أَباO father of الهَولِterror طالَhave lengthened عَلَيكَover you العُصُرthe ages
أَبا الهَولِ طالَ عَلَيكَ العُصُر
وَبُلِّغتَand you have been granted فيon الأَرضِearth أَقصىthe utmost العُمُرlifespan
وَبُلِّغتَ في الأَرضِ أَقصى العُمُر
O Sphinx, the ages have stretched long over you,
O Abu Al-Hol, time has been long upon you,
And you have been granted earth's utmost lifespan.
And you have reached the farthest limit of age upon earth,
فَيالِدَةَso, O age-mate of الدَهرِtime لاnot الدَهرُtime شَبَّhas grown up
فَيالِدَةَ الدَهرِ لا الدَهرُ شَبَّ
وَلاnor أَنتَyou جاوَزتَhave passed حَدَّthe limit of الصِغَرchildhood
وَلا أَنتَ جاوَزتَ حَدَّ الصِغَر
O age-mate of time, neither time has grown up,
Yet neither has time become youthful nor have you transcended the bounds of youth,
Nor have you passed beyond childhood.
With your riding the stretches of sand,
إِلامَuntil when رُكوبُكَyour riding مَتنَthe back of الرِمالِthe sands
إِلامَ رُكوبُكَ مَتنَ الرِمالِ
لِطَيِّto fold away الأَصيلِthe evening وَجَوبِand cross السَحَرthe predawn
لِطَيِّ الأَصيلِ وَجَوبِ السَحَر
How long will you ride the back of the sands,
At the galloping of the noble steed and the rushing of dawn,
Folding away evening and crossing the predawn?
Traveling through the generations,
تُسافِرُyou travel مُنتَقِلاًmoving onward فيthrough القُرونِthe centuries
تُسافِرُ مُنتَقِلاً في القُرونِ
فَأَيّانَso when تُلقيwill you cast off غُبارَthe dust of السَفَرtravel
فَأَيّانَ تُلقي غُبارَ السَفَر
You travel onward through the centuries;
When will you shake off the dust of travel?
When will you cast off the dust of travel?
Between you and mountains, O pyramids, is an appointed time,
أَبَينَكَis there between you عَهدٌa covenant وَبَينَand between الجِبالِthe mountains
أَبَينَكَ عَهدٌ وَبَينَ الجِبالِ
تَزولانِyou both shall vanish فيat المَوعِدِthe appointment المُنتَظَرawaited
تَزولانِ في المَوعِدِ المُنتَظَر
Is there a covenant between you and the mountains,
When you will both pass away.
That you both shall vanish at the appointed hour?
O Sphinx what is there after existence
أَباO father of الهَولِterror ماذاwhat وَراءَbeyond البَقاءِsurvival
أَبا الهَولِ ماذا وَراءَ البَقاءِ
إِذاwhen ماindeed تَطاوَلَit lasts long غَيرُother than الضَجَرweariness
إِذا ما تَطاوَلَ غَيرُ الضَجَر
O Sphinx, what lies beyond survival,
If perseverance itself grows weary?
When prolonged, other than weariness?
I wonder at Luqman in his greed
عَجِبتُI marveled لِلُقمانَat Luqman فيin حِرصِهِhis eagerness
عَجِبتُ لِلُقمانَ في حِرصِهِ
عَلىfor لُبَدٍLubad وَالنُسورِand the vultures الأُخَرthe other
عَلى لُبَدٍ وَالنُسورِ الأُخَر
I marveled at Luqman's eagerness
For rags and vultures and the like,
For Lubad and the other vultures,
And Labid's complaining of longevity
وَشَكوىand the complaint of لَبيدٍLabid لِطولِat the length of الحَياةِlife
وَشَكوى لَبيدٍ لِطولِ الحَياةِ
وَلَوand had لَمnot تَطُلit lasted long لَتَشَكّىhe would have lamented القِصَرshortness
وَلَو لَم تَطُل لَتَشَكّى القِصَر
And at Labid's complaint of life's length;
When, had it not been long, brevity itself would have been cause for complaint.
Had it not been long, he would have bewailed its shortness.
O you, offspring of granite peaks,
وَلَوand had وُجِدَتit existed فيكَin you ياO بنَson of الصَفاةِthe rock
وَلَو وُجِدَت فيكَ يا بنَ الصَفاةِ
لَحَقتَyou would have caught up بِصانِعِكَwith your maker المُقتَدِرthe mighty
لَحَقتَ بِصانِعِكَ المُقتَدِر
Had life existed in you, O son of the rock,
Had you possessed the means you would have joined your Maker on high.
You would have joined your mighty maker.
For life makes iron rust
فَإِنَّfor indeed الحَياةَlife تَفُلُّblunts الحَديدَiron
فَإِنَّ الحَياةَ تَفُلُّ الحَديدَ
إِذاwhen لَبِسَتهُit dons it وَتُبلىand wears away الحَجَرstone
إِذا لَبِسَتهُ وَتُبلى الحَجَر
For life blunts iron
When exposed thereto, and wears down rock.
When it dons it, and wears stone away.
O Sphinx, in perplexities you are lost,
أَباO father of الهَولِterror ماwhat أَنتَare you فيamong المُعضِلاتِenigmas
أَبا الهَولِ ما أَنتَ في المُعضِلاتِ
لَقَدindeed ضَلَّتِhave lost السُبلَthe paths فيكَconcerning you الفِكَرthoughts
لَقَد ضَلَّتِ السُبلَ فيكَ الفِكَر
O Sphinx, what are you among enigmas?
