باتَتْ مُعانِقَتِي ولكن في الكَرى

باتَتْ مُعانِقَتِي ولكن في الكَرى

أَتُرى دَرَى ذاكَ الرَّقيبُ لما جَرى

أَتُرى دَرَى ذاكَ الرَّقيبُ لما جَرى

She spent the night embracing me, but only in sleep.

She embraced me, but secretly

I wonder: did that watcher know what happened?

Did that watcher realize what happened?

ونَعم دَرى لَمَّا رأَى في بُردَتِي

ونَعم دَرى لَمَّا رأَى في بُردَتِي

ردعاً وشمَّ مِن الثِّيابِ العَنْبَرا

ردعاً وشمَّ مِن الثِّيابِ العَنْبَرا

Yes, he knew, when he saw in my cloak

Yes he did, when he saw my cloak

a perfume stain, and smelled ambergris from the clothes.

Scented with ambergris.

طيفٌ تخطَّى الهولَ حتَّى يَشْترِي

طيفٌ تخطَّى الهولَ حتَّى يَشْترِي

بيتَ الحَشَا وقد اشْتَرى وقد اجْتَرا

بيتَ الحَشَا وقد اشْتَرى وقد اجْتَرا

A dream-phantom crossed the terrors, seeking to buy

A specter crossed terrifying valleys

my heart's dwelling; it bought it, and dared.

To buy a love nest, and bought one indeed.

ما زارَ إِلاَّ في نَهارِ جَبينهِ

ما زارَ إِلاَّ في نَهارِ جَبينهِ

فأَقولُ سَار ولا أَقولُ له سَرى

فأَقولُ سَار ولا أَقولُ له سَرى

It visited only in the daylight of its brow,

He only came at dawn,

so I say it traveled, not that it journeyed by night.

So I say he departed, not that he crept away.

يا عينُ صرتِ بمن حَوَيْتِ مَدينةً

يا عينُ صرتِ بمن حَوَيْتِ مَدينةً

ولكم مضَى زَمنٌ وأَنت من القُرى

ولكم مضَى زَمنٌ وأَنت من القُرى

O eye, you have become a city through the one you held;

Oh eye, you were a city for the one you harbored,

how long you spent as one of the villages!

Though ages have passed while you are in the villages.

بأَبي وأُمِّي من حَلَمْتُ بذكرها

بأَبي وأُمِّي من حَلَمْتُ بذكرها

لمّا انتبهتُ ومُذ رَقَدْتُ تَفَسَّرا

لمّا انتبهتُ ومُذ رَقَدْتُ تَفَسَّرا

I would ransom with my father and mother her whose mention made me dream

By my father and mother, when I dreamed of them

when I awoke; once I slept, that dream was interpreted.

And woke up, they had wandered far away.

عُلِّقتها بيضاءَ سمراءَ الَّلمى

عُلِّقتها بيضاءَ سمراءَ الَّلمى

أَسمعتَ في الدُّنيا بأَبيضَ أَسْمَرا

أَسمعتَ في الدُّنيا بأَبيضَ أَسْمَرا

I fell in love with her: fair-skinned, dark of lip.

I imagined her white, tan-skinned,

Have you ever heard of a fair one who is dark?

Did you ever hear of a white, tan woman?

ومِن الْعَجَائِب أَنَّ ماءَ رُضَابِها

ومِن الْعَجَائِب أَنَّ ماءَ رُضَابِها

حُلْوٌ ويخرجُ حين تبسم جَوْهَرَا

حُلْوٌ ويخرجُ حين تبسم جَوْهَرَا

Among the wonders is that the water of her saliva

It is wondrous that the water of her mouth

is sweet, and comes forth as jewels when she smiles.

Is sweet, and pearls flow out when she smiles.

إِني لأَعْشَقُها وما أَبْصَرْتُها

إِني لأَعْشَقُها وما أَبْصَرْتُها

فالشَّمسُ يمنعُ نورَها أَن تُبصرَا

فالشَّمسُ يمنعُ نورَها أَن تُبصرَا

I truly love her, though I have never seen her;

I love her without seeing her,

the sun's own light prevents it from being seen.

For the sun prevents its light from being seen.

