تحتbeneath عينthe gaze of الصباحthe morning والأنوارِand the lights
تحت عين الصباح والأنوارِ
ورقيقand the delicate الأنداءdews والأسحارِand predawn hours
ورقيق الأنداء والأسحارِ
Beneath the gaze of morning and the lights,
Under the eye of the morning and the lights
and the delicate dews and predawn hours,
And the gentle breezes and dawns
فيin حمىthe haven of سنتريسSantaris شبَّgrew up غلامٌa boy
في حمى سنتريس شبَّ غلامٌ
شاعريُّpoetic in الكلامspeech والأنظارِand glances
شاعريُّ الكلام والأنظارِ
in the haven of Santaris a boy grew up,
In the fever of Centris a young man grew
poetic in his speech and gaze.
A poet in speech and in sights
أزرقblue العينthe eye هادئcalm هدأةthe stillness of البحـthe sea (continued)
أزرق العين هادئ هدأة البحـ
ـر(completes 'the sea') بعيدdistant الرضىcontentment بعيدdeep القرارِthe bottom
ـر بعيد الرضى بعيد القرارِ
Blue-eyed, calm with the stillness of the sea,
Blue-eyed, calm like the distant
hard to satisfy, unfathomably deep.
Sea, distant in pleasure, distant in rest
ساهمpensive يلمحhe glimpses السحائبthe clouds فيin الأفـthe horizon (continued)
ساهم يلمح السحائب في الأفـ
ـقِ(completes 'the horizon') بعينwith an eye عميقةdeep الأغوارِin its depths
ـقِ بعين عميقة الأغوارِ
Pensive, he glimpsed clouds on the horizon
An archer watching the clouds in the
with a gaze of fathomless depth.
Horizon with a deep-seeing eye
شبَّgrew up فيin جيرةthe neighborhood of النسائمthe breezes والزهـand the flowers (continued)
شبَّ في جيرة النسائم والزهـ
ـر(completes 'the flowers') وفيand in صحبةthe company of الغديرthe brook الجاريthe flowing
ـر وفي صحبة الغدير الجاري
He grew up among breezes and flowers,
He grew in the neighborhood of the breezes and flowers
in the company of the flowing brook,
And in the company of the flowing stream
ونضيرِand the lushness of الحقولthe fields والعشبand the grass المخضـthe dew-damp (continued)
ونضيرِ الحقول والعشب المخضـ
ـل(completes 'the dew-damp') يكسوclothes شواطئthe banks of الأنهارِthe rivers
ـل يكسو شواطئ الأنهارِ
and lush fields, and dew-damp grass
And the counterpart of the fields and the burgeoning
clothing the banks of rivers;
Grass that covers the banks of the rivers
ومصيخاًand listening intently إلىto غناءthe song of السواقيthe waterwheels
ومصيخاً إلى غناء السواقي
شاكياتٍlamenting سواخرَthe mockeries of الأقدارِfate
شاكياتٍ سواخرَ الأقدارِ
and listening intently to the waterwheels' song,
And listening to the singing of the waters
as they lamented fate's mockeries,
Complaining of the turns of fate
باكياتٍweeping علىover الصباyouth والأمانيand hopes
باكياتٍ على الصبا والأماني
والهوىand love والنوىand separation وبعدِand the remoteness of المزارِthe place of meeting
والهوى والنوى وبعدِ المزارِ
weeping for youth and hopes,
Crying over youth and wishes
for love, separation, and the far-off place of meeting.
And love and purpose and distance from tombs
غيرbut أنthat الذيwhat شكاlamented خطبهits calamity الأهـthe family (continued)
غير أن الذي شكا خطبه الأهـ
ـلُ(completes 'the family') وأمسىand became حديثthe talk of جارٍa neighbor وجارِand a neighbor
ـلُ وأمسى حديث جارٍ وجارِ
But what his family lamented as a calamity,
But he who complained of his troubles became
and what became the talk of every neighbor,
The talk of neighbor and neighbor
إنَّindeed ذاكthat الفتىthe youth الوديعَthe gentle الطهورَthe pure الـthe (continued)
إنَّ ذاك الفتى الوديعَ الطهورَ الـ
ـقلبheart (completing 'the heart') فيin رقةthe tenderness of النسيمthe breeze الساريthe passing
ـقلب في رقة النسيم الساري
was that this gentle boy, pure
That gentle, pure-hearted young man
of heart and tender as the passing breeze,
Delicate as the passing soft breeze
مغرمٌenamored بالعصاof the stick فلوso if خلفbehind سورٍa wall
مغرمٌ بالعصا فلو خلف سورٍ
لتخطىhe would surely scale شواهقthe lofty heights of الأسوارthe walls
لتخطى شواهق الأسوار
was so fond of sticks that, were one behind a wall,
Infatuated with his stick, had he been behind a wall
he would scale the loftiest walls.
