ياO سوءَdreadfulness ماwhat حَمَلَcarried البَريدُthe post وَياand O لَهاfor it
يا سوءَ ما حَمَلَ البَريدُ وَيا لَها
مِنof نَكبَةٍa calamity تَدَعُleaves النُفوسَthe souls شَعاعاscattered
مِن نَكبَةٍ تَدَعُ النُفوسَ شَعاعا
Oh, how dreadful what the post has brought! Oh, what a
Oh what ill news the postman brought, and what a calamity that leaves souls as rays,
Calamity, leaving souls in fragments!
Oh Lord, what is the sin of those who one after another hasten to their death,
ياO رَبِّmy Lord ماwhat ذَنبُthe sin الَّذينَthose who تَتابَعواthey followed one another
يا رَبِّ ما ذَنبُ الَّذينَ تَتابَعوا
يَستَرسِلونَthey yield themselves إِلىto المَنونِdeath سِراعاswiftly
يَستَرسِلونَ إِلى المَنونِ سِراعا
O Lord, what was the sin of those who followed one another,
Wounded though they did not bear swords for pillage,
Yielding themselves swiftly to death?
Slain though they did not wrestle with the enemy,
جَرحىwounded وَماand not حَمَلواthey bore السُيوفَthe swords لِغارَةٍfor a raid
جَرحى وَما حَمَلوا السُيوفَ لِغارَةٍ
صَرعىslain وَماand not سَأَلواthey asked العَدُوَّthe enemy صِراعاcombat
صَرعى وَما سَأَلوا العَدُوَّ صِراعا
Wounded, though they bore no swords on a raid;
They said life, so hasten when called by its letters to hear,
Slain, though they sought no combat with the enemy.
Azrael was told what befell their groups, so he hesitated then saw them and shuddered,
قالواthey said الحَياةُlife فَعوجِلواso they were struck down at once أَنto يَقرَعواthey strike
قالوا الحَياةُ فَعوجِلوا أَن يَقرَعوا
عِندَat النِداءِthe call بِتائِهاwith its tāʾ الأَسماعاthe ears
عِندَ النِداءِ بِتائِها الأَسماعا
They cried, 'Life!' but were cut down before they could strike
A spectacle that strains the eyes and a scene that makes hearts bleed and ribs shatter,
The ears, as they called, with the word's final tāʾ.
When darkness cast its face on it, it donned from modesty a mask,
عِزريلُAzrael نُبِّئَwas told ماwhat أَصابَbefell جُموعَهُمtheir throngs
عِزريلُ نُبِّئَ ما أَصابَ جُموعَهُم
فَاِرتابَso he doubted ثُمَّthen رَآهُموhe saw them فَاِرتاعاso he was terrified
فَاِرتابَ ثُمَّ رَآهُمو فَاِرتاعا
Azrael was told what had befallen their throngs;
And called merciful Nero who did not desist until his glance recoiled in disgust,
He doubted, then saw them and recoiled in terror.
And they described the tragedy to Dancourt so she made graves for the reformers,
مَرأىًa sight يَشُقُّis hard عَلىfor العُيونِthe eyes وَمَشهَدٌand a scene
مَرأىً يَشُقُّ عَلى العُيونِ وَمَشهَدٌ
يُدميmakes bleed القُلوبَthe hearts وَيَقصِمُand shatters الأَضلاعاthe ribs
يُدمي القُلوبَ وَيَقصِمُ الأَضلاعا
A sight hard for the eyes to bear, a scene
And was certain that the catastrophe that befell them, they were the most righteous successors and natures,
That makes hearts bleed and shatters ribs.
Oh Egypt your disaster in kingdoms is grave, and the tribulation of your people has exceeded bounds,
لَمّاwhen أَطَلَّshowed itself الظُلمُoppression فيهِin it بِوَجهِهِwith its face
لَمّا أَطَلَّ الظُلمُ فيهِ بِوَجهِهِ
أَلقىcast عَلَيهِover it مِنَfrom الحَياءِshame قِناعاa veil
أَلقى عَلَيهِ مِنَ الحَياءِ قِناعا
When oppression showed its face there,
A people terrified by redoubled affliction, and whom the turns of fate strike in succession,
It cast a veil over its face in shame.