ويَروعُني في كُلِّ وقتٍ دُرُّها

ويَروعُني في كُلِّ وقتٍ دُرُّها

فإِذا اعتنقْنا خِفْتُ أَن يَتَنَثَّرا

فإِذا اعتنقْنا خِفْتُ أَن يَتَنَثَّرا

Her pearls startle me at every moment;

Her pearls always startle me,

when we embrace, I fear they may scatter.

For when we embrace, I fear they will scatter.

أَشكو إِليها رِقَّتي لِترقَّ لِي

أَشكو إِليها رِقَّتي لِترقَّ لِي

فتقول تطمعُ بي وأَنت كما تَرى

فتقول تطمعُ بي وأَنت كما تَرى

I complain to her of my frailty, hoping she will pity me.

I complain of my weakness so she may have mercy,

She says: You aspire to me, looking as you do!

But she says, “You want me as you are now?”

وإِذا بكيتُ دماً تقولُ شمتّ بِي

وإِذا بكيتُ دماً تقولُ شمتّ بِي

يومَ النَّوى فصبغتَ دمْعَك أَحْمَرا

يومَ النَّوى فصبغتَ دمْعَك أَحْمَرا

When I weep blood, she says: You gloated over me

And when I weep blood, she says, “Be happy,

on the day of parting, so you dyed your tears red.

You dyed your tears red the day we parted.”

من شاءَ يمنحها الغَرامَ فدونَه

من شاءَ يمنحها الغَرامَ فدونَه

هَذِي خَلائِقُها بتخيير الشَّرا

هَذِي خَلائِقُها بتخيير الشَّرا

Whoever wishes to bestow passion on her, here before him

Whoever wants can give her passion—that is her way,

are her ways; he may choose whether to buy.

She chooses evil over good.

يا من سبى في الحسنِ عبلةَ عبدةً

يا من سبى في الحسنِ عبلةَ عبدةً

رفْقاً عليَّ فليسَ قلبي عنترَا

رفْقاً عليَّ فليسَ قلبي عنترَا

O you whose beauty took Abla as a slave,

Oh you who blamed passion itself for my love of a slave girl,

be gentle with me: my heart is no Antara.

Be gentle with me, for my heart is no warrior.

غادَرْتَنِي والصَّيرُ مَشدودُ الوِكا

غادَرْتَنِي والصَّيرُ مَشدودُ الوِكا

وغدرتَ بي والدَّمعُ محلولُ العُرا

وغدرتَ بي والدَّمعُ محلولُ العُرا

You left me, patience bound tightly shut [reading uncertain],

You left me while my eyelids were swollen with tears

and betrayed me, while tears had their bonds undone.

And betrayed me while my tears flowed.

وجعلتَ قلبي بالهمومِ مُزمَّلاً

وجعلتَ قلبي بالهمومِ مُزمَّلاً

إِذْ كان جَفْنُك بالفتورِ مُدثَّرا

إِذْ كان جَفْنُك بالفتورِ مُدثَّرا

You wrapped my heart in sorrows,

You made my heart wrapped in worries

while your eyelid was cloaked in languor.

While your eyelids were veiled in indifference.

وفتحتَ أَبواب السُّهادِ لناظري

وفتحتَ أَبواب السُّهادِ لناظري

وجعلتَ ليلي بالنجوم مُسمَّرا

وجعلتَ ليلي بالنجوم مُسمَّرا

You opened the gates of sleeplessness to my eye,

You opened the gates of sleeplessness for my eyes

and nailed my night in place with stars.

And made my night starry.

فمتى أَقولُ جوانحي بك قد هَدت

فمتى أَقولُ جوانحي بك قد هَدت

فمدامِعي رجَعت عليك إِلى وَرا

فمدامِعي رجَعت عليك إِلى وَرا

When shall I say: My heart has grown quiet through you,

So when can I say my wings have landed on you?

and my tears for you have turned back?

For my tears return to you over and over.

لو شاءَ من ملك الشآم بسيفهِ

لو شاءَ من ملك الشآم بسيفهِ

لأَراحَني منها بأَحسنَ مَنْظَرا

لأَراحَني منها بأَحسنَ مَنْظَرا

If he who conquered al-Sham with his sword wished,

If the King of Syria willed with his sword,

he would relieve me of her with one fairer to behold:

He could relieve me—that would be the finest spectacle.

