لَعِبَplayed البِلىdecay بِمُلاعِبِwith the player upon الأَلبابِminds
لَعِبَ البِلى بِمُلاعِبِ الأَلبابِ
وَمَحاand erased بَشاشَةَthe cheerfulness of فَمِّكَyour mouth الخَلّابِbeguiling
وَمَحا بَشاشَةَ فَمِّكَ الخَلّابِ
Decay has toyed with him who played upon minds,
The calamities played with the minds of the sagacious,
and erased the cheerfulness of your beguiling mouth.
And erased the smile from your delicate mouth,
وَطَوىand folded away الرَدىdeath عَمرَوAmr الكِنانَةِal-Kinana (the Quiver) غافِلاًunawares
وَطَوى الرَدى عَمرَو الكِنانَةِ غافِلاً
وَرَمىand struck شِهابَthe meteor of دَهائِهِhis cunning بِشِهابِwith a meteor
وَرَمى شِهابَ دَهائِهِ بِشِهابِ
And death folded away al-Kinana's Amr unawares,
And folded the path of Amro Al-Kinana unknowingly,
and struck the meteor of his cunning with a meteor.
And threw its tricks like a shooting star.
مَنwho كانَwas يَدريknowing يَومَthe day سافَرَhe traveled أَنَّهُthat it was
مَن كانَ يَدري يَومَ سافَرَ أَنَّهُ
سَفَرٌa journey مِنَfrom الدُنياthe world بِغَيرِwithout إِيابِreturn
سَفَرٌ مِنَ الدُنيا بِغَيرِ إِيابِ
Who knew, the day he traveled, that it was
Who knew the day he traveled, it was
a journey from this world with no return?
A journey from this life with no return?
حَزِنَتmourned عَلَيهِfor him عُقولُناour minds وَقُلوبُناand our hearts
حَزِنَت عَلَيهِ عُقولُنا وَقُلوبُنا
وَبَكَتand wept وَحُزنُand the grief of العَقلِthe mind شَرُّthe worst مُصابِaffliction
وَبَكَت وَحُزنُ العَقلِ شَرُّ مُصابِ
Our minds and hearts mourned him,
Our minds and hearts grieved for him,
and wept; the mind's grief is the worst affliction.
And the grief of the mind is the worst affliction.
القَلبُthe heart يُنسيهِmakes it forget الغِيابُabsence أَليفَهُits companion
القَلبُ يُنسيهِ الغِيابُ أَليفَهُ
وَالعَقلُand the mind لاnot يُنسيهِmakes it forget طولُduration of غِيابِabsence
وَالعَقلُ لا يُنسيهِ طولُ غِيابِ
Absence makes the heart forget its companion,
The heart forgets its beloved with absence,
but no long absence makes the mind forget.
While the mind cannot forget with prolonged absence.
بِالأَمسِyesterday ماتَdied أَجَلُّناour most revered وَأَعَزُّناand our most honored
بِالأَمسِ ماتَ أَجَلُّنا وَأَعَزُّنا
جاهاًin rank وَأَبقاناand our most enduring عَلىthrough الأَحقابِthe ages
جاهاً وَأَبقانا عَلى الأَحقابِ
Yesterday died our most revered and most honored
Yesterday, the dearest and most precious to us died,
in rank, and our most enduring through the ages.
With glory, leaving us to reckon time.
وَاليَومَand today قَدindeed غالَcarried off الحِمامُdeath أَسَدَّناour soundest
وَاليَومَ قَد غالَ الحِمامُ أَسَدَّنا
رَأياًin judgment فَطاحَthus felled بِحِكمَةٍwisdom وَصَوابِand sound judgment
رَأياً فَطاحَ بِحِكمَةٍ وَصَوابِ
And today death has carried off our soundest
Today, enemies have overwhelmed our lion,
in judgment, sweeping away wisdom and sound counsel.
In opinion, so wisdom and correctness have fallen.