Thought in you has lost its way.
Thoughts have lost their way over you.
The nomads wondered what you might be
تَحَيَّرَتِbecame bewildered البَدوُthe nomads ماذاwhat تَكونُyou might be
تَحَيَّرَتِ البَدوُ ماذا تَكونُ
وَضَلَّتand strayed بِواديin the valley of الظُنونِconjecture الحَضَرthe townspeople
وَضَلَّت بِوادي الظُنونِ الحَضَر
The nomads wondered what you might be,
And city folk strayed in the vales of guesswork.
And townspeople strayed in the valley of conjecture.
To them you were the form of defiance,
فَكُنتَso you were لَهُمfor them صورَةَthe image of العُنفُوانُyouthful vigor
فَكُنتَ لَهُم صورَةَ العُنفُوانُ
وَكُنتَand you were مِثالَthe model of الحِجىreason وَالبَصَرand insight
وَكُنتَ مِثالَ الحِجى وَالبَصَر
To them you were the image of youthful vigor,
You were the exemplar of sagacity and sight.
And the model of reason and insight.
Your secret in its veils whenever
وَسِرُّكَand your secret فيwithin حُجبِهِits veils كُلَّماwhenever
وَسِرُّكَ في حُجبِهِ كُلَّما
أَطَلَّتpeered عَلَيهِat it الظُنونُconjectures اِستَتَرhid itself
أَطَلَّت عَلَيهِ الظُنونُ اِستَتَر
And your secret, behind its veils, whenever
Conjectures peered upon it withdrew.
Conjectures peered at it, would hide itself.
Save for the head of a man
وَماand not راعَهُمstartled them غَيرُother than رَأسِthe head of الرِجالِmen
وَما راعَهُم غَيرُ رَأسِ الرِجالِ
عَلىupon هَيكَلٍa body مِنof ذَواتِcreatures possessing الظُفُرclaws
عَلى هَيكَلٍ مِن ذَواتِ الظُفُر
Nothing startled them but a human head
On the torso of beasts they pictured naught.
Upon the body of a clawed creature.
Had they fashioned you in diverse aspects
وَلَوand if صُوِّرواthey were portrayed مِنfrom نَواحيthe aspects of الطِباعِtheir natures
وَلَو صُوِّروا مِن نَواحي الطِباعِ
تَوالَواthey would follow in succession عَلَيكَbefore you سِباغَfully formed الصُوَرforms
تَوالَوا عَلَيكَ سِباغَ الصُوَر
And were they portrayed according to their natures,
They would have draped on you all imagery.
They would file before you, their forms fully drawn.
O Lord of a face pure as polished metal,
فَياso, oh رُبَّmany a وَجهٍface كَصافيlike the limpid النَميرِsweet water
فَيا رُبَّ وَجهٍ كَصافي النَميرِ
تَشابَهَwere alike حامِلُهُits bearer وَالنَمِرand the leopard
تَشابَهَ حامِلُهُ وَالنَمِر
How many a face like clear, sweet water,
Where face and bearer are as one!
Whose bearer resembled a leopard!
O strange and wondrous Sphinx, with time
أَباO father of الهَولِterror وَيحَكَalas for you لاnot يُستَقَلُّis deemed insignificant
أَبا الهَولِ وَيحَكَ لا يُستَقَلُّ
مَعَwith الدَهرِtime شَيءٌanything وَلاnor يُحتَقَرis despised
مَعَ الدَهرِ شَيءٌ وَلا يُحتَقَر
O Sphinx, alas! Nothing should be slighted
Naught is trivial nor to be disdained.
When time is with it, nor held in contempt.
You mocked time turning night to day
تَهَزَّأتَyou mocked دَهراًfor an age بِديكِthe rooster of الصَباحِmorning
تَهَزَّأتَ دَهراً بِديكِ الصَباحِ
فَنَقَّرَso it pecked عَينَيكَyour two eyes فيماamong what نَقَرit pecked
فَنَقَّرَ عَينَيكَ فيما نَقَر
For ages you mocked the rooster of dawn,
So its cock picked out your eyes that it might take revenge,
So it pecked your eyes among the things it pecked.
It asked away your whiteness and stole your blackness
أَسالَmade flow البَياضَthe whites وَسَلَّand drew out السَوادَthe blacks
أَسالَ البَياضَ وَسَلَّ السَوادَ
وَأَوغَلَand penetrated deeply مِنقارُهُits beak فيinto الحُفَرthe hollows
وَأَوغَلَ مِنقارُهُ في الحُفَر
It made the whites flow and drew out the blacks,
And its beak penetrated into your hollows.
And its beak bored deep into the hollows.
So you became like one whose gaze was veiled,
فَعُدتَso you became كَأَنَّكَas though you were ذوthe man of المَحبِسَينِthe two prisons
فَعُدتَ كَأَنَّكَ ذو المَحبِسَينِ
قَطيعَdeprived of القِيامِstanding سَليبَrobbed of البَصَرsight
قَطيعَ القِيامِ سَليبَ البَصَر
So you became like the man of the two prisons,
A throng whose looking was despoiled.
Unable to rise, robbed of sight.
As though the sands enshroud your sides
كَأَنَّas though الرِمالَthe sands عَلىon جانِبَيكَyour two sides
كَأَنَّ الرِمالَ عَلى جانِبَيكَ
وَبَينَand before يَدَيكَyour two hands ذُنوبُthe sins of البَشَرhumankind
وَبَينَ يَدَيكَ ذُنوبُ البَشَر
As though the sands at your sides
And sins of men lie before you,
And before your hands were the sins of humankind.