They resorted to beautiful patience until the tempest of events made its pillar collapse,
وَدَعاand called بِنَيرونَfor Nero الرَحيمِthe merciful فَماand scarcely رَناgazed
وَدَعا بِنَيرونَ الرَحيمِ فَما رَنا
حَتّىuntil تَراجَعَdrew back طَرفُهُhis gaze اِستِفظاعاin horror
حَتّى تَراجَعَ طَرفُهُ اِستِفظاعا
And called for merciful Nero; he had scarcely looked
They carried hearts that seethe with what they ignite, and surge with the pain they bear,
Before his gaze recoiled in horror.
If the greed for life drove them, ambitions frightened them that glut ambitions,
وَصَفواthey described المُصابَthe calamity لِدَنشوايَto Denshawai فَكَبَّرتso she cried 'God is greatest!'
وَصَفوا المُصابَ لِدَنشوايَ فَكَبَّرت
لِلمُصلِحينَfor the reformers مَقابِراًgraves وَرِباعاand dwellings
لِلمُصلِحينَ مَقابِراً وَرِباعا
They described the calamity to Denshawai, and she cried, 'God is greatest!'
And if they wanted a renaissance, red donkeys for them in the valley became beasts,
For the reformers, from graves and dwellings alike.
They shed innocent blood and bullied, assaulting a people unable to defend,
وَاِستَيقَنَتand she knew for certain أَنَّthat الأُلىthose who نُكِبَتshe was afflicted بِهِمthrough them
وَاِستَيقَنَت أَنَّ الأُلى نُكِبَت بِهِم
كانواthey were أَبَرَّmore righteous خَلائِفاًsuccessors وَطِباعاand dispositions
كانوا أَبَرَّ خَلائِفاً وَطِباعا
And she knew for certain that those through whom she had suffered
They took him defenseless, safe, unarmed, casting aside arms and removing armor,
Were more righteous as successors and in disposition.
They ordered so he neither rejected submissiveness nor disobeyed,
ياO مِصرُEgypt خَطبُكِyour affliction فيin المَمالِكِthe kingdoms فادِحُgrievous
يا مِصرُ خَطبُكِ في المَمالِكِ فادِحُ
وَمَصابُand the calamity أَهلِكِyour people جاوَزَexceeded المُسطاعاwhat can be borne
وَمَصابُ أَهلِكِ جاوَزَ المُسطاعا
O Egypt, your affliction among the kingdoms is grievous;
And they prohibited so he acquiesced in awe and obeyed,
And your people's calamity exceeds what can be borne.
They did not remember when we expend our strength, and remain slain in homes hungry,
قَومٌa people يَروعُهُمُterrifies them البَلاءُaffliction مُضاعَفاًredoubled
قَومٌ يَروعُهُمُ البَلاءُ مُضاعَفاً
وَتُصيبُهُمand strike them نِوَبُcalamities الزَمانِtime تِباعاin succession
وَتُصيبُهُم نِوَبُ الزَمانِ تِباعا
A people whom redoubled affliction terrifies,
Evil is the recompense, and harm may be justice for one who makes the enemy assault,
And whom the calamities of time strike one after another.
They came so some harbored affection, satisfaction, and some harbored deceit,
لاذواthey sought refuge بِحُسنِin the excellence of الصَبرِpatience حَتّىuntil زَلزَلَتshook
لاذوا بِحُسنِ الصَبرِ حَتّى زَلزَلَت
هوجُraging الحَوادِثِcalamities رُكنَهُits pillar فَتَداعىso it collapsed
هوجُ الحَوادِثِ رُكنَهُ فَتَداعى
They sought refuge in steadfast patience, until
Thus the two parties were equal in their states, and the rights of both worlds were lost,
Raging calamities shook its pillar, and it crumbled.
The people cannot be independent, leave their due, and see the countries as goods and possessions,
حَمَلواthey bore القُلوبَthe hearts تَفورُseethe مِمّاfrom what تَصطَليare scorched
حَمَلوا القُلوبَ تَفورُ مِمّا تَصطَلي
وَتَمورُand churn مِمّاfrom what تَحملُthey bear الأَوجاعاthe pains
وَتَمورُ مِمّا تَحملُ الأَوجاعا
They bore hearts seething with what scorched them,
They fear the enemy so cannot endure firmness, and cower from him so do not want strife,
And churning with the pains they bore.
