رِياضُRiyad أَفِقawaken مِنfrom غَمرَةِthe stupor المَوتِdeath وَاِستَمِعand listen
رِياضُ أَفِق مِن غَمرَةِ المَوتِ وَاِستَمِع
حَديثَthe talk الوَرىhumanity عَنabout طيبِthe goodness ماwhat كُنتَyou used to تَصنَعُdo
حَديثَ الوَرى عَن طيبِ ما كُنتَ تَصنَعُ
Riyad, awaken from the stupor of death and listen
To people's talk of the good you used to do.
أَفِقawaken وَاِستَمِعand listen مِنّيfrom me رِثاءًan elegy جَمَعتُهُI composed it
أَفِق وَاِستَمِع مِنّي رِثاءً جَمَعتُهُ
تُشارِكُنيjoins me فيهِin it البَرِيَّةُhumanity أَجمَعُall
تُشارِكُني فيهِ البَرِيَّةُ أَجمَعُ
Awaken and hear from me an elegy I have composed,
In which all humanity joins me,
لِتَعلَمَso you may know ماwhat تَطويconceal الصُدورُthe breasts مِنَof الأَسىsorrow
لِتَعلَمَ ما تَطوي الصُدورُ مِنَ الأَسى
وَتَنظُرَand see مَقروحَwounded الحَشاthe heart كَيفَhow يَجزَعُhe grieves
وَتَنظُرَ مَقروحَ الحَشا كَيفَ يَجزَعُ
To know the sorrow that breasts conceal,
And see how one wounded at heart laments.
لَئِنthough تَكُyou were قَدindeed عُمِّرتَyou were granted long life دَهراًfor an age لَقَدindeed بَكىwept
لَئِن تَكُ قَد عُمِّرتَ دَهراً لَقَد بَكى
عَلَيكَfor you مَعَwith الباكيthe mourner خَلائِقُvirtues أَربَعُfour
عَلَيكَ مَعَ الباكي خَلائِقُ أَربَعُ
Though you were granted a long life, indeed there wept
For you, alongside the mourner, four virtues:
مَضاءٌdecisiveness وَإِقدامٌand daring وَحَزمٌand prudence وَعَزمَةٌand resolve
مَضاءٌ وَإِقدامٌ وَحَزمٌ وَعَزمَةٌ
مِنَthan الصارِمِthe sharp sword المَصقولِpolished أَمضىkeener وَأَقطَعُand sharper
مِنَ الصارِمِ المَصقولِ أَمضى وَأَقطَعُ
Decisiveness, daring, prudence, and a resolve
Keener and sharper than a polished sword.
رُحِمتَmay you be shown mercy فَماfor no جاهٌprestige يُنَوِّهُwins renown فيin العُلاthe heights
رُحِمتَ فَما جاهٌ يُنَوِّهُ في العُلا
بِصاحِبِهِfor its possessor إِلّاexcept وَجاهُكَand your prestige أَوسَعُgreater
بِصاحِبِهِ إِلّا وَجاهُكَ أَوسَعُ
May you be shown mercy: no prestige brings lofty renown
To its possessor but your prestige is greater.
وَلاnor قامَarose فيin أَيّامِكَyour days البيضِbright ماجِدٌa noble man
وَلا قامَ في أَيّامِكَ البيضِ ماجِدٌ
يُنازِعُكَcontests with you البابَthe door الَّذيthat كُنتَyou used to تَقرَعُknock at
يُنازِعُكَ البابَ الَّذي كُنتَ تَقرَعُ
Nor in your bright days did any noble man arise
To contest with you the door at which you used to knock.
إِذاwhen قيلَit was asked مَنwho لِلرَأيِfor judgment فيin الشَرقِthe East أَومَأَتpointed
إِذا قيلَ مَن لِلرَأيِ في الشَرقِ أَومَأَت
إِلىtoward رَأيِكَyour judgment الأَعلىsupreme مِنَfrom الغَربِthe West إِصبَعُa finger
إِلى رَأيِكَ الأَعلى مِنَ الغَربِ إِصبَعُ
When asked, 'Who has sound judgment in the East?' there pointed
A finger from the West toward your supreme judgment.
