أَيُّwhich صَرْحٍlofty dwelling حَلَّalighted فِيهِin it
أَيُّ صَرْحٍ حَلَّ فِيهِ
ذَلِكَthat الخَطْبُcalamity المُلِمُّbefalling
ذَلِكَ الخَطْبُ المُلِمُّ
What lofty dwelling has been visited
What palace did that fateful speech descend,
by that overwhelming calamity?
A star beyond where sights can apprehend.
قَدhas indeed هَوَىfallen مِنْfrom حَيْثُwhere لاnot
قَد هَوَى مِنْ حَيْثُ لا
تُقْتَحَمُare penetrated الأَبْصَارُeyes نَجْمُa star
تُقْتَحَمُ الأَبْصَارُ نَجْمُ
There has fallen, from where no
The lady of rooms did hide herself away,
eyes can reach, a star.
Leaving but gloom and murk of night to rend.
رَبَّةُmistress الخِدْرِsecluded chamber تَوَارَتْvanished
رَبَّةُ الخِدْرِ تَوَارَتْ
فَهْوَso it is دَاجٍdark مُدْلَهِمُّdeeply gloomy
فَهْوَ دَاجٍ مُدْلَهِمُّ
The mistress of the secluded chamber has vanished;
Innocent, with naught but purity,
so it is dark, steeped in gloom.
And purity itself deemed sin to offend.
بِرَّةٌvirtuous لَيْسَthere is not لَهاfor her إِلاَّexcept التُّـpiety (beginning)
بِرَّةٌ لَيْسَ لَها إِلاَّ التُّـ
ـىpiety (end) وَالطُّهْرُand purity إِثْمُsin
ـى وَالطُّهْرُ إِثْمُ
A virtuous woman, with no sin but piety
Nobility and faith alike did mourn,
and purity.
Reason itself confounded without end.
فُجِعَwas bereaved النُّبْلُnobility بِهَاby her loss وَالدِّand religion (beginning)
فُجِعَ النُّبْلُ بِهَا وَالدِّ
ينُreligion (end) وَالعَقْلُand reason الأتَمُّmost complete
ينُ وَالعَقْلُ الأتَمُّ
Her loss bereaved nobility and religion
Of her graces, nothing low did manifest
and consummate reason.
Save only sweet perfumes that lightly wend.
لَمْnot يُذَعْwas made known مِنْof فَضْلِهَاher virtue الخَاhidden (beginning)
لَمْ يُذَعْ مِنْ فَضْلِهَا الخَا
فِيhidden (end) سِوَىexcept طَيبٌa fragrance يَنِمُّbetrays it
فِي سِوَى طَيبٌ يَنِمُّ
Nothing of her hidden virtue was made known
May God make her misfortune ease, His bounty vast,
save a fragrance that betrayed it.
Enough that she gave birth to one whom mothers rend.
فَلْيَثِبْهَاso may He reward her اللهُGod بِالحُسwith the best (beginning)
فَلْيَثِبْهَا اللهُ بِالحُس
نَىthe best (end) وَفَضْلُand bounty اللهِGod جَمُّabundant
نَى وَفَضْلُ اللهِ جَمُّ
So may God reward her with the best,
A banner whose ascent makes East rise high,
and God's bounty is abundant.
No youth in Egypt his superior to contend.
حَسْبُهَاenough for her أَنْthat أَنْجَبَتْshe bore أَكْرَnoblest (beginning)
حَسْبُهَا أَنْ أَنْجَبَتْ أَكْرَ
مَnoblest (end) مَنْwhom تَنْجُبُbears أَمُّa mother
مَ مَنْ تَنْجُبُ أَمُّ
It is enough for her that she bore the noblest
A youth who plucks fruits of praise and days malign,
child any mother could bear.
And in fame’s birth and noble acts a portion lend.