Life is for a courageous nation that tires the enemy with valor and conflict,
إِنif هاجَهُمstirred them طَمَعُhope الحَياةِlife رَمىhurled بِهِمwith them
إِن هاجَهُم طَمَعُ الحَياةِ رَمى بِهِم
خَطبٌa calamity يُرَوِّعُterrifies مِنهُمُwithin them الأَطماعاthe hopes
خَطبٌ يُرَوِّعُ مِنهُمُ الأَطماعا
If hope of life stirred them, they were cast down
It marches to him legions of guards, and erects from him forts and castles,
By a calamity that terrified the hopes within them.
If he saw in events their disunity, it united against its humiliation,
وَإِذاand whenever أَرادواthey sought نَهضَةًa resurgence نَفَرَتcharged لَهُمat them
وَإِذا أَرادوا نَهضَةً نَفَرَت لَهُم
حُمُرٌasses خَلاwas empty الواديthe valley فَكُنَّso they became سباعاbeasts of prey
حُمُرٌ خَلا الوادي فَكُنَّ سباعا
And whenever they sought to rise, there charged against them
And if he wanted their subjugation, it exhausted ambitions that straiten the transgressors,
Asses: the valley was empty, so they became beasts of prey.
Oh Lord of Egypt, take care of Egypt and grant it a people who want it courageous life,
سَفَكواthey shed الدِماءَthe blood بَريئَةًinnocent وَتَنَمَّرواand they became tiger-like
سَفَكوا الدِماءَ بَريئَةً وَتَنَمَّروا
يَرمونَthey shoot at شَعباًa people لاnot يُطيقُcan manage دِفاعاdefense
يَرمونَ شَعباً لا يُطيقُ دِفاعا
They shed innocent blood and became like tigers,
If one day it thought to sell its countries for all the kingdoms of the world, it would not sell,
Shooting at a people unable to defend itself.
أَخَذوهُthey seized it أَعزَلَunarmed آمِناًfeeling safe مُتَجَرِّداًstripped bare
أَخَذوهُ أَعزَلَ آمِناً مُتَجَرِّداً
يُلقيlays down السِلاحَthe weapons وَيَنزَعُand removes الأَدراعاthe armor
يُلقي السِلاحَ وَيَنزَعُ الأَدراعا
They seized it unarmed, feeling safe, stripped bare,
Laying down its weapons and taking off its armor.
أَمَرواthey commanded فَماso not نَبَذَcast off الخُضوعَsubmission وَلاnor عَصىdisobeyed
أَمَروا فَما نَبَذَ الخُضوعَ وَلا عَصى
وَنَهواand they forbade فَأَذعَنَso it submitted رَهبَةًin fear وَأَطاعاand obeyed
وَنَهوا فَأَذعَنَ رَهبَةً وَأَطاعا
They commanded; it neither rejected submission nor disobeyed;
And they forbade, so it yielded in fear and obeyed.
لَمnot يَذكُرواthey remembered إِذwhen نَحنُwe نَبذُلُwe give up قُوتَناour sustenance
لَم يَذكُروا إِذ نَحنُ نَبذُلُ قُوتَنا
وَنَظَلُّand we remain صَرعىstricken فيin البُيوتِthe houses جِياعاhungry
وَنَظَلُّ صَرعى في البُيوتِ جِياعا
They did not remember when we gave up our sustenance,
And lay stricken with hunger in our homes.
بِئسَwretched is الجَزاءُthe recompense وَرُبَّماand perhaps كانَwas الأَذىharm
بِئسَ الجَزاءُ وَرُبَّما كانَ الأَذى
عَدلاًjust لِمَنfor one who يَأَلوspares العَدُوَّthe enemy قِراعاcombat
عَدلاً لِمَن يَأَلو العَدُوَّ قِراعا
Wretched recompense! Yet harm may sometimes be
Just for one who spares the enemy a fight.
جاءواthey came فَقَومٌand one group يُضمِرونَthey harbor مَوَدَّةًaffection
جاءوا فَقَومٌ يُضمِرونَ مَوَدَّةً
وَرِضىًand approval وَقَومٌand another group يُضمِرونَthey harbor خِداعاdeceit
وَرِضىً وَقَومٌ يُضمِرونَ خِداعا
They came: some harbored affection
And approval, while others harbored deceit.
