أَعد ذكر مصران قَلبي مولع

أَعد ذكر مصران قَلبي مولع

بمصر ومن لي أَن تَرى مقلَتي مِصرا

بمصر ومن لي أَن تَرى مقلَتي مِصرا

Speak again of Egypt; my heart is enamored

My heart is enamored with memories of Egypt,

of Egypt—and who can grant my eye the sight of Egypt?

Yearning for Egypt though my eyes see it not,

وَكرّر عَلى سَمعي أَحاديث نيبها

وَكرّر عَلى سَمعي أَحاديث نيبها

فَقد رَدّت الاِمواج سائِلَة نَهرا

فَقد رَدّت الاِمواج سائِلَة نَهرا

And repeat in my hearing tales of its Nile,

Repeat in my ear the tales of its prophet,

for it has turned the waves into a flowing river.

For its waves have returned questioning the Nile.

بِلاد بِها مَدّ السَماح جَناحَه

بِلاد بِها مَدّ السَماح جَناحَه

وَأَظهر فيها المَجد آيته الكُبرى

وَأَظهر فيها المَجد آيته الكُبرى

A land where generosity has spread its wing,

The land where generosity spread its wings,

and glory has displayed its greatest sign.

And glory manifested its greatest sign,

رويدا اِذا حدّثتني عن رُبوعِها

رويدا اِذا حدّثتني عن رُبوعِها

فَتَطويل أَخبار الهَوى لذة أَخرى

فَتَطويل أَخبار الهَوى لذة أَخرى

Go slowly when you tell me of its haunts,

Speak slowly when you tell me of its meadows,

for prolonging tales of love is another delight.

For lengthening the tales of love is another joy.

اِذا صاحَ شَحرور عَلى غُصن بانَة

اِذا صاحَ شَحرور عَلى غُصن بانَة

تَذكرت فيها اللَحظ وَالصَعدة السمرا

تَذكرت فيها اللَحظ وَالصَعدة السمرا

When a blackbird calls on a bān tree's branch,

When the sparrow chirps from the acacia branch,

I recall there the glance and the straight, dusky spear.

I am reminded of glances and dark complexions.

عَسى نَحوها يَلوى الزَمان مطيتي

عَسى نَحوها يَلوى الزَمان مطيتي

وَأَشهد بعد الكسر من نيلها جَبرا

وَأَشهد بعد الكسر من نيلها جَبرا

May time turn my mount toward it,

Perhaps time will incline its course toward it,

and may I find, after brokenness, restoration from its Nile.

And after despair, I will witness its mending.

لَقَد كانَ لي تلك المَعاهد كُلَّما

لَقَد كانَ لي تلك المَعاهد كُلَّما

تقضت وَأَبقَت بعدَها أَنفسا حسرى

تقضت وَأَبقَت بعدَها أَنفسا حسرى

Indeed, those familiar haunts were mine, whenever

Indeed, whenever those abodes

they passed away, leaving weary souls behind.

Passed and left behind pining souls,

أَحنّ اِلى تِلك المَعاهد كُلَّما

أَحنّ اِلى تِلك المَعاهد كُلَّما

يَجد دلي مرّ النَسيم بها ذكرا

يَجد دلي مرّ النَسيم بها ذكرا

I yearn for those familiar haunts whenever

I yearn for those abodes whenever

the breeze passing through them renews a memory for me.

A gentle breeze brings their memory.

أَما وَالقدود المائِسات بسفحها

أَما وَالقدود المائِسات بسفحها

وَأَلحاظ غادات قَد اِمتَلأَت سحرا

وَأَلحاظ غادات قَد اِمتَلأَت سحرا

Ah, by the swaying figures on its lower slopes,

By its peach trees dozing on its slopes,

and by maidens' glances filled with enchantment,

And glances that have filled with magic,

وَما في زباها من قَوام مهفهَف

وَما في زباها من قَوام مهفهَف

عَلا وَغَلا عَن أَن يُباع وَأَن يشرى

عَلا وَغَلا عَن أَن يُباع وَأَن يشرى

and every slender figure on its heights,

By the posture of its swaying palm trees,

too lofty and precious to be sold or bought,

Risen and transcended being sold or bought.

لَئِن عادَلي ذاكَ السرور بِأَرضِها

لَئِن عادَلي ذاكَ السرور بِأَرضِها

وَقَرّت بِمَن أَهواهُ مُقلَتي العبرا

وَقَرّت بِمَن أَهواهُ مُقلَتي العبرا

if that joy returns to me upon its soil,

If that bliss meets me in its land,

and my tearful eye finds comfort in the one I love,

And my eyes find rest with my loved ones,

لأعتنقِنَّ اللَهو في عرصاتِها

لأعتنقِنَّ اللَهو في عرصاتِها

وَأَيجد في مِحراب لذاتها شُكرا

وَأَيجد في مِحراب لذاتها شُكرا

I shall surely embrace pleasure in its open grounds,

I will embrace joy in its meadows,

and prostrate in gratitude in the prayer niche of its delights.

