أيَّهَاO you البَالِغُwho reaches الثُّرَيَّاthe Pleiades مَقَامَاًin rank
أيَّهَا البَالِغُ الثُّرَيَّا مَقَامَاً
هَلْdo تَرَىyou see فَوْقَabove مَاwhat بَلَغْتَyou have attained مَرَامَاa goal
هَلْ تَرَى فَوْقَ مَا بَلَغْتَ مَرَامَا
O you who have reached the Pleiades in rank,
O you who have reached sublime heights,
do you see a goal beyond what you have attained?
Do you see beyond what you have attained any goal?
كَمْhow many بَدَتْappeared مِنْكَfrom you بَادِرَاتُearly signs نُبُوغٍof genius
كَمْ بَدَتْ مِنْكَ بَادِرَاتُ نُبُوغٍ
حَيَّرَتْbewildered بِابْتِكَارِهَاwith their originality الأَحْلامَاminds
حَيَّرَتْ بِابْتِكَارِهَا الأَحْلامَا
How many signs of genius have emerged from you,
How soon did signs of your genius appear
bewildering minds with their originality!
Startling dreams with their innovations.
فَإذَاand behold يَافِعٌa youth يَبُزُّsurpasses شُيُوخاًelders
فَإذَا يَافِعٌ يَبُزُّ شُيُوخاً
فِيin التَّجَارِيبِexperience أفْنَوُاthey spent الأيَّامَاthe days
فِي التَّجَارِيبِ أفْنَوُا الأيَّامَا
And behold, a youth outstrips elders
So a youth outshines the elders
who have spent their days gaining experience.
Who spent their days in experience,
لاnot يُبارِيهِrivals him فِيin إسَامَةِpasturing مَنْthose whom يَرْhe tends them (first part)
لا يُبارِيهِ فِي إسَامَةِ مَنْ يَرْ
عَاهُمُhe tends them (last part) خَيْرُthe best مَنْof those who رَعَىtended وَأَسَامَاand led to pasture
عَاهُمُ خَيْرُ مَنْ رَعَى وَأَسَامَا
In pasturing those he tends, none can rival him—
None can equal him in courage of one who shepherds
not even the finest who have tended flocks and led them to pasture.
And guides the best of all who lead and tend the flock,
يَنْصُرُchampions الدِّينَreligion يَنْشُرُspreads العِلمَlearning وَالفَنَّand art
يَنْصُرُ الدِّينَ يَنْشُرُ العِلمَ وَالفَنَّ
يُقِرُّupholds النِّظَامَorder وَالأَحْكَامَاand the laws
يُقِرُّ النِّظَامَ وَالأَحْكَامَا
He champions religion, spreads learning and art,
He aids religion, spreads knowledge and art,
and upholds order and the laws.
Confirms order, laws and justice,
يَمْنَعُdefends الثَّغْرَthe frontier يَدْفَعُrepels العُسْرَhardship بِاليُسْwith ease (first part)
يَمْنَعُ الثَّغْرَ يَدْفَعُ العُسْرَ بِاليُسْ
رِwith ease (last part) يَذُودُdrives away العِلاّتِailments وَالآلاماand pains
رِ يَذُودُ العِلاّتِ وَالآلاما
He guards the frontier, repels hardship with ease,
Repels distress, wards off harm with ease,
and drives away ailments and pains.
And shields from plagues and pains.
أَيُّwhat مَجْدٍglory أَنْشَأْتَهُyou have built it يَاO فَتَىyouth الرأْsound judgment (first part)
أَيُّ مَجْدٍ أَنْشَأْتَهُ يَا فَتَى الرأْ
يِsound judgment (last part) فَبَاهَىand so it boasted بِكَof you المُلُوكَthe kings العِظَامَاthe mighty
يِ فَبَاهَى بِكَ المُلُوكَ العِظَامَا
What glory you have built, O youth of sound judgment,
What glory you created, O noble youth,
which boasts of you before the mighty kings!
