في حلقة الندىّ قام مصقعُ

في حلقة الندىّ قام مصقعُ

صنْوُ كمالٍ بالدليلِ يصدعُ

صنْوُ كمالٍ بالدليلِ يصدعُ

In the assembly's circle, an eloquent orator rose,

In the circle of dew, the preacher stood

A peer of Kamal, speaking out with proof.

The paragon of perfection, proof in hand

يعرب عن إيمانِ أهل مصرِ

يعرب عن إيمانِ أهل مصرِ

وكيف كان شأوهم في الفكرُ

وكيف كان شأوهم في الفكرُ

He spoke of the faith of Egypt's people,

Speaking of the faith of Egypt’s people

And how far they had advanced in thought.

And what their thoughts and minds demand

فطلب الزكيُّ ممن سمعوا

فطلب الزكيُّ ممن سمعوا

تلخيص ما قال الخطيبِ الأروعُ

تلخيص ما قال الخطيبِ الأروعُ

Then al-Zaki asked those who had listened

So the virtuous one asked those who heard

To summarize what the splendid orator had said.

To summarize what the best speaker said

ووعد الفائز في المضمارِ

ووعد الفائز في المضمارِ

بعشرةٍ تسطع كالدراري

بعشرةٍ تسطع كالدراري

And promised the winner on the racecourse

And promised the winner in this race

Ten coins shining like brilliant stars.

Ten gold coins that shine and blaze

رنينها يشحذ منه العزمهْ

رنينها يشحذ منه العزمهْ

وصرفها يرصف عنهُ الأزمهْ

وصرفها يرصف عنهُ الأزمهْ

Their ringing sharpens his resolve,

Their ringing would sharpen his resolve

And spending them smooths away his hardship.

Their spending would free him from life's tolls

فقام للسبق ثلاثةٌ عشرْ

فقام للسبق ثلاثةٌ عشرْ

وقدموا أوراقهم على الأثرْ

وقدموا أوراقهم على الأثرْ

Then thirteen rose to compete,

So thirteen stood up for the race

And submitted their papers straightaway.

And presented their papers posthaste

وظن كلٌ أنه أحقُّ

وظن كلٌ أنه أحقُّ

والبعضُ من هذي الظنون حق

والبعضُ من هذي الظنون حق

And each thought himself the most deserving,

Each thought he was the most deserving

And some of these beliefs were true.

And some of these notions were true and serving