He would have climbed over the highest fences
ولأجلand for the sake of العصاthe stick سطاhe raided علىupon الأفرعthe branches الخضـthe green (continued)
ولأجل العصا سطا على الأفرع الخضـ
ـراء(completes 'the green') زانتadorned بواسقthe tallest of الأشجارِthe trees
ـراء زانت بواسق الأشجارِ
For a stick he raided the green branches
And for the sake of the stick he extended
that adorned the tallest trees;
Onto the green branches adorned with the tall trees
ولأجلand for the sake of العصاthe stick سطاhe raided علىupon خشبthe woodwork of البيـthe house (continued)
ولأجل العصا سطا على خشب البيـ
ـتِ(completes 'the house') طموحاًaspiring حتىeven لبابto the door of الدارِthe dwelling
ـتِ طموحاً حتى لباب الدارِ
for a stick he raided the house's woodwork,
And for the sake of the stick he extended
his ambition reaching even to the house's door.
Onto the wood of the house ambitious until the door
ولوand if أنَّthat العصيَّthe sticks عزَّتbecame scarce عليهfor him
ولو أنَّ العصيَّ عزَّت عليه
لتمنَّىhe would wish for حتىeven عصاthe staff of التسيارِwayfaring
لتمنَّى حتى عصا التسيارِ
And if sticks became scarce for him,
And had the stick been too hard for him
he would long even for a wayfarer's staff.
He would have wished even for a walking stick
إنindeed تلكthat العصاthe stick لرَمزٌis indeed a symbol علىof القوstrength (continued)
إن تلك العصا لرَمزٌ على القو
ة(completes 'strength') فيin قلبthe heart of ماردٍa defiant giant جبّارِmighty
ة في قلب ماردٍ جبّارِ
That stick is indeed a symbol of strength
That stick is a symbol of power
in the heart of a defiant, mighty giant.
In the heart of a strong giant
لاnot يرىhe sees القريةthe village الصغيرةthe small كفؤاًa match
لا يرى القرية الصغيرة كفؤاً
لكبارfor the greatest of الآمالhopes والأوطارِand desires
لكبار الآمال والأوطارِ
He sees the little village as no match
Who does not see the small village as enough
for his great hopes and desires,
For the great hopes and prizes
ساخراًmocking منat هدوئهاits quiet مستعداًready
ساخراً من هدوئها مستعداً
لصراعfor a struggle with الخطوبcalamities والأخطارِand dangers
لصراع الخطوب والأخطارِ
scorning its quiet, ready
Mocking its calm, ready
to wrestle with calamities and dangers.
For the struggle of disasters and dangers
أينwhere يمضيdoes he go للأزهرto al-Azhar الشامخlofty الرأthe head (continued)
أين يمضي للأزهر الشامخ الرأ
س(completes 'the head') القويّthe mighty الباقيthe enduring علىthrough الأدهارِthe ages
س القويّ الباقي على الأدهارِ
Where does he go? To al-Azhar, lofty of head,
Where does he go to the towering brilliant
mighty, enduring through the ages,
Head, strong, enduring through the ages
مطلعthe rising-place of عبدهAbduh وسعداًand Saad ورهطand a company of الـthe (continued)
مطلع عبده وسعداً ورهط الـ
ـمجدglory (completing 'the glory') والبأسand valor والعلىand eminence والفخارِand pride
ـمجد والبأس والعلى والفخارِ
whence arose Abduh, Saad, and a company
Rising of his servant, happy and group of
of glory, valor, eminence, and pride.
Glory and courage and height and pride
فرحrejoiced الأهلُthe family بالغلامِin the boy الذيwho صاbecame (continued)
فرح الأهلُ بالغلامِ الذي صا
رَ(completes 'became') حديثاًthe talk فيin ندوةthe gathering of السُّمارِevening companions
رَ حديثاً في ندوة السُّمارِ
His family rejoiced in the boy who became
The family rejoiced in the young man who
the talk of the evening gathering.
Became the talk of the drinking party
عمّموهthey turbaned him وقفطنوهand dressed him in a caftan فأمسىand so he became
عمّموه وقفطنوه فأمسى
أملthe hope of القومthe people فارسthe champion of المضمارِthe racecourse
أمل القوم فارس المضمارِ
They turbaned him and clothed him in a caftan, and he became
They dressed him up and coached him until he became
his people's hope, the champion of the racecourse.