All the great kings are eclipsed by you.
أَيُّwhat خَيْرِthe finest of الفُتُوحِconquests مَاthose which لَمْnot تَعَبِّيءْyou mobilized
أَيُّ خَيْرِ الفُتُوحِ مَا لَمْ تَعَبِّيءْ
فِيهِin it جَيْشاًan army وَلَمْand did not تُجَرِّدُyou unsheathe حُسَامَاa sword
فِيهِ جَيْشاً وَلَمْ تُجَرِّدُ حُسَامَا
How fine the conquests for which you did not mobilize
What conquest is nobler than one where no armies
an army, nor unsheathe a sword!
Were marshalled, no swords were drawn?
حُبُّكَyour love for الشَّعْبَthe people ضَاعَفَdoubled الحُبّlove فِيin الشَّعْthe people (first part)
حُبُّكَ الشَّعْبَ ضَاعَفَ الحُبّ فِي الشَّعْ
بِthe people (last part) وَلَوْلاand were it not for الإجْلالُreverence كَانَit would be غَرَامَاpassionate love
بِ وَلَوْلا الإجْلالُ كَانَ غَرَامَا
Your love for the people doubled the people's love,
Love of you redoubled the people’s love,
and but for reverence, it would be passion.
Were it not for awe, it would be passion.
هَذِهِthis عَبْقَرِيَّةُthe genius of القَلْبِthe heart وَالرُّوand the spirit (first part)
هَذِهِ عَبْقَرِيَّةُ القَلْبِ وَالرُّو
حُand the spirit (last part) إذَاwhen مَاemphasis سَمَاsoars بِهَاthrough it لاnot يُسَامَىis equaled
حُ إذَا مَا سَمَا بِهَا لا يُسَامَى
Such is the genius of the heart; and the spirit,
This is genius of heart and soul, soaring
when it soars through it, cannot be equaled.
Where none can vie once it takes flight.
عِيدُكَyour festival اليَوْمَtoday أَيُّhow جَدِيرٍworthy
عِيدُكَ اليَوْمَ أَيُّ جَدِيرٍ
بِارْتِقَابِof anticipation المَشُوقِthe yearning one عَاماًa year فَعَامَاthen another year
بِارْتِقَابِ المَشُوقِ عَاماً فَعَامَا
Your festival today—how worthy it is
Your feast today, what worthy one
of the yearning one's anticipation, year after year!
Looks for it year after year with longing?
فِيin ذَرَاكَyour abode العَالِيthe lofty مَلائِكُangels بِرٍّof goodness
فِي ذَرَاكَ العَالِي مَلائِكُ بِرٍّ
فَرَحُthe joy of العِيدِthe festival عَاقَهَاprevented them أَنْfrom تَنَامَاsleeping
فَرَحُ العِيدِ عَاقَهَا أَنْ تَنَامَا
In your lofty abode are angels of goodness,
In your lofty realm, angels of grace
whom the festival's joy has kept from sleep.
Rejoice that the feast be not forlorn,
وَأَبَاتَand kept awake all night الرَّجَاءُhope حَاضِرَةَthe capital of المُلْthe kingdom (first part)
وَأَبَاتَ الرَّجَاءُ حَاضِرَةَ المُلْ
كِthe kingdom (last part) تُعِدُّpreparing الزِّينَاتِdecorations وَالأَعْلامَاand flags
كِ تُعِدُّ الزِّينَاتِ وَالأَعْلامَا
And hope kept the royal capital awake all night,
And hope remains attendant on the king
preparing decorations and flags.
Preparing decorations and banners.
فِيمَwhy فَارَقْتَyou left مِصْرَCairo لَمْnot تَشْهَدِyou witness الأنْوَthe lights (first part)
فِيمَ فَارَقْتَ مِصْرَ لَمْ تَشْهَدِ الأنْوَ
ارَthe lights (last part) فِيهَاin it وَتَسْمَعِand hear الأَنْغَامَاthe melodies
ارَ فِيهَا وَتَسْمَعِ الأَنْغَامَا
Why did you leave Cairo, without seeing the lights
Why did you leave Egypt unseen,
there or hearing the melodies?