وَإِنand if طَلَعَتrose فيin مِصرَEgypt شَمسُa sun نَباهَةٍdistinction
وَإِن طَلَعَت في مِصرَ شَمسُ نَباهَةٍ
فَمِنthen from بَيتِكَyour house المَعمورِflourishing تَبدوappears وَتَطلُعُand rises
فَمِن بَيتِكَ المَعمورِ تَبدو وَتَطلُعُ
And if a sun of distinction rose in Egypt,
It appeared and rose from your flourishing house.
حَكَمتَyou ruled فَماbut not حَكَّمتَyou made arbiter فيin قَصدِكَyour purpose الهَوىdesire
حَكَمتَ فَما حَكَّمتَ في قَصدِكَ الهَوى
طَريقُكَyour path فيin الإِنصافِfairness وَالعَدلِand justice مَهيَعُbroad and clear
طَريقُكَ في الإِنصافِ وَالعَدلِ مَهيَعُ
You ruled, but never made desire the arbiter of your purpose;
Your path in fairness and justice was broad and clear.
وَقَدand indeed كُنتَyou were ذاpossessed of بَطشٍforce وَلَكِنَّand yet تَحتَهُbeneath it
وَقَد كُنتَ ذا بَطشٍ وَلَكِنَّ تَحتَهُ
نَزاهَةَintegrity نَفسٍsoul فيfor سَبيلِكَyour cause تَشفَعُintercedes
نَزاهَةَ نَفسٍ في سَبيلِكَ تَشفَعُ
You wielded force, yet beneath it
Lay integrity of soul that interceded for your cause.
وَقَفتَyou stood up لِإِسماعيلَto Ismail وَالأَمرُand command أَمرُهُhis command
وَقَفتَ لِإِسماعيلَ وَالأَمرُ أَمرُهُ
وَفيand in كَفِّهِhis palm سَيفٌa sword مِنَof البَطشِmight يَلمَعُgleams
وَفي كَفِّهِ سَيفٌ مِنَ البَطشِ يَلمَعُ
You stood up to Ismail while command was his,
And in his palm flashed a sword of might.
إِذاwhen صاحَhe cried out لَبّاهُanswered his call القَضاءُfate وَأَسرَعَتand hastened
إِذا صاحَ لَبّاهُ القَضاءُ وَأَسرَعَت
إِلىto بابِهِhis door الأَيّامُthe days وَالناسُand the people خُشَّعُhumbled
إِلى بابِهِ الأَيّامُ وَالناسُ خُشَّعُ
When he cried out, fate answered him, and sped
To his door the days, while the people bowed in awe.
يُذِلُّhe humbles إِذاwhen شاءَhe wishes العَزيزَthe mighty وَتَرتَئيand deems fit
يُذِلُّ إِذا شاءَ العَزيزَ وَتَرتَئي
إِرادَتُهُhis will رَفعَraising الذَليلِthe lowly فَيُرفَعُso he is raised
إِرادَتُهُ رَفعَ الذَليلِ فَيُرفَعُ
He humbles the mighty whenever he wishes; and when
His will chooses to raise the lowly, they are raised.
فَفيso at كَرَّةٍa turn مِنof لَحظِهِhis glance وَهوَwhile he عابِسٌfrowning
فَفي كَرَّةٍ مِن لَحظِهِ وَهوَ عابِسٌ
تُدَكُّare crushed جِبالٌmountains لَمnot تَكُنhad been تَتَزَعزَعُshaking
تُدَكُّ جِبالٌ لَم تَكُن تَتَزَعزَعُ
At a turn of his gaze, while he frowns,
Mountains that had never shaken are crushed.
