وقائلة مالي أرى الجو مظلماً

وقائلة مالي أرى الجو مظلماً

بأعمال مصر دون كل مكان

بأعمال مصر دون كل مكان

And a woman said: Why do I see the sky darkened

She said, "Why do I see the sky so gloomy

in Egypt’s districts, unlike anywhere else?

With Egypt's affairs, unlike any other place?"

فقلت ومصر كالبلاد وإن يكن

فقلت ومصر كالبلاد وإن يكن

علاها دخان فهو بابن دخان

علاها دخان فهو بابن دخان

So I said: Egypt is like other lands, and if

So I said, "Egypt is like other countries, and even

smoke has risen over it, it is because of Ibn Dukhan.

If smoke has risen over it, it's just smoke."

لقد سئم الإسلام طول حياته

لقد سئم الإسلام طول حياته

ودار على قرنيه ألف قران

ودار على قرنيه ألف قران

Islam has indeed grown weary of his long life,

Islam has grown weary in its long life

and a thousand planetary conjunctions have wheeled over his two horns.

And a thousand eras have turned in its eye.

متى تقبض الأيام عنا بنانه

متى تقبض الأيام عنا بنانه

وتبسط كف الأروع ابن بنان

وتبسط كف الأروع ابن بنان

When will the days withdraw his fingers from us

When will the days release their claws from us

and extend the hand of the splendid Ibn Banan?

And the palm of the noblest son of Banan spread?

لقد ترك الأعمال صرفاً كأنها

لقد ترك الأعمال صرفاً كأنها

قوالب ألفاظ بغير معان

قوالب ألفاظ بغير معان

He has indeed left the districts utterly bare, as though they were

Deeds have been left as if they were

molds of words without meanings.

Molds of words without meaning.

فصدق مقال الناس فيه ولا تقل

فصدق مقال الناس فيه ولا تقل

كلام العدى ضرب من الهذيان

كلام العدى ضرب من الهذيان

So believe what people say about him, and do not say:

So believe what people say about him, and do not say

The talk of enemies is a kind of delirium.

The enemy's words are a kind of madness.

فاقسم لو عاداه كلب أهانه

فاقسم لو عاداه كلب أهانه

لأنهما في القدر يستويان

لأنهما في القدر يستويان

So I swear: were a dog to oppose him, it would humiliate him,

I swear, if a dog insulted him,

for the two are equal in worth.

They are equal in fate.

فأما لساني فالكرام تخافه

فأما لساني فالكرام تخافه

وأي كريم لا يخاف لساني

وأي كريم لا يخاف لساني

As for my tongue, the noble fear it,

As for my tongue, the noble fear it,

and what noble man does not fear my tongue?

And what noble would not fear my tongue?

وما بيننا إلا لأني بواحد

وما بيننا إلا لأني بواحد

أدين إذا دان الخبث بثان

أدين إذا دان الخبث بثان

And nothing stands between us except that in One

There is nothing between us except that I, by one,

I believe, while the vile one believes in a second.

Am indebted, when villains are judged by another.