tranquility
Since they made it an arena for their steeds.
When they made it a racecourse for their horses
والريحُand the wind قدindeed سلُستgrew pliant مقادتهاits reins لهمto them
والريحُ قد سلُست مقادتها لهم
حتىuntil غدتit became مثلlike الذَّلُولthe docile mount لياناpliant
حتى غدت مثل الذَّلُول ليانا
And the wind's reins grew pliant in their hands,
The wind's reins were loosened for them
Till it became as tractable as a docile mount.
Until it became gentle and submissive
للهto God درُّهمُtheir excellence إذاwhen ماever (emphasis) أَطلقواthey let loose
لله درُّهمُ إذا ما أَطلقوا
للمركباتto the craft السابحاتthat swim عِناناa rein
للمركبات السابحات عِنانا
God bless them when they give
Praise be to them when they unleashed
The swimming craft free rein.
The sailing vessels, giving them free rein
فَتخالهاso you imagine them عندat الهبوطdescent صواعقاًthunderbolts
فَتخالها عند الهبوط صواعقاً
وإذاand when تعالتthey rose high خِلتهاyou imagined them بيزاناfalcons
وإذا تعالت خِلتها بيزانا
So as they descend, you take them for thunderbolts,
When landing, you would think them lightning
And when they soar, you think them falcons.
When ascending, their wings like scales
تَحكيthey resemble الطيورthe birds بشكلهاin their shape لكنهاbut they
تَحكي الطيور بشكلها لكنها
أمضىswifter جناحاًof wing بلrather اشدُّstronger جَناناof heart
أمضى جناحاً بل اشدُّ جَنانا
They resemble birds in shape, yet they
The birds' shape tells of them, but they
Are swifter of wing—nay, stouter of heart.
Have a mightier wing and stronger wing bones
لوif حاولَtried النسرthe eagle الفتيُّthe young لحاقهاto catch up with them
لو حاولَ النسر الفتيُّ لحاقها
لارتدَّit would turn back خوارَfeeble القُوىin strength عَياناexhausted
لارتدَّ خوارَ القُوى عَيانا
Were the young eagle to try to catch them,
If the young eagle tried to catch up with them
It would turn back, exhausted, its strength spent.
It would return humiliated and weak
أوَand ...? لستَare you not تحسبهاyou reckon them وقدand already طارواthey flew بهاin them
أوَ لستَ تحسبها وقد طاروا بها
كالبرقlike lightning آناًat one moment والسهامand arrows أَواناat other times
كالبرق آناً والسهام أَوانا
And do you not think them, when men fly in them,
Do you not reckon them when they flew with it
Like lightning one moment, and arrows at other times?
Like lightning at times, arrows at others?
أمَّاas for جَناحاهاtheir two wings فلاso not تطويهماthey fold them both
أمَّا جَناحاها فلا تطويهما
حتىso that يكوناthey both may be للهواfor the air مِيزاناa balance
حتى يكونا للهوا مِيزانا
Their twin wings they do not fold,
Their wings they do not fold up
So that they may be a balance in the air.
Until they are balanced with the air
فإذاand when ارتقتthey ascended قُببthe domes of السحابthe clouds وحَلَّقتand they soared
فإذا ارتقت قُبب السحاب وحَلَّقت
وقفstood العقابُthe eagle إِزاءَهاbefore them ولهاناbewildered
وقف العقابُ إِزاءَها ولهانا
And when they climb the domes of cloud and soar,
When the domes of clouds arose and it glided by
The eagle stands before them, bewildered.
The eagle halted opposite it, mortified
ماhow كانwas أَبدعwondrous مشهداًa scene عاينتُهُI witnessed it
ما كان أَبدع مشهداً عاينتُهُ
يسبيcaptivates القلوبthe hearts ويفتنُand enchants الأَذهاناthe minds
يسبي القلوب ويفتنُ الأَذهانا
How wondrous was the scene I witnessed,
I have never seen a more wondrous scene
Capturing hearts and enchanting minds!
That captivates hearts and dazzles minds
شاهدتI saw فدرينVédrines الجريءَthe daring محلقاًsoaring
شاهدت فدرين الجريءَ محلقاً
كالنسرlike an eagle يسبحhe swims فيin السماthe sky جَذلاناjoyful
كالنسر يسبح في السما جَذلانا
I saw the daring Védrines soaring,
I saw brave Iderin soaring
Like an eagle, swimming joyously in the sky,
Like an eagle swimming in the sky proudly
منfrom فوقatop مركبةٍa craft يحركهاhe moves it كماas
من فوق مركبةٍ يحركها كما
يهوىhe wishes فتخفقso it flutters تحتهbeneath him خفقاناa fluttering
يهوى فتخفق تحته خفقانا
Atop a craft he steers as
Above his vessel which he moves
He pleases, and it flutters beneath him.