Deprived of its lights and melodies?
تَتْرُكُyou leave الصَّرْحَthe palace وَالنَّعِيمَand delight إِلَىto أَيْwhere (first part)
تَتْرُكُ الصَّرْحَ وَالنَّعِيمَ إِلَى أَيْ
نَwhere (last part) وَتَبْغِيand you seek أَقْصَىthe farthest reaches of الصَّعِيدِUpper Egypt عَلامَاwhy
نَ وَتَبْغِي أَقْصَى الصَّعِيدِ عَلامَا
You leave the palace and its delights—for where?
Abandon palace and delight for where?
And why seek the farthest reaches of Upper Egypt?
Seeking remotest Sa’id as your goal,
مُدْلِجاًtraveling by night مُسْرِجاًsaddling up تَجُوبُyou traverse الصَّحارىthe deserts
مُدْلِجاً مُسْرِجاً تَجُوبُ الصَّحارى
وَتَجُوزُand you pass through الأَغْوَارَthe lowlands وَالآكَامَاand the hills
وَتَجُوزُ الأَغْوَارَ وَالآكَامَا
Traveling by night, saddling up, you cross the deserts,
Roving the deserts, crossing wastes and sands,
and pass through lowlands and hills.
The lifeless expanses spread around you.
أَتَزُورُdo you visit الأَرْضَthe land المَوَاتَthe lifeless وَتَعْتَاand choose (first part)
أَتَزُورُ الأَرْضَ المَوَاتَ وَتَعْتَا
مُand choose (last part) شَقَاءًmisery مُخَيِّماًoverhanging وَقَتَامَاand dust
مُ شَقَاءً مُخَيِّماً وَقَتَامَا
Do you visit lifeless land and choose
What is it treads on vitality and health
overhanging misery and dust?
To these lands of waste and perils?
مَاwhat الَّذِيthat which يُوطِيءُmakes tread upon النَّضَارَةَfreshness والصِّحَّand health (first part)
مَا الَّذِي يُوطِيءُ النَّضَارَةَ والصِّحَّ
ةَand health (last part) هَذِيthis الأَوْضَارَfilth وَالأَسْقَامَاand diseases
ةَ هَذِي الأَوْضَارَ وَالأَسْقَامَا
What makes freshness and health tread
Death in everything that crawls appears,
upon this filth and these diseases?
No movement shows, or form discerned.
وَالمَنَايَاand deaths فِيin كُلِّall مَاthat which دَبَّcreeps لاnot تُبْthey show (first part)
وَالمَنَايَا فِي كُلِّ مَا دَبَّ لا تُبْ
دِيthey show (last part) حَرَاكاًmovement وَلاand not تُرِيthey reveal أجْرَامَاbodies
دِي حَرَاكاً وَلا تُرِي أجْرَامَا
And death lurks in all that creeps, showing no
My King, how could you brave its defenses
movement and revealing no bodies.
In the wilds, fearing no revenge?
يَاO مَلِيكِيmy king كَيْفَhow اقْتَحمْتَyou stormed حِمَاهَاtheir domain
يَا مَلِيكِي كَيْفَ اقْتَحمْتَ حِمَاهَا
فِيin الدَّيَاجِيthe darkness وَمَاand did not خَشِيتَyou fear انْتِقَامَاvengeance
فِي الدَّيَاجِي وَمَا خَشِيتَ انْتِقَامَا
O my king, how did you storm its domain
Centers of plague where from their dens
in the darkness, without fearing vengeance?
Beasts of prey and snakes are banned.
بُؤَرٌhotbeds لِلوَبَاءِof plague آمَنُsafer مِنْهَاthan them
بُؤَرٌ لِلوَبَاءِ آمَنُ مِنْهَا
أَنْto تَزُورَvisit الآسَادَthe lions وَالآجَامَاand thickets
أَنْ تَزُورَ الآسَادَ وَالآجَامَا
Hotbeds of plague—it would be safer than these
Pastures for cattle where only
to visit lions and thickets.
