لِمِصرَto Egypt أَمor لِرُبوعِto the lands الشامِof the Levant تَنتَسِبُdo you belong
لِمِصرَ أَم لِرُبوعِ الشامِ تَنتَسِبُ
هُناhere العُلاeminence وَهُناكَand there المَجدُglory وَالحَسَبُand ancestral honor
هُنا العُلا وَهُناكَ المَجدُ وَالحَسَبُ
Do you belong to Egypt or to the lands of the Levant?
To Egypt or to Syria's meadows are you kin?
Here is eminence, and there are glory and ancestral honor.
Two pillars of the Orient whose lands
رُكنانِtwo pillars لِلشَرقِof the East لاmay ... never زالَتcease to be رُبوعُهُماtheir lands
رُكنانِ لِلشَرقِ لا زالَت رُبوعُهُما
قَلبُthe heart الهِلالِof the crescent عَلَيهاover them خافِقٌbeating يَجِبُthrobs
قَلبُ الهِلالِ عَلَيها خافِقٌ يَجِبُ
Two pillars of the East—may their lands endure forever;
The crescent's heart still beats over fervently.
above them the crescent's heart beats and throbs.
Two preserves of pure Arabic whose veils
خِدرانِtwo secluded chambers لِلضادِfor ḍād (Arabic) لَمnot تُهتَكbe torn سُتورُهُماtheir curtains
خِدرانِ لِلضادِ لَم تُهتَك سُتورُهُما
وَلاnor تَحَوَّلَdeparted عَنfrom مَغناهُماtheir abode الأَدَبُliterature
وَلا تَحَوَّلَ عَن مَغناهُما الأَدَبُ
Two secluded chambers for the language of ḍād, whose curtains have never been torn,
Were never rent, whose rhythm was never marred.
nor has literature departed from their abode.
The mother-tongue, next dawn the tongue of pride—
أُمُّthe mother اللُغاتِof languages غَداةَon the day الفَخرِof pride أُمُّهُماmother to both
أُمُّ اللُغاتِ غَداةَ الفَخرِ أُمُّهُما
وَإِنand if سَأَلتَyou ask عَنِabout الآباءِthe forefathers فَالعَرَبُthen the Arabs
وَإِن سَأَلتَ عَنِ الآباءِ فَالعَرَبُ
The mother of languages, on the day of pride, is mother to both;
Ask of its sires, and you are answered: Arab!
and if you ask about their forefathers, they are the Arabs.
Would you both consent to any but the best,
أَيَرغَبانِwould the two turn away عَنِfrom الحُسنىgoodness وَبَينَهُماwhile between them
أَيَرغَبانِ عَنِ الحُسنى وَبَينَهُما
فيin رائِعاتِthe splendors المَعاليof lofty achievements ذَلِكَthat النَسَبُkinship
في رائِعاتِ المَعالي ذَلِكَ النَسَبُ
Would they shun goodness, when they share
Or sever that nobility, that lineage blessed?
that kinship amid the splendors of lofty achievement?
If to the Nile's valley came a visitor,
وَلاand not يَمُتّانِare connected بِالقُربىby kinship وَبَينَهُماwhile between them
وَلا يَمُتّانِ بِالقُربى وَبَينَهُما
تِلكَthat القَرابَةُrelationship لَمnot يُقطَعbe severed لَهاfor it سَبَبُa bond
تِلكَ القَرابَةُ لَم يُقطَع لَها سَبَبُ
And would they have no ties of kinship, when between them
Lebanon's peaks would stir and start afresh.
is that relationship, whose bond has never been severed?
And if a grieving soul cried from the pyramids' dust,
إِذاif أَلَمَّتbefalls بِواديupon the valley of النيلِthe Nile نازِلَةٌa calamity
إِذا أَلَمَّت بِوادي النيلِ نازِلَةٌ
باتَتspend the night لَهاbecause of it راسِياتُthe steadfast mountains الشامِof the Levant تَضطَرِبُtremble
باتَت لَها راسِياتُ الشامِ تَضطَرِبُ
If a calamity befalls the Nile Valley,
One grieving thus in Lebanon's heights would answer.
the steadfast mountains of the Levant spend the night trembling because of it.