رَأسٌa head يُدَبِّرُplans فيin الخَفاءِsecrecy كَأَنَّهُas though it were
رَأسٌ يُدَبِّرُ في الخَفاءِ كَأَنَّهُ
قَدَرٌfate يُدَبِّرُplans مِنfrom وَراءِbehind حِجابِa veil
قَدَرٌ يُدَبِّرُ مِن وَراءِ حِجابِ
A head that plans in secret, as though it were
A head that plans in secret as if
fate planning from behind a veil,
It is fate planning behind a veil.
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen أَرضىsatisfied النُهىreason وَتَناسَقَتand fell into harmony
حَتّى إِذا أَرضى النُهى وَتَناسَقَت
آياتُهُhis signs راعَawed الوَرىmankind بِعُجابِwith wonders
آياتُهُ راعَ الوَرى بِعُجابِ
until, when he had satisfied reason and in harmony stood
Until desires are fulfilled and its signs aligned,
his signs, he awed mankind with marvels.
People are stunned with wonder.
يَمشيhe walks عَلىalong سَنَنِthe path of الحِجاreason مُتَمَهِّلاًunhurried
يَمشي عَلى سَنَنِ الحِجا مُتَمَهِّلاً
بَينَamong العُداةِthe enemies الكُثرِmany وَالأَحبابِand the friends
بَينَ العُداةِ الكُثرِ وَالأَحبابِ
He walks reason's path, unhurried,
He walks the path of sagacity calmly
among his many foes and his friends.
Amongst many enemies and loved ones.
تَتَناثَرُscatter الأَقوالُwords عَنaround جَنَباتِهِhis sides
تَتَناثَرُ الأَقوالُ عَن جَنَباتِهِ
مِنfrom شانِئٍa hater وَمُناصِرٍand a supporter وَمُحابيand a partisan
مِن شانِئٍ وَمُناصِرٍ وَمُحابي
Words scatter all about him,
Words scatter about him,
from hater, supporter, and partisan.
From slanderers, supporters, and admirers.
لاnot المَدحُpraise يُغريهِentices him وَلاnor يُلويturns aside بِهِhim
لا المَدحُ يُغريهِ وَلا يُلوي بِهِ
عَنfrom نَجدِهِhis high road المَرسومِmarked out وَقعُthe impact of سِبابِabuse
عَن نَجدِهِ المَرسومِ وَقعُ سِبابِ
Neither praise entices him, nor is he turned aside
Praise does not tempt him, nor insult steer him
from his marked-out high road by the sting of abuse.
From his prescribed path, though abuse rains.
حُلوُsweet التَواضُعِhumility لَمdid not يُخالِطmingle with نَفسَهُhis soul
حُلوُ التَواضُعِ لَم يُخالِط نَفسَهُ
زَهوُthe vanity of المُدِلِّthe self-important man يُحاطُis surrounded بِالإِعجابِby admiration
زَهوُ المُدِلِّ يُحاطُ بِالإِعجابِ
Sweet in humility: his soul was never touched
The sweetness of modesty did not mix with his soul,
by the vanity of a self-important man surrounded by admiration.
Nor the arrogance of narcissism that is shrouded in self-admiration.
حُلوُsweet الأَناةِpatience إِذاwhen يَسوسُhe governs وَعِندَهُand in his view
حُلوُ الأَناةِ إِذا يَسوسُ وَعِندَهُ
أَنَّthat التَعَجُّلَhaste آفَةُthe bane of الأَقطابِleaders
أَنَّ التَعَجُّلَ آفَةُ الأَقطابِ
Sweet in patience when he governs; in his view,
The sweetness of deliberation, when it whispers to him
haste is the bane of leaders.
That haste is the bane of the great.
حُلوُsweet السُكوتِsilence كَكَوكَبٍlike a star مُتَأَلِّقٍshining
حُلوُ السُكوتِ كَكَوكَبٍ مُتَأَلِّقٍ
وَاللَيلُand the night ساجٍstill أَسوَدُblack الجِلبابِthe cloak
وَاللَيلُ ساجٍ أَسوَدُ الجِلبابِ
Sweet in silence, like a shining star,
The sweetness of silence like a twinkling star,
while night lies still in its black cloak.
