يَاO شَاعِرَpoet النِّيلِthe Nile جَارِrival النِّيلَthe Nile بِالشِّيَمِin noble qualities
يَا شَاعِرَ النِّيلِ جَارِ النِّيلَ بِالشِّيَمِ
وَحَاكَand emulate أَطْيَارَهُits birds بِالشَّدْوِin song وَالنَّغَمِand melody
وَحَاكَ أَطْيَارَهُ بِالشَّدْوِ وَالنَّغَمِ
O poet of the Nile, rival the Nile in noble qualities,
O poet of the Nile, neighbor of the Nile in virtue,
And emulate its birds in song and melody.
Who wove its birds in song and melody
فِيalong ضِفَّتَيْهِits two banks وَفِيand in تَغْرِيدِwarbling صَادِحِهِits songbird
فِي ضِفَّتَيْهِ وَفِي تَغْرِيدِ صَادِحِهِ
مَاwhat فِيin نَظِيمِكَyour verse بَيْنَbetween الْوَحْيِinspiration وَالكَلمِand words
مَا فِي نَظِيمِكَ بَيْنَ الْوَحْيِ وَالكَلمِ
Along its two banks and in its songbird's warbling
On its banks and in the call of its raging torrents
Is what your verse contains between inspiration and words.
Is what is between inspiration and speech in your writing,
وَفِيand in مَعَانِيكَyour meanings مِنْfrom أَرْوَاحِbreezes جَنَّتِهِits garden
وَفِي مَعَانِيكَ مِنْ أَرْوَاحِ جَنَّتِهِ
أَشْفَىmost healing النُّسَيْمَاتِgentle breezes لِلأَرْوَاحِfor spirits وَالنَّسَمِand souls
أَشْفَى النُّسَيْمَاتِ لِلأَرْوَاحِ وَالنَّسَمِ
And in your meanings, from the breezes of its garden,
And in its meanings are spirits from its paradise,
Are the breezes most healing to spirits and souls.
The most wholesome breezes for the soul and the breath.
شِعْرٌpoetry كَأَنَّas though مَفِيضَthe source الخَيْرِof bounty سَالَflowed بِهِthrough it
شِعْرٌ كَأَنَّ مَفِيضَ الخَيْرِ سَالَ بِهِ
عَلَىover النُّهَىminds سَيلَهُits flood فِيin القَاعِlowlands وَالأَكَمِand hillocks
عَلَى النُّهَى سَيلَهُ فِي القَاعِ وَالأَكَمِ
Poetry, as though the source of bounty flowed through it
Poetry as if the outpouring of good overflowed with it
Over minds, as its flood flows through lowlands and hillocks.
On the slopes, its flood in the lowlands and the dunes.
كِلاهُمَاboth of them مُخْصِبٌmaking fertile قَحْلاًbarren ground فَمُخْرِجُهُand so bringing it forth
كِلاهُمَا مُخْصِبٌ قَحْلاً فَمُخْرِجُهُ
حَقْلاًa field وَمُؤْنِسُهُand comforting it فِيin وَحْشَةِdesolation الدِّيَمِsteady rains
حَقْلاً وَمُؤْنِسُهُ فِي وَحْشَةِ الدِّيَمِ
Both make barren ground fertile, bringing it forth
Both are fertile, its outlet a field,
As a field, and comforting it amid the desolation of steady rains.
And its friend in the desolation of the flat land.
يَطْغَىit overflows فَيَغْشَىand so covers عَبُوسَfrowning الْوَجْهِthe face أَمْرَدَهُits beardless surface
يَطْغَى فَيَغْشَى عَبُوسَ الْوَجْهِ أَمْرَدَهُ
وَيَنْجَلِيand recedes عَنْfrom عِذَارٍa bearded cheek فِيهِon it مُبْتَسِمِsmiling
وَيَنْجَلِي عَنْ عِذَارٍ فِيهِ مُبْتَسِمِ
It overflows, veiling its frowning, beardless face,
It overflows to cover the frowning face of the rocky hills
Then recedes to reveal a smiling, bearded cheek.
And clarity emerges from clouds therein smiling.