وَفيand at كَرَّةٍa turn مِنof لَحظِهِhis glance وَهوَwhile he باسِمٌsmiling
وَفي كَرَّةٍ مِن لَحظِهِ وَهوَ باسِمٌ
تَسيلُflow بِحارٌseas بِالعَطاءِwith bounty فَتُمرِعُso bring fertility
تَسيلُ بِحارٌ بِالعَطاءِ فَتُمرِعُ
And at a turn of his gaze, while he smiles,
Seas flow with bounty, spreading verdure.
فَماfor no أَغلَبٌa mighty lion شاكيarmed with العَزيمَةِresolve أَروَعٌfearsome
فَما أَغلَبٌ شاكي العَزيمَةِ أَروَعٌ
يُصارِعُهُwrestles him فيin الغابِthe thicket أَغلَبُa mighty lion أَروَعُfearsome
يُصارِعُهُ في الغابِ أَغلَبُ أَروَعُ
For no mighty lion, armed with resolve and fearsome,
Whom another mighty, fearsome lion wrestles in the thicket,
بِأَجرَأَany bolder مِنthan ذاكَthat الوَزيرِthe minister مُصادِماًconfronting
بِأَجرَأَ مِن ذاكَ الوَزيرِ مُصادِماً
إِرادَةَthe will إِسماعيلَIsmail وَالمَوتُwhile death يَسمَعُlistens
إِرادَةَ إِسماعيلَ وَالمَوتُ يَسمَعُ
Is bolder than that minister in confronting
Ismail's will, while death listens.
وَفيand in الثَورَةِthe revolt الكُبرىgreat وَقَدwhen indeed أَحدَقَتclosed in بِناaround us
وَفي الثَورَةِ الكُبرى وَقَد أَحدَقَت بِنا
صُروفُthe vicissitudes اللَياليthe nights وَالمَنِيَّةُand death مَشرَعُa watering place
صُروفُ اللَيالي وَالمَنِيَّةُ مَشرَعُ
And in the great revolt, when we were surrounded
By the nights' vicissitudes, with death a watering place,
نَظَرتَyou looked إِلىtoward مِصرٍEgypt فَساءَكَso it pained you أَنto تَرىsee
نَظَرتَ إِلى مِصرٍ فَساءَكَ أَن تَرى
حُلاهاher adornments بِأَيديby the hands of المُستَطيلينَthe oppressors تُنزَعُare stripped away
حُلاها بِأَيدي المُستَطيلينَ تُنزَعُ
You looked toward Egypt, and it pained you to see
Her adornments stripped away by the oppressors' hands.
وَلَمand not تَستَطِعyou could صَبراًpatience عَلىwith هَتكِthe violation خِدرِهاher secluded chamber
وَلَم تَستَطِع صَبراً عَلى هَتكِ خِدرِها
فَفارَقتَهاso you left her أَسوانَsorrowful وَالقَلبُand the heart موجَعُaching
فَفارَقتَها أَسوانَ وَالقَلبُ موجَعُ
You could not endure the violation of her secluded chamber,
So you left her sorrowful, with an aching heart.
وَعُدتَand you returned إِلَيهاto her حينَwhen ناداكَcalled you نيلُهاher Nile
وَعُدتَ إِلَيها حينَ ناداكَ نيلُها
أَقِلremedy عَثرَتيmy stumble فَالقَومُfor the people فيin الظُلمِoppression أَبدَعواthey excelled
أَقِل عَثرَتي فَالقَومُ في الظُلمِ أَبدَعوا
And you returned to her when her Nile called you:
'Raise me from my fall, for these people have excelled in oppression.'
فَكُنتَso you were أَباAbu (father of) مَحمودَMahmud غَوثاًsuccor وَعِصمَةًand protection
فَكُنتَ أَبا مَحمودَ غَوثاً وَعِصمَةً
إِلَيكَto you دُعاةُadvocates الحَقِّthe truth تَأويseek shelter وَتَفزَعُand seek help
إِلَيكَ دُعاةُ الحَقِّ تَأوي وَتَفزَعُ
So you, Abu Mahmud, were succor and protection;
To you the advocates of truth came for shelter and help.