While the night is draped in black attire.
يَهديguides السَبيلَthe way لِسالِكيهِfor its travelers وَلَمand did not يُرِدseek
يَهدي السَبيلَ لِسالِكيهِ وَلَم يُرِد
شُكراًthanks وَلَمand did not يَعمَلwork لِنَيلِto obtain ثَوابِa reward
شُكراً وَلَم يَعمَل لِنَيلِ ثَوابِ
He guides travelers along the path, seeking no
It guides the way for its travelers without wanting
thanks, nor working to obtain a reward.
Thanks or working for reward.
مُتَمَكِّنٌin control مِنof نَفسِهِhimself لَمdid not يَعرُهُafflict him
مُتَمَكِّنٌ مِن نَفسِهِ لَم يَعرُهُ
قَلَقُthe anxiety of الضَعيفِthe weak وَحَيرَةُand the confusion of المُرتابِthe doubter
قَلَقُ الضَعيفِ وَحَيرَةُ المُرتابِ
Master of himself, never touched by
Firm in himself, not shaken by
the weak man's anxiety or the doubter's confusion.
The anxiety of the weak and confusion of the doubtful.
يَزِنُweighs الأُمورَaffairs كَأَنَّماas though هُوَhe صَيرَفٌa money-changer
يَزِنُ الأُمورَ كَأَنَّما هُوَ صَيرَفٌ
يَزِنُweighs النُضارَpure gold بِدِقَّةٍwith precision وَحِسابِand calculation
يَزِنُ النُضارَ بِدِقَّةٍ وَحِسابِ
He weighs affairs as though he were a money-changer
He weighs matters as if he is an assayer
weighing pure gold with precision and calculation.
Who weighs gold precisely and with calculation.
وَيَحُلُّand unravels غامِضَهاtheir mysteries بِثاقِبِwith the keenness of ذِهنِهِhis mind
وَيَحُلُّ غامِضَها بِثاقِبِ ذِهنِهِ
حَلَّthe analysis of الطَبيبِthe physician عَناصِرَthe constituents of الأَعشابِherbs
حَلَّ الطَبيبِ عَناصِرَ الأَعشابِ
And he unravels their mysteries with his keen mind,
And solves their ambiguity with his piercing mind
as a physician analyzes the constituents of herbs.
As a doctor analyzing the elements of herbs.
وَيَقيسُand measures شُقَّتَهاtheir span بِمِقياسِwith the measure of النُهىreason
وَيَقيسُ شُقَّتَها بِمِقياسِ النُهى
فَتَرىso you see صَحيحَaccurate قِياسِthe measurement of الاِصطِرلابِthe astrolabe
فَتَرى صَحيحَ قِياسِ الاِصطِرلابِ
And he gauges their span with reason's measure,
And measures their difficulty with the scale of law
so you see the accuracy of an astrolabe's reckoning.
Where you see the precision of the balance.
مُتَبَسِّمٌsmiling وَعَلىand upon مَعارِفِthe features of وَجهِهِhis face
مُتَبَسِّمٌ وَعَلى مَعارِفِ وَجهِهِ
آياتُsigns ماwhat يَلقىhe suffers مِنَof الأَوصابِpains
آياتُ ما يَلقى مِنَ الأَوصابِ
Smiling, though upon the features of his face
Smiling while the signs of what he encounters
are signs of the pains he endures.
Of adversities are visible on his cheeks.
شِيَمٌtraits تَرُدُّbring back الناقِمينَthe resentful لِوُدِّهِto affection for him
شِيَمٌ تَرُدُّ الناقِمينَ لِوُدِّهِ
وَشَمائِلٌand qualities تَستَلُّpluck out حِقدَthe rancor of النابيthe estranged
وَشَمائِلٌ تَستَلُّ حِقدَ النابي
Traits that bring the resentful back to loving him,
Morals that turn back those resentful of his affection,
and qualities that pluck rancor from the estranged.