عَلَمٌa luminary مِمَّنْamong those who بِهِمْthrough them يَنْتَعِrevives (beginning)
عَلَمٌ مِمَّنْ بِهِمْ يَنْتَعِ
شُrevives (end) الشَّرْقُthe East وَيَسْمُوand rises
شُ الشَّرْقُ وَيَسْمُو
A leading light among those through whom
Or in innovations unforeseen at first,
the East revives and rises.
A matter no mere thought could apprehend.
لَيْسَthere is not فِيamong فُتْيَانِyoung men مِصْرَEgypt
لَيْسَ فِي فُتْيَانِ مِصْرَ
مِثْلُهُlike him أَرْوَعَgallant شَهْمُnoble-hearted
مِثْلُهُ أَرْوَعَ شَهْمُ
Among Egypt's young men there is none
And did what scarce a foot dared venture in,
like him, gallant and noble-hearted.
Sultan’s scion, though names and traits contend.
شَبَّgrew up يَجْنِيreaps ثَمَرَاتِfruits
شَبَّ يَجْنِي ثَمَرَاتِ
الحَمْدِpraise وَالدَّهْرُand the age مُذَمُّblameworthy
الحَمْدِ وَالدَّهْرُ مُذَمُّ
He grew up reaping the fruits
Sultan was protector ample for alarm,
of praise, though the age is blameworthy.
The steed no rival in its strides could offend.
وَلَهُand he has فِيin تَالِدِinherited المَجْدِglory
وَلَهُ فِي تَالِدِ المَجْدِ
وَفِيand in الطارِفِnewly acquired سَهْمُa share
وَفِي الطارِفِ سَهْمُ
He has a share in inherited glory
His the pure wine cup and most noble fame,
and in glory newly won.
Justice established lofty views defend.
أَمْsought فِيin مُبْتَكَرِpioneering الأَعْمـworks (beginning)
أَمْ فِي مُبْتَكَرِ الأَعْمـ
ـالِworks (end) شَأْواًa reach لاnot يُؤَمُّis sought
ـالِ شَأْواً لا يُؤَمُّ
In pioneering works he sought
He won the praise the judicious Egyptian merited,
a height no one else aspires to.
With heart restoring branch to firmly tend.
وَأتىand achieved مَاwhat لَمْnot يَكَدْwas close to يَطْمَـaspire (beginning)
وَأتى مَا لَمْ يَكَدْ يَطْمَـ
ـعُaspire (end) قِدْماًof old فِيهِfor it وَهَمُimagination
ـعُ قِدْماً فِيهِ وَهَمُ
And achieved what scarcely
The grandfather's soul returned in this grandson,
even imagination had hoped for of old.
Blessing and brand both reprised without amend.
سِبْطُdaughter's son سُلْطَانُSultan وَمَاand not يَخْـdiffer (beginning)
سِبْطُ سُلْطَانُ وَمَا يَخْـ
ـتَلِفُdiffer (end) الوَصْفُthe description وَالاسْمُand the name
ـتَلِفُ الوَصْفُ وَالاسْمُ
Sultan's grandson—there is no
As lineage renewed its ancient stamp upon
difference between the description and the name.
This wondrous youth, its token without end.
كَانَwas سُلْطَانُSultan هُوَhe الْكَاthe protector (beginning)
كَانَ سُلْطَانُ هُوَ الْكَا
فِيthe protector (end) حِمَاهُhis protected domain مَاwhatever يَهِمُّcauses concern
فِي حِمَاهُ مَا يَهِمُّ
Sultan was the one who shielded
O you granted broadest scope of high regard,
his domain from whatever caused concern.
Egypt’s unshaken citadel, its summit to defend.
وَهُوَand he القَرْمُthe champion الَّذِيwho فِيin
وَهُوَ القَرْمُ الَّذِي فِي
شَوْطِهِhis race لَمْnot يَجْرِran قَرْمُa champion
شَوْطِهِ لَمْ يَجْرِ قَرْمُ
He was the champion in whose
Yours is portion of its making, governance apportioned,
race no other champion ran.
