عشقواthey loved الجمالَbeauty الزائفfalse المجلوباimported
عشقوا الجمالَ الزائف المجلوبا
وعشقتand I loved فيكَin you جمالكَyour beauty الموهوباbestowed
وعشقت فيكَ جمالكَ الموهوبا
They adored false beauty, dressed in borrowed finery;
They loved false, imported beauty,
but in you I adored your own gifted beauty.
and I loved in you the beauty you were given.
قدستُI revered فيكin you منof الطبيعةnature سرَّهاits secret
قدستُ فيك من الطبيعة سرَّها
أنعمْhow lovely بشمسكis your sun مشرقًاat sunrise وغروباand at sunset!
أنعمْ بشمسك مشرقًا وغروبا!
In you I revered Nature’s secret—
In you I revered nature's secret;
how splendid your sun is at sunrise and sunset!
how lovely your sun at sunrise and sunset!
ولقدand indeed ذكرتكI remembered you فادَّكَرْتُso I recalled طفولتيmy childhood
ولقد ذكرتك فادَّكَرْتُ طفولتي
وتمائميand my amulets، طوبىblessings لمهدكon your cradle طوبىblessings!
وتمائمي، طوبى لمهدك طوبى!
I remembered you, and so remembered my childhood
Indeed, I remembered you, and so recalled my childhood
and my amulets. Blessed be your cradle—blessed!
and my amulets. Blessings on your cradle, blessings!
زعموكthey deemed you مرعىًa pasture للسَّوامfor grazing livestock، وليتهمand if only they
زعموك مرعىً للسَّوام، وليتهم
زعموكthey deemed you مرعىa pasture للعقولfor minds خصيبًاfertile!
زعموك مرعى للعقول خصيبًا!
They called you pasture for grazing beasts—if only they
They called you pasture for livestock; if only they
had called you fertile pasture for minds!
had called you fertile pasture for minds!
فهيfor they are القرائحُcreative minds أنتَyou مصدرthe source وحيهاof their inspiration
فهي القرائحُ أنتَ مصدر وحيها
كمhow often بتyou spent the night تلهمyou inspire شاعرًاa poet وخطيباand an orator
كم بت تلهم شاعرًا وخطيبا
For minds of genius, you are the source of their inspiration;
For creative minds, you are the source of their inspiration;
how many a night you have spent inspiring poet and orator.
how often by night you have inspired a poet and an orator!
حيَّيتُI saluted فيكin you الثابتينthose steadfast عقائدًاin belief
حيَّيتُ فيك الثابتين عقائدًا
والطاهرينand those pure سرائرًاin their inner selves وقلوباand hearts
والطاهرين سرائرًا وقلوبا
In you I saluted those steadfast in conviction,
In you I saluted those steadfast in belief,
the pure in inmost thought and heart;
and those pure in their inner thoughts and hearts,
والذاهباتand the women going إلىto الحقولthe fields حواسرًاbareheaded
والذاهبات إلى الحقول حواسرًا
يمشيwalks العفافchastity ورائهنbehind them رقيباas a guardian
يمشي العفاف ورائهن رقيبا
and women going bareheaded to the fields,
and the women going bareheaded to the fields,
while chastity walks behind them as a watchful guard.
with chastity walking behind them as a guardian.
سلبتrobbed عذراكyour maiden الزهورَthe flowers جمالهاof their beauty
سلبت عذراك الزهورَ جمالها
فبكتso they wept تريدseeking جمالهاtheir beauty المسلوباstolen
فبكت تريد جمالها المسلوبا
Your maidens robbed the flowers of their beauty,
Your maiden stole the flowers' beauty,
and the flowers wept, seeking their stolen loveliness.
so they wept, longing for their stolen beauty.
كستclothed الطبيعةُnature وجْهَthe face أرضكof your land سندسًاin fine silk
كست الطبيعةُ وجْهَ أرضك سندسًا
وحبتand endowed نسيمكyour breeze إذas تضوَّعit wafted fragrance طيباperfume
وحبت نسيمك إذ تضوَّع طيبا
Nature clothed the face of your earth in brocade,
Nature clothed the face of your land in fine silk,
and favored your breeze as it breathed perfume.
and gave your breeze perfume as it wafted.
