انظر إلى النيلِ قد عبّا عساكِره

من المِياهِ فجاءت وهْيَ تَسْتَبِقُ

Look at the Nile as it deploys its armies

Of waters, rushing as if to outpace

كأنّ خلجانه والماءُ يأخذُها

مدائنٌ فتحت فاحتازها الغرق

Each other, as though its surging waves

Were cities opened up and drowned by the flood.

كأن تياره مَلْك رأى ظفَرا

فكّر إِثْرَ الأعادي محنق نزِق

Its current is like a victorious king

Who wreaks vengeance on the hated foe—

كأن ماء سواقيه لناظِرِها

شهب الخيولِ إذا ما حثَّها العَنَق

The water of its channels seems to the viewer

Like horses’ manes when whipped to full gallop.

فاشرب مُغَنَّى فإن اللهو مُنْبَسِطٌ

واطرب مُهَنَّا فهذا منظر أنِق

So drink contentedly, for joy is bountiful,

And be glad and festive, for the scene is lovely.