وَكَمand how many نابِغٍa gifted man فيin أَرضِthe land مِصرَEgypt حَمَيتَهُyou protected him
وَكَم نابِغٍ في أَرضِ مِصرَ حَمَيتَهُ
وَمِثلُكَand one like you مَنone who يَحميprotects الكَريمَthe noble وَيَمنَعُand defends
وَمِثلُكَ مَن يَحمي الكَريمَ وَيَمنَعُ
And how many a gifted man in Egypt's land you protected!
One such as you protects and defends the noble.
رَعَيتَyou nurtured جَمالَJamal الدينِal-Din ثُمَّthen اِصطَفَيتَهُyou chose him
رَعَيتَ جَمالَ الدينِ ثُمَّ اِصطَفَيتَهُ
فَأَصبَحَso he became فيin أَفياءِthe shades جاهِكَyour prestige يَرتَعُgrazes at ease
فَأَصبَحَ في أَفياءِ جاهِكَ يَرتَعُ
You nurtured Jamal al-Din, then chose him for favor,
So he grazed at ease in the shades of your prestige.
وَقَدand indeed كانَhe was فيin دارِthe abode الخِلافَةِthe caliphate ثاوِياًresiding
وَقَد كانَ في دارِ الخِلافَةِ ثاوِياً
وَفيand in صَدرِهِhis breast كَنزٌa treasure مِنَof العِلمِknowledge مودَعُstored
وَفي صَدرِهِ كَنزٌ مِنَ العِلمِ مودَعُ
He had been dwelling in the abode of the caliphate,
With a treasure of knowledge stored within his breast.
فَجِئتَso you brought بِهِhim وَالناسُwhile the people قَدalready طالَhad grown long شَوقُهُمُtheir yearning
فَجِئتَ بِهِ وَالناسُ قَد طالَ شَوقُهُمُ
إِلىfor أَلمَعِيٍّa brilliant man بِالبَراهينِwith proofs يَصدَعُspeaks out
إِلى أَلمَعِيٍّ بِالبَراهينِ يَصدَعُ
So you brought him, when the people had long yearned
For a brilliant man who spoke out with proofs.
فَحَرَّكَso he stirred مِنsome of أَفهامِهِمtheir understanding وَعُقولِهِمand their minds
فَحَرَّكَ مِن أَفهامِهِم وَعُقولِهِم
وَعاوَدَهُمand returned to them ذاكَthat الذَكاءُintelligence المُضَيَّعُsquandered
وَعاوَدَهُم ذاكَ الذَكاءُ المُضَيَّعُ
He stirred their understanding and their minds,
And that squandered intelligence returned to them.
وَوَلَّيتَand you entrusted تَحريرَthe editing الوَقائِعِal-Waqa'i عَبدَهُAbduh
وَوَلَّيتَ تَحريرَ الوَقائِعِ عَبدَهُ
فَجاءَso he came بِماwith what يَشفيheals الغَليلَthe burning thirst وَيَنقَعُand quenches
فَجاءَ بِما يَشفي الغَليلَ وَيَنقَعُ
And you entrusted Abduh with editing al-Waqa'i,
So he brought what soothed and quenched the burning thirst.
وَكانَتand there was لِرَبِّfor the Lord الناسِmankind فيهِin him مَشيئَةٌa will
وَكانَت لِرَبِّ الناسِ فيهِ مَشيئَةٌ
فَأَمسَتso came to be إِلَيهِto him الناسُthe people فيin الحَقِّthe truth تَرجِعُturning
فَأَمسَت إِلَيهِ الناسُ في الحَقِّ تَرجِعُ
And in him the Lord of mankind had a purpose,
So people came to turn to him in matters of truth.
وَجاؤواand they came بِإِبراهيمَwith Ibrahim فيin القَيدِthe fetters راسِفاًshuffling
وَجاؤوا بِإِبراهيمَ في القَيدِ راسِفاً
عَلَيهِupon him مِنَfrom الإِملاقِdestitution ثَوبٌa garment مُرَقَّعُpatched
عَلَيهِ مِنَ الإِملاقِ ثَوبٌ مُرَقَّعُ
And they brought Ibrahim, trudging in chains;
Upon him, from destitution, was a patched garment.