بُسُطٌcarpets تظللهاshade them الغصونthe branches، فأينماso wherever
بُسُطٌ تظللها الغصون، فأينما
يممتyou turned، خلتyou imagined سرادقًاa pavilion منصوباpitched
يممت، خلت سرادقًا منصوبا
The branches spread their shade; wherever
Carpets shaded by branches—wherever
you turn, you fancy a pavilion has been pitched.
you turn, you imagine a pavilion pitched.
مالتleaned علىover الماءthe water الغصونthe branches كماjust as انحنتbent down
مالت على الماء الغصون كما انحنت
أمٍّa mother تقبلkisses طفلهاher child المحبوباbeloved
أمٍّ تقبل طفلها المحبوبا
The branches leaned over the water, as bends
The branches leaned over the water, as bends
a mother to kiss her beloved child.
a mother kissing her beloved child.
وبداand appeared النخيلthe palms: غصونهُtheir fronds فيروزجٌturquoise
وبدا النخيل: غصونهُ فيروزجٌ
يحملنthey bear منof صافيpure العقيقagate حبوباgrains
يحملن من صافي العقيق حبوبا
The palms appeared, their boughs turquoise,
And the palms appeared: their fronds were turquoise,
bearing beads of pure carnelian.
bearing grains of pure agate.
أرأيتhave you seen عملاقًاa giant عليهabove him مِظَلَّةٌa parasol
أرأيت عملاقًا عليه مِظَلَّةٌ
أوor ماردًاa mighty jinn ملءfilling العيونthe eyes مهيباawe-inspiring؟
أو ماردًا ملء العيون مهيبا؟
Have you seen a colossus with pendants hanging from him,
Have you seen a giant with a parasol above him,
or a titan filling every eye with awe?
or an awe-inspiring jinn that fills the gaze?
ياoh رُبَّmany a ساقيةٍwaterwheel لغيرnot from صبابةlove's longing
يا رُبَّ ساقيةٍ لغير صبابة
أنَّتit groaned وأجرَتand let flow دمعهاits tears مسكوباstreaming
أنَّت وأجرَت دمعها مسكوبا
How many a waterwheel, though untouched by love’s yearning,
Oh, many a waterwheel, though not from love's longing,
has moaned and poured forth its tears!
has groaned and let its tears stream forth.
وحمامةand a dove سمعheard الفؤادthe heart هتافهاher call
وحمامة سمع الفؤاد هتافها
فسمعتهso she heard it بينbetween الضلوعthe ribs مجيباanswering
فسمعته بين الضلوع مجيبا
And a dove—the heart heard its call,
And a dove—the heart heard her call,
and I heard the heart answering between my ribs.
and she heard it answering between the ribs.
والغيدand graceful maidens تغمسdip فيinto الغديرthe pool جرارَهاtheir jars
والغيد تغمس في الغدير جرارَها
فيظلُّso it keeps يضحكlaughing ملءwith all فيهits mouth طروباjoyfully
فيظلُّ يضحك ملء فيه طروبا
Graceful maidens dip their jars into the pool,
And graceful maidens dip their jars into the pool,
which goes on laughing full-mouthed, exultant.
and it keeps laughing, mouth wide open, full of joy.
سِربَانtwo flocks منof بطducks وبيضٍand fair maidens خرَّدٍbashful
سِربَان من بط وبيضٍ خرَّدٍ
يتباريانthe two compete سباحةin swimming ووثوباand leaping
يتباريان سباحة ووثوبا
Two flocks—ducks and fair young maidens—
Two flocks—ducks and fair, shy maidens—
compete in swimming and leaping.
vie in swimming and leaping.
وترىand you see الجداولthe streams فيin الأصيلthe late afternoon، كأنهاas though they were
وترى الجداول في الأصيل، كأنها
منof فضةsilver فيهاin it النضارpure gold أذيباwas melted
من فضة فيها النضار أذيبا
At late afternoon you see the streams as though
And you see the streams in the late afternoon, as though they were
made of silver in which gold has been melted.
silver with pure gold melted into it.
ياO بدرfull moon، أنتyou ابنتdaughter القرىof the villages، وأراكand I see you فيin
يا بدر، أنت ابنت القرى، وأراك في
ليلthe night الحواضرof the cities إنif طلعتyou rise غريباa stranger
ليل الحواضر إن طلعت غريبا
O full moon, you are the daughter of villages; I see you in
O full moon, you are the villages' daughter, and I see you in
the night of cities whenever you rise, a stranger.
the cities' night, a stranger whenever you rise.
