Sol 6.1

  1. بَلّغ رَبى مَصرٍ تَحيَّةَ عاني

    في حُبِّها مُتزائِد الأَشجانِ

    Convey to Egypt's hills the greeting of one afflicted,

    whose sorrows ever increase in love for her.

  2. وَأَجرع مِن النيلِ المُبارَكِ جُرعَةً

    تَروِ العَشيَّةَ غلَّةَ الظَمأنِ

    And drink a draught from the blessed Nile,

    to quench at evening the thirsty one's burning thirst.

  3. وَاقرَ السَلامَ عَلى أَليفٍ نازِحٍ

    عَني إِلَيها ذاهِبُ بِجَنابي

    And convey greetings to an intimate companion far away,

    gone from me to her, carrying my very presence with him.

  4. يَأوي حِما الإِسكندَرية قاصِداً

    تَطبيق نسبة اِسمَها الرَنّانِ

    He seeks Alexandria's shelter, intending

    to fulfill the affinity of her resounding name.

  5. فَغَدَوتُ اِنظُرُ مَصرَ أَبهَجَ بقعَةٍ

    وَأَرى مَرابِعِها أَعَزَّ مَكانِ

    So I came to see Egypt as the most delightful spot,

    and her quarters as the most cherished place.

  6. يا مَصرُ حَياكِ الحَيا فَلَقَد زَهَت

    فيكِ الحَيوةُ وَنِلتِ أَعظَمَ شانِ

    O Egypt, may rain greet you! For indeed

    life has flourished in you, and you have attained the highest standing.

  7. أَصبَحتِ قاهِرَةَ الدُهور لِأَنَّها

    هَجَمَت عَلَيكِ فَرَدَّها الهرمانِ

    You have become the conqueror of the ages, for they

    assailed you, but the two pyramids drove them back.

  8. كَم فيكِ مِن مَجدٍ وَمِن فَرَحٍ وَمِن

    رَغدٍ وَمِن سَعدٍ وَمِن إِحسانِ

    How much glory, joy, and

    plenty, good fortune, and kindness you hold!

  9. كَم فيكِ مِن أَثَرٍ شَريفٍ للملا

    كَم فيكِ مِن سَلوى لِكُلِّ مَعاني

    How many noble monuments you hold for humankind!

    How much solace you hold for every sufferer!

  10. كَم فيكِ مِن ملهىً أَنيسٍ رائِقٍ

    يُنسي الغَريب مَحَبَةَ الأَوطانِ

    How many pleasant, serene diversions you hold,

    making the stranger forget his love of home!

  11. كَم طابَ لي فيكِ المَقام وَكَم صَفا

    عَيشي بِربعكِ حَيثُ راقَ زَماني

    How sweet my stay in you was, and how serene

    my life in your precincts, where my days were delightful!

  12. كَم فيكِ سابَقتُ الصَباحَ مُبادِراً

    لِلأَزبَكيةِ فائِزاً بُرهانِ

    How often I raced the dawn in you, hurrying

    to Azbakiyya, winning the wager [reading uncertain]!

  13. هِيَ قاعَةُ الأَطيارِ كُنتُ أَرى بِها

    حالَ التَوحد مَجلس الندمانِ

    It is the birds' hall; there I used to see,

    in solitude, a gathering of boon companions.

  14. إِن لَم تَكُن فيها الثِمار فَإِنَّها

    مِن كُلِ زاهِيَةٍ بِها زَوجانِ

    Though it has no fruit, it has

    two of every blooming kind within it.

  15. كَم سِرتُ مُختالاً بِمَركَبةِ الهَنا

    بِطَريقِ شُبرا مَرتَع الغُزلانِ

    How often I rode proudly in the carriage of joy

    along Shubra's road, the gazelles' grazing ground!

  16. أَلقى بِها سرق الرِفاق مُظَلَّلاً

    تَحتَ الرِواقِ الأَخضَرِ الرَيانِ

    There I find the companions' silks [reading uncertain] shaded,

    beneath the lush green arcade.

  17. لَهفي عَلى شَبرا البَديعة أَنَّها

    في الأَرض قَد أَضحَت نَعيم جِنانِ

    How I yearn for wondrous Shubra, which

    has become on earth the bliss of paradise!

  18. رَوضٌ كَسَتهُ يَدُ العُلى حُلل البَها

    فَزَها بِها يَسمو عَلى الأَكوانِ

    A garden that the hand of eminence clothed in robes of splendor,

    and it gleams in them, rising above all worlds.