Task that daunts minds, no resolution can transcend.
وَلَهُand he has القَدَحُthe lot-arrow المُعَلَّىhighest-valued
وَلَهُ القَدَحُ المُعَلَّى
وَلَهُand he has الذِّكْرُrenown الأَعَمُّmost widespread
وَلَهُ الذِّكْرُ الأَعَمُّ
His was the highest-valued winning arrow,
What is this toil, abundance you are given?
and his the widest renown.
Pain wears, grief, yet fulfillment they portend.
رَسَخَtook root العَدْلُjustice بِعَالِيthrough lofty
رَسَخَ العَدْلُ بِعَالِي
رَأَيِهِhis judgment وَأُنْجَابَand was dispelled ظُلْمُoppression
رَأَيِهِ وَأُنْجَابَ ظُلْمُ
Justice took root through his lofty
Not for gain, but people’s care is your concern,
judgment, and oppression was dispelled.
All you build does thriving, fortune send.
فَأَصَابَso he won الحَمْدَpraise مَاhow أحْمَـpraiseworthy (beginning)
فَأَصَابَ الحَمْدَ مَا أحْمَـ
ـدَpraiseworthy (end) لِلْمِصْرِيِّfor the Egyptian حِكْمُjudgment
ـدَ لِلْمِصْرِيِّ حِكْمُ
Thus he earned praise—how praiseworthy
Magnificent, initiator and fulfiller,
was his judgment for the Egyptian!
Wise, never wrong in what the wise commend.
بِفُؤَادٍin Fuad وَهْوَand he نِعْمَexcellent is الفَthe branch (beginning)
بِفُؤَادٍ وَهْوَ نِعْمَ الفَ
رْعُthe branch (end) عَادَreturned الأَصلُthe root يَنْمُوgrows
رْعُ عَادَ الأَصلُ يَنْمُو
In Fuad, that excellent branch,
After this nurture from your people, can
the root began to grow anew.
Completion be denied its appointed end?
رَدَّrestored رَوْحَspirit الجَدُّthe grandfather فِيin السِّـthe grandson (beginning)
رَدَّ رَوْحَ الجَدُّ فِي السِّـ
ـبْطِthe grandson (end) وَزَكَّىand ennobled الوسْمَthe mark وَسْمُa mark
ـبْطِ وَزَكَّى الوسْمَ وَسْمُ
The grandfather's spirit returned in the grandson,
Egypt sought you not for goodness, rather
and one mark ennobled another,
After mother, itself a mother to defend.
مِثْلَمَاjust as جَدَّدَrenewed طَبْقُexact likeness الأthe original (beginning)
مِثْلَمَا جَدَّدَ طَبْقُ الأ
صْلِthe original (end) فِيin الرَّوْعَةِsplendor رَسْمُa portrait
صْلِ فِي الرَّوْعَةِ رَسْمُ
just as a portrait renews an exact likeness
of the original in all its splendor.
أَيُّهَاO you المُخَوَّلُnoble in maternal lineage فِيin أَوْwidest (beginning)
أَيُّهَا المُخَوَّلُ فِي أَوْ
سَعِwidest (end) جَاهٍprestige وَالمُعَمُّand noble in paternal lineage
سَعِ جَاهٍ وَالمُعَمُّ
O you, noble through your mother's kin, of the highest
standing, and noble through your father's kin:
بَنْكُBank مِصْرَMisr (Egypt) حِصْنَfortress هَـthis (beginning)
بَنْكُ مِصْرَ حِصْنَ هَـ
ـذِيthis (end) الأُمَّةِthe nation الرَّاسِيfirmly rooted الأَشَمُّlofty
ـذِي الأُمَّةِ الرَّاسِي الأَشَمُّ
Bank Misr, the fortress of this
nation, steadfast and lofty—
لَكَfor you فِيin تَأْسِيسِهِits founding قِسْطٌa share
لَكَ فِي تَأْسِيسِهِ قِسْطٌ
وَفِيand in التَّدْبِيرِmanagement قِسْمُa portion
وَفِي التَّدْبِيرِ قِسْمُ
you have a share in its founding,
and a part in its management.