بِذَلِكَwith that الشِّعْرِpoetry صِفْdescribe مِصْراًEgypt وَأُمَّتَهَاand her people
بِذَلِكَ الشِّعْرِ صِفْ مِصْراً وَأُمَّتَهَا
صِفْdescribe كُلَّevery مَعْنَىًquality بِهَاin her كَالنَّافِحِlike a wafting breeze الشَّبِمِcool
صِفْ كُلَّ مَعْنَىً بِهَا كَالنَّافِحِ الشَّبِمِ
With that poetry, describe Egypt and her people.
With that poetry describe Egypt and its nation,
Describe every quality in her, like a cool, wafting breeze.
Describe every sense therein seething forth.
صِفْdescribe ذَلِكَthat اللُّطْفَgentleness لَوْif عَزَّتْrose in glory بِهِthrough it أُمَمٌnations
صِفْ ذَلِكَ اللُّطْفَ لَوْ عَزَّتْ بِهِ أُمَمٌ
يَوْماًone day لَعَزَّتْsurely would rise in glory بِهِthrough it مِصْرٌEgypt عَلَىabove الأُمَمِthe nations
يَوْماً لَعَزَّتْ بِهِ مِصْرٌ عَلَى الأُمَمِ
Describe that gentleness: if nations rose through it
Describe that grace which if nations prided in one day
One day, Egypt would through it rise above all nations.
Egypt would pride in over the nations.
صِفْdescribe ذَلِكَthat الأُنْسَfellowship يَجْرِيflows مِنْfrom مَنَابِعِهِits springs
صِفْ ذَلِكَ الأُنْسَ يَجْرِي مِنْ مَنَابِعِهِ
عَذْبَsweet المَنَاهِلِwatering places مَبْذُولاًfreely offered لِكُلِّto every ظَمِيthirsty one
عَذْبَ المَنَاهِلِ مَبْذُولاً لِكُلِّ ظَمِي
Describe that fellowship, flowing from its springs,
Describe that intimacy flowing from its springs
Sweet in its watering places, freely offered to every thirsty one.
Sweet waters offered for all the thirsty.
صِفْdescribe ذَلِكَthat الرِّفْقِkindness يَقْضِيaccomplishes فِيin تَرَقْرُقِهِits rippling
صِفْ ذَلِكَ الرِّفْقِ يَقْضِي فِي تَرَقْرُقِهِ
مَاwhat لَيْسَnot رِقَاقُslender السُّمْرِbrown spears وَالخُذُمِand keen swords
مَا لَيْسَ رِقَاقُ السُّمْرِ وَالخُذُمِ
Describe that kindness, accomplishing in its rippling
Describe that gentleness which in its softness
What slender brown spears and keen swords cannot.
Fulfills what is not the softness of silk and plush.
صِفْdescribe مَاwhat يَشَاءُdesires جَمَالُbeauty الطَّبْعِof temperament مِنْof دَعَةٍease
صِفْ مَا يَشَاءُ جَمَالُ الطَّبْعِ مِنْ دَعَةٍ
وَمَاand what يَشَاءُdesires حَلالُlawfulness النَّفْسِof the soul مِنْof كَرَمِgenerosity
وَمَا يَشَاءُ حَلالُ النَّفْسِ مِنْ كَرَمِ
Describe the ease that beauty of temperament desires,
Describe what the beauty of nature wills in charm
And the generosity that the soul's rectitude desires.
And what the halal of the soul wills in nobility.
تِلْكَthose الْخَلائِقُvirtues لاnot يَجْلُوreveals رَوَائِعَهَاtheir wonders
تِلْكَ الْخَلائِقُ لا يَجْلُو رَوَائِعَهَا
نَظْمٌverse كَنَظْمِكَlike your verse مِنْof جَزْلٍvigorous expression وَمُنْسَجِمِand harmonious expression
نَظْمٌ كَنَظْمِكَ مِنْ جَزْلٍ وَمُنْسَجِمِ
Those virtues—no verse unveils their wonders
These traits are not revealed in splendor
Like yours, vigorous and harmonious.
By a rhyme like yours of gravity and harmony.