بسبيئةٍ سبت النفوسَ لأَنَّها

بسبيئةٍ سبت النفوسَ لأَنَّها

لم تُسبَ إِلاَّ من مَقاصِر قيصَرا

لم تُسبَ إِلاَّ من مَقاصِر قيصَرا

a captive maiden who captured souls, for she

Sabiya derided souls unworthy of her

was taken only from Caesar's private chambers.

For she would not deride any but Caesar’s heirs.

حَميتْ لها الهيجاءُ حتَّى استخرجَت

حَميتْ لها الهيجاءُ حتَّى استخرجَت

ظبياً يُدافِع عنه آسادُ الشَّرى

ظبياً يُدافِع عنه آسادُ الشَّرى

The battle grew fierce for her, until it brought forth

For her the wild beasts roared until

a gazelle guarded by the lions of al-Shara.

A young gazelle came out, protected by lions.

فإِذا انْثَنَتْ أَبصرتَ منها بانة

فإِذا انْثَنَتْ أَبصرتَ منها بانة

وإِذا رَنَت أَبصرتَ منها جُؤذُرا

وإِذا رَنَت أَبصرتَ منها جُؤذُرا

When she sways, you see in her a bān tree;

Bent over, you see in her a crescent moon,

when she gazes, you see in her a young wild ox.

Erect, you see in her a young gazelle.

وإِذا اختبرتَ فقد وجدت مؤَنثاً

وإِذا اختبرتَ فقد وجدت مؤَنثاً

وإِذا نَظرتَ فقد نَظَرت مُذكَّرَا

وإِذا نَظرتَ فقد نَظَرت مُذكَّرَا

If you examine her, you find a female;

Examined, you find her feminine,

if you look, you behold a male.

Viewed, you see her masculine.

ويكاد يَجْحدُ خدُّها نسباً لها

ويكاد يَجْحدُ خدُّها نسباً لها

إِذ لا يرى لا زال أحمر أصفر

إِذ لا يرى لا زال أحمر أصفر

Her cheek almost disowns its kinship with her,

Her cheek nearly denies its lineage to her,

for it is not seen yellow—may it never cease to be red.

For it sees no mole, red or yellow.

ويعود قلبي بالمرة عامراً

ويعود قلبي بالمرة عامراً

إذ صَارَ قلبي بالملاَحةِ أَعْمَرَا

إذ صَارَ قلبي بالملاَحةِ أَعْمَرَا

My heart fills with bile once more,

And my heart becomes full of life again

since beauty has filled my heart still more.

As playfulness makes my heart grow lively.

وأَفُكُّ عنها القيد وهو ذوائب

وأَفُكُّ عنها القيد وهو ذوائب

أعيت بكثرة شعرها أن تضفرا

أعيت بكثرة شعرها أن تضفرا

I loose from her the fetter, which is locks of hair

I unleash her tresses, though they are plaited,

too abundant to be braided.

Tired of gathering her abundant hair to braid.

وتعود في أَسرِ العِناق ومثلُها

وتعود في أَسرِ العِناق ومثلُها

ما كانَ إِلاَّ بالعِناق لِيُؤْسَرا

ما كانَ إِلاَّ بالعِناق لِيُؤْسَرا

She returns to captivity in an embrace; one like her

She returns to the prison of my embrace—she is like none but those

could be captured only by an embrace.

Who are destined to be confined in an embrace.

وتُبيحني مِنها الرُّضَابَ لأَنَّها

وتُبيحني مِنها الرُّضَابَ لأَنَّها

مِمَّن يدين بأَن يَحلَّ المُسْكِرَا

مِمَّن يدين بأَن يَحلَّ المُسْكِرَا

She grants me her sweet saliva, because she

She allows me to kiss her mouth, for she is one

is among those who hold intoxicants lawful.

Who believes wine should be freely tasted.

وأَقومُ من فَرط المسرَّة مُنِشِداً

وأَقومُ من فَرط المسرَّة مُنِشِداً

شِعري وغَايَةُ عاشق أَن يُشعِرَا

شِعري وغَايَةُ عاشق أَن يُشعِرَا

I rise, from overwhelming joy, reciting

I rise drunkenly reciting my poetry,

my verse; a lover's utmost aim is to give voice in verse.

For a lover's utmost joy is to express passion.