And qualities that attract the hatred of critics.
يُرضيpleases المُرَتِّلَthe chanter فيin الكَنيسَةِthe church صُنعُهُhis conduct
يُرضي المُرَتِّلَ في الكَنيسَةِ صُنعُهُ
كَيساًthrough prudence وَيُرضيand pleases ساكِنَthe dweller in المِحرابِthe prayer niche
كَيساً وَيُرضي ساكِنَ المِحرابِ
His conduct pleases the chanter in the church
His work satisfies the church-goer,
through prudence, and pleases the dweller in the prayer niche.
As well as the mosque dweller.
يَرتاحُdelights لِلمَعروفِin good deeds لاnot مُتَرَبِّحاًseeking profit
يَرتاحُ لِلمَعروفِ لا مُتَرَبِّحاً
فيهِfrom it وَلاnor هُوَhe فيin الجَميلِkindness مُرابيa usurer
فيهِ وَلا هُوَ في الجَميلِ مُرابي
He delights in doing good, not seeking profit
He feels comfortable doing good, not gloating in it,
from it, nor does he lend kindness at interest.
And he does not deny goodness from others.
يُرويquenches the thirst of الصَديقَthe friend مِنَwith الوَفاءِloyalty وَلَمand did not يَكُنbe
يُروي الصَديقَ مِنَ الوَفاءِ وَلَم يَكُن
بِالحاسِدِan envier of النُعمىblessings وَلاnor المُغتابِa backbiter
بِالحاسِدِ النُعمى وَلا المُغتابِ
He quenches his friend's thirst with loyalty, never
He quenches his friend with loyalty, yet he is not
envying blessings or speaking ill of others.
Stingy with blessings or resentful.
لَمdid not يَبدُappear فيناamong us جازِعاًdistraught أَوor غاضِباًangry
لَم يَبدُ فينا جازِعاً أَو غاضِباً
لاهُمَّO God إِلّاexcept غَضبَةَan outburst of anger at النُوّابِthe deputies
لاهُمَّ إِلّا غَضبَةَ النُوّابِ
He never appeared among us distraught or angry,
He never appeared shaken or angry amongst us
O God—save for his anger at the deputies.
Except for the anger of The Guardian.
وَبُكاؤُهُand his weeping فيon يَومِthe day of سَعدٍSaad زادَنيgave me more
وَبُكاؤُهُ في يَومِ سَعدٍ زادَني
عِلماًknowledge بِأَنَّof the fact that اليَومَthe day يَومُa day of تَباتِruin (uncertain reading)
عِلماً بِأَنَّ اليَومَ يَومُ تَباتِ
And his weeping on Saad's day deepened my
And his crying on a joyous day informed me
knowledge that this was a day of ruin.
That this day would switch to one of trials.
قامَتarose صِعابٌdifficulties فيin مَسالِكِthe paths of سَعيِهِhis endeavor
قامَت صِعابٌ في مَسالِكِ سَعيِهِ
مِنfrom بَعدِafter سَعدٍSaad دُعِّمَتwere reinforced بِصِعابِwith difficulties
مِن بَعدِ سَعدٍ دُعِّمَت بِصِعابِ
Difficulties arose along the paths of his endeavor,
Obstacles stood in the way of his endeavor
and after Saad were buttressed by further difficulties.
After joy, laden with difficulties.
فَظَهيرُهُfor his supporter عِندَduring النِضالِthe struggle وَرُكنُهُand his pillar
فَظَهيرُهُ عِندَ النِضالِ وَرُكنُهُ
أَمسىbecame حَديثَa tale of جَنادِلٍboulders وَتُرابِand dust
أَمسى حَديثَ جَنادِلٍ وَتُرابِ
For his supporter in the struggle, his pillar,
So his supporter in struggle and his pillar
had become a tale of boulders and dust.
Became the talk of schemers and dust.