The clan’s hope, the knight of the race track
ومضىand he went يطلبseeking العلومlearning وحيداًalone
ومضى يطلب العلوم وحيداً
موحشاًdesolate قلبهُhis heart غريبَa stranger in الدارِthe abode
موحشاً قلبهُ غريبَ الدارِ
He went off alone in pursuit of learning,
And he went seeking knowledge lonely
his heart desolate, a stranger far from home,
With a heart feeling a stranger in the house
ناظراًlooking فيinto هوامشٍmarginal notes تأكلthat devour العقـthe mind (continued)
ناظراً في هوامشٍ تأكل العقـ
ـل(completes 'the mind') وتبليand wear away نواضرthe freshness of الأبصارِthe eyes
ـل وتبلي نواضر الأبصارِ
poring over marginal notes that devour the mind
Looking in margins that consume the
and wear away the eyes' bright freshness.
Mind and wear out the insights
لاnot يباليhe minds الطولthe duration ولاand not يحفلhe heeds الأقداfate (continued)
لا يبالي الطول ولا يحفل الأقدا
ر(completes 'fate') جاءتcame بكلwith every أمرٍordeal ضاريsavage
ر جاءت بكل أمرٍ ضاري
He cared not how long it took, nor heeded fate
He does not care about length or pay attention to fates
that brought every savage ordeal.
That came with every flowing thing
لاnot يباليhe cares غداةin the morning when يصغيhe listens إلىto الشيـthe sheikh (continued)
لا يبالي غداة يصغي إلى الشيـ
ـخ(completes 'the sheikh') وللشيخand the sheikh has هالةa halo منof وقارِdignity
ـخ وللشيخ هالة من وقارِ
He cared not, when listening to the sheikh in the morning—
He does not care in the morning listening to the Sheikh
the sheikh surrounded by a halo of dignity—
And the Sheikh has an aura of dignity
أحصيرٌis it a mat ممزقٌtorn أمor حريرٌsilk
أحصيرٌ ممزقٌ أم حريرٌ
مقعدa seat للمجاهدfor the struggler الصبَّارِthe ever-patient
مقعد للمجاهد الصبَّارِ
whether a torn mat or silk
Is it a torn mat or silk?
was the seat of this ever-patient struggler.
A seat for the persevering warrior
آهِah منat هاتهthese الشدائدhardships فهيfor they are الـthe (continued)
آهِ من هاته الشدائد فهي الـ
ـنارfire (completing 'the fire') تبلوtests القلوبthe hearts فيamong الأخيارِthe virtuous
ـنار تبلو القلوب في الأخيارِ
Ah, these hardships! They are the fire
Oh, these difficulties are fire
that tests the hearts of the virtuous.
Testing the hearts of the righteous
إنَّindeed قلبthe heart of العظيمthe great man ياقوتةًa ruby تسـrises (continued)
إنَّ قلب العظيم ياقوتةً تسـ
ـمو(completes 'rises') سمواًa lofty ascent وتزدهيand grows resplendent بالنارِin the fire
ـمو سمواً وتزدهي بالنارِ
Indeed, the great man's heart is a ruby, rising
The heart of the great is a gem that
ever higher and growing resplendent in the fire.
Rises high and thrives in fire
أيwhat شيءthing فيin الدهرtime كالألمlike the pain الجـthe overpowering (continued)
أي شيء في الدهر كالألم الجـ
ـبار(completes 'the overpowering') يجلوburnishes ضمائرthe consciences of الأحرارِthe free
ـبار يجلو ضمائر الأحرارِ
What in this world is like overpowering pain,
What is like enduring pain that
which burnishes the consciences of the free?
Enlightens the conscience of the free?
عجبيmy wonder منat مجاورa resident Azhar student ضاقfelt confined بالأزby al-Azhar (continued)
عجبي من مجاور ضاق بالأز
هر(completes 'al-Azhar') واحيرةah, the bewilderment of النفوسthe souls الكبارِthe great
هر واحيرة النفوس الكبارِ
I marvel at an Azhar student who found al-Azhar too confining—
My wonder at the neighbor who was frustrated with Azhar
ah, the perplexity of great souls!
And bewilderment of great souls
ثمthen أمسىbecame مطربشاًfez-wearing واكتسىand donned البذthe suit (continued)
ثم أمسى مطربشاً واكتسى البذ
لة(completes 'the suit') ماthe time بينbetween ليلةٍa night ونهارِand a day
لة ما بين ليلةٍ ونهارِ
Then he donned a fez and put on a suit,
Then he became a jester and wore rags
all between one night and the next day.
Between night and day
ثمthen ضاقتgrew too narrow بهمهfor his ambition مصرEgypt فاشتاand so he longed (continued)
ثم ضاقت بهمه مصر فاشتا
ق(completes 'he longed') لغيرfor other الأوطانhomelands فيin الأمصارِthe cities
ق لغير الأوطان في الأمصارِ
Then Egypt grew too narrow for his ambition, and he longed
Then Egypt became too narrow for his worries so he
for other lands and their cities.