فَتَكافَأَso were equal الحِزبانِthe two factions فيin حالَيهِماtheir two conditions
فَتَكافَأَ الحِزبانِ في حالَيهِما
وَمَضَتand vanished حُقوقُthe rights العالَمينَall peoples ضَياعاto waste
وَمَضَت حُقوقُ العالَمينَ ضَياعا
Thus the two factions fared alike in either case,
And the rights of all people went to waste.
لاnot يَستَقِلُّgains independence الشَعبُthe people يَترُكُabandons حَقَّهُits right
لا يَستَقِلُّ الشَعبُ يَترُكُ حَقَّهُ
وَيَرىand sees البِلادَthe country تِجارَةًcommerce وَمَتاعاand merchandise
وَيَرى البِلادَ تِجارَةً وَمَتاعا
No people gains independence while abandoning its rights
And regarding its country as commerce and merchandise.
يَخشىfears العَدُوَّthe enemy فَلاso not يُطيقُcan manage تَشَدُّداًfirmness
يَخشى العَدُوَّ فَلا يُطيقُ تَشَدُّداً
وَيُهالُand is terrified مِنهُof him فَلاso not يُريدُwants نِزاعاconflict
وَيُهالُ مِنهُ فَلا يُريدُ نِزاعا
It fears the enemy, so it cannot stand firm,
And is terrified of him, so it wants no conflict.
إِنَّindeed الحَياةَlife لِأُمَّةٍfor a nation مِقدامَةٍintrepid
إِنَّ الحَياةَ لِأُمَّةٍ مِقدامَةٍ
تُعييexhausts العَدُوَّthe enemy شَجاعَةًcourage وَمَصاعاand sword combat
تُعيي العَدُوَّ شَجاعَةً وَمَصاعا
Life belongs to an intrepid nation
That wears the enemy down with courage and swordplay,
تُزجيsends forth إِلَيهِagainst him مِنَfrom الحِفاظِzeal for honor جَحافِلاًlegions
تُزجي إِلَيهِ مِنَ الحِفاظِ جَحافِلاً
وَتُقيمُand builds مِنهُfrom it مَعاقِلاًstrongholds وَقِلاعاand castles
وَتُقيمُ مِنهُ مَعاقِلاً وَقِلاعا
Sends against him legions born of zeal for honor,
And builds from that zeal strongholds and castles.
إِنif سامَهاimposes on it فيamid الحادِثاتِcalamities تَفَرُّقاًdivision
إِن سامَها في الحادِثاتِ تَفَرُّقاً
عَقَدَتbinds عَلىupon خِذلانِهِthwarting him الإِجماعاunanimity
عَقَدَت عَلى خِذلانِهِ الإِجماعا
If amid calamities he tries to force disunity upon it,
It binds itself in unanimous resolve to thwart him.
وَإِذاand if أَرادَhe seeks بِهاfor it الهَضيمَةَinjustice أَرهَقَتoverwhelms
وَإِذا أَرادَ بِها الهَضيمَةَ أَرهَقَت
هِمَماًresolves يَضيقُare constrained بِهاby them الدُهاةُthe cunning ذِراعاin reach
هِمَماً يَضيقُ بِها الدُهاةُ ذِراعا
And if he seeks to wrong it, it overwhelms him
With resolve that leaves the cunning at their wits' end.
ياO رَبَّLord مِصرَEgypt تَوَلَّwatch over مصرَEgypt وَهَبand grant لَهاto her
يا رَبَّ مِصرَ تَوَلَّ مصرَ وَهَب لَها
شَعباًa people يُريدُdesires لَهاfor her الحَياةَlife شُجاعاbrave
شَعباً يُريدُ لَها الحَياةَ شُجاعا
O Lord of Egypt, watch over Egypt and grant her
A brave people that desires life for her;
لَوif سيمَwere asked يَوماًone day أَنto يَبيعَsell بِلادَهُits country
لَو سيمَ يَوماً أَن يَبيعَ بِلادَهُ
بِمَمالِكِfor the kingdoms of الدُنياthe world مَعاًtogether ماnot باعاwould sell
بِمَمالِكِ الدُنيا مَعاً ما باعا
If one day it were asked to sell its country
For all the world's kingdoms together, it would not sell it.
Partial English translation: 33 of 62 Arabic lines translated.