طَمَعٌgreed أَلقىcast off عَنِfrom الغَربِthe West اللِثاماthe veil
طَمَعٌ أَلقى عَنِ الغَربِ اللِثاما
فَاِستَفِقso awaken ياO شَرقُEast وَاِحذَرand beware أَنthat تَناماyou fall asleep
فَاِستَفِق يا شَرقُ وَاِحذَر أَن تَناما
Greed cast the veil off the West.
Greed cast off its veil from the West,
Awake, then, O East, and beware of falling asleep.
So awake, O East, and beware of slumber!
وَاِحمِليand carry أَيَّتُهاO الشَمسُthe sun إِلىto
وَاِحمِلي أَيَّتُها الشَمسُ إِلى
كُلِّall مَنwhoever يَسكُنُdwells فيin الشَرقِthe East السَلاماa greeting of peace
كُلِّ مَن يَسكُنُ في الشَرقِ السَلاما
And carry, O sun, to
And carry, O sun, to all who dwell in the East,
All who dwell in the East a greeting of peace.
Greetings of peace.
وَاِشهَديand bear witness يَومَon the Day of التَناديmutual calling أَنَّناthat we
وَاِشهَدي يَومَ التَنادي أَنَّنا
فيin سَبيلِthe cause of الحَقِّtruth قَدindeed مِتناwe died كِراماwith honor
في سَبيلِ الحَقِّ قَد مِتنا كِراما
And bear witness on the Day of Mutual Calling that we
And bear witness on the day we are called
Have died with honor in the cause of truth.
That we died with honor in the cause of truth.
مادَتِswayed الأَرضُthe earth بِناbeneath us حينَwhen اِنتَشَتgrew drunk
مادَتِ الأَرضُ بِنا حينَ اِنتَشَت
مِنfrom دَمِthe blood of القَتلىthe slain حَلالاًlawful وَحَراماand unlawful
مِن دَمِ القَتلى حَلالاً وَحَراما
The earth swayed beneath us when it grew drunk
The earth was saturated with the blood of the slain,
On the blood of the slain, lawful and unlawful alike.
Of the lawful and unlawful alike.
عَجِزَwere powerless الطُليانُthe Italians عَنagainst أَبطالِناour heroes
عَجِزَ الطُليانُ عَن أَبطالِنا
فَأَعَلّواso they slaked again مِنfrom ذَراريناour children الحُساماthe sword
فَأَعَلّوا مِن ذَرارينا الحُساما
The Italians were powerless against our heroes,
The Italians were helpless against our heroes,
So they made the sword drink again from our children.
So they whetted the swords of our children.
كَبَّلوهُمthey shackled them قَتَلوهُمthey killed them مَثَّلواthey inflicted mutilation
كَبَّلوهُم قَتَلوهُم مَثَّلوا
بِذَواتِupon the women of الخِدرِthe curtained chamber طاحواthey wreaked ruin بِاليَتامىupon the orphans
بِذَواتِ الخِدرِ طاحوا بِاليَتامى
They shackled them, killed them, mutilated
They shackled them, killed them, mutilated
Women in their curtained chambers, and struck down the orphans.
The chaste, and wreaked havoc on the orphans.
ذَبَحواthey slaughtered الأَشياخَthe aged وَالزَمنىand the disabled وَلَمand did not
ذَبَحوا الأَشياخَ وَالزَمنى وَلَم
يَرحَمواshow mercy to طِفلاًa child وَلَمand did not يُبقواleave alive غُلاماa boy
يَرحَموا طِفلاً وَلَم يُبقوا غُلاما
They slaughtered the aged and the disabled, and did not
They slaughtered the old and the infirm, and showed
Show mercy to a child, nor leave a boy alive.
No mercy to infants or youth.
أَحرَقواthey burned الدورَthe houses اِستَحَلّواthey deemed lawful كُلَّall ماthat
أَحرَقوا الدورَ اِستَحَلّوا كُلَّ ما
حَرَّمَتforbade لاهايُThe Hague فيin العَهدِthe treaty اِحتِراماout of respect
حَرَّمَت لاهايُ في العَهدِ اِحتِراما
They burned the houses, deemed lawful all that
They burned down homes and deemed lawful all
The Hague had forbidden by treaty, out of respect.
That God had forbidden them to violate.
بارَكَblessed المَطرانُthe metropolitan bishop فيin أَعمالِهِمtheir deeds
بارَكَ المَطرانُ في أَعمالِهِم
فَسَلوهُso ask him بارَكَhe blessed القَومَthe people عَلاماfor what?