As though amidst them you're a banner of space
كَأَنَّكَas though you were فيهاamid them لِواءُthe banner of الفَضاءِthe open expanse
كَأَنَّكَ فيها لِواءُ الفَضاءِ
عَلىon الأَرضِthe earth أَوor دَيدَبانُthe watchman of القَدَرfate
عَلى الأَرضِ أَو دَيدَبانُ القَدَر
As though amid them you were the banner of the expanse
Raised on earth, or the well-trod fateful path,
Upon the earth, or the watchman of fate.
As though you were the sands' companion seeing
كَأَنَّكَas though you were صاحِبُa practitioner of رَملٍsand-divination يَرىwho sees
كَأَنَّكَ صاحِبُ رَملٍ يَرى
خَباياthe secrets of الغُيوبِthe unseen خِلالَthrough السَطَرthe lines
خَبايا الغُيوبِ خِلالَ السَطَر
As though you were a diviner in sand, seeing
Through the lines secrets and hidden things.
The secrets of the unseen through its lines.
O Sphinx, you are time's boon companion,
أَباO father of الهَولِterror أَنتَyou are نَديمُthe boon companion of الزَمانِtime
أَبا الهَولِ أَنتَ نَديمُ الزَمانِ
نَجِيُّthe confidant of الأَوانِthe hour سَميرُthe nightly companion of العُصُرthe ages
نَجِيُّ الأَوانِ سَميرُ العُصُر
O Sphinx, you are time's boon companion,
Its intimate, the comrade of the age.
Confidant of the hour, the ages' nightly companion.
You stretched out your arms from Adam on,
بَسَطتَyou have stretched out ذِراعَيكَyour two arms مِنsince آدَمٍAdam
بَسَطتَ ذِراعَيكَ مِن آدَمٍ
وَوَلَّيتَand turned وَجهَكَyour face شَطرَtoward الزُمَرthe throngs
وَوَلَّيتَ وَجهَكَ شَطرَ الزُمَر
You have stretched out your arms since Adam,
And turned your face towards the throngs.
And turned your face toward the throngs.
You look out on a world that comes to be
تُطِلُّyou gaze down عَلىupon عالَمٍa world يَستَهِلُّcrying at birth
تُطِلُّ عَلى عالَمٍ يَستَهِلُّ
وَتوفيand overlook عَلىupon عالَمٍa world يُحتَضَرdying
وَتوفي عَلى عالَمٍ يُحتَضَر
You gaze down upon a world crying at birth,
And watch o’er a world fading unto death,
And overlook a world at death's door.
So one eye is unto him who appears in life
فَعَينٌso one eye إِلىtoward مَنthose who بَداappeared لِلوُجودِinto existence
فَعَينٌ إِلى مَن بَدا لِلوُجودِ
وَأُخرىand another مُشَيِّعَةٌbidding farewell to مِنthose who غَبَرhave passed
وَأُخرى مُشَيِّعَةٌ مِن غَبَر
One eye turns toward those entering existence,
While the other speeds what turns to dust.
And the other bids farewell to those who have passed.
Then speak! For speech may offer guidance
فَحَدِّثso speak فَقَدfor perhaps يُهتَدىguidance is found بِالحَديثِthrough speech
فَحَدِّث فَقَد يُهتَدى بِالحَديثِ
وَخَبِّرand tell فَقَدfor perhaps يُؤتَسىan example is followed بِالخَبَرthrough a report
وَخَبِّر فَقَد يُؤتَسى بِالخَبَر
So speak, for speech may offer guidance,
And tell! For stories may give comfort.
And tell, for a report may offer an example.
Did you not see Pharaoh in his glory
أَلَمdid you not تَبلُknow by experience فِرعَونَPharaoh فيin عِزِّهِhis glory
أَلَم تَبلُ فِرعَونَ في عِزِّهِ
إِلىto الشَمسِthe sun مُعتَزِياًclaiming kinship وَالقَمَرand the moon
إِلى الشَمسِ مُعتَزِياً وَالقَمَر
Did you not know Pharaoh in his glory,
Aspiring to the sun and moon?
Claiming kinship with the sun and moon,
He was the shade of civilization in early days,
ظَليلَspreading the shade of الحَضارَةِcivilization فيamong الأَوَّلينَthe ancients
ظَليلَ الحَضارَةِ في الأَوَّلينَ
رَفيعَlofty in البِناءِbuilding جَليلَmajestic in الأَثَرlegacy
رَفيعَ البِناءِ جَليلَ الأَثَر
Spreading civilization's shade among the ancients,
Lofty of building, great of renown,
Lofty in building, majestic in legacy,
Establishing in earth lasting works for those to come
يُؤَسِّسُlaying foundations فيon الأَرضِearth لِلغابِرينَfor posterity
يُؤَسِّسُ في الأَرضِ لِلغابِرينَ
وَيَغرِسُand planting لِلآخَرينَfor later generations الثَمَرfruit
وَيَغرِسُ لِلآخَرينَ الثَمَر
Laying foundations on earth for posterity,
And planting for later ages fruits to reap.
And planting fruit for later generations?