لِلَّهِGod has سِرٌّa secret فيin بِنايَةِthe making of ثَروَتٍTharwat
لِلَّهِ سِرٌّ في بِنايَةِ ثَروَتٍ
سُبحانَglory to بانيthe Maker of هَذِهِthese الأَعصابِnerves
سُبحانَ باني هَذِهِ الأَعصابِ
God has a secret in the making of Tharwat;
God has a secret in building wealth -
glory to the Maker of these nerves!
Glory to the Builder of these nerves.
إِنّيindeed I سَأَلتُI asked العارِفينَthose who know فَلَمbut did not أَفُزobtain
إِنّي سَأَلتُ العارِفينَ فَلَم أَفُز
مِنهُمfrom them عَلىdespite عِرفانِهِمtheir knowledge بِجَوابِan answer
مِنهُم عَلى عِرفانِهِم بِجَوابِ
I asked those who knew him, but could not gain
I asked the enlightened but did not succeed
an answer from them, despite their knowledge.
In winning from their knowledge an answer.
هُوَhe مُستَقيمٌstraight مُلتَوٍwinding هُوَhe لَيِّنٌsupple
هُوَ مُستَقيمٌ مُلتَوٍ هُوَ لَيِّنٌ
صُلبٌhard هُوَhe الواعيthe discerning one هُوَhe المُتَغابيthe one feigning stupidity
صُلبٌ هُوَ الواعي هُوَ المُتَغابي
He is straight, yet winding; he is supple,
He is straightforward, smooth, gentle,
yet hard; he is discerning, yet feigns stupidity.
Hard, aware, and esoteric.
هُوَhe حُوَّلٌresourceful هُوَhe قُلَّبٌversatile هُوَhe واضِحٌclear
هُوَ حُوَّلٌ هُوَ قُلَّبٌ هُوَ واضِحٌ
هُوَhe غامِضٌobscure هُوَhe قاطِعٌincisive هُوَhe نابيblunt
هُوَ غامِضٌ هُوَ قاطِعٌ هُوَ نابي
He is resourceful; he is versatile; he is clear;
He transforms, fluctuates, is clear,
he is obscure; he is incisive; he is blunt.
Obscure, decisive, and fleeting.
هُوَhe ذَلِكَthat الطِلَّسمُthe talisman مَنwho أَعياbaffled الحِجاreason
هُوَ ذَلِكَ الطِلَّسمُ مَن أَعيا الحِجا
حَلّاًin deciphering وَماتَand died وَلَمand did not يَفُزsucceed بِطِلابِin the quest
حَلّاً وَماتَ وَلَم يَفُز بِطِلابِ
He is that talisman which baffled reason
He is that talisman, frustrating the curious
in deciphering it; he died, the quest still unfulfilled.
Who died without attaining what they sought.
هُوَhe ماas تَراهُyou see him مُفاوِضاًnegotiating كَيفَhow اِنبَرىstepped forth
هُوَ ما تَراهُ مُفاوِضاً كَيفَ اِنبَرى
لِكَبيرِهِمto face their chief بِذَكائِهِwith his intelligence الوَثّابِleaping
لِكَبيرِهِم بِذَكائِهِ الوَثّابِ
He is as you see him negotiating—how he stepped forth
He is what you see negotiating, how he took over
against their chief with his leaping intelligence!
Their elder with his constant vigilance.
لَمdid not يَأتِcome مِنthrough بابِa door لِصَيدِto ensnare دَهائِهِhis cunning
لَم يَأتِ مِن بابِ لِصَيدِ دَهائِهِ
إِلّاexcept that نَجاhe escaped بِدَهائِهِthrough his cunning مِنthrough بابِa door
إِلّا نَجا بِدَهائِهِ مِن بابِ
Whenever one came through a door to ensnare his cunning,
He did not enter any door to catch them with his tricks
he escaped through another door by his cunning.
Except he left safely with his tricks from the door.