فَسَلوهُ بارَكَ القَومَ عَلاما
The metropolitan bishop blessed their deeds;
The bishop blessed their deeds,
So ask him: what did he bless these people for?
So they made him their prelate and sign.
أَبِهَذاwith this? جاءَهُمcame to them إِنجيلُهُمtheir Gospel
أَبِهَذا جاءَهُم إِنجيلُهُم
آمِراًcommanding يُلقيit spreads عَلىupon الأَرضِthe earth سَلاماpeace
آمِراً يُلقي عَلى الأَرضِ سَلاما
Did their Gospel come to them with this,
Did their Bible command them
Commanding and spreading peace upon the earth?
To spread peace upon the earth?
كَشَفواthey revealed عَنabout نِيَّةِthe intention of الغَربِthe West لَناto us
كَشَفوا عَن نِيَّةِ الغَربِ لَنا
وَجَلَواand they cleared عَنfrom أُفُقِthe horizon of الشَرقِthe East الظَلاماthe darkness
وَجَلَوا عَن أُفُقِ الشَرقِ الظَلاما
They revealed to us the West's intent,
They revealed the West's intentions toward us,
And cleared the darkness from the East's horizon.
And removed the darkness from the East's horizon.
فَقَرَأناهاso we read it سُطوراًas lines مِنof دَمٍblood
فَقَرَأناها سُطوراً مِن دَمٍ
أَقسَمَتit swore تَلتَهِمُit devours الشَرقَthe East اِلتِهاماutterly
أَقسَمَت تَلتَهِمُ الشَرقَ اِلتِهاما
So we read it in lines of blood:
So we read it in lines of blood
It swore to devour the East utterly.
That swore to devour the East ravenously.
أَطلَقواthey launched الأُسطولَthe fleet فيinto البَحرِthe sea كَماjust as
أَطلَقوا الأُسطولَ في البَحرِ كَما
يُطلِقُreleases الزاجِلُthe pigeon-keeper فيinto الجَوِّthe air الحَماماthe pigeons
يُطلِقُ الزاجِلُ في الجَوِّ الحَماما
They launched the fleet upon the sea, just as
They unleashed the fleet in the sea
A pigeon-keeper releases pigeons into the air.
As a messenger looses his pigeons in the sky.
فَمَضىso it went غَيرَnot بَعيدٍfar وَاِنثَنىand it turned back
فَمَضى غَيرَ بَعيدٍ وَاِنثَنى
يَحمِلُcarrying الأَنباءَthe news شُؤماًmisfortune وَاِنهِزاماand defeat
يَحمِلُ الأَنباءَ شُؤماً وَاِنهِزاما
So it went only a little way, then turned back,
It sailed not far before it turned back,
Bearing tidings of misfortune and defeat.
Bearing tidings of woe and defeat.
قَدindeed مَلَأناwe filled البَرَّthe land مِنwith أَشلائِهِمtheir torn limbs
قَد مَلَأنا البَرَّ مِن أَشلائِهِم
فَدَعوهُمso let them يَملَئواfill الدُنياthe world كَلاماwith talk
فَدَعوهُم يَملَئوا الدُنيا كَلاما
We have filled the land with their torn limbs;
We filled the land with their body parts;
So let them fill the world with talk.
Let them fill the world with empty words!
أَعلَنواthey declared الحَربَwar وَأَضمَرناand we secretly intended لَهُمfor them
أَعلَنوا الحَربَ وَأَضمَرنا لَهُم
أَينَماwherever حَلّواthey landed هَلاكاًdestruction وَاِختِراماand death
أَينَما حَلّوا هَلاكاً وَاِختِراما
They declared war, and we secretly planned for them
They declared war, and we resolved
Destruction and death wherever they landed.
To bring them perdition wherever they landed.
خَبِّرواtell فِكتورَVictor عَنّاon our behalf أَنَّهُthat he
خَبِّروا فِكتورَ عَنّا أَنَّهُ
أَدهَشَastonished العالَمَthe world حَرباًin warfare وَنِظاماand discipline
أَدهَشَ العالَمَ حَرباً وَنِظاما
Tell Victor, on our behalf, that he
Tell Victor about us -
Has astonished the world in war and discipline.
How he amazed the world with war and order.
أَدهَشَastonished العالَمَthe world لَمّاwhen أَنthat رَأَواthey saw
أَدهَشَ العالَمَ لَمّا أَن رَأَوا
جَيشَهُhis army يَسبِقُoutstrips فيin الجَريِrunning النَعاماthe ostriches
جَيشَهُ يَسبِقُ في الجَريِ النَعاما
He astonished the world when they saw
How the world was stunned when they saw
His army outrun the ostriches.