If the Nile and Jordan gave sincere affection,
وَإِنand if دَعاcalls out فيon ثَرىthe soil الأَهرامِof the pyramids ذوone with أَلَمٍpain
وَإِن دَعا في ثَرى الأَهرامِ ذو أَلَمٍ
أَجابَهُanswers him فيon ذُراthe heights لُبنانَof Lebanon مُنتَحِبُone who sobs
أَجابَهُ في ذُرا لُبنانَ مُنتَحِبُ
And if one in pain calls out on the soil of the pyramids,
Their waters then would kiss, their grasses blend.
one who sobs answers him on Lebanon's heights.
Between both valleys walked Pride with its gait,
لَوif أَخلَصَmade sincere النيلُthe Nile وَالأُردُنُّand the Jordan وُدَّهُماtheir love
لَو أَخلَصَ النيلُ وَالأُردُنُّ وُدَّهُما
تَصافَحَتwould clasp hands مِنهُماfrom them both الأَمواهُthe waters وَالعُشُبُand grasses
تَصافَحَت مِنهُما الأَمواهُ وَالعُشُبُ
Were the Nile and the Jordan sincere in their love,
Flanked by Bounty here, Persistence there.
the waters and grasses of both would clasp hands.
This streamed with plenty, while the other blazed with zeal,
بِالوادِيَينِin the two valleys تَمَشّىwalked الفَخرُpride مِشيَتَهُits gait
بِالوادِيَينِ تَمَشّى الفَخرُ مِشيَتَهُ
يَحُفُّsurrounds ناحِيَتَيهِits two sides الجودُgenerosity وَالدَأَبُand diligence
يَحُفُّ ناحِيَتَيهِ الجودُ وَالدَأَبُ
In the two valleys, pride walked with its own gait,
This gushed with verdure, while the other burned with deeds.
generosity and diligence flanking it on either side.
Breeze of Lebanon, how often did you come
فَسالَso flowed هَذاthis one سَخاءًwith generosity دونَهُbeneath it دِيَمٌsteady rains
فَسالَ هَذا سَخاءً دونَهُ دِيَمٌ
وَسالَand flowed هَذاthis one مَضاءًwith resolve دونَهُbeneath it القُضُبُswords
وَسالَ هَذا مَضاءً دونَهُ القُضُبُ
So one flowed with generosity that steady rains could not match,
Sweet with perfume from gardens, panting from the trees.
and the other flowed with resolve that swords could not match.
In East and West are sighs aflame for you,
نَسيمَO breeze لُبنانَof Lebanon كَمhow many جادَتكَgave generously to you عاطِرَةٌa fragrant blossom
نَسيمَ لُبنانَ كَم جادَتكَ عاطِرَةٌ
مِنَfrom الرِياضِthe gardens وَكَمand how many حَيّاكَgreeted you مُنسَكِبُflowing water
مِنَ الرِياضِ وَكَم حَيّاكَ مُنسَكِبُ
O breeze of Lebanon, how many a fragrant blossom has enriched you
And yearning hearts wherein wild fires seethe.
from the gardens, and how many a flowing stream has greeted you!
But for the seekers after knowledge, none would crave
فيin الشَرقِthe East وَالغَربِand the West أَنفاسٌbreaths مُسَعَّرَةٌset ablaze
في الشَرقِ وَالغَربِ أَنفاسٌ مُسَعَّرَةٌ
تَهفوyearn إِلَيكَtoward you وَأَكبادٌand livers بِهاwithin them لَهَبُflame
تَهفو إِلَيكَ وَأَكبادٌ بِها لَهَبُ
In the East and West are breaths set ablaze,
A substitute for your sweet breath—but knowledge wearies.
yearning toward you, and livers filled with flame.