Yet how the hoofs of his prancing horses
وَراعَكَand terrified you ماwhat راعَterrified مِنof خَيلِthe horses of قَمبيCamby- (part of Cambyses)
وَراعَكَ ما راعَ مِن خَيلِ قَمبي
زَ-ses (completing Cambyses) تَرميcast سَنابِكَهاtheir hooves بِالشَرَرwith sparks
زَ تَرمي سَنابِكَها بِالشَرَر
And the terror of Cambyses' horses terrified you,
Struck fire out of the stones in their galloping,
Their hooves casting sparks:
Ships of war reducing lands to ashes
جَوارِفُsweeping torrents بِالنارِwith fire تَغزوinvading البِلادَthe lands
جَوارِفُ بِالنارِ تَغزو البِلادَ
وَآوِنَةًand at times بِالقَناwith lances المُشتَجِرinterlocking
وَآوِنَةً بِالقَنا المُشتَجِر
Sweeping torrents invading the lands with fire,
As the torrent sweeps along the heaviest rain!
And at times with interlocking lances.
And you saw Alexander in his prime
وَأَبصَرتَand you saw إِسكَندَراًAlexander فيamong المَلاthe assembly
وَأَبصَرتَ إِسكَندَراً في المَلا
قَشيبَfresh-clad in العُلاglory فيin الشَبابِyouth النَضِرblooming
قَشيبَ العُلا في الشَبابِ النَضِر
And you saw Alexander among the assembly,
Though stealing on him was the withering of youth.
Fresh-clad in glory, in blooming youth.
In Egypt the garland of his kingdom withered;
تَبَلَّجَshone forth فيin مِصرَEgypt إِكليلُهُhis crown
تَبَلَّجَ في مِصرَ إِكليلُهُ
فَلَمbut did not يَعدُexceed فيin المُلكِkingship عُمرَthe lifespan of الزَهَرflowers
فَلَم يَعدُ في المُلكِ عُمرَ الزَهَر
His crown shone forth in Egypt,
No more for him lingered the springtime of rule.
But his kingship lasted no longer than a flower.
And you witnessed Caesar, how he tyrannized,
وَشاهَدتَand you witnessed قَيصَرَCaesar كَيفَhow اِستَبَدَّhe ruled despotically
وَشاهَدتَ قَيصَرَ كَيفَ اِستَبَدَّ
وَكَيفَand how أَذَلَّhe humbled بِمِصرَin Egypt القَصَرnecks
وَكَيفَ أَذَلَّ بِمِصرَ القَصَر
And you witnessed Caesar's despotic rule,
And humbled in Egypt palace and throne,
And how he humbled necks in Egypt,
How oppressive his henchmen were,
وَكَيفَand how تَجَبَّرَacted tyrannically أَعوانُهُhis aides
وَكَيفَ تَجَبَّرَ أَعوانُهُ
وَساقواand drove الخَلائِقَthe people سَوقَthe driving of الحُمُرdonkeys
وَساقوا الخَلائِقَ سَوقَ الحُمُر
And how his aides acted tyrannically,
Driving the nations like asses with a prod,
And drove the people as donkeys are driven,
And how a meager brave company of warriors
وَكَيفَand how اِبتُلواthey were tried بِقَليلِby few العَديدِin number
وَكَيفَ اِبتُلوا بِقَليلِ العَديدِ
مِنَof الفاتِحينَthe conquerors كَريمِnoble in النَفَرcompany
مِنَ الفاتِحينَ كَريمِ النَفَر
And how they were tried by a scant number
Overcame his teeming hordes at the final hour;
Of conquerors, noble in their company,
How Caesar's crown was cast like fragile glass
رَمىhurled تاجَthe crown of قَيصَرَCaesar رَميَlike hurling الزُجاجِglass
رَمى تاجَ قَيصَرَ رَميَ الزُجاجِ
وَفَلَّand routed الجُموعَthe hosts وَثَلَّand toppled السُرَرthe thrones
وَفَلَّ الجُموعَ وَثَلَّ السُرَر
Who hurled Caesar's crown as one hurls glass,
And the hosts were put to headlong rout, his feasts dashed to the ground.
And routed the hosts and toppled the thrones.
So let each tyrant be, for Time will mete out justice,
فَدَعso leave كُلَّevery طاغِيَةٍtyrant لِلزَمانِto time
فَدَع كُلَّ طاغِيَةٍ لِلزَمانِ
فَإِنَّfor indeed الزَمانَtime يُقيمُstraightens الصَعَرthe haughty tilt of the neck
فَإِنَّ الزَمانَ يُقيمُ الصَعَر
So leave every tyrant to time,
Time sets aright the balance and brings low the lofty height.
For time straightens the neck bent in pride.
You have seen religions in their teachings
رَأَيتَyou saw الدِياناتِreligions فيin نَظمِهاtheir ordered arrangement
رَأَيتَ الدِياناتِ في نَظمِها
وَحينَand when وَهىgrew weak سِلكُهاtheir thread وَاِنتَثَرand scattered
وَحينَ وَهى سِلكُها وَاِنتَثَر
You saw religions in their ordered array,
And when their authority disintegrated and decayed.
And when their thread weakened and scattered.
Mansions were erected to them like citadels
تُشادُare raised البُيوتُthe houses لَهاfor them كَالبُروجِlike towers
تُشادُ البُيوتُ لَها كَالبُروجِ
إِذاwhen أَخَذَbegan الطَرفُthe gaze فيهاwithin them اِنحَسَرfell back exhausted
إِذا أَخَذَ الطَرفُ فيها اِنحَسَر
Temples were raised for them like towers;
When attention to them diminished and waned.
When the eye ventured over them, it fell back exhausted.
Creeds were founded, and - like mountains' trunks -
تَلاقىmeet أَساساًat their foundations وَشُمَّand lofty الجِبالِmountains
تَلاقى أَساساً وَشُمَّ الجِبالِ
كَماas تَتَلاقىmeet أُصولُthe roots of الشَجَرtrees
كَما تَتَلاقى أُصولُ الشَجَر
Their foundations met the lofty mountains,
Set firm and stable.