وَيَظَلُّand keeps يَرقُبُهُwatching him وَيَغزوand assails كِبرَهُhis pride
وَيَظَلُّ يَرقُبُهُ وَيَغزو كِبرَهُ
بِلُيونَةٍwith gentleness وَلَباقَةٍand tact وَخِلابِand charm
بِلُيونَةٍ وَلَباقَةٍ وَخِلابِ
And he keeps watching him, assailing his pride
And he continues to watch him and invade his arrogance
with gentleness, tact, and beguiling charm.
With smoothness, etiquette, and charm.
وَيَروضُهُand tames him حَتّىuntil يَرىhe sees أُسطولَهُhis fleet
وَيَروضُهُ حَتّى يَرى أُسطولَهُ
خَشَباًtimber تَناثَرَscattered فَوقَover ظَهرِthe surface of عُبابِsurging waters
خَشَباً تَناثَرَ فَوقَ ظَهرِ عُبابِ
And he tames him until he sees his fleet
And he tames him until he sees his armada
as timber scattered over the face of surging seas,
As wood scattered over the surface of the waves.
وَيَرىand sees صُنوفاًkinds مِنof ذَكاءٍintelligence صُفِّفَتarrayed
وَيَرى صُنوفاً مِن ذَكاءٍ صُفِّفَت
دونَbefore الحِمىthe sanctuary تُعييbaffle أُسودَthe lions of الغابِthe forest
دونَ الحِمى تُعيي أُسودَ الغابِ
and sees many kinds of intelligence arrayed
And sees formations of intelligence lined up
before the sanctuary, baffling the lions of the forest.
Below the guard, tiring the fierce lions.
وَأَتىand came بِأَقصىwith the utmost ماwhat يَنالُattains مُفاوِضٌa negotiator
وَأَتى بِأَقصى ما يَنالُ مُفاوِضٌ
يَسعىstriving بِغَيرِwithout كَتائِبٍbattalions وَحِرابِand spears
يَسعى بِغَيرِ كَتائِبٍ وَحِرابِ
And he secured the utmost a negotiator can attain,
And he accomplished the most a negotiator can attain
striving without battalions or spears.
Who works without battalions or wars.
وَاِستَلَّand drew out مِنfrom أَشداقِthe jaws of آسادِthe lions of الشَرىal-Shara
وَاِستَلَّ مِن أَشداقِ آسادِ الشَرى
عَلَماًa banner عَضَضنَthey gripped عَلَيهِonto it بِالأَنيابِwith fangs
عَلَماً عَضَضنَ عَلَيهِ بِالأَنيابِ
And he drew from the jaws of the lions of al-Shara
And he drew from the jaws of the lions of evil
a banner they had gripped with their fangs,
A banner they had pierced ferociously with their fangs.
خَلَقاًtattered خَباfaded ضَوءُthe light of الهِلالِthe crescent لِطَيِّهِbecause of its folding
خَلَقاً خَبا ضَوءُ الهِلالِ لِطَيِّهِ
جَمَّfull of التَوَجُّعِanguish دامِيَbleeding الأَهدابِfringes
جَمَّ التَوَجُّعِ دامِيَ الأَهدابِ
tattered, its crescent's light dimmed by its folding,
A people who darkened the crescent’s light for its fold,
heavy with anguish, its fringes bleeding.
Gathering gloom, teary-eyed with grief.
فَاِخضَرَّthen grew green فَوقَabove رُبوعِthe lands of مِصرٍEgypt عودُهُits staff
فَاِخضَرَّ فَوقَ رُبوعِ مِصرٍ عودُهُ
فيin مَنبِتٍa growing ground خِصبٍfertile وَرَحبِand spacious جَنابِsurroundings
في مَنبِتٍ خِصبٍ وَرَحبِ جَنابِ
Then its staff grew green over Egypt's lands,
So his pole flourished over Egypt’s plains
in fertile soil and spacious surroundings.
In fertile, wide open ground.
إِنif فاتَهُeluded him بَعضُsome of الأَمانيthe wishes فَاِذكُرواthen remember
إِن فاتَهُ بَعضُ الأَماني فَاِذكُروا
أَنّاthat we أَمامَface مُحَنَّكينَseasoned men صِلابِunyielding
أَنّا أَمامَ مُحَنَّكينَ صِلابِ
If some of his wishes eluded him, remember
If he missed some wishes, remember
that we face seasoned, unyielding men.