How many a maiden weeps in Syria's lands
لَولاwere it not for طِلابُthe pursuit العُلاof eminence لَمnot يَبتَغواthey seek بَدَلاًa substitute
لَولا طِلابُ العُلا لَم يَبتَغوا بَدَلاً
مِنfor طيبِthe sweetness رَيّاكَof your fragrance لَكِنَّbut العُلاeminence تَعَبُtoil
مِن طيبِ رَيّاكَ لَكِنَّ العُلا تَعَبُ
Were it not for the pursuit of eminence, they would seek no substitute
For one she loved who quests and is hard-pressed.
for your sweet fragrance; but eminence is toil.
On he must go, no choice but resolution,
كَمhow many غادَةٍa graceful maiden بِرُبوعِin the lands الشَأمِof the Levant باكِيَةٍweeping
كَم غادَةٍ بِرُبوعِ الشَأمِ باكِيَةٍ
عَلىfor أَليفٍa beloved لَهاof hers يَرميcasts away بِهِhim الطَلَبُthe quest
عَلى أَليفٍ لَها يَرمي بِهِ الطَلَبُ
How many a graceful maiden in the lands of the Levant is weeping
Though glory and gold are his garb, his wage.
for her beloved, whom the quest casts away!
The nights' vicissitudes turn back from him reversed,
يَمضيhe departs وَلاand no حيلَةٌresource إِلّاexcept عَزيمَتُهُhis resolve
يَمضي وَلا حيلَةٌ إِلّا عَزيمَتُهُ
وَيَنثَنيand returns وَحُلاهُand his adornments المَجدُglory وَالذَهَبُand gold
وَيَنثَني وَحُلاهُ المَجدُ وَالذَهَبُ
He departs with no resource but his resolve,
His purpose knows not how to turn or change.
and returns with glory and gold as his ornaments.
In Columbia's land heroes like lions hunger,
يَكُرُّrecoils صَرفُthe vicissitudes اللَياليof the nights عَنهُfrom him مُنقَلِباًretreating
يَكُرُّ صَرفُ اللَيالي عَنهُ مُنقَلِباً
وَعَزمُهُand his resolve لَيسَdoes not يَدريknow كَيفَhow يَنقَلِبُturn back
وَعَزمُهُ لَيسَ يَدري كَيفَ يَنقَلِبُ
The vicissitudes of the nights recoil from him in retreat,
A starving pack, gigantic when aroused.
while his resolve knows not how to turn back.
No flag or numbers shield them there—their only aid
بِأَرضِin the land كولُمبَof Columbus أَبطالٌheroes غَطارِفَةٌnoble champions
بِأَرضِ كولُمبَ أَبطالٌ غَطارِفَةٌ
أُسدٌlions جِياعٌhungry إِذاwhen ماever ووثِبواthey are assailed وَثَبواthey spring
أُسدٌ جِياعٌ إِذا ما ووثِبوا وَثَبوا
In Columbus's land are heroes, noble champions,
Is purpose blazing, will that never dims.
hungry lions—whenever assailed, they spring.
Their navy destiny's voyager on the sea,
لَمnot يَحمِهِمprotected them عَلَمٌa banner فيهاthere وَلاnor عَدَدٌnumbers
لَم يَحمِهِم عَلَمٌ فيها وَلا عَدَدٌ
سِوىexcept مَضاءٍresolve تَحامىshunned وِردَهُits watering place النُوَبُcalamities
سِوى مَضاءٍ تَحامى وِردَهُ النُوَبُ
No banner protected them there, nor strength of numbers,
Their army exile's worker on the land.
only a resolve whose watering place calamities shunned.