إِنِّيindeed I أَوَدُّwish لَهَاfor them وَصْفاًa description وَيَرْجِعُنِيand holds me back
إِنِّي أَوَدُّ لَهَا وَصْفاً وَيَرْجِعُنِي
عَنْهُfrom it قُصُورِيmy inadequacy إِذَاwhen حَثَّspurs الْهَوَىlove قَلَمِيmy pen
عَنْهُ قُصُورِي إِذَا حَثَّ الْهَوَى قَلَمِي
I long to give them a description, but I am turned back
I want for it a description but my inadequacy brings me back
From it by my inadequacy, when love spurs my pen.
When passion spurs on my pen.
مَنwho لِيfor me بِنَظْمِكَwith your verse أَسْتَدْنِيI bring near بِمُعْجِزِهِthrough its wondrous power
مَن لِي بِنَظْمِكَ أَسْتَدْنِي بِمُعْجِزِهِ
أَقْصَىfurthest مَرَامٍgoal لآمَالِيfor my hopes عَلَىabove هِمَمِيmy resolve
أَقْصَى مَرَامٍ لآمَالِي عَلَى هِمَمِي
Who can grant me your verse, so that through its marvel I may bring near
Who can lend me your rhyme by whose miracle
The furthest goal of my hopes, beyond my own resolve?
I take the utmost hopes upon my resolves?
حَمْداًpraise لِمِصْرَfor Egypt وَإِطْرَاءًand acclaim لأُمَّتِهَاfor her people
حَمْداً لِمِصْرَ وَإِطْرَاءً لأُمَّتِهَا
عَنْfrom صَادِقٍone sincere فِيهُمَاtoward them both عَالٍhigh عَنِabove التُّهَمِsuspicions
عَنْ صَادِقٍ فِيهُمَا عَالٍ عَنِ التُّهَمِ
In praise of Egypt and acclaim of her people,
Thanks to Egypt and praise to its nation
From one sincere toward both, above suspicion.
From a sincere one high above suspicion toward them.
مِصْرُEgypt الْحَضَارَةُcivilization وَالآثَارُand monuments شَاهِدَةٌbearing witness
مِصْرُ الْحَضَارَةُ وَالآثَارُ شَاهِدَةٌ
مِصْرُEgypt السَّمَاحَةُgenerosity مِصْرُEgypt المَجْدُglory مِنْsince قِدَمِantiquity
مِصْرُ السَّمَاحَةُ مِصْرُ المَجْدُ مِنْ قِدَمِ
Egypt is civilization, and her monuments bear witness;
Egypt is civilization - relics bear witness -
Egypt is generosity; Egypt is glory from ancient times.
Egypt is tolerance, Egypt is glory of old.
مِصْرُEgypt العَزِيزَةُthe cherished إِنْwhether جَارَتْacted unjustly وَإِنْand whether عَدَلَتْacted justly
مِصْرُ العَزِيزَةُ إِنْ جَارَتْ وَإِنْ عَدَلَتْ
مِصْرُEgypt الْحَبِيبَةُthe beloved إِنْwhether نَرحَلْwe depart وَإِنْand whether نُقِمِwe remain
مِصْرُ الْحَبِيبَةُ إِنْ نَرحَلْ وَإِنْ نُقِمِ
Egypt is cherished, whether she acts unjustly or justly;
Beloved Egypt whether it draws near or keeps its distance,
Egypt is beloved, whether we depart or remain.
Dear Egypt whether we stay or depart.
نَحْنَwe الضيُوفَthe guests عَلَىamid رَحْبٍwelcome وَمَكْرُمَةٍand honor
نَحْنَ الضيُوفَ عَلَى رَحْبٍ وَمَكْرُمَةٍ
مِنْهَاfrom her وَإِنَّاand indeed we لَحَفَّاظُونَsurely faithful keepers لِلذِّمَمِof covenants
مِنْهَا وَإِنَّا لَحَفَّاظُونَ لِلذِّمَمِ
We are guests enjoying welcome and honor
We are guests of its hospitality and honor
From her, and we are indeed faithful keepers of our covenants.
Therefrom though we closely keep trusts.
جِئْنَاwe came حِمَاهَاher sanctuary وَعِشْنَاand we lived آمِنِينَsafe بِهِwithin it
جِئْنَا حِمَاهَا وَعِشْنَا آمِنِينَ بِهِ
مُمَتَّعِينَgranted comfort كَأَنَّas though العَيْشَlife فِيin حُلمِa dream
مُمَتَّعِينَ كَأَنَّ العَيْشَ فِي حُلمِ
We came to her sanctuary and lived safely within it,
We came under its protection and lived safely by it
Granted comfort, as though life were a dream.