We face two stubborn tyrants.
قَدindeed جازَcrossed تَيهاءَthe trackless wilderness of الأُمورِaffairs وَلَمand did not يَكُنbe
قَد جازَ تَيهاءَ الأُمورِ وَلَم يَكُن
فيin وَعرِهاits rough terrain وَكُؤودِهاand its steepness بِالكابيone who stumbles
في وَعرِها وَكُؤودِها بِالكابي
He crossed the trackless wilderness of affairs, and was never
He crossed the meandering of affairs without
one to stumble in its ruggedness and steep ascents.
Faltering amidst its ruggedness and arduousness.
رَجُلٌa man يُفاوِضُnegotiates وَحدَهُby himself عَنon behalf of أُمَّةٍa nation
رَجُلٌ يُفاوِضُ وَحدَهُ عَن أُمَّةٍ
إِنif لَمdid not يَفُزwin فَوزاًa victory فَلَيسَthen it is not بِعابِa fault
إِن لَم يَفُز فَوزاً فَلَيسَ بِعابِ
A man negotiates alone on a nation's behalf:
A man negotiating alone on behalf of a nation -
if he wins no victory, that is no fault.
If he does not succeed, he bears no blame.
رَفَعَlifted الحِمايَةَthe protectorate بَعدَماafter بُسِطَتwas imposed عَلىon
رَفَعَ الحِمايَةَ بَعدَما بُسِطَت عَلى
أَبناءِthe children of مِصرَEgypt وَأُيِّدَتand was confirmed بِكِتابِby a document
أَبناءِ مِصرَ وَأُيِّدَت بِكِتابِ
He lifted the protectorate after it had been imposed on
He lifted protection after it had stretched over
Egypt's children and confirmed by a document.
The people of Egypt, backed by treaty.
وَأَتىand brought لِمِصرَto Egypt وَأَهلِهاand its people بِسِيادَةٍwith sovereignty
وَأَتى لِمِصرَ وَأَهلِها بِسِيادَةٍ
مَرفوعَةِraised الأَعلامِthe banners وَالأَطنابِand the tent-ropes
مَرفوعَةِ الأَعلامِ وَالأَطنابِ
And he brought Egypt and its people sovereignty,
And he brought Egypt and its people full sovereignty,
its banners and tent-ropes raised high.
With raised flags and banners.
غَفراًpardon فَلَستُfor I am not بِبالِغٍable to reach فيكَconcerning you المَدىthe utmost limit
غَفراً فَلَستُ بِبالِغٍ فيكَ المَدى
إِنّيindeed I غَذَذتُI urged swiftly إِلىtoward مَداكَyour farthest reach رِكابيmy mounts
إِنّي غَذَذتُ إِلى مَداكَ رِكابي
Forgive me: I cannot reach the full measure of your worth;
Forgive me, for I cannot fully articulate
I have spurred my mounts toward your farthest reach.
The extent of your virtues, though I have hastened to your loafty goals.
كَمhow many مَوقِفٍa stand لَكَof yours فيin الجِهادِthe struggle مُسَجَّلٍrecorded
كَم مَوقِفٍ لَكَ في الجِهادِ مُسَجَّلٍ
بِشَهادَةِby the testimony of الأَعداءِenemies وَالأَصحابِand friends
بِشَهادَةِ الأَعداءِ وَالأَصحابِ
How many of your stands in the struggle are recorded
How many of your stances in struggle are recorded
by the testimony of enemies and friends!
By the testimony of friends and foes?
فيin خَطبِthe calamity of مِصرَEgypt لِبُطرُسٍover Butrus أَخمَدتَهاyou quenched it
في خَطبِ مِصرَ لِبُطرُسٍ أَخمَدتَها
مَشبوبَةًablaze كانَتit was عَلىat الأَبوابِthe doors
مَشبوبَةً كانَت عَلى الأَبوابِ
In Egypt's crisis over Butrus, you quenched the fire,
In the speeches of Peters against Egypt you extinguished them
already blazing at the doors.