As the roots of trees meet.
Behind their temples Isis held sway
وَإيزيسُand Isis خَلفَbehind مَقاصيرِهاher sanctuaries
وَإيزيسُ خَلفَ مَقاصيرِها
تَخَطّىcrossed المُلوكُthe kings إِلَيهاto her السُتُرthe veils
تَخَطّى المُلوكُ إِلَيها السُتُر
And Isis, behind her sanctuaries—
While kings bared themselves to her and put aside their veils.
Kings crossed the veils to reach her.
She illuminated heaven's expanses
تُضيءُshe shines عَلىupon صَفَحاتِthe pages of السَماءِthe sky
تُضيءُ عَلى صَفَحاتِ السَماءِ
وَتُشرِقُand gleam فيon الأَرضِearth مِنهاof her الحُجَرthe chambers
وَتُشرِقُ في الأَرضِ مِنها الحُجَر
She shines upon the pages of the sky,
And in the lands her idols shone like stars.
And her chambers on earth gleam.
Learned and ignorant thronged to worship Osiris;
وَآبيسُand Apis فيunder نيرِهِhis yoke العالِمونَall mankind
وَآبيسُ في نيرِهِ العالِمونَ
وَبَعضُand some of العَقائِدِthe creeds نيرٌa yoke عَسِرburdensome
وَبَعضُ العَقائِدِ نيرٌ عَسِر
And Apis, with all mankind beneath his yoke—
To some minds crooked creeds prove hard to follow.
And some creeds are a burdensome yoke.
By them life's riddles are interpreted,
تُساسُare governed بِهِthrough him مُعضِلاتُthe difficulties of الأُمورِaffairs
تُساسُ بِهِ مُعضِلاتُ الأُمورِ
وَيُرجىand is hoped for النَعيمُbliss وَتُخشىand is feared سَقَرSaqar (Hell)
وَيُرجى النَعيمُ وَتُخشى سَقَر
Through him the hardest affairs are governed;
The blissful Garden is promised and Hell-fire is feared.
Bliss is hoped for, and Saqar feared.
Men feel this alone, unmindful of aught else,
وَلاand not يَشعُرِare conscious القَومُthe people إِلّاexcept بِهِof him
وَلا يَشعُرِ القَومُ إِلّا بِهِ
وَلَوand even if أَخَذَتهُseized him المُدىthe knives ماnot شَعَرwould he feel
وَلَو أَخَذَتهُ المُدى ما شَعَر
The people are conscious of him alone,
Even should eons pass and go unnoted.
Though, were knives to seize him, he would feel nothing.
Abu Musk's slave outweighs Abd
يَقِلُّis too lowly أَبوAbu (father of) المِسكِal-Misk (musk) عَبداًas a slave لَهُto him
يَقِلُّ أَبو المِسكِ عَبداً لَهُ
وَإِنand even if صاغَfashioned أَحمَدُAhmad فيهِabout him الدُرَرpearls
وَإِن صاغَ أَحمَدُ فيهِ الدُرَر
Abu al-Misk is too lowly to be his slave,
Even though Ahmad therein molded peerless pearls.
Even though Ahmad fashioned pearls of verse about him.
You saw Moses and his ark,
وَآنَستَand you beheld موسىMoses وَتابوتَهُand his ark
وَآنَستَ موسى وَتابوتَهُ
وَنورَand the light of العَصاthe staff وَالوَصاياand the commandments الغُرَرradiant
وَنورَ العَصا وَالوَصايا الغُرَر
And you beheld Moses and his ark,
The gleaming staff and tablets twain.
The light of the staff and the radiant commandments,
And Jesus drawing on the cloak of modesty
وَعيسىand Jesus يَلُمُّgathers رِداءَthe cloak of الحَياءِmodesty
وَعيسى يَلُمُّ رِداءَ الحَياءِ
وَمَريَمُand Mary تَجمَعُgathers ذَيلَthe hem of الخَفَرreserve
وَمَريَمُ تَجمَعُ ذَيلَ الخَفَر
And Jesus gathering the cloak of modesty,
While Mary gathers up her trailing gown.
And Mary gathering the hem of reserve,
And Amr leading the Companions into Egypt
وَعَمروand Amr يَسوقُleads بِمِصرَthrough Egypt الصِحابَthe Companions
وَعَمرو يَسوقُ بِمِصرَ الصِحابَ
وَيُزجيand urges onward الكِتابَthe Book وَيَحدوand chants onward السُوَرthe surahs
وَيُزجي الكِتابَ وَيَحدو السُوَر
And Amr leading the Companions through Egypt,
To chant the Holy Book and sing its verses.
Urging the Book onward and chanting the surahs.
How then did you view true guidance and error,
فَكَيفَso how رَأَيتَdid you find الهُدىguidance وَالضَلالَand error
فَكَيفَ رَأَيتَ الهُدى وَالضَلالَ
وَدُنياand the worldly life of المُلوكِkings وَأُخرىand the hereafter of عُمَرUmar
وَدُنيا المُلوكِ وَأُخرى عُمَر
How, then, did you find guidance and error,
One life that passes and the next that bides forever?
The kings' worldly life and Umar's hereafter,
When Muqawqis renounced his debauched behavior
وَنَبذَand the rejection by المُقَوقِسِal-Muqawqis عَهدَthe age of الفُجورِwickedness
وَنَبذَ المُقَوقِسِ عَهدَ الفُجورِ
وَأَخذَand the acceptance by المُقَوقِسِal-Muqawqis عَهدَthe age of الفَجِرdawn
وَأَخذَ المُقَوقِسِ عَهدَ الفَجِر
And al-Muqawqis's rejection of the age of wickedness,
And Muqawqis embraced the morn of guidance.
