ياO آلpeople of مصرEgypt حذارِbeware أنlest
يا آل مصر حذارِ أن
يتناولlay hold of البلقانُthe Balkans مصراEgypt
يتناول البلقانُ مصرا
O people of Egypt, beware lest
O people of Egypt, beware
the Balkans lay hold of Egypt.
Lest the Balkans take Egypt
إنيindeed I أخافI fear النارthe fire بعafter (first part)
إني أخاف النار بع
دafter (completion) وميضهاits flash أنthat تستمراcontinue
د وميضها أن تستمرا
I fear that the fire, after
I fear the fire from afar after its flash
its flash, may burn on.
That it may continue between the peoples as enmity
بينamong الشعوبthe peoples عداوةenmity
بين الشعوب عداوة
تأبىrefuses لهاfor them أنto تستقراfind peace
تأبى لها أن تستقرا
Among the peoples there is enmity
That refuses to settle
that refuses to let them find peace.
Today's friend from yesterday's fiercest enemy
هذاthis صديقfriend اليومof today منthan
هذا صديق اليوم من
ذاكthat العدوenemy أشدmore intense شراin wickedness
ذاك العدو أشد شرا
This friend of today, compared with
Who is accustomed to doing ill when at ease and causing harm
that enemy, is far more wicked.
Indeed for both the present state I fear for the trusted country
فلقدfor indeed تعوَّدhe has grown accustomed أنto يسوcause grief (first part)
فلقد تعوَّد أن يسو
ءcause grief (completion) بماthrough what يسرbrings joy وأنand to يضراcause harm
ء بما يسر وأن يضرا
For he has grown accustomed to causing grief
For if the people do not take their share, they take it by force
through what brings joy, and to doing harm.
In great Cyprus, ask her for she knows more
إنيindeed I علىin الحالينboth cases للfor the
إني على الحالين لل
بلدland الأمينsecure أخافI fear أمراsome ill
بلد الأمين أخاف أمرا
Indeed, in either case, it is for
And aggressors against peaceful valleys leapt in tens
the secure land that I fear some ill.
Has the day of the East come that enemies divide it and no escape?
فالقومfor those people إنif لمnot يأخذوthey take
فالقوم إن لم يأخذو
هit نصيبهمtheir share أخذوهthey will take it أجراas payment
ه نصيبهم أخذوه أجرا
For if those people do not take
Harm has overcome, if only I could make the belly of the earth a back
it as their share, they will take it as payment.
For me to the heavenly spheres, what is the cause of my staff that I live free?
فيin قبرصCyprus العظةthe lesson الكبيthe great (first part)
في قبرص العظة الكبي
رةgreat (completion) سائلوهاask her فهيfor she أدرىknows best
رة سائلوها فهي أدرى
In Cyprus lies the great lesson;
ask her, for she knows best.
والباغياتand the aggressors علىagainst الوديthe gentle one (first part)
والباغيات على الودي
عgentle one (completion) المطمئنwho feels secure وثبنthey pounced عشراten in all
ع المطمئن وثبن عشرا
And the aggressors against the gentle,
trusting one have pounced—ten in all.
هلquestion marker جاءhas come يومday الشرقthe East تقdivide (first part)
هل جاء يوم الشرق تق
سمهdivide it (completion) العداةthe enemies ولاand no مفراescape
سمه العداة ولا مفرا
Has the East's day come, when
enemies divide it, with no escape?
غلبhas prevailed الأذىharm فلوso if استطعcould (first part)
غلب الأذى فلو استطع
تI (verb ending) جعلتI would make بطنthe belly of الأرضthe earth ظهراa back
ت جعلت بطن الأرض ظهرا
Harm has prevailed; if I could,
I would turn the earth's belly into its back.
هليis there? (likely intended as هل) ليfor me إلىto الأفلاكthe celestial spheres منany
هلي لي إلى الأفلاك من
سببway عسايperhaps I أعيشmay live حراfree
سبب عساي أعيش حرا
Is there for me, to the celestial spheres, any
way, that I might live free?
Partial English translation: 14 of 24 Arabic lines translated.