انظر إلى النيلِ قد عبّا عساكِره

انظر إلى النيلِ قد عبّا عساكِره

من المِياهِ فجاءت وهْيَ تَسْتَبِقُ

من المِياهِ فجاءت وهْيَ تَسْتَبِقُ

Look at the Nile: it has marshaled its armies

Look at the Nile as it deploys its armies

of water; they have come, racing one another.

Of waters, rushing as if to outpace

كأنّ خلجانه والماءُ يأخذُها

كأنّ خلجانه والماءُ يأخذُها

مدائنٌ فتحت فاحتازها الغرق

مدائنٌ فتحت فاحتازها الغرق

As though its canals, as the water seizes them,

Each other, as though its surging waves

were cities conquered and claimed by the flood.

Were cities opened up and drowned by the flood.

كأن تياره مَلْك رأى ظفَرا

كأن تياره مَلْك رأى ظفَرا

فكّر إِثْرَ الأعادي محنق نزِق

فكّر إِثْرَ الأعادي محنق نزِق

As though its current were a king who beheld victory,

Its current is like a victorious king

then charged after his foes, enraged and impetuous.

Who wreaks vengeance on the hated foe—

كأن ماء سواقيه لناظِرِها

كأن ماء سواقيه لناظِرِها

شهب الخيولِ إذا ما حثَّها العَنَق

شهب الخيولِ إذا ما حثَّها العَنَق

As though the water of its irrigation channels, to their beholder,

The water of its channels seems to the viewer

were gray steeds when a swift trot urges them on.

Like horses’ manes when whipped to full gallop.

فاشرب مُغَنَّى فإن اللهو مُنْبَسِطٌ

فاشرب مُغَنَّى فإن اللهو مُنْبَسِطٌ

واطرب مُهَنَّا فهذا منظر أنِق

واطرب مُهَنَّا فهذا منظر أنِق

So drink, serenaded, for merriment abounds,

So drink contentedly, for joy is bountiful,

and revel in bliss, for this is a lovely sight.

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