Egyptian Arabic Curriculum — Grade 10, Sirat Antara (سيرة عنترة) — Page 6

Arabic text · النص

Line-by-line translation · المعاني

كَانَ الرَّبِيعُ يُغَطِّي جَوَانِبَ الْوَادِي بِكِسَاءٍ مِنَ الْحَشِيشِ وَالزَّهْرِ.

Spring covered the valley slopes in a cloak of grass and flowers.

وَالسَّمَاءُ الصَّافِيَةُ لَا يَشُوبُهَا سِوَى قِطَعٍ مُتَفَرِّقَةٍ مِنَ السَّحَابِ الْأَبْيَضِ.

The clear sky was marred only by a few scattered white clouds.

وَكَانَتِ الشَّمْسُ تَمِيلُ نَحْوَ الْغَرْبِ عِنْدَمَا اقْتَرَبَتِ الْقَافِلَةُ مِنْ فَمِ الْوَادِي عِنْدَ ظِلَالِ أَجَمَةٍ.

The sun was dipping toward the west as the caravan neared the mouth of the valley, approaching the shadows of a thicket.

وَسَارَتِ الْإِبِلُ تَخْطُو خَطْوًا وَئِيدًا لَا تَعْبَأُ بِشَيْءٍ مِمَّا حَوْلَهَا وَلَا يَسْتَحِثُّهَا شَيْءٌ مِنْ أَمَامِهَا وَلَا مِنْ خَلْفِهَا.

The camels moved at a steady, unhurried pace, indifferent to their surroundings, neither urged on by anything ahead nor driven from behind.

وَكَانَ يَرِنُّ فِي الْفَضَاءِ صَوْتُ الْحَادِي يَتَغَنَّى بِأَرَاجِيزَ، يَمْزِجُ فِيهَا بَيْنَ أَنْغَامِ الْحَرْبِ وَأَنْغَامِ النَّسِيبِ.

The voice of the camel-driver rang out across the expanse, singing verses that blended the melodies of war with those of love.

فَكَانَتِ الْإِبِلُ تَسِيرُ رَافِعَةً رُؤُوسَهَا نَشِيطَةً، كَأَنَّهَا تُصْغِي فِي حَمَاسَةٍ إِلَى ذَلِكَ الْغِنَاءِ الْمُطْرِبِ.

The camels walked with heads held high, stepping briskly as if listening with enthusiasm to the melodious song.

وَكَانَ الْفَتَى الْحَادِي يَسِيرُ فِي صَدْرِ الْقَافِلَةِ آخِذًا بِزِمَامِ بَعِيرٍ عَلَيْهِ هَوْدَجٌ قَدْ طُرِحَتْ عَلَيْهِ ثِيَابٌ مُلَوَّنَةٌ مُخَطَّطَةٌ مِنْ حَرِيرٍ يَبْرُقُ فِي ضَوْءِ الشَّمْسِ الْغَارِبَةِ، وَيَخْفِقُ فِي رِفْقٍ مَعَ النَّسِيمِ الْهَادِئِ.

The young driver walked at the head of the caravan, holding the rein of a camel that carried a palanquin draped in striped silk, which shimmered in the setting sun and fluttered gently in the quiet breeze.

وَكَانَ الْفَتَى شَابًّا أَسْمَرَ اللَّوْنِ يُشْبِهُ قِوَامُهُ الرُّمْحَ الَّذِي فِي يَمِينِهِ، قَامَةً عَالِيَةً، وَرَأْسًا مَرْفُوعًا وَصَدْرًا فَسِيحًا، وَقَدْ شَمَّرَ عَنْ ذِرَاعَيْنِ مَفْتُولَتَيْنِ قَوِيَّتَيْنِ.

He was a dark-skinned youth, his stature as straight as the spear in his right hand, with a tall frame, a proud head, and a broad chest, his sleeves rolled up to reveal powerful, muscular arms.

وَهُوَ بَيْنَ حِينٍ وَحِينٍ يَلْتَفِتُ نَحْوَ الْهَوْدَجِ فَتَبْرُقُ عَيْنَاهُ فِي لَمْحٍ خَاطِفٍ، ثُمَّ لَا يَلْبَثُ أَنْ يَتَّجِهَ إِلَى أَمَامِهِ نَاظِرًا إِلَى فَمِ الْوَادِي مُسْتَمِرًّا فِي الْغِنَاءِ بِصَوْتِهِ الْمَلِيءِ.

From time to time, he glanced toward the palanquin, his eyes flashing, before turning back to face the valley, continuing his song in a full, resonant voice.

وَكَانَ النَّاظِرُ إِلَى وَجْهِهِ يَرَى أَنْفَهُ الْأَقْنَى يَنْحَدِرُ إِلَى فَمٍ قَوِيٍّ فِيهِ شَيْءٌ مِنَ الْغِلَظِ وَيَلْمَحُ عَلَى جَبِينِهِ عَيْسَةً فِيهَا شَيْءٌ يَنِمُّ عَنْ حُزْنٍ كَمِينٍ.

An observer would note his aquiline nose, his strong, slightly thick-lipped mouth, and a shadow of melancholy on his brow that hinted at a hidden sorrow.

