طُفcircle بِالأَريكَةِaround the throne ذاتِpossessing العِزِّmight وَالشانِand majesty
طُف بِالأَريكَةِ ذاتِ العِزِّ وَالشانِ
وَاِقضِand perform المَناسِكِthe rites عَنon behalf of قاصٍone far away وَعَنand on behalf of دانيone nearby
وَاِقضِ المَناسِكِ عَن قاصٍ وَعَن داني
Circle the throne of might and majesty,
Circle the throne of glory and prestige,
And perform the rites for those far away and near.
And perform the rituals for both near and far.
ياO عيدُEid لَيتَwould that الَّذيthe one who أَولاكَbestowed on you نِعمَتَهُhis favor
يا عيدُ لَيتَ الَّذي أَولاكَ نِعمَتَهُ
بِقُربِthrough nearness to صاحِبِthe ruler of مِصرٍEgypt كانَhad أَولانيfavored me
بِقُربِ صاحِبِ مِصرٍ كانَ أَولاني
O Eid, would that he who bestowed his favor on you
O festival, if only He who granted you blessings
Through nearness to Egypt's ruler had bestowed it on me!
Were the ruler of Egypt or one close to me.
صُغتُI fashioned القَريضَverse فَماso not غادَرتُI left لُؤلُؤَةًa pearl
صُغتُ القَريضَ فَما غادَرتُ لُؤلُؤَةً
فيin تاجِthe crown of كِسرىKisra وَلاnor فيin عِقدِthe necklace of بورانِBuran
في تاجِ كِسرى وَلا في عِقدِ بورانِ
I fashioned verse, leaving not a single pearl
I composed poetry sparing no pearl
In Kisra's crown or in Buran's necklace.
In the crown of Chosroes or necklace of Buran.
أَغرَيتُI urged بِالغَوصِto dive أَقلاميmy pens فَماso not تَرَكَتthey left
أَغرَيتُ بِالغَوصِ أَقلامي فَما تَرَكَت
فيin لُجَّةِthe depths of البَحرِthe sea مِنany دُرٍّpearls وَمَرجانِand coral
في لُجَّةِ البَحرِ مِن دُرٍّ وَمَرجانِ
I urged my pens to dive, and they left nothing
I dived with my pens not leaving
Of pearls or coral in the sea's depths.
In the sea depths a single pearl or coral.
شَكاcomplained عُمانُOman وَضَجَّand clamored الغائِصونَthe divers بِهِin it
شَكا عُمانُ وَضَجَّ الغائِصونَ بِهِ
عَلىover اللَآليthe pearls وَضَجَّand clamored الحاسِدُthe envier الشانيthe hater
عَلى اللَآلي وَضَجَّ الحاسِدُ الشاني
Oman complained, and the divers within it clamored
Oman complained and the divers clamored
Over the pearls; the envious hater clamored too.
Over the pearls while the envious blasphemer clamored.
كَمhow often رامَhe sought شَأويmy reach فَلَمyet did not يُدرِكattain سِوىexcept صَدَفٍshells
كَم رامَ شَأوي فَلَم يُدرِك سِوى صَدَفٍ
سامَحتُI freely yielded فيهِin it لِنَظّامٍto a versifier وَوَزّانِand a meter-maker
سامَحتُ فيهِ لِنَظّامٍ وَوَزّانِ
How often he strove to reach my level, yet gained only shells
How many times did my critics try but only grasped
Which I freely yielded to versifiers and meter-makers.
A shell in which I indulged a composer and weigher.
عابواthey faulted سُكوتيmy silence وَلَولاهُand but for it لَماwould not have نَطَقواthey spoke
عابوا سُكوتي وَلَولاهُ لَما نَطَقوا
وَلاnor جَرَتran خَيلُهُمtheir horses شَوطاًa lap بِمَيدانِin an arena
وَلا جَرَت خَيلُهُم شَوطاً بِمَيدانِ
They faulted my silence; without it they would never have spoken,
They blamed my silence, and had I not been silent
Nor would their horses have run a lap in any arena.
Their horses would not have raced a span in the race track.
وَاليَومَand today أُنشِدُهُمI recite to them شِعراًverse يُعيدُrestores لَهُمto them
وَاليَومَ أُنشِدُهُم شِعراً يُعيدُ لَهُم
عَهدَthe age of النَواسِيِّal-Nuwasi أَوor أَيّامَthe days of حَسّانِHassan
عَهدَ النَواسِيِّ أَو أَيّامَ حَسّانِ
Today I recite to them verse that brings back for them
And today I recite to them poetry that brings back
The age of al-Nuwasi or the days of Hassan.