  19. يا حَبَّذا تِلكَ الرُبوع وَما حَوَت

    مِما أَجادَتهُ يَدُ الإِتقانِ

    How lovely those quarters and all they contain

    of what the hand of mastery has perfected!

  20. في الرَوضَةِ الغَناءِ كَم غَنّى

    لَنا طَيرُ الهِزار عَلى غُصون البانِ

    In the lush garden, how often sang

    for us the nightingale upon the ban-tree branches!

  21. وَبِقَلعَةِ الجَبَلِ المَنيعِ مَناظِرٌ

    تَجلو لِعَينِكَ قُدرَةُ الإِنسانِ

    And at the impregnable mountain's citadel are sights

    that reveal to your eye the power of humankind.

  22. وَعَلى جَناحِ الأَزبَكيَّةِ مَنِزلٌ

    فيهِ خَلَعتُ تَعقلي وَعَياني

    And beside Azbakiyya stands a house

    where I cast off my reason and perception.

  23. سِرٌّ لَزِمتُ الحفظَ في كِتمانِهِ

    حَتّى مَلَلتُ وملني كِتماني

    A secret whose concealment I guarded

    until I tired, and my concealment tired of me.

  24. لَم أَنسَ فيهِ يَمامَةً أَنسيَّةً

    غازَلتُها فَبَليتُ بِالأَشجانِ

    I have not forgotten a tame dove there,

    whom I courted, and so was afflicted with sorrows.

  25. لَم أَنسَ مَوقِفَ رَهبَةٍ بِإزائِها

    يَومَ النَوى حَيث الفُراق دَهاني

    I have not forgotten standing in dread before her,

    on the day of departure, when separation struck me.

  26. قَد راعَها طَرف الرَقيبِ فَأَصبَحَت

    عِوَض الكَلام مُشيرَةً بِبَنانِ

    The watcher's gaze had frightened her, so she began,

    instead of speaking, to gesture with her fingers.

  27. وَمُراسَلات القَلب أَصدَق مُخبِرٍ

    وَمُكالَمات العَين خَير لِسانِ

    The heart's messages are the truest informant,

    and the eye's converse the finest tongue.

  28. فَأَجَبتُ بِالإِيماءِ إِني راحِلٌ

    لَكنَّ حَبي ثابتُ الأَركانِ

    So I answered with a gesture: I am departing,

    but my love stands firm in its foundations.

  29. فَإِغرَورَقَت تِلكَ العُيون وَغَرَّبَت

    وَعَلى اِبتِسامٍ مالَت الشَفَتانِ

    Then those eyes brimmed with tears and overflowed,

    and her two lips curved into a smile.

  30. فَكَأَنَّها قالَت برقة رَمزَها

    بِالحَقِ أَنتَ حَنَنتَ لِلأَوطانِ

    It was as though, with her delicate gesture, she said:

    "Truly, you have yearned for your homeland."

  31. فَخَفضتُ أَجفاني عَلى يَأس كَما

    بُسِطَت يَدايَ وَفاضَتِ العَينانِ

    Then I lowered my eyelids in despair, as

    my hands spread out and both eyes overflowed.

  32. وَأَشَرتُ نَحوَ الغَرب أَعني أَنَّني

    بَعدَ التَغَرُّبِ عائِدٌ لِمَكاني

    And I pointed westward, meaning that

    after my sojourn abroad I would return to my place.

  33. فَاِستَلمَحَت إِني المَساءَ مغرّبٌ

    فَتَلفتت لِلشَرقِ لَفتةَ عاني

    She perceived that at evening I was westward-bound,

    so she turned eastward with an afflicted one's glance.

  34. فَكَأَنَّها كانَت تَقول اليَّ كُن

    كَالشَمس تُشرِقُ مِن مَحَلٍ ثاني

    It was as though she were saying to me, "Be

    like the sun, rising from another place."

  35. أَنا راجِعٌ يا فتنَتي أَنا راجِعٌ

    أَنا راجِعٌ مُستَرجِعٌ لِجِناني

    I am returning, O my enchantress, I am returning;

    I am returning to reclaim my heart.

  36. لا لَستُ أَرجَعهُ دَعيهِ فَإِنَّهُ

    وَقفٌ لِذاكَ الناظر الفَتانِ

    No, I will not take it back; leave it, for it is

    an endowment to that enchanting gaze.

  37. لَكِن أَعودُ لِكَي أَراكِ وَيَنجَلي

    حَظي التَعيس وَتَنقَضي أَحزاني

    But I return so that I may see you, and

    my wretched fortune may lift and my sorrows end.