And in the niche of its joys find gratitude.

رَعى اللَه مَرعاها وَحَيا رِياضَها

رَعى اللَه مَرعاها وَحَيا رِياضَها

وَصب عَلى أَرحابِها الممزن وَالقطرا

وَصب عَلى أَرحابِها الممزن وَالقطرا

May God guard its pastures and bless its gardens,

May God tend its pastures and enliven its gardens,

and pour rainclouds and rain over its expanses.

Pouring abundant rain and dew upon its folks.

مَنازِل فيها ريح الصَبا لذة الصبا

مَنازِل فيها ريح الصَبا لذة الصبا

بر وَضتها الغَنا وَقَد تَنفَع الذِكرى

بر وَضتها الغَنا وَقَد تَنفَع الذِكرى

Dwellings where the east wind is the delight of youth,

In it are dwellings where the morning breeze is joyous youth,

in its lush garden—and remembrance may bring benefit.

Its meadows are melody and memories can be of use.

يذكرني ريح الصَبا لذة الصبا

يذكرني ريح الصَبا لذة الصبا

بِرَوضَتِها الغَنا وَقد تَنفَع الذِكرى

بِرَوضَتِها الغَنا وَقد تَنفَع الذِكرى

The east wind reminds me of the delight of youth

The morning breeze reminds me of joyous youth

in its lush garden—and remembrance may bring benefit.

In its meadows of melody where memories can be of use.

عَلى نيلها شَوقا أَصَبّ مَدامعي

عَلى نيلها شَوقا أَصَبّ مَدامعي

وَأَصبو اِلى غدران رَوضَتِها الغُرّا

وَأَصبو اِلى غدران رَوضَتِها الغُرّا

In longing, I pour my tears upon its Nile,

Yearning for its Nile I weep copious tears,

and yearn for the pools of its radiant garden.

And desire the rose gardens of its banks.

كَساها مديد النيل ثَوبا معصفَرا

كَساها مديد النيل ثَوبا معصفَرا

وَأَلبَسَها من بَعده جلة زَهرا

وَأَلبَسَها من بَعده جلة زَهرا

The far-reaching Nile clothed it in a safflower-dyed robe,

The Nile adorned it in a yellow robe,

and afterward dressed it in a radiant robe.

Then dressed it in a gown of flowers.

وَصافَح أَغصان الرِياض فَأَصبَحَت

وَصافَح أَغصان الرِياض فَأَصبَحَت

تمدّ له كفا وَتَهدى له زَهرا

تمدّ له كفا وَتَهدى له زَهرا

And it shook hands with the gardens' branches, so they began

The boughs of its gardens shook hands with it,

to extend a hand to it and offer it flowers.

Extending palms and bestowing flowers upon it.

وَأَودَع في أَجفان منتزهاتِها

وَأَودَع في أَجفان منتزهاتِها

نَسيما اِذا وافاه ذو علة تبرا

نَسيما اِذا وافاه ذو علة تبرا

And it placed within the eyelids of its pleasure grounds

In the eyes of its groves it placed

a breeze: when someone ailing encounters it, he recovers.

A breeze that heals whoever it visits.

اِذا حذرتني بلدة عن تشوّق

اِذا حذرتني بلدة عن تشوّق

اِلى نَيل مِصر كان تَحذيرها اغرا

اِلى نَيل مِصر كان تَحذيرها اغرا

If a town warns me against yearning

If a country warns me against longing

for Egypt's Nile, its warning is an enticement.

For the Nile of Egypt, its warning tempts me.

وَاِن حدّثوني عَن فرات وَدَجلَة

وَاِن حدّثوني عَن فرات وَدَجلَة

وَجَدت النيل أَحلى اِذا مَرّا

وَجَدت النيل أَحلى اِذا مَرّا

And if they tell me of the Euphrates and the Tigris,

When they speak of Euphrates and Tigris,

I find the Nile sweeter even when it turns bitter.

I find the Nile sweeter when they pass.

سَأَعرض عن ذكر البِلاد وَأَهلها

سَأَعرض عن ذكر البِلاد وَأَهلها

وَأَروى بِماء النيل مهجَتي الحرّا

وَأَروى بِماء النيل مهجَتي الحرّا

I shall turn away from mention of lands and their people,

I will ignore talk of other lands and their people,

and quench my burning soul with the Nile's water.

And quench my burning thirst with Nile water.

وَكَم لي اِلى مَجرى الخَليج التفاتة

وَكَم لي اِلى مَجرى الخَليج التفاتة

يَسيل بِها دَمعي عَلى ذلِك المَجرى

يَسيل بِها دَمعي عَلى ذلِك المَجرى

How often I glance toward the canal's course,

How often I glance toward the Gulf’s course

and that glance sends my tears flowing along that course.

Upon which my tears flow along that channel.