نشرspread السكونُstillness علىover القرىthe villages أعلامَهits banners
نشر السكونُ على القرى أعلامَه
فتكادso you almost تسمعhear للفؤادfrom the heart وجيباa beating
فتكاد تسمع للفؤاد وجيبا
Stillness has spread its banners over the villages;
Stillness spread its banners over the villages,
you can almost hear the heartbeat.
so you can almost hear the beating of the heart.
بدتappeared الحياةlife هناكthere فيin ريعانهاits prime
بدت الحياة هناك في ريعانها
ولوَeven though أنهاit سارتmoved تدبcreeping دبيباat a crawl
ولوَ أنها سارت تدب دبيبا
Life appeared there in its first full bloom,
Life appeared there in its prime,
even though it moved along at a creeping pace.
even though it moved along at a crawl.
ولقدand indeed ينامsleep القومthe people ملءto the full العينthe eye فيin
ولقد ينام القوم ملء العين في
زمنan age يُقضُّunsettles مضاجعًاbeds وجنوباand sides
زمن يُقضُّ مضاجعًا وجنوبا
The people there sleep soundly, eyes full of sleep,
Indeed, the people sleep their fill in
in an age that robs beds and weary sides of rest.
an age that gives neither beds nor sides their rest.
وهيand such is السعادةhappiness، كمhow often أوتit sheltered in كوخًاa hut، وكمand how often
وهي السعادة، كم أوت كوخًا، وكم
هجرتit forsook أشمَّlofty منamong القصورthe palaces رحيباspacious
هجرت أشمَّ من القصور رحيبا
This is happiness: how many huts it has sheltered,
And such is happiness: how often it has sheltered in a hut, and how often
and how many lofty, spacious palaces it has fled!
it has forsaken a lofty, spacious palace!
قالواthey said: الحضارةcivilization، قلتI said: أسفرwas unveiled وجههاits face
قالوا: الحضارة، قلت: أسفر وجهها
وبدتand appeared محاسنهاits beauties، فكنَّand they proved عيوباflaws
وبدت محاسنها، فكنَّ عيوبا
They said, “Civilization.” I said, “Unveil its face”;
They said, "Civilization!" I said, "Its face was unveiled,
its beauties appeared—and proved to be defects.
and its beauties appeared, only to prove flaws."
ماwhat ضرَّharmed أهلthe people الريفof the countryside ألاthat they do not يحفلواconcern themselves
ما ضرَّ أهل الريف ألا يحفلوا
بالطبwith medicine، أوor لاnot يعرفواthey know«الميكروباthe microbe»؟
بالطب، أو لا يعرفوا«الميكروبا»؟
What harm has befallen the country folk because they pay no heed
What harm has it done the countryfolk not to concern themselves
to medicine, or do not know the microbe?
with medicine, or not to know the microbe?
ضمنتensured سلامتهمtheir health سهولةُthe simplicity عيشهمof their lives
ضمنت سلامتهم سهولةُ عيشهم
وصفاand was pure هواؤهموtheir air، فكانso it became طبيباa physician
وصفا هواؤهمو، فكان طبيبا
The simplicity of their life has guaranteed their health;
The simplicity of their lives ensured their health,
their air was pure, and so became a physician.
and their air was pure, so it became their physician.
رضعواthey suckled رحيقthe nectar السائماتof grazing livestock، وماand not دروْاthey knew
رضعوا رحيق السائمات، وما دروْا
غيرother than النميرpure water وغيرهand what is besides it مشروباas a drink
غير النمير وغيره مشروبا
They suckled the nectar of grazing herds and knew
They suckled the nectar of grazing herds, and knew
no drink but sweet spring water and that nectar.
no drink but pure water and that nectar.
وسرىand coursed شعاعthe ray الشمسof the sun فيthrough أبدانهمtheir bodies
وسرى شعاع الشمس في أبدانهم
فجرىso it flowed بأوجههمthrough their faces دَمًاas blood مَشْبُوباglowing؟
فجرى بأوجههم دَمًا مَشْبُوبا؟
The sun’s rays coursed through their bodies
And the sun's ray coursed through their bodies,
and flowed through their faces like kindled blood.
then flowed through their faces as glowing blood.