His army outrun ostriches.
لَمdid not يَقِفremain فيon البَرِّland إِلّاexcept رَيثَماlong enough to
لَم يَقِف في البَرِّ إِلّا رَيثَما
يُسلِمُyield up الأَرواحَthe lives أَوor يُلقيcast away الزِماماthe reins
يُسلِمُ الأَرواحَ أَو يُلقي الزِماما
It remained on land only long enough
It would stop on land only long enough
To yield up its lives or cast away the reins.
To surrender souls or drop the reins.
حاتِمَO Hatim الطُليانِof the Italians قَدindeed قَلَّدتَناyou bestowed upon us
حاتِمَ الطُليانِ قَد قَلَّدتَنا
مِنَّةًa favor نَذكُرُهاwe remember it عاماًa year فَعاماthen another year
مِنَّةً نَذكُرُها عاماً فَعاما
O Hatim of the Italians, you have bestowed upon us
O Hated of the Italians, you have obliged us
A favor we remember year after year.
With a kindness we will recall for years to come.
أَنتَyou أَهدَيتَyou gifted إِلَيناto us عُدَّةًequipment
أَنتَ أَهدَيتَ إِلَينا عُدَّةً
وَلِباساًand clothing وَشَراباًand drink وَطَعاماand food
وَلِباساً وَشَراباً وَطَعاما
You gave us equipment,
You have given us equipment,
And clothing, and drink, and food,
Clothing, drink, and food,
وَسِلاحاًand weapons كانَwas فيin أَيديكُمُyour hands
وَسِلاحاً كانَ في أَيديكُمُ
ذاpossessing كَلالٍbluntness فَغَداthen it became يَفريit cleaves العِظاماthe bones
ذا كَلالٍ فَغَدا يَفري العِظاما
And weapons which in your hands
And weapons that in your hands
Were blunt, but came to cleave bones.
Had lost their edge but served us well,
أَكثِرواtake more النُزهَةَoutings فيin أَحيائِناour settlements
أَكثِروا النُزهَةَ في أَحيائِنا
وَرُباناand our hills إِنَّهاindeed it تَشفيcures السَقاماsickness
وَرُبانا إِنَّها تَشفي السَقاما
Take more outings through our settlements
Take your walks in our neighborhoods,
And our hills: such outings cure sickness.
And thank God they have cured your illnesses.
وَأَقيمواand hold كُلَّevery عامٍyear مَوسِماًa festival
وَأَقيموا كُلَّ عامٍ مَوسِماً
يُشبِعُsatiates الأَيتامَthe orphans مِنّاamong us وَالأَيامىand the widows
يُشبِعُ الأَيتامَ مِنّا وَالأَيامى
And hold a festival every year
And hold each year a feast
That feeds our orphans and widows to their fill.
To nourish our orphans and widows.
لَستُI do not أَدريknow بِتَّyou have come to تَرعىshepherd أُمَّةٍa nation
لَستُ أَدري بِتَّ تَرعى أُمَّةٍ
مِنof بَنيthe sons of التَليانِthe Italians أَمor تَرعىyou shepherd سَواماgrazing livestock
مِن بَني التَليانِ أَم تَرعى سَواما
I do not know: have you come to shepherd a nation
I know not what nation you shepherd -
Of Italians, or are you shepherding grazing herds?
The Italian people or stray cattle.
ماwhat لَهُمwith them وَالنَصرُand victory مِنamong عاداتِهِمtheir habits
ما لَهُم وَالنَصرُ مِن عاداتِهِم
لَزِمواthey clung to الساحِلَthe coast خَوفاًout of fear وَاِعتِصاماand for protection
لَزِموا الساحِلَ خَوفاً وَاِعتِصاما
What ails them, when victory is their custom?
Since when is victory among your customs?
They clung to the coast in fear and for protection.
You clung to the coast in fear and for protection.
أَفلَتواthey escaped مِنfrom نارِthe fire of فيزوفَVesuvius إِلىto
أَفلَتوا مِن نارِ فيزوفَ إِلى
نارِthe fire of حَربٍa war لَمnot تَكُنwas أَدنىless ضِراماin blazing
نارِ حَربٍ لَم تَكُن أَدنى ضِراما
They escaped from Vesuvius's fire into
You escaped the fire of Vesuvius
The fire of a war that blazed no less fiercely.
Only to enter the flames of a war less merciful.