The era of al-Nawasiy or days of Hassan.
أَزُفُّI lead as a bride فيهِin it إِلىto العَبّاسِal-Abbas غانِيَةًa lovely maiden
أَزُفُّ فيهِ إِلى العَبّاسِ غانِيَةً
عَفيفَةَchaste الخِدرِthe secluded chamber مِنamong آياتِthe wonders of عَدنانِAdnan
عَفيفَةَ الخِدرِ مِن آياتِ عَدنانِ
In it I lead a lovely maiden to al-Abbas as a bride,
I send to Al-Abbas, pure of lineage
Chaste within her chamber, one of Adnan's wonders.
From the Ayat of Adnan, an ode chaste of adultery.
مِنَamong الأَوانِسِthe maidens حَلّاهاadorned her يَراعُthe reed pen of فَتىًa youth
مِنَ الأَوانِسِ حَلّاها يَراعُ فَتىً
صافيpure in القَريحَةِpoetic inspiration صاحٍsober غَيرِnot نَشوانِintoxicated
صافي القَريحَةِ صاحٍ غَيرِ نَشوانِ
One of the maidens adorned by the reed pen of a youth,
Of the beautiful women, the best for a noble man
Of clear inspiration, sober, not intoxicated.
Of pure talent, an alert poet without drowsiness.
ماdid not ضاقَlack capacity أَصغَرُهُhis tongue عَنfor مَدحِpraising سَيِّدِهِhis lord
ما ضاقَ أَصغَرُهُ عَن مَدحِ سَيِّدِهِ
وَلاnor اِستَعانَsought help بِمَدحِthrough praising الراحِwine وَالبانِand ban-trees (moringa)
وَلا اِستَعانَ بِمَدحِ الراحِ وَالبانِ
His tongue never fell short in praising his lord,
The least of his children does not restrict praising his master
Nor did he seek aid in praising wine and ban-trees.
Or seek help praising the wind and the full moon.
وَلاnor اِستَهَلَّbegan بِذِكرِby mentioning الغيدِgraceful beauties مِدحَتَهُhis panegyric
وَلا اِستَهَلَّ بِذِكرِ الغيدِ مِدحَتَهُ
فيin مَوطِنٍa place بِجَلالِwith the majesty of المُلكِkingship رَيّانِbrimming
في مَوطِنٍ بِجَلالِ المُلكِ رَيّانِ
Nor did he open his panegyric by mentioning graceful beauties,
He does not begin his praise by mentioning the rain
In a place brimming with the majesty of kingship.
In a land overflowing with the majesty of kings.
أَغلَيتَyou made precious بِالعَدلِthrough justice مُلكاًa realm أَنتَyou حارِسُهُits guardian
أَغلَيتَ بِالعَدلِ مُلكاً أَنتَ حارِسُهُ
فَأَصبَحَتso became أَرضُهُits land تُشرىis bought بِميزانِby weight
فَأَصبَحَت أَرضُهُ تُشرى بِميزانِ
Through justice you made precious the realm you guard,
You made the kingdom boil with justice, so its land
So its land is now purchased by weight.
Became fertile, watered as if by the Scale.
جَرىflowed بِهاthrough it الخِصبُfertility حَتّىuntil أَنبَتَتit grew ذَهَباًgold
جَرى بِها الخِصبُ حَتّى أَنبَتَت ذَهَباً
فَلَيتَso would that ليfor me فيin ثَراهَits soil نِصفَhalf فَدّانِa feddan (land unit)
فَلَيتَ لي في ثَراهَ نِصفَ فَدّانِ
Fertility flowed through it until it grew gold;
Abundance flowed through it producing gold—
Would that I owned half a feddan of its soil!
Would that I had half a faddan in its wealth!
نَظَرتَyou looked لِلنيلِto the Nile فَاِهتَزَّتso stirred جَوانِبُهُits banks
نَظَرتَ لِلنيلِ فَاِهتَزَّت جَوانِبُهُ
وَفاضَand overflowed بِالخَيرِwith bounty فيacross سَهلٍa plain وَوِديانِand valleys
وَفاضَ بِالخَيرِ في سَهلٍ وَوِديانِ
You turned your gaze to the Nile, and its banks stirred,
You looked upon the Nile so its banks trembled
And it overflowed with bounty across plains and valleys.