شمسthe sun القرىof the villages كستclothed الوجوهthe faces نضارةin freshness
شمس القرى كست الوجوه نضارة
أرأيتhave you seen وجهًاa face فيin القرىthe villages مخضوباpainted؟
أرأيت وجهًا في القرى مخضوبا؟
The village sun clothed faces in freshness;
The village sun clothed faces in freshness;
have you ever seen dyed faces in the villages?
have you seen a painted face in the villages?
سرwalk فيthrough الحقولthe fields، ترَyou will see الرياضةexercise عندهمamong them
سر في الحقول، ترَ الرياضة عندهم
فنَّاas an art، وخطًاand as writing عندناamong us مكتوباwritten
فنَّا، وخطًا عندنا مكتوبا
Walk through the fields: you will see exercise among them
Walk through the fields: you will see exercise among them
as a living art—and among us, as a written prescription.
as an art, but among us merely as written words.
أكبرتُI admired فيin القَرَوِيِّthe countryman حدةthe intensity عزمهِof his resolve
أكبرتُ في القَرَوِيِّ حدة عزمهِ
وحسبتُهand I reckoned him فيin صبرهhis patience «أيوباJob»
وحسبتُه في صبره «أيوبا»
I admired in the villagers the mettle of their resolve;
I admired in the countryman the intensity of his resolve,
in patience, I counted each one a Job.
and in his patience reckoned him Job.
ورأيتand I found طيبَkindness النفسof soul فيهin him سجيةًan inborn trait
ورأيت طيبَ النفس فيه سجيةً
وودادهand his affection سهلeasy المنالto attain قريباclose at hand
ووداده سهل المنال قريبا
I found goodness of spirit innate in him,
And I found kind-heartedness an inborn trait in him,
and his affection easy to gain, close at hand.
and his affection easy to gain, close at hand.
فيهin him ترىyou see الخلقcharacter الصريحgenuine، ولاand not ترىyou see
فيه ترى الخلق الصريح، ولا ترى
ضحكlaughter النواجذof the molars بالخديعةwith deceit شيباmingled
ضحك النواجذ بالخديعة شيبا
In him you see a character frank and true,
In him you see genuine character, and do not see
and no broad grin tainted with deceit.
a tooth-baring laugh mingled with deceit.
أناI لاdo not أقولsay: تشينهdisgraces him أمِّيةilliteracy
أنا لا أقول: تشينه أمِّية
كنbe خيِّرًاgood، ولاand not كاتِبًاa writer وحسيباand a reckoner
كن خيِّرًا، ولا كاتِبًا وحسيبا
I do not say that illiteracy blemishes him:
I do not say that illiteracy disgraces him:
be good—not merely a clerk and accountant.
be good, rather than a writer and a reckoner.
كمhow many ضلَّwent astray منamong أهلthe people الحواضرof the cities قارئٌa reader
كم ضلَّ من أهل الحواضر قارئٌ
فاغتالthen violated أعراضًاpeople's honor وشقَّand tore جيوباgarment necklines
فاغتال أعراضًا وشقَّ جيوبا
How many a literate city-dweller has gone astray,
How many a reader among city dwellers has gone astray,
assailing honor and slitting pockets!
then violated honor and rent collars!
فيin الريفthe countryside فتيانyoung men تسيلstream جباهمtheir foreheads
في الريف فتيان تسيل جباهم
عرقًاwith sweat فيصبحso it becomes لُؤْلُؤًاpearls مثقوباpierced
عرقًا فيصبح لُؤْلُؤًا مثقوبا
In the countryside are youths whose brows stream
In the countryside are young men whose foreheads stream
with sweat that becomes threaded pearls.
with sweat that turns to pierced pearls,
لاnot فتيةyoung men مُرْدٌbeardless بأيدwith hands بضَّةsoft
لا فتية مُرْدٌ بأيد بضَّة
فيon كلevery يومday يلبسونthey wear قشيباnew finery
في كل يوم يلبسون قشيبا
Not beardless youths with delicate hands,
not beardless youths with soft hands,
donning new clothes every day.
wearing fresh finery every day.
بذلواthey gave لمصرٍto Egypt فوقbeyond ماwhat فيwithin وسعهمtheir capacity
بذلوا لمصرٍ فوق ما في وسعهم
ورضُواand they were content بماwith what is دونless than الكفافbare subsistence نصيباas a share
ورضُوا بما دون الكفاف نصيبا
They gave Egypt more than lay within their power,
They gave Egypt more than lay within their power,
and accepted as their share less than bare sufficiency.
and were content with less than subsistence as their share.