Set out to other countries in the cities
ضمَّhe gathered أشياءهhis belongings إليهto himself وأضحىand became
ضمَّ أشياءه إليه وأضحى
فيin سفينٍvessels تجوبthat traverse عرضthe breadth of البحارِthe seas
في سفينٍ تجوب عرض البحارِ
He gathered his belongings to him and found himself
He gathered his things to himself and became
aboard vessels crossing the breadth of the seas.
On a ship sailing the seas
ثمthen أمسىbecame مبرنطاًwearing a brimmed hat يقصدheading for السيـthe Seine (continued)
ثم أمسى مبرنطاً يقصد السيـ
ـن(completes 'the Seine') ويغزوand invades مدينةthe city of الأنوارِthe lights
ـن ويغزو مدينة الأنوارِ
Then, in a brimmed hat, he headed for the Seine,
Then he became bourgeois seeking
and set out to conquer the City of Lights.
China and invading the city of lights
والذيand what يبعثbrings السرورjoy ويدعوand calls
والذي يبعث السرور ويدعو
كلَّevery نفسsoul للزهوto pride والإكبارِand admiration
كلَّ نفس للزهو والإكبارِ
And what brings joy and calls
And that which brings joy and invites
every soul to pride and admiration
Every soul to vanity and arrogance
رجلٌa man ماnot ازدهتهcaptivated him فتنةthe enchantment of باريـParis (continued)
رجلٌ ما ازدهته فتنة باريـ
ـس(completes 'Paris') وماand what فيin باريسParis منof أسرارِmysteries
ـس وما في باريس من أسرارِ
is a man whom Paris's enchantment never captivated,
A man whom the temptations of Paris never dazzled
nor the mysteries that Paris holds.
Nor what secrets Paris holds
ظلَّhe remained فيin ذلكthat الحمىhaven مصرياًEgyptian
ظلَّ في ذلك الحمى مصرياً
عربيَّArab in الحياةlife والأفكارِand thoughts
عربيَّ الحياة والأفكارِ
In that haven he remained Egyptian,
He remained in that fever Egyptian
Arab in his life and thoughts.
Arabic in life and ideas
كلماwhenever هبَّتswept الغوانيthe beautiful women عليهupon him
كلما هبَّت الغواني عليه
ضاقfelt constrained ذرعاًin endurance بالغادةby the lovely woman المعطارِthe heavily perfumed
ضاق ذرعاً بالغادة المعطارِ
Whenever beautiful women swept upon him,
Whenever the melodies blew at him
he lost all patience with the perfumed beauty.
He was frustrated with the scented coquette
يزفرhe heaves الزفرةthe sigh العنيفةthe violent ترميthat hurls
يزفر الزفرة العنيفة ترمي
منfrom لظاهاits blaze فحمَthe charcoal of الدُّجىthe darkness بشرارِwith sparks
من لظاها فحمَ الدُّجى بشرارِ
He heaves a violent sigh, pelting
He sighs the violent sigh throwing
the charcoal of night with sparks from its blaze.
From its flames the sparks of ember
يذكرhe remembers النيلthe Nile والأحبةand the loved ones بالنيـby the Nile (continued)
يذكر النيل والأحبة بالنيـ
ـل(completes 'the Nile') ويشدوand sings برائعwith the finest of الأشعارِpoems
ـل ويشدو برائع الأشعارِ
He remembers the Nile and his loved ones by the Nile,
He recalls the Nile and loved ones on the Nile
and sings the finest poetry.
And chants the finest poems
كرّمواhonor نابغيكموyour gifted ones واعرفوهمand recognize them
كرّموا نابغيكمو واعرفوهم
فضياعfor the loss of النبوغgenius فيlies in الإِنكارِdenial of recognition
فضياع النبوغ في الإِنكارِ
Honor your gifted ones and recognize their worth,
Honor your geniuses and acknowledge them
for genius is lost when unrecognized.
The loss of genius in denial is waste
فزكيّfor Zaki مباركٌMubarak شعلةa flame فيin
فزكيّ مباركٌ شعلة في
مصرEgypt تهديguides شبابهاits youth كالمنارِlike a beacon
مصر تهدي شبابها كالمنارِ
For Zaki Mubarak is a flame in
So Zaki Mubarak is a torch in Egypt
Egypt, guiding its youth like a beacon.
Lighting its youth like a minaret
قسماًI swear لوif يُتاحwere granted ليto me الغارُlaurel كللـI would crown (continued)
قسماً لو يُتاح لي الغارُ كللـ
ـت(completes 'I would crown') بكفيwith my palm جبينُهhis brow بالغارِwith laurel
ـت بكفي جبينُه بالغارِ
I swear: if laurel were granted me, I would crown
I swear had the cave been made available to me
his brow with laurel, with my own hand.
I would have crowned his forehead with it
Sol 6.1