Through every fray they cut a path, blaze trails—
أُسطولُهُمtheir fleet أَمَلٌhope فيon البَحرِthe sea مُرتَحِلٌjourneying
أُسطولُهُم أَمَلٌ في البَحرِ مُرتَحِلٌ
وَجَيشُهُمand their army عَمَلٌlabor فيon البَرِّland مُغتَرِبُfar from home
وَجَيشُهُم عَمَلٌ في البَرِّ مُغتَرِبُ
Their fleet is hope journeying at sea,
Up every peak they scale a road amazing.
and their army is labor far from home on land.
No dawn e'er rose in any far horizon
لَهُمthey have بِكُلِّthrough every خِضَمٍّocean مَسرَبٌa passage نَهَجٌclear
لَهُم بِكُلِّ خِضَمٍّ مَسرَبٌ نَهَجٌ
وَفيand on ذُراthe summits كُلِّof every طَودٍmountain مَسلَكٌa path عَجَبُwondrous
وَفي ذُرا كُلِّ طَودٍ مَسلَكٌ عَجَبُ
They have a clear passage through every ocean,
But in Damascus it already had its courtier.
and on the summits of every mountain, a wondrous path.
Why should they mind that on earth they're scattered,
لَمnot تَبدُappear بارِقَةٌa lightning gleam فيon أُفقِthe horizon مُنتَجَعٍof a pasture
لَم تَبدُ بارِقَةٌ في أُفقِ مُنتَجَعٍ
إِلّاexcept وَكانَand there was لَهاfor it بِالشامِin the Levant مُرتَقِبُa watcher
إِلّا وَكانَ لَها بِالشامِ مُرتَقِبُ
No lightning gleam appeared on the horizon of a pasture
When stars are sprinkled since the stars were made.
without a watcher awaiting it in the Levant.
No harm was done them that they're variegated,
ماnot عابَهُمdisgraced them أَنَّهُمthat they فيacross الأَرضِthe earth قَدindeed نُثِرواwere scattered
ما عابَهُم أَنَّهُم في الأَرضِ قَد نُثِروا
فَالشُهبُfor the bright stars مَنثورَةٌscattered مُذsince كانَتِcame to be الشُهُبُthe bright stars
فَالشُهبُ مَنثورَةٌ مُذ كانَتِ الشُهُبُ
It was no disgrace to them that they were scattered across the earth;
For everything alive encompasses contradiction.
for the bright stars have been scattered since bright stars first came to be.
They sought the fountains in this world, and had they found
وَلَمand not يَضِرهُمharmed them سُراءٌnight travel فيacross مَناكِبِهاits shoulders
وَلَم يَضِرهُم سُراءٌ في مَناكِبِها
فَكُلِّfor every حَيٍّliving being لَهُit has فيin الكَونِthe universe مُضطَرَبُa sphere of activity
فَكُلِّ حَيٍّ لَهُ في الكَونِ مُضطَرَبُ
Nor did night travel across its shoulders harm them;
A rising ship that sailed up to the galaxy,
for every living being has its sphere of activity in the universe.
Or heard the sun contained a refuge for those hopeful—
رادواthey sought out المَناهِلَthe watering places فيin الدُنياthe world وَلَوand if وَجَدواthey found
رادوا المَناهِلَ في الدُنيا وَلَو وَجَدوا
إِلىto المَجَرَّةِthe Milky Way رَكباًa caravan صاعِداًascending رَكِبواthey would ride
إِلى المَجَرَّةِ رَكباً صاعِداً رَكِبوا
They sought the world's watering places, and had they found
They would have cast a rope into the air and climbed.
a caravan ascending to the Milky Way, they would have ridden with it.
They labored for an honest earning, and the mother tongue
أَوor قيلَit were said فيin الشَمسِthe sun لِلراجينَfor the hopeful مُنتَجَعٌa pasture
أَو قيلَ في الشَمسِ لِلراجينَ مُنتَجَعٌ
مَدّواthey would stretch لَهاto it سَبَباًa rope فيthrough الجَوِّthe air وَاِنتَدَبواand set forth
مَدّوا لَها سَبَباً في الجَوِّ وَاِنتَدَبوا
Or were it said that the sun held a pasture for the hopeful,
Through this endeavor only gained in eloquence.
they would stretch a rope to it through the air and set forth.