And it overflowed with goodness on plains and valleys.
يَجريit flows عَلىaccording to قَدَرٍa measure فيthrough كُلِّevery مُنحَدَرٍslope
يَجري عَلى قَدَرٍ في كُلِّ مُنحَدَرٍ
لَمdid not يَجفُforsake أَرضاًa land وَلَمand did not يَعمِدaim لِطُغيانِat overflowing its bounds
لَم يَجفُ أَرضاً وَلَم يَعمِد لِطُغيانِ
It flows in due measure down every slope,
It flows steadily down every slope
Forsaking no land, nor seeking to overflow its bounds.
Never leaving a land dry or tyrannizing.
كَأَنَّهُas though it وَرِجالُwhile the men of الرِيِّirrigation تَحرُسُهُguard it
كَأَنَّهُ وَرِجالُ الرِيِّ تَحرُسُهُ
مُمَلَّكٌa crowned ruler سارَmarched فيamong جُندٍtroops وَأَعوانِand aides
مُمَلَّكٌ سارَ في جُندٍ وَأَعوانِ
As though it, with the irrigation men guarding it,
As if it and the irrigation workers guarding it
Were a crowned ruler marching among troops and aides.
Are a ruler marching among armies and aides.
قَدindeed كانَwas يَشكوcomplaining of ضَياعاًwaste مُذever since جَرىit flowed طَلُقاًunrestrained
قَد كانَ يَشكو ضَياعاً مُذ جَرى طَلُقاً
حَتّىuntil أَقَمتَyou built لَهُfor it خَزّانَthe reservoir of أَسوانِAswan
حَتّى أَقَمتَ لَهُ خَزّانَ أَسوانِ
It had complained of waste ever since it ran unrestrained,
It used to complain of losses since it flowed freely
Until you built for it the Aswan reservoir.
Until you established for it the Aswan dams.
كَمhow many مِنof يَدٍa hand لَكَof yours فيin القُطرَينِthe two lands صالِحَةٍbeneficent
كَم مِن يَدٍ لَكَ في القُطرَينِ صالِحَةٍ
فاضَتpoured forth عَلَيناupon us بِجودٍwith generosity مِنكَfrom you هَتّانِabundantly streaming
فاضَت عَلَينا بِجودٍ مِنكَ هَتّانِ
How many a beneficent hand of yours in the two lands
You have in both regions many hands doing good
Has poured upon us your copious generosity!
Which poured upon us your generosity, life-giver.
رَدَدتَyou restored ماwhat سَلَبَتstole أَيديthe hands of الزَمانِtime لَناto us
رَدَدتَ ما سَلَبَت أَيدي الزَمانِ لَنا
وَماand what تَقَلَّصَdwindled مِنof ظِلٍّshade وَسُلطانِand sovereignty
وَما تَقَلَّصَ مِن ظِلٍّ وَسُلطانِ
You restored to us what the hands of time had stolen,
You restored what time had stripped from us
And the shade and sovereignty that had dwindled away.
Of shade and sultanate that had shrunk.
وَماand not قَعَدتَyou held back عَنِfrom السودانِSudan إِذwhen قَعَدواthey held back
وَما قَعَدتَ عَنِ السودانِ إِذ قَعَدوا
لَكِنbut أَمَرتَyou commanded فَلَبّىso answered الأَمرَthe command جَيشانِtwo armies
لَكِن أَمَرتَ فَلَبّى الأَمرَ جَيشانِ
Nor did you hold back from Sudan when they held back,
You did not refrain from the Sudan when they refrained
But you commanded, and two armies answered the command.
Rather you commanded and the armies obeyed.
هَذاthis one مِنَfrom الغَربِthe west قَدalready سالَتstreamed مَراكِبُهُits ships
هَذا مِنَ الغَربِ قَد سالَت مَراكِبُهُ
وَذاand that one مِنَfrom الشَرقِthe east قَدalready أَوفىarrived بِطوفانِwith a deluge
وَذا مِنَ الشَرقِ قَد أَوفى بِطوفانِ
This one's ships streamed in from the west,
This from the west, its ships already sailed
And the other came from the east with a deluge.
And that from the east, having braved the floods.
وَلّاكَentrusted you with رَبُّكَyour Lord مُلكاًa realm فيunder رِعايَتِهِHis care
وَلّاكَ رَبُّكَ مُلكاً في رِعايَتِهِ
وَمَدَّهُand extended it لَكَfor you فيin خِصبٍfertility وَعُمرانِand flourishing settlement
وَمَدَّهُ لَكَ في خِصبٍ وَعُمرانِ
Your Lord entrusted you with a realm under His care,
Your Lord appointed you a caretaker king
And extended it for you in fertility and prosperity,
Extending prosperity and civilization.