فَأَلفَيتَso you found مِلءَfilling الثَوبِthe garment نَفساًa soul طَموحَةًambitious
فَأَلفَيتَ مِلءَ الثَوبِ نَفساً طَموحَةً
إِلىtoward المَجدِglory مِنfrom أَطمارِهاits rags تَتَطَلَّعُlooks upward
إِلى المَجدِ مِن أَطمارِها تَتَطَلَّعُ
You found, filling that garment, an ambitious soul
Looking toward glory out of its tattered clothes.
فَأَطلَقتَهُso you freed him مِنfrom قَيدِهِhis fetters وَأَقَلتَهُand lifted him up
فَأَطلَقتَهُ مِن قَيدِهِ وَأَقَلتَهُ
وَماand not كانَhe had been فيfor تِلكَthat السَعادَةِhappiness يَطمَعُhoping
وَما كانَ في تِلكَ السَعادَةِ يَطمَعُ
So you freed him from his bonds and raised him up,
Though he had not hoped for such good fortune.
وَكَمand how many لَكَyou have فيin مِصرٍEgypt وَفيand in الشَأمِthe Levant مِنof يَدٍa helping hand
وَكَم لَكَ في مِصرٍ وَفي الشَأمِ مِن يَدٍ
لَهاit has أَينَwherever حَلَّتit alights نَفحَةٌa fragrance تَتَضَوَّعُwafts
لَها أَينَ حَلَّت نَفحَةٌ تَتَضَوَّعُ
And how many a helping hand was yours in Egypt and the Levant,
Whose fragrance wafts wherever it alights.
رَفَعتَyou lifted عَنِfrom الفَلّاحِthe peasant عِبءَthe burden ضَريبَةٍa tax
رَفَعتَ عَنِ الفَلّاحِ عِبءَ ضَريبَةٍ
يَنوءُhe staggers بِهاunder it أَيّامَin days لاno غَوثَsuccor يَنفَعُavails
يَنوءُ بِها أَيّامَ لا غَوثَ يَنفَعُ
You lifted from the peasant the burden of a tax
Under which he staggered in days when no succor availed.
وَأَرهَبتَand you terrified حُكّامَthe governors الأَقاليمِthe provinces فَاِرعَوَواso they desisted
وَأَرهَبتَ حُكّامَ الأَقاليمِ فَاِرعَوَوا
وَكانواand they were أُناساًpeople فيinto الجَهالَةِfolly أَوضَعواthey rushed headlong
وَكانوا أُناساً في الجَهالَةِ أَوضَعوا
You struck fear into the provincial governors, so they desisted,
Men who had rushed headlong into folly.
فَخافوكَso they feared you حَتّىeven لَوif تَناجَواthey whispered together بِنَجوَةٍon a height
فَخافوكَ حَتّى لَو تَناجَوا بِنَجوَةٍ
لَخالواthey would imagine رِياضاًRiyad فَوقَهُمabove them يَتَسَمَّعُlistening in
لَخالوا رِياضاً فَوقَهُم يَتَسَمَّعُ
They feared you so much that, had they whispered on a height,
They would have imagined Riyad above them, listening in.
أَقَمتَyou set عَلَيهِمover them زاجِراًa restrainer مِنfrom نُفوسِهِمtheir souls
أَقَمتَ عَلَيهِم زاجِراً مِن نُفوسِهِم
إِذاwhen سَوَّلَتtempted أَمراًa deed لَهُمfor them قامَrose يَردَعُdeters
إِذا سَوَّلَت أَمراً لَهُم قامَ يَردَعُ
You set over them a restrainer from their own souls:
Whenever those souls tempted them to a deed, it rose to deter them.