Herds can be called cattle.
وَمَآوٍand dwellings هِيَthey are الحَظَائِرُpens لَوْلاَwere it not for
وَمَآوٍ هِيَ الحَظَائِرُ لَوْلاَ
أَنَّthat قُطْعَانَهَاtheir herds تُسَمَّىare called أنَامَاhuman beings
أَنَّ قُطْعَانَهَا تُسَمَّى أنَامَا
And dwellings that would be pens, were it not
Are these the remnant of a people whose strength
that their herds are called human beings.
Built pyramids enduring time’s erosion?
أفَهَذِيare these, then هِيَthey are البَقِيَّةُthe remnant مِنْof شَعْa people (first part)
أفَهَذِي هِيَ البَقِيَّةُ مِنْ شَعْ
بٍa people (last part) شَدِيدِmighty القُوَىin strength بَنَىbuilt الأهْرَامَاthe pyramids
بٍ شَدِيدِ القُوَى بَنَى الأهْرَامَا
Are these, then, the remnant of a people
This courage you showed in the path you took
mighty in strength, who built the pyramids?
Does courage greatest honor.
إِنَّindeed هّذَاthis الإِقْدَامَdaring فِيمَاin what تَوَجَّهْyou turned (first part)
إِنَّ هّذَا الإِقْدَامَ فِيمَا تَوَجَّهْ
تَyou turned (last part) إِلَيْهِtoward it يُشَرِّفُennobles الإِقْدَامَاdaring
تَ إِلَيْهِ يُشَرِّفُ الإِقْدَامَا
Indeed, this daring in what you have set out
Not the dawn shows it is a feast
to do lends honor to daring itself.
Or comforting the harmed defines the brave.
لَيْسَis not فَارُوقُFarouk مَنْone who يَرَىregards العِيدَthe festival عِيداًas a festival
لَيْسَ فَارُوقُ مَنْ يَرَى العِيدَ عِيداً
أَوْunless يُجِيرَhe shelters الحَرِيبَthe dispossessed وَالمُسْتَضَامَاand the oppressed
أَوْ يُجِيرَ الحَرِيبَ وَالمُسْتَضَامَا
Farouk is not one to count a festival a festival
No glory for those who dread the wheel of chance,
unless he shelters the dispossessed and oppressed.
No striving for those who love repose.
مَاnot المَرَاقِيthe ascents لِمَنْfor one who يَخَافُfears دُواراًdizziness
مَا المَرَاقِي لِمَنْ يَخَافُ دُواراً
مَاnot المَسَاعِيendeavors لِمَنْfor one who يُحِبُّloves الجَمَامَاrepose
مَا المَسَاعِي لِمَنْ يُحِبُّ الجَمَامَا
Ascents are not for one who fears dizziness;
Men wondered when you came in view,
endeavors are not for one who loves repose.
Unsure if waking or in a dream.
عَجِبَmarveled القَوْمُthe people إِذْwhen تَرَاءىhe appeared فَلَمْand did not يَدْthey know (first part)
عَجِبَ القَوْمُ إِذْ تَرَاءى فَلَمْ يَدْ
رُواthey know (last part) أَصَحْواًwhether awake يَرَوْنَهُthey see him أَمْor مَنَامَاin a dream
رُوا أَصَحْواً يَرَوْنَهُ أَمْ مَنَامَا
The people marveled when he appeared, not knowing
What beauty in the radiant face of this youth
whether they saw him in waking life or in a dream.
Rising like a full moon glowing.