Flapping underneath him like a flutter
لماwhen دناdrew near وقتthe time of الرحيلdeparture سَمعتI heard منfrom
لما دنا وقت الرحيل سَمعت من
أَحشائهاits innards ماwhat يبعثstirs الأَشجاناsorrows
أَحشائها ما يبعث الأَشجانا
When departure time drew near, I heard from
When it was time to leave, I heard from
Its innards a sound that awakens sorrow:
Its belly what stirs melancholy
زفَراتِthe sighs of مصدورٍone with a chest ailment تُصدِعهrends him النَّوىseparation
زفَراتِ مصدورٍ تُصدِعه النَّوى
فَتشبُّso it kindles فيin اضلاعهhis ribs نِيراناfires
فَتشبُّ في اضلاعه نِيرانا
The sighs of a chest-stricken man whom parting rends,
The groans of an afflicted one, distressed by misfortune
Kindling fires within his ribs.
Sparks igniting in his ribs like fire
حتىuntil إذاwhen حِميتَgrew hot مراجلُهاits boilers جرتit sped
حتى إذا حِميتَ مراجلُها جرت
كالليثlike a lion يزأرُit roars فيin الفلاthe wilderness غضباناangry
كالليث يزأرُ في الفلا غضبانا
Until, when its boilers grew hot, it sped
Until its furnaces were heated red hot
Like a lion roaring angrily in the wilderness.
It sped like an enraged lion in the desert night
قالواthey said بساطُthe carpet of الريحthe wind وهمٌan illusion كاذبٌfalse
قالوا بساطُ الريح وهمٌ كاذبٌ
فإذاyet behold بهمthere they were قدindeed شاهدوهُthey saw it عياناwith their own eyes
فإذا بهم قد شاهدوهُ عيانا
They said the carpet of the wind was a false illusion,
They said the carpet of the wind is a myth
Yet behold, they have seen it with their own eyes.
Yet they witnessed it plainly before their eyes
مَنwho كانwas يحلمdreaming أنَّthat أَطباقthe layers of السماthe sky
مَن كان يحلم أنَّ أَطباق السما
سَتضمُّwill embrace فيin رحبائهاits vast expanses سُكَّاناinhabitants
سَتضمُّ في رحبائها سُكَّانا
Who ever dreamed that the layers of the sky
Who would have dreamed that the layers of the sky
Would enfold inhabitants in their vast expanses?
Would someday contain inhabitants?
مَنwho كانwas يحسبthinking أنthat مضمارthe racecourse of الهواthe air
مَن كان يحسب أن مضمار الهوا
سَيصيرُwill become يوماًone day بالورىwith humankind غَصاناchoked full
سَيصيرُ يوماً بالورى غَصانا
Who ever thought that the racecourse of the air
Who would have reckoned that the airborne expanse
Would one day be choked with humankind?
Would one day become a home for mankind?
فالأَرضُfor the earth لمdid not تُشبعsatisfy مطامعَthe ambitions of أهلهاits people
فالأَرضُ لم تُشبع مطامعَ أهلها
فَبنَواso they built لهمfor themselves فيin جورهمtheir tyranny أوطاناhomelands
فَبنَوا لهم في جورهم أوطانا
For the earth did not satisfy its people's ambitions,
The earth did not fulfill their desires
So, in their tyranny, they built themselves homelands.
So in their daring they built themselves new homelands
إِخفضlower جناحكyour wing أيهاO النَّسرeagle الذيwho
إِخفض جناحك أيها النَّسر الذي
مَلكruled الرقيعthe firmament ببأسِهwith its might أَزماناfor ages
مَلك الرقيع ببأسِه أَزمانا
Lower your wing, O eagle, who
Lower your wing, O eagle who
Ruled the firmament by your might for ages.
Ruled the heavens with your might for ages
قدindeed كنتyou were تزعمyou claimed انَّthat ملككyour dominion خالدٌeternal
قد كنت تزعم انَّ ملكك خالدٌ
لاnot يُحرزُgains الإنسانُman فيهin it مَكاناa place
لا يُحرزُ الإنسانُ فيه مَكانا
You once claimed that your dominion was eternal,
You used to claim your rule was eternal
That man could gain no place within it.
With no man encroaching on your domain
فإذاyet behold بهthere he is والمركباتُwhile the craft سوابحٌswimming
فإذا به والمركباتُ سوابحٌ
فيin الجوthe air تحملُthey carry فوقهاupon them الرُّكباناthe riders
في الجو تحملُ فوقها الرُّكبانا
Yet there he is, while the craft swim
Yet here are the vessels sailing
In the air, bearing riders upon them.