In comfort as though life were but a dream.
فَأَيُّنَاso whichever of us قَابَلَrepaid النُّعْمَىkindness بِسَيِّئَةٍwith an evil deed
فَأَيُّنَا قَابَلَ النُّعْمَى بِسَيِّئَةٍ
فَإِنَّنَاthen indeed we مُلْزِمُوهُimposing upon him أَنْكَرَthe harshest الْحُرَمِprohibitions
فَإِنَّنَا مُلْزِمُوهُ أَنْكَرَ الْحُرَمِ
Whichever of us repays kindness with an evil deed,
So who of us replayed favor with wrong?
We shall impose the harshest prohibitions upon him.
We obligate him as violating sanctity.
وَمَنْand whoever يَنَلْهُassails him بإِيذَاءٍwith harm فَإِنَّthen indeed بِنَاwithin us
وَمَنْ يَنَلْهُ بإِيذَاءٍ فَإِنَّ بِنَا
ضِعْفَيْهِtwice his share مِنْof أَثَرِthe effects الإيذَاءِof injury وَالأَلَمِand pain
ضِعْفَيْهِ مِنْ أَثَرِ الإيذَاءِ وَالأَلَمِ
And if anyone inflicts harm on him, within us
And whoever attains it with harm, verily in us
Is twice his share of the injury and pain.
Is double from impact of harm and pain.
لَكِنَّbut قَوْمِيmy people أَبْرَارُrighteous القُلُوبِof heart بِهِin it
لَكِنَّ قَوْمِي أَبْرَارُ القُلُوبِ بِهِ
دَعِdisregard المُرِيبَthe sower of suspicion الَّذِيwho يَدْعُوcalls إِلَىto وَهَمِdelusion
دَعِ المُرِيبَ الَّذِي يَدْعُو إِلَى وَهَمِ
But my people there are upright of heart;
But my people have innocent hearts therein
Ignore the sower of suspicion who calls you to delusion.
Leave the suspicious one who calls to illusion.
لاmay not بَارَكَbless اللهُGod فِيupon سَاعٍone striving بِتَفْرِقَةٍfor division
لا بَارَكَ اللهُ فِي سَاعٍ بِتَفْرِقَةٍ
بَيْنَbetween الصَّفَيْنِthe two ranks وَالْجَارَيْنِand the two neighbors مِنْamong أَممِnations
بَيْنَ الصَّفَيْنِ وَالْجَارَيْنِ مِنْ أَممِ
May God never bless anyone striving for division
May God not bless one who sows division
Between the two ranks and the two neighboring nations.
Between the two rows of kinsman and neighbor nations.
يَاO حَافِظَHafiz, guardian الْخَيْرِof goodness كُنْbe فِيin عَقْدِthe necklace وُدِّهِمَاof their mutual affection
يَا حَافِظَ الْخَيْرِ كُنْ فِي عَقْدِ وُدِّهِمَا
فَرِيدَةَthe peerless jewel العِقْدِof the necklace يَلْبَثُit remains غَيْرَnot مُنْفَصِمِbroken
فَرِيدَةَ العِقْدِ يَلْبَثُ غَيْرَ مُنْفَصِمِ
O Hafiz, guardian of goodness, be in their friendship's necklace
O Keeper of Good be in the knot of their amity
The peerless jewel, so that it remains unbroken.
A unique knot persisting unsevered.
أَكْشِفْstrip away بِحَزْمِكَwith your resolve أَسْتَارَthe veils الْحَفِيظَةِof resentment عَنْfrom
أَكْشِفْ بِحَزْمِكَ أَسْتَارَ الْحَفِيظَةِ عَنْ
فَخٍّa trap تُصادُare snared بِهِin it الأَعْرابُBedouin Arabs لِلْعَجَمِfor non-Arabs
فَخٍّ تُصادُ بِهِ الأَعْرابُ لِلْعَجَمِ
With your resolve, strip the veils of resentment from
Reveal with your wisdom the screens of the crafty one
A trap in which Bedouin Arabs are snared for non-Arabs.
