Sol 6.1

  1. A greeting that fills the world, and goodwill!

    O visiting brothers, noble in affection!

  2. Guests of Egypt, take from her your share:

    Within her, hearts, minds, and eyelids.

  3. And behold a festival not witnessed

    By the mightiest Caesars in ambition and dominion.

  4. The earth is radiant, and the horizons sunlit;

    And the air is filled with song and melodies.

  5. The Nile delivers an oration, and the pyramids listen,

    As though the Nile and the pyramids had feeling.

  6. And the banished man has solace in his exile, as

    The bearer of glad tidings joyfully reported about the free.

  7. Ships that carry you carry mercy,

    Bringing justice and kindness to the valley.

  8. Alexandria holds what stirred you;

    So have events beyond Aswan come to your notice?

  9. Who in all existence—and you are the best judges—

    Has a greater claim to justice at your hands, should it pass us by?

  10. These are our means; these are our aims;

    These are our feelings; these are our traits.

  11. This is the one the world cried out over, who passed

    Through every kingdom as sorrow and grief.

  12. This is the one a faction among you mutilated,

    In violation of your honor, with oppression and aggression.

  13. This is the one your troops harmed, and there followed

    Upon him punishments of steel and fire.

  14. This is the one your government angered yesterday,

    So the noblest of God's creatures was enraged.

  15. We do indeed forgive sins for your sake,

    Among them the blood of our wounded and our slain.

  16. Nor do we harbor, now that you have become our loved ones,

    Hatred and grudges against yesterday's foes.

  17. Where, then, is he who doubted and suspected,

    To witness today your confidences and ours?

  18. Stronger than the army and the fleet is your gentleness

    Toward people you hope to have as kin and neighbors.

  19. Indeed, the one loyal to his lord and his nation

    Is he who avoids aggression on earth for their sake.

  20. And the best champion is one who comes to seek redress

    From his own people, helping the innocent free man.

  21. The people of thrones and crowns have been rivaled

    By the people of industry in esteem and regard.

  22. Were it not for the warnings they sent into the realm,

    No ruler would have honored the covenant or guarded it.

  23. Conquest and victory belong to the workers, not to the might

    Of an army that destroys buildings and civilization.

  24. Restore to Egypt a right long sought,

    And every matter has its appointed time; that time has come.

  25. And make your people human again, for they went

    Into her as wolves, whales, and eagles,

  26. Condemning her children for seeking paths

    To companions, and for longing and tenderness;

  27. Gloating that, in their view, we are factions,

    After accord on matters great or small;

  28. Angered that we honor you

    In gratitude for your support of a people and homelands.

  29. Suppose they banned her processions there:

    Can the people be denied mouths and ears?

  30. While we find kindness that is gentle toward us

    From you, must we fend off those who strike and stab?

  31. I would shield you and my country from seeing a man

    From among us and you wilfully forget the covenant or betray it.

  32. And I have heard reproach, after resentment,

    Between the two parties, that pleased you and pleased us.

  33. The freedom of homelands suffices between them

    As peace, kinship, concord, and faith.

  34. It is enough for us that we are allied, and enough for you

    To count both parties as equals and peers.

  35. You have heard and witnessed what put you at ease;

    Let a proud man who has long suffered find rest.

  36. Show compassion for a nation that voices her complaint

    To you at one time, and defends her right at another.

  37. And we want no recompense but her independence

    For our sacrifices, so costly and so exalted.

  38. And we want only Saad as our hero,

    And we want only the field he marked out.

  39. This is the one for whom, from his noble purpose, are prepared

    In every limb a crown and a palace hall.

  40. This is the one entrusted by us, today and tomorrow,

    With what the outcome will be and what has been.

  41. This is the one revered among us, to whom is granted

    The freeing of his kinfolk, souls and bodies.

  42. Full blessings upon Saad and the free,

    Throughout the East, embracing India and Afghanistan.

  43. If every kingdom had their like,

    Then a human being would live in the world as a human being.

Sol 6.1