High above bearing riders
لاlet not تأخذنَّكseize you حيرةٌbewilderment مماat what جرىhappened
لا تأخذنَّك حيرةٌ مما جرى
فاللهfor God خوَّلgranted آدمَAdam السُّلطاناdominion
فالله خوَّل آدمَ السُّلطانا
Let no bewilderment seize you at what has happened,
Let not confusion take you at what happened
For God has granted Adam dominion.
For God granted Adam the authority
أَينwhere المفرُّthe escape منfrom الأنامhumankind فإِنهمfor they
أَين المفرُّ من الأنام فإِنهم
خرقواthey pierced السماءَthe sky وسخَّرواand they harnessed الأَكواناthe worlds
خرقوا السماءَ وسخَّروا الأَكوانا
Where can you flee from humankind? For they
Where can man flee, for they
Have pierced the sky and harnessed the worlds.
Tore through the sky and tamed the universe
ماnot كنتyou were تخشىyou feared فيin حماكyour preserve مُزاحماًa rival
ما كنت تخشى في حماك مُزاحماً
حتىuntil رأيتyou saw بجوكin your sky الإِنساناman
حتى رأيت بجوك الإِنسانا
You never feared a rival in your preserve
You had no fear of challengers in your sanctuary
Until you saw man in your sky.
Until you saw man in your realm
فلقدfor indeed مضتhas passed ياO نَسرُeagle دولتُكyour reign التيwhich
فلقد مضت يا نَسرُ دولتُك التي
هدمتdemolished لهاfor it ايديthe hands of الورىhumankind الأَركاناthe pillars
هدمت لها ايدي الورى الأَركانا
For your reign has passed, O eagle—that reign
Your days are over, O eagle, your rule
Whose pillars human hands have demolished.
Which human hands demolished and razed
ومضىand passed زمانٌan age كنتyou were فيهin it مُمنَّعاًunassailable
ومضى زمانٌ كنت فيه مُمنَّعاً
تطويyou traverse الرقيعَthe firmament وتنثنيand you turn back نَشواناexultant
تطوي الرقيعَ وتنثني نَشوانا
And gone is the age when you were unassailable,
And an era has passed in which you were invincible
Traversing the firmament and wheeling back in rapture.
Flying across the heavens unfurling your wings
ياO شرقُEast مالكwhat ails you خاملاًidle والغربُwhile the West فيat
يا شرقُ مالك خاملاً والغربُ في
أَوجthe summit of النباهةdistinction ينشرُspreads العمراناcivilization
أَوج النباهة ينشرُ العمرانا
O East, why are you idle, while the West, at
O East, why so dormant while the West
The summit of distinction, spreads civilization?
Is at the peak of vitality, spreading civilization?
أَفلاso do you not تراهمyou see them يُحدثونthey create غرائباًwonders
أَفلا تراهم يُحدثون غرائباً
يَقفُstands اللبيبُthe discerning person أَمامهاbefore them حَيراناbewildered
يَقفُ اللبيبُ أَمامها حَيرانا
Do you not see them bringing forth wonders
Do you not see them performing wondrous feats
Before which the wise man stands bewildered?
At which the wise stand perplexed?
منof كلevery مُعجزةٍmiracle نكادwe almost نَعدُّهاwe deem it
من كل مُعجزةٍ نكاد نَعدُّها
سِحراًmagic ونحسبُand we consider ربَّهاits maker شيطاناa devil
سِحراً ونحسبُ ربَّها شيطانا
Each miracle we are almost ready to deem
Each miracle we tend to think
Magic, and to think its maker a devil.
Sorcery, and deem its creator a devil
لاno ليسis not منany سحرmagic هُناكَthere وانماbut rather
لا ليس من سحر هُناكَ وانما
تَلدِgives birth to العلومُالمعجزَthe sciences; the miracle الفتاناthe enchanting
تَلدِ العلومُالمعجزَ الفتانا
No, there is no magic there; rather,
But no, there is no magic here, rather
Science gives birth to the enchanting marvel.
Knowledge gives birth to wonders enthralling
سقياًblessings of rain لصدركِupon your breast ياO فرنساFrance إِنهُindeed it
سقياً لصدركِ يا فرنسا إِنهُ
يقيprotects الصدورَthe breasts منfrom العلومthe sciences لِباناmilk
يقي الصدورَ من العلوم لِبانا
May blessings rain upon your breast, O France! For it
A toast to your chest, O France, for it
Shields breasts with milk drawn from the sciences.
Is a draught nurturing chests with knowledge
ايُّwhat اكتشافٍdiscovery لمnot تكونيyou have been أُمَّهُits mother
ايُّ اكتشافٍ لم تكوني أُمَّهُ
اوor لمnot تزيديyou increase صنعهُits making إِتقاناperfection
او لم تزيدي صنعهُ إِتقانا
What discovery have you not been mother to,
What invention were you not the mother of
Or not made more perfect in its crafting?
Or did not perfect with utmost skill?
Sol 6.1