  38. وَأَرى خَليلَ خَليلِهِ الفَرد الَّذي

    يَرعى الوِداد رِعايَةَ الإِيمانِ

    And see Khalil's peerless friend, who

    tends affection with the care given to faith.

  39. غُصنٌ بِإِسرارِ اللَطافَةِ مورقٌ

    لا يَلتَوي إِلّا لِيُنعِشَ فاني

    A branch leafing through gentleness's hidden workings,

    bending only to revive one dying.

  40. قَولي لَهُ إِني قَضَيتُ مِن الأَسى

    لَكنما أَملُ اللُقا أَحياني

    Tell him that I have died of grief,

    but hope of meeting has brought me back to life.

  41. يا مَنيَتي هَل تَذكُرينَ عَشيَّةَ

    فيها خَطَفتُ فابتُ بِالحِرمانِ

    O my heart's desire, do you remember an evening

    when I was swept away and returned bereft [reading uncertain]?

  42. حَيثُ البُخارُ أَطارَ راحِلَتي الَّتي

    كَالبَرقِ قَد سارَت بِغَيرِ عَنانِ

    When steam sent flying my mount, which

    sped like lightning, without a rein.

  43. فَهُناكَ مِن قَضبِ الحَديدِ مَسالِكٌ

    تَجري بِها العَجَلات كَالغُدرانِ

    There are tracks of iron rods there,

    along which the wheels run like streams.

  44. بركينها السَيّار غارَ بِرَكبِنا

    فَعَجِبتُ مِن رَكبٍ عَلى نيرانِ

    Its moving volcano [reading uncertain] plunged onward with our company,

    and I marveled at a company riding on fires.

  45. يا أَيُّها الشَرقيُّ هَل تَلقى إِذا

    حَمَلتكَ غَير تعجب الحَيرانِ

    O Easterner, do you find, when

    it carries you, anything but bewildered wonder?

  46. أَم تَذكُرنَّ عَلى الهَجين مَراكِباً

    نَقَلَتكَ تَحتَ حِمايَةِ الهِجانِ

    Or will you recall, upon the hybrid camel, conveyances

    that carried you under the protection of noble camels?

  47. ساهِبُّ يَوماً كَالنَسيمِ مُرنِماً

    بِرَنينها فافرّ مِن أَحزاني

    One day I shall stir like the breeze, singing

    to its ringing, and flee my sorrows.

  48. وَأَرى المُروج بِها تَموج لِناظِري

    حللَ البَهاءِ بِجانِبِ الخلجانِ

    And see the meadows there billowing before my eyes

    in robes of splendor beside the canals.

  49. فَبِقُربِ هاتيكَ الرُبوع مَسَرَتي

    فَيضانِها يربى عَلى الفَيضانِ

    For near those quarters, my joy—

    its overflow surpasses the flood.

  50. لا بُدَ مِن خَوض البِحارِ مَرافِقاً

    طَيرَ البُخارِ يَجد في الطَيَرانِ

    I must cross the seas, accompanying

    the bird of steam as it strives in flight.

  51. فَأَرى مِن الإِسكَندَرية طَلعَةً

    هِيَ في المَقام طَليعَة البُنيانِ

    Then I shall see a visage of Alexandria,

    which, in its station, is the vanguard of buildings.

  52. وَأَرى المَنارَةَ بِالبَشارة تَزدَهي

    للقادِمين مُشيرَةً بِأَمانِ

    And see the lighthouse shining with glad tidings,

    signaling safety to those who arrive.

  53. وَأَرى طَواحين الهَواءِ كَأَنَّها

    تَدعو الغَريبَ لِمَنزِلِ الضيفانِ

    And see the windmills as though they

    invite the stranger to the guesthouse.

  54. وَإِذ دَخَلتُ إِلى الحِمى أَروي الظَما بَين

    الأَحِبَّةِ مطفياً نيراني

    And when I enter that haven, I quench my thirst among

    loved ones, extinguishing my fires,

  55. مُتَصَبِباً مُتَغَزِلاً مُتَنَقِلاً

    مِن رَوضَةٍ غَنا إِلى بُستانِ

    streaming with sweat, courting, wandering

    from a lush garden to an orchard.

  56. وَأَرى التَنَزهَ قَد أَقامَ رَواقهُ

    بِفَضاءِ مَحموديةِ الرُضوانِ

    And see recreation having raised its pavilion

    in Mahmudiyya's blissful expanse.