And al-Muqawqis's acceptance of the age of dawn,
How the darknesses of error he transformed
وَتَبديلَهُand his exchanging ظُلُماتِthe darkness of الضَلالِerror
وَتَبديلَهُ ظُلُماتِ الضَلالِ
بِصُبحِfor the dawn of الهِدايَةِguidance لَمّاwhen سَفَرit broke
بِصُبحِ الهِدايَةِ لَمّا سَفَر
And his exchange of error's darkness
Into daybreak through wise governance.
For the dawn of guidance when it broke,
How he reconciled the Copts and Muslims
وَتَأليفَهُand his uniting القِبطَthe Copts وَالمُسلِمينand the Muslims
وَتَأليفَهُ القِبطَ وَالمُسلِمين
كَماas أُلِّفَتwere united بِالوَلاءِby loyalty الأُسَرfamilies
كَما أُلِّفَت بِالوَلاءِ الأُسَر
And his bringing Copts and Muslims together,
As kinsmen bind themselves in a firm relationship.
As families are joined by bonds of loyalty?
O Sphinx, had you not been a sign
أَباO father of الهَولِterror لَوif لَمnot تَكُنyou were آيَةًa marvel
أَبا الهَولِ لَو لَم تَكُن آيَةً
لَكانَwould have been وَفاؤُكَyour faithfulness إِحدىone of العِبَرthe lessons
لَكانَ وَفاؤُكَ إِحدى العِبَر
O Sphinx, were you not a marvel,
You would have been for steadfast loyalty a lesson.
Your faithfulness would itself be a lesson.
Upon the paired pyramids you gazed and gazed
أَطَلتَyou prolonged عَلىbeside الهَرَمَينِthe two pyramids الوُقوفَyour standing
أَطَلتَ عَلى الهَرَمَينِ الوُقوفَ
كَثاكِلَةٍlike a bereaved mother لاnot تَريمُleaves الحُفَرthe grave-pits
كَثاكِلَةٍ لا تَريمُ الحُفَر
You have stood long beside the two pyramids,
Like a fond mother who cannot forget.
Like a bereaved mother who will not leave the graves,
You hoped their builder would return
تُرَجّيyou hope لِبانيهِماfor the builder of both عَودَةًa return
تُرَجّي لِبانيهِما عَودَةً
وَكَيفَand how يَعودُcan return الرَميمُthe decayed bones النَخِرrotten
وَكَيفَ يَعودُ الرَميمُ النَخِر
Hoping for their builder's return;
When the ravaged cannot come again.
But how can rotten, crumbling bones return?
With one eye you surveyed the empty homes
تَجوسُyou search بِعَينٍwith one eye خِلالَthrough الدِيارِthe dwellings
تَجوسُ بِعَينٍ خِلالَ الدِيارِ
وَتَرميand cast a gaze بِأُخرىwith the other فَضاءَthe expanse of النَهَرthe river
وَتَرمي بِأُخرى فَضاءَ النَهَر
You search through the dwellings with one eye,
And cast the other o'er the open river.
And cast the other across the river's expanse.
You eyed Manuf's Lake with its swimming ducks
تَرومُyou seek بِمَنفيسَin Memphis بيضَthe gleaming الظُباsword-blades
تَرومُ بِمَنفيسَ بيضَ الظُبا
وَسُمرَand the brown القَناlances وَالخَميسَand the army الدُثَرteeming
وَسُمرَ القَنا وَالخَميسَ الدُثَر
You seek in Memphis the gleaming sword-blades,
And the crops of Giza and the shrouded moon.
The brown lances and the teeming army,
Where once the lofty station of knowledge stood -
وَمَهدَand the cradle of العُلومِthe sciences الخَطيرَgreat in الجَلالِmajesty
وَمَهدَ العُلومِ الخَطيرَ الجَلالِ
وَعَهدِand the age of الفُنونِthe arts الجَليلَgreat in الخَطَرimportance
وَعَهدِ الفُنونِ الجَليلَ الخَطَر
And the majestic cradle of the sciences,
When arts flourished of weighty import and sublime danger -
And the illustrious, momentous age of the arts.
You discerned only a village
فَلاyet not تَستَبينُdo you discern سِوىexcept قَريَةٍa village
فَلا تَستَبينُ سِوى قَريَةٍ
أَجَدَّthe newest of مَحاسِنَهاits beauties ماwhat اِندَثَرhas crumbled
أَجَدَّ مَحاسِنَها ما اِندَثَر
Yet you discern nothing but a village,
Whose charms are lost in utter stagnation,
Whose newest beauties are what has crumbled.
Which, as the globe revolved around it, seemed
تَكادُit almost لِإِغراقِهاbecause of its immersion فيin الجُمودِstagnation
تَكادُ لِإِغراقِها في الجُمودِ
إِذاif الأَرضُthe earth دارَتturned بِهاwith it لَمnot تَدُرwould it turn
إِذا الأَرضُ دارَت بِها لَم تَدُر
So deeply immersed in stagnation, it almost seems
As though it knew not motion or did care.
That if earth turned with it, it would not turn.