آنستُ نارَ الخدِّ لا نارَ القِرى

آنستُ نارَ الخدِّ لا نارَ القِرى

وحَمِدتُ صُبحَ الثَّغرِ لا صُبحَ السُّرَى

وحَمِدتُ صُبحَ الثَّغرِ لا صُبحَ السُّرَى

I perceived the fire of the cheek, not hospitality's fire;

I delighted in the fire of her cheek, not the fire of encampments,

I praised the dawn of the mouth, not dawn after night travel.

And I praised the dawn of her face, not the dawn of homelands.

ووصفتُ جودَ أَبي عليٍ وحده

ووصفتُ جودَ أَبي عليٍ وحده

وأَنفتُ أَن أَصِفَ الغمامَ المُمْطِرا

وأَنفتُ أَن أَصِفَ الغمامَ المُمْطِرا

I described Abu Ali's generosity alone,

I described the generosity of my father Ali alone,

and disdained to describe the rain-bearing cloud.

Refusing to describe even a rain cloud.

ذاك الكريمُ وإِن سمعت بغيرِه

ذاك الكريمُ وإِن سمعت بغيرِه

خُذْ ما تراه وعَدِّ عمَّن لا تَرى

خُذْ ما تراه وعَدِّ عمَّن لا تَرى

He is the generous one; though you have heard of another,

That generous man—if you hear of another,

take what you see, and pass over those you do not see.

Take what you see and ignore what you do not.

وإِذا سأَلْتَ مَنْ الكريمُ فإِنَّه

وإِذا سأَلْتَ مَنْ الكريمُ فإِنَّه

عبدُ الرَّحيم وإِنَّه مولى الوَرَى

عبدُ الرَّحيم وإِنَّه مولى الوَرَى

If you ask who the generous one is, he is

When asked who is generous, the answer is

Abd al-Rahim, and he is the master of humankind.

The servant of the Merciful, and master of all creation.

يَخْتَارُ أَنْ يهبَ الخريدةَ كَاعِباً

يَخْتَارُ أَنْ يهبَ الخريدةَ كَاعِباً

والأَلْفَ أَلفاً والكلامَ مُجَوهَرا

والأَلْفَ أَلفاً والكلامَ مُجَوهَرا

He chooses to give the secluded maiden with budding breasts,

He chooses to give away riches while struggling,

thousands by the thousand, and jewel-studded words.

Thousands upon thousands, and his words are jewels.

فسوى مَنائِحه نوالٌ يُجْتَوى

فسوى مَنائِحه نوالٌ يُجْتَوى

وسوى مدائِحه حديثٌ يُفْتَرى

وسوى مدائِحه حديثٌ يُفْتَرى

Any bounty but his gifts is unwelcome;

So his praises are equal to fabricated tales,

any talk but his praises is fabricated.

And eulogies for him are like foolish talk.

يَقرى الضيوفَ شعاعَ تبرٍ أَحمرٍ

يَقرى الضيوفَ شعاعَ تبرٍ أَحمرٍ

فشعاعُ ذاك التبرِ نيرانُ القِرى

فشعاعُ ذاك التبرِ نيرانُ القِرى

He entertains guests with rays of red gold;

He hosts guests with beams of ruby red amber

the rays of that gold are hospitality's fires.

And that amber is the fire of encampments.

ولقد سمعتُ وما سمعتُ بواهبٍ

ولقد سمعتُ وما سمعتُ بواهبٍ

جلَّت مَواهبُ كَفِّه أَنْ تُشْكَرا

جلَّت مَواهبُ كَفِّه أَنْ تُشْكَرا

I have indeed heard, yet never of a giver

Truly, I never heard of one so generous

whose hand's gifts were too great to be thanked.

That his gifts could ever fully be thanked.

ولَقَد رَأَيْتُ وما رَأَيتُ كَقَادِرٍ

ولَقَد رَأَيْتُ وما رَأَيتُ كَقَادِرٍ

يسعى لخِدمَتهِ القضاءُ مُقَدَّرا

يسعى لخِدمَتهِ القضاءُ مُقَدَّرا

I have indeed seen, yet never one so powerful

Truly, I never saw one so able

that destiny hastens to serve him, as decreed.

That Fate itself eagerly served him.