أَيُّwhat حُسْنٍbeauty فِيin وَجْهِthe face of هَذَاthis الفَتَىyouth المُشْradiant (first part)
أَيُّ حُسْنٍ فِي وَجْهِ هَذَا الفَتَى المُشْ
رِقِradiant (last part) يَجْلُوreveals لِلنَّاسِto the people بَدْراًa full moon تَمَامَاin its fullness
رِقِ يَجْلُو لِلنَّاسِ بَدْراً تَمَامَا
What beauty in the face of this radiant youth,
Can this be flesh and blood, the promised King?
revealing to the people a moon in all its fullness!
Our eyes strain to see from afar.
أَمِنَis ... made of اللحْمِflesh وَالدَّمِand blood المَلِكُthe king المُوappearing (first part)
أَمِنَ اللحْمِ وَالدَّمِ المَلِكُ المُو
فِيappearing (last part) وأَبْصَارُنَاand our eyes إلَيْهِtoward him تَرَامَىreach out
فِي وأَبْصَارُنَا إلَيْهِ تَرَامَى
Is the king appearing before us made of flesh and blood,
Never did we see the kings that went before
as our eyes reach out toward him?
Except as figures on walls or idols.
مَاnot شَهِدْنَاwe have seen المُلُوكَkings مِنْfrom قَبْلُbefore إلاexcept
مَا شَهِدْنَا المُلُوكَ مِنْ قَبْلُ إلا
صُوَراًpictures فِيon الجِدَارِthe wall أَوْor أَصْنَامَاidols
صُوَراً فِي الجِدَارِ أَوْ أَصْنَامَا
Never before have we seen kings except
You came favoring us, and had you given nothing,
as pictures on a wall or as idols.
Just seeing you would have sufficed.
جَاءَنَاhe came to us مُنْعِماًbestowing favors وَلَوْand even if لَمْnot يَزِدْنَاhe gave us more
جَاءَنَا مُنْعِماً وَلَوْ لَمْ يَزِدْنَا
لَكَفَانَاwould surely have sufficed us لِقَاؤُهُmeeting him إنْعَامَاas a favor
لَكَفَانَا لِقَاؤُهُ إنْعَامَا
He came to us bestowing favors, and even had he given us no more,
Your efforts lightened our burdens,
meeting him would have been favor enough.
How we wished to kiss your feet!
سَعْيُهُhis efforts هَوَّنَeased العَسِيرَhardship عَلَيْناfor us
سَعْيُهُ هَوَّنَ العَسِيرَ عَلَيْنا
فَوَدِدْنَاso we wished لَوْthat نَلْثَمُwe might kiss الأَقْدَامَاthe feet
فَوَدِدْنَا لَوْ نَلْثَمُ الأَقْدَامَا
His efforts eased our hardships,
You restored our eyesight with your gifts,
so we wished we could kiss his feet.
Food, clothing, all that life sustains.
رَدَّrestored أرْمَاقَنَاour ebbing vitality بِمَاwith what يُمْسِكُsustains الأَرْlife-breaths (first part)
رَدَّ أرْمَاقَنَا بِمَا يُمْسِكُ الأَرْ
مَاقَlife-breaths (last part) طِبَاًmedicine وَكُسْوَةًand clothing وَطَعَامَاand food
مَاقَ طِبَاً وَكُسْوَةً وَطَعَامَا
He restored our ebbing strength with what sustains
We rose with no cry of misery,
life—medicine, clothing, and food.
Slept with no weeping of orphans.
فَنَهَضْنَاso we arose وَلاand no نُوَاحَwailing ثَكَالَىof bereaved mothers
فَنَهَضْنَا وَلا نُوَاحَ ثَكَالَى
وَرَقَدْنَاand we slept وَلاand no بُكَاءَweeping يَتَامَىof orphans
وَرَقَدْنَا وَلا بُكَاءَ يَتَامَى
So we rose without bereaved mothers' wailing,
Can our thanks repay even if we gave you
and slept without orphans' weeping.
Our souls and bodies in devotion?