Is there one to convey for us the principles
فَهَلso is there مَنanyone who يُبَلِّغُwill tell عَنّاon our behalf الأُصولَthe roots
فَهَل مَن يُبَلِّغُ عَنّا الأُصولَ
بِأَنَّthat الفُروعَthe branches اِقتَدَتfollowed بِالسِيَرthe ways
بِأَنَّ الفُروعَ اِقتَدَت بِالسِيَر
Is there one to tell the roots on our behalf
By which the branches too were guided,
That the branches have followed their ways,
That we sought glory's lofty star
وَأَنّاand that we خَطَبناwooed حِسانَthe beauties of العُلاglory
وَأَنّا خَطَبنا حِسانَ العُلا
وَسُقناand brought لَهاto her الغالِيَthe precious المُدَّخَرhoarded
وَسُقنا لَها الغالِيَ المُدَّخَر
And that we wooed glory's beauties,
And offered for it our soul's blood and tears,
And brought her our precious hoarded wealth,
That we embarked upon affairs' billowing sea,
وَأَنّاand that we رَكِبناrode into غِمارَthe depths of الأُمورِaffairs
وَأَنّا رَكِبنا غِمارَ الأُمورِ
وَأَنّاand that we نَزَلناwent down إِلىto المُؤتَمَرthe congress
وَأَنّا نَزَلنا إِلى المُؤتَمَر
And that we plunged into the depths of affairs,
And we arrived for the conference prepared
And that we entered the congress,
With every frank negotiate and wise counselor
بِكُلِّwith every مُبينٍeloquent speaker شَديدِfierce in اللِدادِdebate
بِكُلِّ مُبينٍ شَديدِ اللِدادِ
وَكُلِّand every أَريبٍdiscerning man بَعيدِfar-reaching in النَظَرvision
وَكُلِّ أَريبٍ بَعيدِ النَظَر
With every eloquent, fierce debater,
Of expansive views and penetrating thought,
And every discerning, far-sighted man?
Demanding rights for a folk whose blood
تُطالِبُyou demand بِالحَقِّjustice فيin أُمَّةٍa nation
تُطالِبُ بِالحَقِّ في أُمَّةٍ
جَرىflowed دَمُهاits blood دونَهُin its defense وَاِنتَشَرand spread
جَرى دَمُها دونَهُ وَاِنتَشَر
You demand justice in a nation
Flowed out before these rights were realized,
Whose blood flowed and was shed in its defense,
Who prided themselves on their laws, not their fleets,
وَلَمand not تَفتَخِرdid it boast بِأَساطيلِهاof its fleets
وَلَم تَفتَخِر بِأَساطيلِها
وَلَكِنand yet بِدُستورِهاof its constitution تَفتَخِرit boasts
وَلَكِن بِدُستورِها تَفتَخِر
Which did not boast of its fleets,
So naught remained for you to preserve but tell the tale!
But boasts of its constitution.
Move, O Sphinx! For everything now moves,
فَلَمso not يَبقَremained غَيرُكَbut you مَنanyone who لَمnot يَحِفstirred
فَلَم يَبقَ غَيرُكَ مَن لَم يَحِف
وَلَمand not يَبقَremained غَيرُكَbut you مَنanyone who لَمnot يَطِرflew
وَلَم يَبقَ غَيرُكَ مَن لَم يَطِر
None but you remains who has not stirred,
Even solid rock cannot resist Time's power!
None but you remains who has not flown.
Speak, O skilled Sphinx! For the hour has struck,
تَحَرَّكmove أَباO father of الهَولِterror هَذاthis الزَمانُage
تَحَرَّك أَبا الهَولِ هَذا الزَمانُ
تَحَرَّكَhas moved ماwhatever فيهِis within it حَتّىeven الحَجَرstone
تَحَرَّكَ ما فيهِ حَتّى الحَجَر
Move, O Sphinx! This age—
And destiny awaits you. Rouse and rise!
Everything within it has moved, even stone.
I have kept hidden a treasure your people will cherish:
نَجِيَّO confidant of أَبيthe father of الهَولِterror آنَhas come الأَوانُthe time
نَجِيَّ أَبي الهَولِ آنَ الأَوانُ
وَدانَand yielded الزَمانُtime وَلانَand softened القَدَرfate
وَدانَ الزَمانُ وَلانَ القَدَر
O confidant of the Sphinx, the hour has come,
Not even granite equals it in hardness.
Time has yielded, and fate has softened.
I possess the sovereigns themselves, not empty forms,
خَبَأتُI stored لِقَومِكَfor your people ماwhat يَستَقونَthey draw to drink
خَبَأتُ لِقَومِكَ ما يَستَقونَ
وَلاand not يَخبَأُstores العَذبَsweet water مِثلُlike الحَجَرstone
وَلا يَخبَأُ العَذبَ مِثلُ الحَجَر
I have stored for your people what they draw to drink,
I preserve their deeds, not the ruins and mere traces.
And nothing stores sweet water like stone.
Let the darkness of despair retreat before the rising dawn of hope!
فَعِنديfor I have المُلوكُthe kings بِأَعيانِهاthemselves
فَعِندي المُلوكُ بِأَعيانِها
وَعِندَand beside التَوابيتِthe sarcophagi مِنهاof them الأَثَرthe traces
وَعِندَ التَوابيتِ مِنها الأَثَر
For I hold the kings themselves,
This is the awaited moment of destiny.
And beside the sarcophagi lie their traces.
Today we cultivate our valley anew,
مَحاerased ظُلمَةَthe darkness of اليَأسِdespair صُبحُthe dawn of الرَجاءِhope
مَحا ظُلمَةَ اليَأسِ صُبحُ الرَجاءِ
وَهَذاand this هُوَit الفَلَقُthe daybreak المُنتَظَرawaited
وَهَذا هُوَ الفَلَقُ المُنتَظَر
The dawn of hope erased despair's darkness,
Revive the glories of days gone by.