قمرٌ تُعدُّ له المَجَرَّةُ مورِداً

قمرٌ تُعدُّ له المَجَرَّةُ مورِداً

والأُفقُ داراً والكواكبُ معشراً

والأُفقُ داراً والكواكبُ معشراً

A moon, for whom the Milky Way is reckoned a watering place,

A moon for whom the galaxy is a watering hole,

the horizon a home, and the stars a company.

The horizon his abode, and the stars his company.

بلغ السماءَ معالياً ومكارِماً

بلغ السماءَ معالياً ومكارِماً

ظهرت ويبلغُ فوق ذلك مَظْهرا

ظهرت ويبلغُ فوق ذلك مَظْهرا

He reached the sky in lofty deeds and noble virtues

He reached the heavens in glory and kindness—

made manifest; his splendor reaches higher still.

Apparent, though he will reach even higher.

فضلَ الملوكَ فصار يُسمى فاضلاً

فضلَ الملوكَ فصار يُسمى فاضلاً

صَغُروا لديه فصارَ يُدعى الأَكْبَرا

صَغُروا لديه فصارَ يُدعى الأَكْبَرا

He surpassed the kings, and so is called excellent;

He surpassed kings, so he is called the Excellent,

they grew small beside him, and so he is called the greatest.

They seemed small to him, so he is named the Greatest.

ويحطُّ أَلويةَ الملوكِ وإِنَّه

ويحطُّ أَلويةَ الملوكِ وإِنَّه

متكبِّرٌ عن أَن يُرى مُتَبختِرا

متكبِّرٌ عن أَن يُرى مُتَبختِرا

He lowers the kings' banners, yet he

He lowers the banners of kings—he disdains

is too proud to be seen swaggering.

To appear a vainglorious boaster.

فبقولِه حَدُّ الحسام مُفللاًّ

فبقولِه حَدُّ الحسام مُفللاًّ

وبرأْيه خدُّ الهزَبْر مُعَفَّرا

وبرأْيه خدُّ الهزَبْر مُعَفَّرا

By his words the sword's edge is blunted;

With his words, the blades of swords are blunted,

by his counsel the lion's cheek is dusted.

With his view, the edges of axes are dulled.

الرأْيُ أَبيضُ واليراع مسوِّدٌ

الرأْيُ أَبيضُ واليراع مسوِّدٌ

فيقومُ في حربِ العَدوّ مُشَهَّرا

فيقومُ في حربِ العَدوّ مُشَهَّرا

His counsel is white, and the reed pen blackens;

Opinion is white and perspective is black;

it stands brandished in war against the enemy.

He fiercely brandishes them in the war against the foe.

جَعلت براعتُه الكلامَ للفظه

جَعلت براعتُه الكلامَ للفظه

عبداً ولكنَّا نراهُ محرَّراً

عبداً ولكنَّا نراهُ محرَّراً

His mastery has made speech, at his words' command,

His skill made eloquence a slave to his words,

a slave; yet we see it liberated.

Yet we see it freed.

وسقى النَّدى من راحتيه يراعةً

وسقى النَّدى من راحتيه يراعةً

فلِذاك أَزْهر بالبيانِ وأَثْمرا

فلِذاك أَزْهر بالبيانِ وأَثْمرا

Generosity from his palms watered a reed pen,

Dew watered resolve from his hand,

so it blossomed with eloquence and bore fruit.

Therefore he flourishes with rhetoric and blooms with fruit.

كسر الصليبَ سميُّه من رَأيه

كسر الصليبَ سميُّه من رَأيه

فَسلِ العِدى مَن كان أَصْلب مَكْسِرا

فَسلِ العِدى مَن كان أَصْلب مَكْسِرا

His namesake broke the cross through his counsel;

With his judgment he broke the cross—

ask the foes who was harder to break.

Ask the enemy who was most staunch in destruction.

ولقد أَقرَّ اللهُ عينَ نبيِّه

ولقد أَقرَّ اللهُ عينَ نبيِّه

بمطهِّر جعلَ الشآمَ مُطَهَّرا

بمطهِّر جعلَ الشآمَ مُطَهَّرا

God indeed delighted His prophet's eye

God delighted the Prophet's eye

with a purifier who made al-Sham pure.

With one who purified Syria and cleansed it.