هَلْcan نُوَفَّيهِwe repay him fully شُكْرَنَاour gratitude لَوْif بَذَلْنَاwe offered
هَلْ نُوَفَّيهِ شُكْرَنَا لَوْ بَذَلْنَا
فِيfor هَوَاهُlove of him الأرْوَاحَsouls وَالأجْسَامَاand bodies
فِي هَوَاهُ الأرْوَاحَ وَالأجْسَامَا
Could we thank him fully, even if we offered
O King who toured the countryside,
for love of him, our souls and bodies?
Noble are your kind acts and guidance.
يَاO مَلِيكاًking أَجْرَىwho bestowed عَلَىupon الرِّيفِthe countryside ألkindnesses (first part)
يَا مَلِيكاً أَجْرَى عَلَى الرِّيفِ أل
طَافاًkindnesses (last part) وَزَكَّىand enhanced ألطافَهُhis kindnesses إِلمَامَاby a visit
طَافاً وَزَكَّى ألطافَهُ إِلمَامَا
O king who showered the countryside with
What joy for rural folk to look upon
kindness, and enhanced his kindness by a visit,
The smiling face of their time.
أَيُّwhat سَعْدٍgood fortune لِلرِّيفِfor the countryside وَهْوَwhile it بِمَرْat the sight of you (first part)
أَيُّ سَعْدٍ لِلرِّيفِ وَهْوَ بِمَرْ
آكَat the sight of you (last part) يَرَىsees وَجْهَthe face of دَهْرِهِits age البَسَّامَاthe smiling
آكَ يَرَى وَجْهَ دَهْرِهِ البَسَّامَا
what good fortune for the countryside, which, at the sight
To describe the joy in your subjects’ hearts,
of you, sees the smiling face of its age!
Throughout the land defeats description.
وَصْفُdescribing مَاwhat فَاضَoverflowed مِنْof سُرُورِthe joy of بَنيهِits sons
وَصْفُ مَا فَاضَ مِنْ سُرُورِ بَنيهِ
فِيin الأَقَالِيمِthe provinces يُعْجِزُdefeats الأقْلامَاpens
فِي الأَقَالِيمِ يُعْجِزُ الأقْلامَا
To describe the joy that overflowed among its sons
Gone are days when arbitrary power reigned,
throughout the provinces defeats every pen.
No rights for people, who suffered wrongs.
زَالَhas passed عَهْدٌan age لَمْnot يَرْعَhonored مَنْthose who سَادَruled فِيهِin it
زَالَ عَهْدٌ لَمْ يَرْعَ مَنْ سَادَ فِيهِ
حَقَّthe rights of شَعْبٍa people يَفْنَىperishing طَوىًfrom hunger وَأُوَامَاand thirst
حَقَّ شَعْبٍ يَفْنَى طَوىً وَأُوَامَا
Gone is an age in which those who ruled neglected
God forgive Egypt through her righteous King
the rights of a people perishing from hunger and thirst.
For her sins and transgressions.
رَبَّنَاour Lord اغْفِرْforgive لِمِصْرَfor Egypt بِالمَلِكِthrough the king الصَّاrighteous (first part)
رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِمِصْرَ بِالمَلِكِ الصَّا
لِحِrighteous (last part) تِلكَthose الذُّنُوبَsins وَالآثَامَاand transgressions
لِحِ تِلكَ الذُّنُوبَ وَالآثَامَا
Our Lord, through the righteous king, forgive Egypt
Guard him and guard her, facilitate his rule,
those sins and transgressions.
And make them both endure and last.
وَارْعَهُand protect him وَارْعَهَاand protect her وَيَسِّرْand make easy لَهُfor him الأمْthe matter (first part)
وَارْعَهُ وَارْعَهَا وَيَسِّرْ لَهُ الأمْ
رَthe matter (last part) وَيَسِّرْand make easy لَهَاfor her وَدَامَتْand may she endure وَدَامَاand may he endure
رَ وَيَسِّرْ لَهَا وَدَامَتْ وَدَامَا
And guard him and her, and make easy for him
his affairs, and ease hers; may she endure, and he endure!
Partial English translation: 80 of 82 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1