  57. وَأَرى بِرَأس التينِ كُل عَظيمَةٍ

    قامَت تُخبِرُنا عَن الإِيوانِ

    And see at Ras al-Tin every grand thing

    standing to tell us of the great hall.

  58. وَأَرى الجَمالَ مَع الجَلال مُزَيناً

    بِجُموعِهِ منشيّةَ الإِتقانِ

    And see beauty, joined with majesty, adorning

    with its throngs the finely fashioned Manshiyya.

  59. ملهىً غُصون الماءِ فَوقَ غُصونِهِ

    كَالنَخلِ فَوقَ مَسارِحِ الغُزلانِ

    A pleasure ground, its branches of water above its boughs,

    like palms above the gazelles' roaming grounds.

  60. وَأَرى عَلى الشاطي مسلَّتهُ الَّتي

    وَقَفَت بِهِ تَمحو الزَمانَ الفاني

    And see upon the shore its obelisk, which

    stands there, effacing fleeting time.

  61. وَأرى لِتذكار الفراعنَ فَوقَها

    رَمزاً يُبين عِنايَةَ اليُونانِ

    And see upon it, in remembrance of the pharaohs,

    a sign revealing the Greeks' care.

  62. نَقلت بهمتم لزينة ربعها

    وَنَظيرُها لا عاظم البُلدانِ

    It was moved, through their endeavor [reading uncertain], to adorn its precinct,

    and its counterpart to the greatest cities [reading uncertain].

  63. هِي إِبرَة الذات الَّتي اِشتَهَرَت بِها

    لَكِنَّها وُضِعَت لِغَير بنانِ

    It is the needle of the lady famed for it,

    but it was placed there for something other than fingers.

  64. وتقرّ عَيني في لِقائيكَ مُهجَتي

    فَيَصح سَعدي غالِباً لِزَماني

    And my eye finds solace in meeting you, my soul,

    so my good fortune is restored, prevailing over my days.

  65. يا أَصدَق الخِلانِ في حفظِ الوَلا

    بَينَ المَلا يا أَلطَفَ الندمانِ

    O truest of friends in preserving loyalty

    among people, O gentlest of boon companions,

  66. قَد ذُبتُ وَجداً في نَواكَ فَلَم أَعُد

    إِلّا اِشتِياقاً قامَ كَالجسمانِ

    I have melted with longing in your absence, and am no longer

    anything but yearning standing in bodily form.

  67. دَمعي شَرابي سَلوَتي ذكر اللقا

    قُوَتي رَجاءي قوَّتي هَيمالي

    My tears are my drink; remembrance of meeting is my solace.

    My nourishment is my hope; my strength is my ardor [reading uncertain].

  68. أَصبَحتُ يَعقوبَ الوَحيدَ بِحَسرَتي

    وَتَعذبي لِلبين مَع أَشجاني

    I have become lonely Jacob in my anguish

    and my torment at separation, with my sorrows.

  69. وَغَدوتَ لي في مصر ثاني يوسفٍ

    لَكن بِحُبك صاحَ ما لَكَ ثاني

    And you have become for me in Egypt a second Joseph,

    yet in my love for you, friend, you have no equal.

  70. أَلقاكَ وَهماً في الرِياض وَفي الرُبى

    وَبِكُل مَأدبةٍ فَهَل تَلقاني

    I meet you in imagination in gardens and on hills,

    and at every banquet—do you meet me?

  71. وَأَرى خَيالَك في الدِيار مُصوَّراً

    تَهفو إِلَيهِ مَعاشر الخِلانِ

    And see your image pictured in homes,

    toward which gatherings of friends yearn.

  72. وَعَلى فوادي قامَ كُرسي مَجدِهِ

    فَأَقامَ مُنَجَلياً بِخَير مَكانِ

    And upon my heart stands the throne of its glory,

    so it abides, manifest, in the finest place.

  73. أَصبَحتُ بَعدَكَ في الرُبوع مُضَيَّعاً

    أَجِدُ العَناءَ مضيِّعاً سُلواني

    After you left, I became lost in those quarters,

    finding hardship destroying my consolation.

  74. إِسكَندرُ القي سَماعَكَ لِلحِما تَلقَ

    الخَليلَ يَقول لا تَنساني

    Iskandar, lend your hearing to that haven, and you will find

    Khalil saying, "Do not forget me."

  75. فَلقاكَ تَعزيتي وَلطفَكَ سالِبي

    أَبَداً وَحُبكَ في المَلا إِيماني

    For meeting you is my consolation, and your kindness captivates me

    forever; love for you is my faith among people.