ما زال أَو جعلَ الكنيسة جامِعاً

ما زال أَو جعلَ الكنيسة جامِعاً

والأَنبلَ المخفوضَ مِنْها مِنْبَرا

والأَنبلَ المخفوضَ مِنْها مِنْبَرا

He never ceased until he made the church a congregational mosque,

He never rested, making churches into mosques

and its low lectern a pulpit.

And pulpits of the lowered crosses.

فُتح الشآمُ به وقال زمانُه

فُتح الشآمُ به وقال زمانُه

إِن كنتَ فاتحه فلن يتَغَيَّر

إِن كنتَ فاتحه فلن يتَغَيَّر

Al-Sham was conquered through him, and his age said:

Syria was opened by him, and his era said,

If you are its conqueror, it will never change.

If you opened it, it will never change.

الشامُ دارُك لو أَردتَ أَخَذْتَه

الشامُ دارُك لو أَردتَ أَخَذْتَه

بالإِرْت عن آبائِكَ الشُّم الذُّرا

بالإِرْت عن آبائِكَ الشُّم الذُّرا

Al-Sham is your home; had you wished, you could have taken it

O Sham, you are the abode—if you wished, you could take it

by inheritance from your lofty, high-crested ancestors.

By the sword from your fathers, the sharpened blades.

منه بزغْتَ فلا وكنت بدراً نيِّراً

منه بزغْتَ فلا وكنت بدراً نيِّراً

وبه طلعتَ فكنتَ صُبحاً مُسفراً

وبه طلعتَ فكنتَ صُبحاً مُسفراً

From it you rose—[phrase unclear]—and were a radiant full moon;

From it you shone, though you were a brilliant full moon,

in it you appeared, and were a shining dawn.

And in it you rose, though you were a radiant dawn.

وله ملكتَ فلا برحتَ مُملَّكاً

وله ملكتَ فلا برحتَ مُملَّكاً

وبه ظَفِرتَ فلا بَرِحتَ مظفَّراً

وبه ظَفِرتَ فلا بَرِحتَ مظفَّراً

For it you ruled: may you never cease to be vested with rule;

You ruled it eternally, never ceasing to reign,

through it you triumphed: may you never cease to be victorious.

And by it you conquered, never ceasing to triumph.

من مُبلغٌ بَيْسان سيدةَ القرى

من مُبلغٌ بَيْسان سيدةَ القرى

أَنَّ الهناءَ أَتَاكَ مِن أُمِّ القُرى

أَنَّ الهناءَ أَتَاكَ مِن أُمِّ القُرى

Who will tell Baysan, mistress of the towns,

Who can tell Bosra, the mistress of settlements,

that congratulations have reached you from Umm al-Qura?

That joy has come to you from the mother of settlements?

فلو استطاع البَيتُ أَرسلَ حِجرهُ

فلو استطاع البَيتُ أَرسلَ حِجرهُ

وفداً وأَرسلَ بالهناءِ المَشْعَرَا

وفداً وأَرسلَ بالهناءِ المَشْعَرَا

If the House could, it would send its Hijr

If only the House could send its stone

as a delegation, and send the Mash'ar with congratulations.

As a delegate, and send you greetings scented with musk.

ولقد أَعدتَ لعسقلانٍ رُوحه

ولقد أَعدتَ لعسقلانٍ رُوحه

ورَفَعْتَ شاهِقَه وكان مُدمَّرا

ورَفَعْتَ شاهِقَه وكان مُدمَّرا

You indeed restored Ascalon's spirit,

You restored life to Ascalon’s soul

and raised its lofty structure, once destroyed.

And raised up its towering height when it lay in ruins.

وأَدَمْتَ راحتَه فدُمْت مخلَّداً

وأَدَمْتَ راحتَه فدُمْت مخلَّداً

وعمرت ساحَته فَعِشْت مُعمِّرا

وعمرت ساحَته فَعِشْت مُعمِّرا

You made its repose endure: may you endure immortal;

You gave permanence to its tranquility, so you remain immortal,

you rebuilt its precinct: may you live long.

And rebuilt its domain, so you live forever.

كفر الشآمُ وعسقلانٌ مؤمنٌ

كفر الشآمُ وعسقلانٌ مؤمنٌ

حاشاه وهو عرينُه أَنْ يَكْفُرا

حاشاه وهو عرينُه أَنْ يَكْفُرا

Al-Sham disbelieved, while Ascalon was a believer;

Syria committed blasphemy—but Ascalon, never!

far be it, his lion's den, from disbelief.