Wherever Syrians dwelt a fresh and novel life was,
سَعَواthey strove إِلىfor الكَسبِgain مَحموداًhonorably وَماand not فَتِئَتceased
سَعَوا إِلى الكَسبِ مَحموداً وَما فَتِئَت
أُمُّthe mother اللُغاتِof languages بِذاكَthrough that السَعيِstriving تَكتَسِبُgains
أُمُّ اللُغاتِ بِذاكَ السَعيِ تَكتَسِبُ
They strove for gain honorably, and still
Advancement unobstructed and unfettered.
the mother of languages gains through that striving.
Grasp it, and you are clasping Arabdom.
فَأَينَfor wherever كانَwere الشَآمِيّونَthe Levantines كانَthere was لَهاfor her
فَأَينَ كانَ الشَآمِيّونَ كانَ لَها
عَيشٌlife جَديدٌnew وَفَضلٌand excellence لَيسَdoes not يَحتَجِبُveil itself
عَيشٌ جَديدٌ وَفَضلٌ لَيسَ يَحتَجِبُ
For wherever the Levantines are, she has
No grudge is Kinanah but Syria taking umbrage
new life and excellence that is never veiled.
That chiefs of its own issue over its lands hold sway
هَذيthis يَديmy hand عَنon behalf of بَنيthe sons مِصرٍof Egypt تُصافِحُكُمshakes hands with you
هَذي يَدي عَن بَني مِصرٍ تُصافِحُكُم
فَصافِحوهاso shake it تُصافِحwill shake hands with نَفسَهاthemselves العَرَبُthe Arabs
فَصافِحوها تُصافِح نَفسَها العَرَبُ
This is my hand, on behalf of Egypt's sons, shaking yours;
Had there not been among ourselves and them
so shake it, and the Arabs will shake hands with themselves.
Some statesmen who exceeded all bounds
فَماfor ... not الكِنانَةُthe Quiver (Egypt) إِلّاexcept الشامُthe Levant عاجَturned aside عَلىtoward
فَما الكِنانَةُ إِلّا الشامُ عاجَ عَلى
رُبوعِهاher lands مِنfrom among بَنيهاher sons سادَةٌlords نُجُبُnoble
رُبوعِها مِن بَنيها سادَةٌ نُجُبُ
For Egypt, the Quiver, is but the Levant; there came to
Were we and they not then to reconciliation wrought—
her lands noble lords from among the Levant's sons.
To me the glory lies in that wrong they wrought.
لَولاwere it not for رِجالٌmen تَغالَواwent to extremes فيin سِياسَتِهِمtheir politics
لَولا رِجالٌ تَغالَوا في سِياسَتِهِم
مِنّاfrom among us وَمِنهُمand from among them لَماwould not لُمناwe blamed وَلاnor عَتَبواthey reproached
مِنّا وَمِنهُم لَما لُمنا وَلا عَتَبوا
Were it not for men who went to extremes in their politics,
If they ascribe to me a crime of love for them,
among us and among them, we would not have blamed them, nor would they have reproached us.
Then glorious is the crime for which they brought me low!
إِنif يَكتُبواthey record لِيَto my account ذَنباًa sin فيfor مَوَدَّتِهِمaffection for them
إِن يَكتُبوا لِيَ ذَنباً في مَوَدَّتِهِم
فَإِنَّماthen only الفَخرُpride فيin الذَنبِthe sin الَّذيwhich كَتَبواthey recorded
فَإِنَّما الفَخرُ في الذَنبِ الَّذي كَتَبوا
If they record a sin against me for loving them,
then pride lies only in the sin they have recorded.
Partial English translation: 62 of 64 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1