لَمnot يَكُنwas فيزوفُVesuvius أَدهىmore dreadful حِمَماًin its lava
لَم يَكُن فيزوفُ أَدهى حِمَماً
مِنthan كُراتٍcannonballs تَنفُثُspewing المَوتَdeath الزُؤاماswift and terrible
مِن كُراتٍ تَنفُثُ المَوتَ الزُؤاما
Vesuvius was no more dreadful with its lava
Vesuvius was not so hellish
Than cannonballs spewing swift, terrible death.
As the shells that spewed lethal poison.
إيهِgo on ياO فيزوفُVesuvius نَمsleep عَنهُمaway from them فَقَدfor indeed
إيهِ يا فيزوفُ نَم عَنهُم فَقَد
نَفَضَتhas shaken off إِفريقِياAfrica عَنهاfrom herself المَناماsleep
نَفَضَت إِفريقِيا عَنها المَناما
Come now, Vesuvius, sleep and leave them be, for
O Vesuvius, stop protecting them,
Africa has shaken off her sleep.
For Africa has shaken off its slumber!
فَهيَso she is بُركانٌa volcano لَهُمagainst them سَخَّرَهُHe harnessed it
فَهيَ بُركانٌ لَهُم سَخَّرَهُ
مالِكُthe Master of المُلكِdominion جَزاءًas requital وَاِنتِقاماand vengeance
مالِكُ المُلكِ جَزاءً وَاِنتِقاما
So she is a volcano against them, harnessed by
It is a volcano God has placed at their disposal
The Master of dominion for requital and vengeance.
As a punishment and vengeance.
لَوif دَرَواthey had known ماwhat خَبَّأَhad hidden الشَرقُthe East لَهُمfor them
لَو دَرَوا ما خَبَّأَ الشَرقُ لَهُم
آثَرواthey preferred فيزوفَVesuvius وَاِختارواand they chose المُقاماstaying
آثَروا فيزوفَ وَاِختاروا المُقاما
Had they known what the East had hidden for them,
Had they known the East's hidden might,
They would have preferred Vesuvius and chosen to stay.
They would have preferred Vesuvius as their abode.
تِلكَthat عُقبىthe fate of أُمَّةٍa nation غادِرَةٍtreacherous
تِلكَ عُقبى أُمَّةٍ غادِرَةٍ
تَنكُثُbreaks العَهدَthe covenant وَلاand does not تَرعىhonor الذِماماpledges
تَنكُثُ العَهدَ وَلا تَرعى الذِماما
Such is the fate of a treacherous nation
Such is the recompense of a treacherous nation
That breaks its covenant and honors no pledges.
That violates its pacts and covenants,
تِلكَthat عُقبىthe fate of كُلِّevery جَبّارٍtyrant طَغىtransgressed
تِلكَ عُقبى كُلِّ جَبّارٍ طَغى
أَوor تَعالىgrew haughty أَوor عَنِto الحَقِّthe truth تَعامىfeigned blindness
أَو تَعالى أَو عَنِ الحَقِّ تَعامى
Such is the fate of every tyrant who transgresses,
The recompense of every tyrant who oppresses,
Or grows haughty, or feigns blindness to the truth.
Transcends bounds, or is heedless of truth.
لَوif دَرَتhad known رومَةُRome ماwhat قَدindeed نابَهاhad befallen her
لَو دَرَت رومَةُ ما قَد نابَها
فيin طَرابُلسَTripoli أَبَتshe refused إِلّاexcept اِنقِساماdivision
في طَرابُلسَ أَبَت إِلّا اِنقِساما
Had Rome known what had befallen her
Had Rome known what befell it
In Tripoli, she would have accepted nothing but division.
In Tripoli, it would have opted for division,
وَأَبىand refused كُلُّevery اِشتِراكِيٍّsocialist بِهاin her
وَأَبى كُلُّ اِشتِراكِيٍّ بِها
أَنto يَرىsee التاجَthe crown عَلىupon رَأسٍa head أَقاماremained
أَن يَرى التاجَ عَلى رَأسٍ أَقاما
And every socialist there would have refused
And every socialist among them
To see the crown remain upon a head.
Would have refused to see a crown on a head.
أَعلَنواthey proclaimed ضَمَّthe annexation of مَغانيناour dwelling places إِلىto
أَعلَنوا ضَمَّ مَغانينا إِلى
مُلكِthe realm of فِكتورَVictor وَلَمand did not يَخشَواfear مَلاماreproach
مُلكِ فِكتورَ وَلَم يَخشَوا مَلاما
They announced the annexation of our lands to
They declared annexation of our ports
Victor's realm, without fearing reproach.
To Victor's kingdom, heedless of blame.