سَلِask الناسَthe people أَيّامَthe days الرُشاbribes مُستَفيضَةٌwidespread
سَلِ الناسَ أَيّامَ الرُشا مُستَفيضَةٌ
وَأَيّامَand the days لاnot تَجنيyou reap الَّذيwhat أَنتَyou تَزرَعُsow
وَأَيّامَ لا تَجني الَّذي أَنتَ تَزرَعُ
Ask the people about the days when bribes were rife,
And the days when you could not reap what you sowed:
أَكانَwas ...? رِياضٌRiyad عَنهُمُof them غَيرَnot غافِلٍheedless
أَكانَ رِياضٌ عَنهُمُ غَيرَ غافِلٍ
يَرُدُّrepels الأَذىharm عَنfrom أَهلِthe people of مِصرَEgypt وَيَدفَعُand wards off
يَرُدُّ الأَذى عَن أَهلِ مِصرَ وَيَدفَعُ
Was Riyad mindful of them,
Repelling harm from Egypt's people and warding it off?
أَمُؤتَمَرَO assembly الإِصلاحِreform وَالعُرفِand goodness قَدalready مَضىhas passed away
أَمُؤتَمَرَ الإِصلاحِ وَالعُرفِ قَد مَضى
رِياضٌRiyad وَأَودىand has perished الوازِعُthe restrainer المُتَوَرِّعُscrupulous
رِياضٌ وَأَودى الوازِعُ المُتَوَرِّعُ
O assembly of reform and goodness, departed is
Riyad, and the scrupulous guardian has perished.
وَكانَand he was عَلىupon كُرسِيِّهِhis chair خَيرَthe best جالِسٍone seated
وَكانَ عَلى كُرسِيِّهِ خَيرَ جالِسٍ
لِهَيبَتِهِbefore his majesty تَعنوyield الوُجوهُthe faces وَتَخشَعُand bow humbly
لِهَيبَتِهِ تَعنو الوُجوهُ وَتَخشَعُ
He was the best to sit upon his chair;
Before his majesty, faces yielded and bowed.
فَياso O وَيلَناwoe to us إِنif لَمnot تَسُدّواyou fill مَكانَهُhis place
فَيا وَيلَنا إِن لَم تَسُدّوا مَكانَهُ
بِذيwith one possessed of مِرَّةٍstrength فيin الخَطبِcalamity لاnot يَتَضَعضَعُwavers
بِذي مِرَّةٍ في الخَطبِ لا يَتَضَعضَعُ
Alas for us if you do not fill his place
With a man of strength who does not waver in calamity,
بَعيدِfar مَرامِthe reach الفِكرِthought أَمّاas for جَنانُهُhis heart
بَعيدِ مَرامِ الفِكرِ أَمّا جَنانُهُ
فَرَحبٌthen spacious وَأَمّاand as for عِزُّهُhis dignity فَمُمَنَّعُthen impregnable
فَرَحبٌ وَأَمّا عِزُّهُ فَمُمَنَّعُ
Far-reaching in thought; as for his heart,
It is spacious, while his dignity is impregnable.
فَياso O ناصِرَchampion المُستَضعَفينَthe oppressed إِذاwhen عَداassails
فَيا ناصِرَ المُستَضعَفينَ إِذا عَدا
عَلَيهِمagainst them زَمانٌan age بِالعَداوَةِwith enmity مولَعُenamored
عَلَيهِم زَمانٌ بِالعَداوَةِ مولَعُ
O champion of the oppressed, whenever there assails
Them an age enamored of enmity,
عَلَيكَupon you سَلامُthe peace اللَهِGod ماas long as قامَremains بَينَناamong us
عَلَيكَ سَلامُ اللَهِ ما قامَ بَينَنا
وَزيرٌa minister عَلىupon دَستِthe dais العُلاglory يَتَرَبَّعُsits cross-legged
وَزيرٌ عَلى دَستِ العُلا يَتَرَبَّعُ
God's peace be upon you as long as among us remains
A minister seated cross-legged on the dais of glory.
Sol 6.1