From a trap the nomads use to catch the foreigners.
أَلشَّاعِرُthe poet الْحَقُّtrue مَنْone whom يَجْلُوreveals الشُّعُورُfeeling لَهُfor him
أَلشَّاعِرُ الْحَقُّ مَنْ يَجْلُو الشُّعُورُ لَهُ
شَمْساًa sun مِنَof الْوَحْيِinspiration فِيin دَاجٍdeep darkness مِنَof الظُّلَمِshadows
شَمْساً مِنَ الْوَحْيِ فِي دَاجٍ مِنَ الظُّلَمِ
The true poet is he for whom feeling reveals
The true poet's who inspiration makes radiant for him
A sun of inspiration amid deep darkness.
A sun amid darkness from revelation.
بَيْنَbetween النَّبِيِّينَthe prophets وَالسُّوَاسِand rulers نُصَّwas raised لَهُfor him
بَيْنَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالسُّوَاسِ نُصَّ لَهُ
مِنَfrom العُلَىthe heights مِنْبَرٌa pulpit لِلرَّأْيِfor counsel وَالحُكُمِand judgment
مِنَ العُلَى مِنْبَرٌ لِلرَّأْيِ وَالحُكُمِ
Between prophets and rulers, there was raised for him
Between the two prophets and advisors a platform
A pulpit on high for counsel and judgment.
From the Most High is profiled for opinion and rule.
وَعَلَand perhaps (text uncertain) أَيْسَرِthe easiest شَيْءٍthing فِيamong مَحَامِدِهِhis merits
وَعَلَ أَيْسَرِ شَيْءٍ فِي مَحَامِدِهِ
تَجْوِيدُperfecting قَوْلٍspeech مُقَفَّىrhymed اللَّفْظِwording مُنْتَظِمِorderly
تَجْوِيدُ قَوْلٍ مُقَفَّى اللَّفْظِ مُنْتَظِمِ
And perhaps the easiest of his praiseworthy deeds
And for simpler things in his praises
Is perfecting speech with rhymed and ordered words.
Is the excellent phrasing of refined organized words.
فَخَارُهُhis glory حَيْثُwhere يَلْقَىhe finds رَحْمَةًmercy وَهُدًىand guidance
فَخَارُهُ حَيْثُ يَلْقَى رَحْمَةً وَهُدًى
وَحَيْثُand where يَنْهَىhe warns عَنِagainst الأَهْوَاءِwhims وَالنقمِand vengeance
وَحَيْثُ يَنْهَى عَنِ الأَهْوَاءِ وَالنقمِ
His glory lies where he finds mercy and guidance,
So his pride wherever he finds mercy and guidance
And where he warns against whims and vengeance,
And where he deters from passions and vengeance,
وَحَيْثُand where يَحْمِيhe guards الحِمَىthe sanctuary مِنْfrom ضَلَّةٍerror وأسًىand sorrow
وَحَيْثُ يَحْمِي الحِمَى مِنْ ضَلَّةٍ وأسًى
وَحَيْثُand where يَدْعُوhe calls إِلَىto الأَخْطَارِhigh standing وَالعِظَمِand greatness
وَحَيْثُ يَدْعُو إِلَى الأَخْطَارِ وَالعِظَمِ
And where he guards the sanctuary from error and sorrow,
And where he protects the sanctuary from misguidance and misery
And where he calls to eminence and greatness.
And where he calls to dangers and greatness.
هَذَاthis الَّذِيwhat أَنْتَyou يَاO ابْنَson النِّيلِof the Nile فَاعِلُهُdoing it
هَذَا الَّذِي أَنْتَ يَا ابْنَ النِّيلِ فَاعِلُهُ
وَذَاكَand that مَجْدُكَyour glory مَجْدُthe glory النِّيلِof the Nile وَالهَرَمِand the pyramid
وَذَاكَ مَجْدُكَ مَجْدُ النِّيلِ وَالهَرَمِ
This is what you do, O son of the Nile,
This which you O son of the Nile are its maker,
And that is your glory—the glory of the Nile and the pyramid.
And that is your glory, the glory of the Nile and the pyramids.
Sol 6.1