جَداوِل كَالحيات يَلتَف بعضَها

جَداوِل كَالحيات يَلتَف بعضَها

وَلَستُ تَرى بَطنا وَلَست تَرى ظَهرا

وَلَستُ تَرى بَطنا وَلَست تَرى ظَهرا

Channels like snakes, some of them coiling,

Brooks coil like snakes, some over the others,

yet neither belly nor back can be seen.

You see no belly and you see no back.

وَكَم قُلت لِلقَلبِ الوَلوع بذكرِها

وَكَم قُلت لِلقَلبِ الوَلوع بذكرِها

تصبر فَقال القَلب لَم أَستَطِع صَبرا

تصبر فَقال القَلب لَم أَستَطِع صَبرا

How often I have told the heart enamored of its memory,

And how often I said to my heart enamored with it,

'Be patient'; the heart replied, 'I have been unable to be patient.'

“Be patient,” but the heart said, “I cannot be patient.”

أَما وَالهَوى العذريّ وَالعصبة الَّتي

أَما وَالهَوى العذريّ وَالعصبة الَّتي

أَقامَ لَها العُشّاق في فنهم عُذرا

أَقامَ لَها العُشّاق في فنهم عُذرا

Ah, by chaste ʿUdhri love and the company

By the innocent passion and the band

for whom lovers have made an excuse within their art,

For whom the lovers established in their art excuses.

لَئِن كنت مشغوفا بمصر فَلَيسَ لي

لَئِن كنت مشغوفا بمصر فَلَيسَ لي

بِها حاجَة الاِلقاء بَني الزَهرا

بِها حاجَة الاِلقاء بَني الزَهرا

if I am passionately enamored of Egypt, I have

If I am infatuated with Egypt, I have

no desire there but to meet the descendants of al-Zahra:

No need except to meet its blossoms.

أَجَلّ بَني الدُنيا وَأَشرف أَهلها

أَجَلّ بَني الدُنيا وَأَشرف أَهلها

وَأَنداهُم كفا وَأَعلاهم قَدرا

وَأَنداهُم كفا وَأَعلاهم قَدرا

the noblest sons of the world and the most honorable of its people,

The best of this world and its noblest people,

the most generous of hand and the highest in rank.

The most generous of hand and highest of worth.

هُم القَوم اِن قابَلت نور وُجوهِهِم

هُم القَوم اِن قابَلت نور وُجوهِهِم

رَأَيت وُجوها تَخجَل الشمس وَالبدرا

رَأَيت وُجوها تَخجَل الشمس وَالبدرا

They are the people: if you face the light of their countenances,

If, meeting them, the light of their faces,

you see faces that put the sun and the full moon to shame.

You would see faces putting sun and moon to shame.

وَاِن سَمِعت أُذناك حسن صَنيعِهِم

وَاِن سَمِعت أُذناك حسن صَنيعِهِم

وَجِئت حماهم صدق الخبر الخَبَرا

وَجِئت حماهم صدق الخبر الخَبَرا

And if your ears hear of their fine deeds,

If your ears heard the goodness of their deeds,

and you come to their domain, experience confirms the report.

And you sought refuge with them, you would find reports true.

لَهُم أَوجه نور النُبُوّة زانَها

لَهُم أَوجه نور النُبُوّة زانَها

بِلُطف سَرى فيهِم فَسُبحان من أَسرى

بِلُطف سَرى فيهِم فَسُبحان من أَسرى

Their faces are adorned by the light of prophethood,

They have faces lit with the glow of prophethood,

with a grace that flows through them—glory to Him who made it journey by night!

Graced by the gentleness that flowed through them, glory to Him who made it flow.

هُم النِعمَة العُظمى لأمة جدّهم

هُم النِعمَة العُظمى لأمة جدّهم

فَيا فوز من كانوا له في غَد ذُخرا

فَيا فوز من كانوا له في غَد ذُخرا

They are the greatest blessing for their forefather's community;

They are the greatest blessing for the nation of their grandfather,

what triumph for one who has them as a treasure for the morrow!

So what fortune for him who will have them as treasure tomorrow.

اِذا فاخر بهم عصبة قرشية

اِذا فاخر بهم عصبة قرشية

فجدّهم المُختار حسبُهُم فَخرا

فجدّهم المُختار حسبُهُم فَخرا

If a Qurayshi clan boasts of them,

When a band of Quraysh boasts,

their forefather, the Chosen One, is glory enough for them.

Their grandfather the Chosen One suffices as pride.

مُلوك عَلى التَحقيق لَيسَ لِغَيرِهِم

مُلوك عَلى التَحقيق لَيسَ لِغَيرِهِم

سِوى الاِسم وَاِنظُرهم تجدهم به أَحرى

سِوى الاِسم وَاِنظُرهم تجدهم به أَحرى

Kings in truth; others have nothing

They are kings in truth, none but them,

but the name—look at them, and you will find them worthier of it.

Though others have the name see them more deserving of it.