أَعلَنواthey proclaimed الضَمَّannexation وَلَمّاand not yet يَفتَحواhad conquered
أَعلَنوا الضَمَّ وَلَمّا يَفتَحوا
قَيدَthe breadth of أُظفورٍa fingernail وَراءًbehind أَوor أَماماahead
قَيدَ أُظفورٍ وَراءً أَو أَماما
They proclaimed annexation, though they had not yet conquered
They declared annexation without first
Even a fingernail's breadth, behind or ahead.
Unlocking a single claw before or behind.
فَاِعجَبواso marvel مِنat فاتِحٍa conqueror ذيpossessing مِرَّةٍstrength
فَاِعجَبوا مِن فاتِحٍ ذي مِرَّةٍ
يَحسَبُhe counts النُزهَةَan outing فيon البَحرِthe sea صِداماas combat
يَحسَبُ النُزهَةَ في البَحرِ صِداما
So marvel at a conqueror of such might,
They were amazed that a seasoned conqueror
Who counts an outing at sea as combat,
Would think a stroll by sea a collision,
وَيَرىand he regards الفَتحَconquest اِدِّعاءًas a claim باطِلاًfalse
وَيَرى الفَتحَ اِدِّعاءً باطِلاً
وَاِفتِراءًand fabrication وَاِحتِجاجاًand protest وَاِحتِكاماand recourse to arbitration
وَاِفتِراءً وَاِحتِجاجاً وَاِحتِكاما
And regards conquest as a baseless claim,
And consider their empty annexation claim
And fabrication, protest, and recourse to arbitration.
Absurd, false, and warranting arbitration.
أَيُّهاO الحائِرُthe bewildered one فيat البَحرِthe sea اِقتَرِبdraw near
أَيُّها الحائِرُ في البَحرِ اِقتَرِب
مِنto حِمىthe protected domain of البُسفورِthe Bosporus إِنif كُنتَyou are هُماماvaliant
مِن حِمى البُسفورِ إِن كُنتَ هُماما
O you bewildered at sea, draw near
You who are lost at sea, approach
To the Bosporus's protected domain, if you are valiant.
The Bosphorus' sanctuary if you are so inclined!
كَمhow often سَمِعناwe heard عَنfrom لِسانِthe tongue of البَرقِlightning ماwhat
كَم سَمِعنا عَن لِسانِ البَرقِ ما
يُزعِجُalarms الدُنياthe world إِذاwhen الأُسطولُthe fleet عاماsails
يُزعِجُ الدُنيا إِذا الأُسطولُ عاما
How often we have heard, from lightning's tongue, what
How often have we heard the lightning report
Alarms the world whenever the fleet sets sail!
What alarmed the world when the navy stirred.
عامَit sailed شَهرَينِtwo months وَلَمand did not يَفتَحopen سِوىexcept
عامَ شَهرَينِ وَلَم يَفتَح سِوى
هُوَّةٍa chasm فيهاinto it المَلايينُmillions تَرامىtumbled
هُوَّةٍ فيها المَلايينُ تَرامى
It sailed for two months, yet opened nothing but
Two months have passed and it opened up nothing but
A chasm into which millions tumbled.
A gulf into which millions were made to plunge.
دَفَنواthey buried تاريخَهُمtheir history فيat قاعِهاits bottom
دَفَنوا تاريخَهُم في قاعِها
وَرَمَواand they flung فيin إِثرِهِits wake المَجدَglory غُلاماa boy
وَرَمَوا في إِثرِهِ المَجدَ غُلاما
They buried their history at its bottom,
They buried their history in its depths
And flung glory, still a boy, after it.
And cast their glory in after it, ungrown.
فَاِطمَئِنّيso be reassured أُمَمَO nations of الشَرقِthe East وَلاand do not
فَاِطمَئِنّي أُمَمَ الشَرقِ وَلا
تَقنَطيdespair اليَومَtoday فَإِنَّfor indeed الجَدَّgood fortune قاماhas risen
تَقنَطي اليَومَ فَإِنَّ الجَدَّ قاما
So be at ease, O nations of the East, and do not
So be reassured, O nations of the East,
Despair today, for good fortune has arisen.
For effort arose today, so do not despair.
إِنَّindeed فيwithin أَضلاعِناour ribs آفئِدَةًhearts
إِنَّ في أَضلاعِنا آفئِدَةً
تَعشَقُlove passionately المَجدَglory وَتَأبىand refuse أَنto تُضاماbe wronged
تَعشَقُ المَجدَ وَتَأبى أَن تُضاما
Indeed, within our ribs are hearts
In our ribs are hearts
That love glory and refuse to be wronged.
That love glory and refuse to be suppressed.
Sol 6.1