مِنfrom كُردُفانَKordofan إِلىto مِصرٍEgypt إِلىto جَبَلٍa mountain
مِن كُردُفانَ إِلى مِصرٍ إِلى جَبَلٍ
عَلَيهِupon it كَلَّمَهُspoke to Him موسىMoses بنُson of عِمرانِImran
عَلَيهِ كَلَّمَهُ موسى بنُ عِمرانِ
From Kordofan to Egypt, to a mountain
From Kurdufan to Egypt to the mountain
Upon which Moses, son of Imran, spoke to Him.
Where Moses son of Imran spoke to Him.
فَكُنso be بِمُلكِكَthrough your kingship بَنّاءَa builder of الرِجالِmen وَلاand do not
فَكُن بِمُلكِكَ بَنّاءَ الرِجالِ وَلا
تَجعَلmake بِناءَكَyour building إِلّاexcept كُلَّevery مِعوانِready helper
تَجعَل بِناءَكَ إِلّا كُلَّ مِعوانِ
So be a builder of men through your kingship, and do not
So be with your kingdom a builder of men, do not make
Make what you build anything but men ever ready to help.
Your building material anything but faithful helpers.
وَاُنظُرand look إِلىupon أُمَّةٍa nation لَولاكَbut for you ماnot طَلَبَتit sought
وَاُنظُر إِلى أُمَّةٍ لَولاكَ ما طَلَبَت
حَقّاًa right وَلاnor شَعَرَتit felt حُبّاًlove لِأَوطانِfor homelands
حَقّاً وَلا شَعَرَت حُبّاً لِأَوطانِ
And look upon a nation that, but for you, would never have sought
Look to a nation which without you sought no rights
A right, nor felt love for homelands.
And felt no patriotic love for homelands.
لاذَتit sought refuge بِسُدَّتِكَat your threshold العَلياءِlofty وَاِعتَصَمَتand held fast
لاذَت بِسُدَّتِكَ العَلياءِ وَاِعتَصَمَت
وَأَخلَصَتand was sincerely loyal لَكَto you فيin سِرٍّsecret وَإِعلانِand public
وَأَخلَصَت لَكَ في سِرٍّ وَإِعلانِ
It sought refuge at your lofty threshold and held fast,
It sought refuge in your noble cloak and held fast
And was sincerely loyal to you, in secret and in public.
Loyal to you openly and in secret.
حَسبُenough for الأَريكَةِthe throne أَنَّthat اللَهَGod شَرَّفَهاhonored it
حَسبُ الأَريكَةِ أَنَّ اللَهَ شَرَّفَها
فَأَصبَحَتso it came to بِكَthrough you تَسموrise فَوقَabove كيوانِSaturn
فَأَصبَحَت بِكَ تَسمو فَوقَ كيوانِ
It is enough for the throne that God has honored it,
It suffices the throne that God ennobled it
So through you it now rises above Saturn.
So through you it rises above planets.
تاهَتit exulted بِعَهدِin the reign of مَليكٍa king فَوقَabove مَفرِقِهِthe crown of his head
تاهَت بِعَهدِ مَليكٍ فَوقَ مَفرِقِهِ
لِمُلكِfor the kingdom of مِصرٍEgypt وَلِلسودانِand for Sudan تاجانِtwo crowns
لِمُلكِ مِصرٍ وَلِلسودانِ تاجانِ
It exulted in the reign of a king above whose head
It was lost in the era of a king higher than the horizon
Rest two crowns, for Egypt's kingdom and for Sudan.
For the kingdom of Egypt and the crown of Sudan.
هَذاthis هُوَis المُلكُkingship فَليَهنَئso may he rejoice مُمَلَّكُهُits crowned ruler
هَذا هُوَ المُلكُ فَليَهنَئ مُمَلَّكُهُ
وَذاand this هُوَis الشِعرُpoetry فَلتُنشِدهُso let them recite it أَزمانيmy times
وَذا هُوَ الشِعرُ فَلتُنشِدهُ أَزماني
This is kingship—may its crowned ruler rejoice!
This is the kingdom—so let its ruler rejoice,
And this is poetry—let my times recite it!
And this is the poetry—so let eras chant it.
Sol 6.1