يُرْهِقُburdens الفِكْرُthe mind بِهِin it عُسْـhardship (beginning)
يُرْهِقُ الفِكْرُ بِهِ عُسْـ
ـراًhardship (end) لاnot يُذْخَرُis held in reserve عَزْمُresolve
ـراً لا يُذْخَرُ عَزْمُ
There the mind is taxed with hardship;
no resolve is held back.
فِيمwhy هَذَاthis الجَهْدُeffort وَالوَand the wealth (beginning)
فِيم هَذَا الجَهْدُ وَالوَ
فْرُthe wealth (end) الَّذِيwhich أُوتِيتَyou were given ضَخْمُvast
فْرُ الَّذِي أُوتِيتَ ضَخْمُ
Why this effort, when the wealth
you have been granted is vast?
تَعَبٌtoil مُضْنٍexhausting وَأَحْيَاand sometimes (beginning)
تَعَبٌ مُضْنٍ وَأَحْيَا
ناًsometimes (end) أَسىًsorrow مُغْنٍenriching وَغَمُّand grief
ناً أَسىً مُغْنٍ وَغَمُّ
Exhausting toil, and sometimes
sorrow that enriches, and grief.
أَلِكَسْبٍis it for gain? لاno وَلَكِنْbut rather
أَلِكَسْبٍ لا وَلَكِنْ
هَمُّconcern قَوْمٍa people لَكَto you هَمُّa concern
هَمُّ قَوْمٍ لَكَ هَمُّ
Is it for gain? No, but
your people's cares are your own.
كُلُّall مَاthat تَبْنِيyou build يبنيbuilds
كُلُّ مَا تَبْنِي يبني
طَلْعَتٌTalaat يُمْنٍgood fortune وَغَنْمُand gain
طَلْعَتٌ يُمْنٍ وَغَنْمُ
All that you build, and all that
Talaat builds, is good fortune and gain.
وَعَظِيمٌand great مِنْكُماof you two المُبْدِthe initiator (beginning)
وَعَظِيمٌ مِنْكُما المُبْدِ
ئُthe initiator (end) شَأْناًin standing وَالمُتِمُّand the completer
ئُ شَأْناً وَالمُتِمُّ
Both of you are great: the initiator
and the completer, high in standing.
رَاجِحُweighty الحِلْمِwisdom وَلاand may not يُخْـfail (beginning)
رَاجِحُ الحِلْمِ وَلا يُخْـ
ـطِئْكَfail you (end) فِيمَاin whatever نَابَbefell حِلْمُwisdom
ـطِئْكَ فِيمَا نَابَ حِلْمُ
Weighty in wisdom—may wisdom never
fail you in whatever befalls.
بِعْدَafter هَذَاthis العَطْفِkindness مِنْfrom قَوْpeople (beginning)
بِعْدَ هَذَا العَطْفِ مِنْ قَوْ
مِكَyour people (end) هَلْis it? يُتْمُكَyour orphanhood يُتْمُorphanhood
مِكَ هَلْ يُتْمُكَ يُتْمُ
After this kindness from your
people, is your orphanhood truly orphanhood?
مِصْرُEgypt لَمْnot تَأْلُكَstint toward you بِرَاًkindness
مِصْرُ لَمْ تَأْلُكَ بِرَاً
فَهْيَso she بَعْدَafter الأُمِّthe mother أُمُّa mother
فَهْيَ بَعْدَ الأُمِّ أُمُّ
Egypt has withheld no kindness from you;
for after your mother, she is a mother.
Partial English translation: 44 of 70 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1