And this is the long-awaited daybreak.
By our own hands triumph is built,
اليَومُtoday نَسودُwe rule بِواديناin our valley
اليَومُ نَسودُ بِوادينا
وَنُعيدُand we restore مَحاسِنَthe beauties of ماضيناour past
وَنُعيدُ مَحاسِنَ ماضينا
Today we rule in our valley,
A homeland we ransom and that will ransom us.
And restore the beauties of our past.
A homeland rightly guided that we support
وَيُشيدُand sings praises العِزُّglory بَأَيديناof our hands
وَيُشيدُ العِزُّ بَأَيدينا
وَطَنٌa homeland نَفديهِwe redeem it وَيَفديناand it redeems us
وَطَنٌ نَفديهِ وَيَفدينا
And glory sings the praises of our hands.
And in God's eyes guide aright.
A homeland we redeem, and that redeems us;
That we improve and beautify
وَطَنٌa homeland بِالحَقِّwith truth نُؤَيِّدُهُwe uphold it
وَطَنٌ بِالحَقِّ نُؤَيِّدُهُ
وَبِعَينِand under the eye of اللَهِGod نُشَيِّدُهُwe build it
وَبِعَينِ اللَهِ نُشَيِّدُهُ
A homeland we uphold with truth,
Through our achievements and strivings,
And build under God's watchful eye.
Making Egypt the world in splendor,
وَنُحَسِّنُهُand we beautify it وَنُزَيِّنُهُand we adorn it
وَنُحَسِّنُهُ وَنُزَيِّنُهُ
بِمَآثِرِناwith our noble deeds وَمَساعيناand our endeavors
بِمَآثِرِنا وَمَساعينا
And we beautify it and adorn it
Egypt the cosmos in its grandeur!
With our noble deeds and endeavors.
History's mystery and core,
سِرُّthe secret of التاريخِhistory وَعُنصُرُهُand its essence
سِرُّ التاريخِ وَعُنصُرُهُ
وَسَريرُand the throne of الدَهرِtime وَمِنبَرُهُand its pulpit
وَسَريرُ الدَهرِ وَمِنبَرُهُ
History's secret and its essence,
Epoch's throne and tribune,
Time's throne and its pulpit,
Gardens of immortality and its Kauthar,
وَجِنانُand the gardens of الخُلدِeternity وَكَوثَرُهُand its Kawthar
وَجِنانُ الخُلدِ وَكَوثَرُهُ
وَكَفىand suffice الآباءُthe forefathers رَياحيناas fragrant flowers
وَكَفى الآباءُ رَياحينا
The gardens of eternity and its Kawthar;
Sires suffice us as exemplars.
And our forefathers suffice as fragrant flowers.
We'll make the sun our crown,
نَتَّخِذُwe take الشَمسَthe sun لَهُfor it تاجاًa crown
نَتَّخِذُ الشَمسَ لَهُ تاجاً
وَضُحاهاand its morning radiance عَرشاًa throne وَهّاجاblazing
وَضُحاها عَرشاً وَهّاجا
We take the sun as its crown,
Its dawn our seat, a burning throne.
And its morning radiance as a blazing throne,
The sky's glittering host our citadels,
وَسَماءَand the sky of السُؤدَدِglory أَبراجاًtowers
وَسَماءَ السُؤدَدِ أَبراجاً
وَكَذلِكَand so كانَwere أَواليناour forebears
وَكَذلِكَ كانَ أَوالينا
And the sky of glory as towers—
As our forebears built and fashioned.
For so were our forebears.
The age beholds you, and the nations,
العَصرُthe age يَراكُمwatches you وَالأُمَمُand the nations
العَصرُ يَراكُم وَالأُمَمُ
وَالكَرنَكُand Karnak يَلحَظُwatches وَالهَرَمُand the Pyramid
وَالكَرنَكُ يَلحَظُ وَالهَرَمُ
The age watches you, and the nations,
The pyramids peering, and the Sphinx rapt in reflection:
And Karnak watches, and the Pyramid.
O lads of Egypt! Rouse your spirits!
أَبنيO sons of الأَوطانَthe homelands أَلاare there no هِمَمُhigh resolves
أَبني الأَوطانَ أَلا هِمَمُ
كَبِناءِlike the building of الأَوَّلِthe ancients يَبنيناto build us
كَبِناءِ الأَوَّلِ يَبنينا
O sons of homelands, are there no high resolves
Rebuild, as did the ancients raise their monuments!
To build us as the ancients built?
Striving unceasingly, ever striving
سَعياًstriving أَبَداًforever سَعياًstriving سَعياًstriving
سَعياً أَبَداً سَعياً سَعياً
لِأَثيلِfor deep-rooted المَجدِglory وَلِلعَلياand for the heights
لِأَثيلِ المَجدِ وَلِلعَليا
Striving forever—striving, striving—
For glory's summit and highest place,
For deep-rooted glory and the heights!
Making Egypt our entire world,
وَلنَجعَلand let us make مِصرَEgypt هِيَit الدُنياthe world
وَلنَجعَل مِصرَ هِيَ الدُنيا
وَلنَجعَلand let us make مِصرَEgypt هِيَit الدُنياthe world
وَلنَجعَل مِصرَ هِيَ الدُنيا
And let us make Egypt the world!
Making Egypt our entire world!
And let us make Egypt the world!
Partial English translation: 177 of 178 Arabic lines translated.