Far be it! It is its den, it could not renounce faith.

ولكان مُؤمِنُ آلِ فرعون بهمْ

ولكان مُؤمِنُ آلِ فرعون بهمْ

إِذْ كان يُضمر ضِدَّ ما قدْ أَظْهرا

إِذْ كان يُضمر ضِدَّ ما قدْ أَظْهرا

It would have been the believer of Pharaoh's household among them,

Just like the believer among Pharaoh’s people kept secret

for it concealed the opposite of what it had shown.

Beliefs opposed to what he displayed.

فأَغَرْتَ مصرَ به وأَيسرُ حقِّها

فأَغَرْتَ مصرَ به وأَيسرُ حقِّها

أَن لا تغارَ وحقُّها أَن تَعْذِرا

أَن لا تغارَ وحقُّها أَن تَعْذِرا

You made Egypt jealous of it; the least of her rights

You captivated Egypt with it, though it deserved better,

is not to be jealous, and her right is that you excuse her.

For it should not resent but appreciate your rights over it.

فارقْتَ مصرَ وما استَحقَّت فُرقَةً

فارقْتَ مصرَ وما استَحقَّت فُرقَةً

وهجرتَ مِصرَ ومثلُها لَن تُهجَرا

وهجرتَ مِصرَ ومثلُها لَن تُهجَرا

You parted from Egypt, though she deserved no parting,

You left Egypt though it did not deserve separation,

and forsook Egypt, whose like will never be forsaken.

You abandoned Egypt, the like of which shall never be abandoned.

وتشوَّقَتْ فتذكَّرت ولقلَّما

وتشوَّقَتْ فتذكَّرت ولقلَّما

يُغني عن المشتاقِ أَنْ يتَذَكَّرا

يُغني عن المشتاقِ أَنْ يتَذَكَّرا

She longed, and so remembered; yet seldom

Egypt longed for you, remembering, though remembering seldom

does remembering avail one who longs.

Relieves one who yearns.

ما أَنتَ سيِّدُ أَهلِ مصرٍ وحدهم

ما أَنتَ سيِّدُ أَهلِ مصرٍ وحدهم

بل أَنتَ سيِّدُ كلِّ من وَطِئ الثَّرى

بل أَنتَ سيِّدُ كلِّ من وَطِئ الثَّرى

You are not the master of Egypt's people alone,

You are not just the master of the Egyptians,

but the master of all who have trodden the earth.

But the master of all who tread the earth!

حَسَدَت مَعالِيك الكرامُ بياسرٍ

حَسَدَت مَعالِيك الكرامُ بياسرٍ

ولطالَما حسدَ المُقِلُّ المُكْثِرا

ولطالَما حسدَ المُقِلُّ المُكْثِرا

The generous envied your lofty deeds, with Yasir [reading uncertain];

Your supreme virtues competed with Yasser in excellence—

how often the poor have envied the wealthy!

For the lesser envies the greater.

راموا اللَّحاق به فمنهم من وَنَى

راموا اللَّحاق به فمنهم من وَنَى

عجزاً ومنهم من جَرى فتعَثَّرا

عجزاً ومنهم من جَرى فتعَثَّرا

They sought to catch up with him; some grew weary

They aspired to catch up to you, so some fell back, helpless,

from incapacity, and some ran, then stumbled.

While others raced headlong only to stumble.

من رام شَأْو عُلاك عاشَ مغصَّصاً

من رام شَأْو عُلاك عاشَ مغصَّصاً

إِن عاشَ أَو إِن مات مات مُحسَّرا

إِن عاشَ أَو إِن مات مات مُحسَّرا

Whoever seeks to match your heights lives choking with grief,

Whoever aims for your lofty eminence lives embittered,

if he lives; or, if he dies, he dies consumed by regret.

Whether he lives or dies wretched.

الغيثُ أَنت وأَنتَ أَندى راحةً

الغيثُ أَنت وأَنتَ أَندى راحةً

والبدرُ أَنت وأَنتَ أَشرفُ عنصراً

والبدرُ أَنت وأَنتَ أَشرفُ عنصراً

You are the rain, yet more generous of hand;

You are the rain, the softest hand,

you are the full moon, yet nobler in essence.

You are the moon, the noblest element.