Though they raged at the gates.
أَلَّفتَyou united بَينَbetween العُنصُرَينِthe two elements فَأَصبَحاso they both became
أَلَّفتَ بَينَ العُنصُرَينِ فَأَصبَحا
رَتقاًa seamless whole وَكُنتَand you were مُوَفِّقَthe harmonizer of الأَسبابِthe bonds
رَتقاً وَكُنتَ مُوَفِّقَ الأَسبابِ
You brought the two elements together, and they became
You united the two elements so they became
a seamless whole; you brought their bonds into harmony.
In harmony, and you reconciled the means.
خالَفتُI differed from فيكَover you الجازِعينِthe distraught فَلَمand did not أَنُحwail
خالَفتُ فيكَ الجازِعينِ فَلَم أَنُح
حُزناًin grief عَلَيكَfor you وَأَنتَand you مِنamong أَترابيmy peers
حُزناً عَلَيكَ وَأَنتَ مِن أَترابي
I differed from those distraught over you, and did not wail
I disagreed with the pessimists, so I did not grieve
in grief for you, though you were one of my peers.
For you while you are amongst my loved ones.
النَوحُwailing فيat الجُلّىgreat calamity اِجتِهادُthe effort of مُقَصِّرٍone who falls short
النَوحُ في الجُلّى اِجتِهادُ مُقَصِّرٍ
أَلفىfound دُعاءَthe plea for الصَبرِpatience غَيرَnot مُجابِanswered
أَلفى دُعاءَ الصَبرِ غَيرَ مُجابِ
Wailing at great calamity is the effort of one who falls short,
Crying bitterly is the failing of one remiss,
who found his plea for patience unanswered.
Who did not find the prayer for patience fruitful.
فَأَناfor I الَّذيthe one who يَبكيweeps بِشِعرٍin verse خالِدٍimmortal
فَأَنا الَّذي يَبكي بِشِعرٍ خالِدٍ
يَبقىendures عَلىthrough الأَجيالِthe generations لِلأَعقابِfor posterity
يَبقى عَلى الأَجيالِ لِلأَعقابِ
For I am the one who weeps in immortal verse,
So I am the one who cries in immortal verse
enduring through generations for posterity.
That remains for generations to come.
قَدindeed كُنتَyou used to تُحسِنُshow kindness بيto me وَتَرقُبُand watch جَولَتيmy course
قَد كُنتَ تُحسِنُ بي وَتَرقُبُ جَولَتي
فيin حَلبَةِthe arena of الشُعَراءِpoets وَالكُتّابِand writers
في حَلبَةِ الشُعَراءِ وَالكُتّابِ
You used to treat me kindly and watch my course
You used to treat me well and await my rounds
in the arena of poets and writers,
In the orbit of poets and writers.
وَتَهَشُّand brighten إِنif لاقَيتَنيyou meet me وَتَخُصُّنيand single me out
وَتَهَشُّ إِن لاقَيتَني وَتَخُصُّني
بِالبِشرِwith cheerfulness فيin ناديكَyour gathering وَالتِرحابِand welcome
بِالبِشرِ في ناديكَ وَالتِرحابِ
and brighten when you met me, singling me out
You would beam if you met me and single me out
with cheerfulness and welcome in your gathering.
With greetings of welcome and amiability in your club.
فَاِذهَبso depart كَماas ذَهَبَdeparted الرَبيعُspring بِنَورِهِwith its blossoms
فَاِذهَب كَما ذَهَبَ الرَبيعُ بِنَورِهِ
تَأسىgrieve الرِياضُthe gardens عَلَيهِfor it غِبَّafter ذَهابِdeparture
تَأسى الرِياضُ عَلَيهِ غِبَّ ذَهابِ
So go, as spring departed with its blossoms,
So go, as spring went with its light -
the gardens grieving for it after its departure.
The meadows mourn its departure.
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.