وَلَمَّا بَلَغَ الرَّكْبُ فَمَ الْوَادِي أَوْقَفَ الْفَتَى الْبَعِيرَ الَّذِي كَانَ آخِذًا بِزِمَامِهِ فَوَقَفَ الْقِطَارُ كُلُّهُ لِوُقُوفِهِ.

When the caravan reached the mouth of the valley, the youth halted the camel he was leading, and the entire train came to a stop behind him.

وَأَسْرَعَ الْعَبِيدُ وَالْأَتْبَاعُ الَّذِينَ كَانُوا يَسِيرُونَ مُشَاةً فِي آخِرِ الرَّكْبِ فَسَاقُوا الرَّوَاحِلَ الَّتِي تَحْمِلُ الزَّادَ وَالْمَاءَ، وَأَخَذُوا يَضْرِبُونَهَا بِعِصِيِّهِمُ الْغَلِيظَةِ حَتَّى أَنَاخُوهَا فِي نَاحِيَةٍ مِنْ جَانِبِ الْوَادِي.

The slaves and followers walking at the rear hurried to drive the pack animals carrying the provisions and water, striking them with heavy sticks until they knelt at the edge of the valley.

وَأَمَّا الْفَتَى فَقَدْ أَنَاخَ بَعِيرَهُ وَأَزَاحَ السِّتَارَ عَنِ الْهَوْدَجِ وَنَظَرَ إِلَى الْفَتَاةِ الَّتِي كَانَتْ فِيهِ، وَقَالَ لَهَا بَاسِمًا: مَنْزِلٌ كَرِيمٌ يَا عَبْلَةُ.

Antara knelt his own camel, drew back the curtain of the palanquin, and looked at the young woman inside, saying with a smile, "A fine place to rest, Abla."

فَقَالَتِ الْفَتَاةُ بَاسِمَةً: شُكْرًا لَكَ يَا عَنْتَرَةُ.

The young woman smiled back, "Thank you, Antara."

وَمَدَّ الْفَتَى يَدَهُ لِيُسْنِدَهَا فَاتَّكَأَتْ عَلَى سَاعِدِهِ الْقَوِيِّ وَوَثَبَتْ خَفِيفَةً وَهِيَ تَقُولُ: لَقَدْ أَجْهَدَكَ السَّيْرُ وَأَنْتَ تَأْبَى الرُّكُوبَ مُنْذُ الْيَوْمِ.

He reached out to steady her; she leaned on his strong forearm and jumped down lightly, saying, "The journey has worn you out, yet you have refused to ride all day."

فَأَسْرَعَ عَنْتَرَةُ قَائِلًا: وَكَيْفَ يُصِيبُنِي الْجَهْدُ وَأَنَا أَحْدُو بَعِيرَكِ يَا سَيِّدَتِي؟

Antara replied quickly, "How could I be weary when I am the one leading your camel, my lady?"

فَنَظَرَتْ إِلَيْهِ، وَكَانَتْ عَيْنَاهَا تَبْتَسِمَانِ، وَسَارَتْ إِلَى ظِلِّ سِدْرَةٍ وَهِيَ تَقُولُ: لَمْ أَسْمَعْ شَيْئًا يُشْبِهُ حُدَاءَكَ يَا عَنْتَرَةُ.

She looked at him, her eyes smiling, and walked toward the shade of a lote tree, saying, "I have never heard anything like your singing, Antara."

لَقَدْ أَمْسَيْتَ كَأَنَّ الْبَعِيرَ يَطْرَبُ لِإِنْشَادِكَ.

"It is as if the camel itself delights in your song."

فَقَالَ عَنْتَرَةُ: إِنَّهُ يَطْرَبُ لِيُشَارِكَنِي يَا سَيِّدَتِي، فَهُوَ يَعْرِفُ أَنِّي أُنْشِدُ فِي وَصْفِكِ أَنْتِ.

Antara said, "It delights in joining me, my lady, for it knows I am singing in praise of you."

فَضَحِكَتِ الْفَتَاةُ ضِحْكَةً تُشْبِهُ غِنَاءَ الطَّيْرِ، وَأَسْرَعَ عَنْتَرَةُ فَرَمَى شِمْلَتَهُ عَلَى الرَّمْلِ وَمَدَّهَا لِتَجْلِسَ عَلَيْهَا.

The young woman laughed, a sound like birdsong, and Antara quickly threw his cloak onto the sand, spreading it for her to sit.

Vocabulary · المفردات (55 verbs · 102 nouns)

• غَطَّى — to cover
• شَابَ — to mix
• مَالَ — to lean
• اِقْتَرَبَ — to approach
• سَارَ — to walk
• خَطَا — to step
• عَبَأَ — to care
• حَثَّ — to urge
• رَنَّ — to ring
• تَغَنَّى — to sing
• مَزَجَ — to mix
• أَصْغَى — to listen
• أَخَذَ — to take
• طَرَحَ — to throw
• بَرَقَ — to shine
• خَفَقَ — to flutter
• شَبَهَ — to resemble
• شَمَّرَ — to roll up
• اِلْتَفَتَ — to turn
• لَبِثَ — to linger
• اِتَّجَهَ — to head
• نَظَرَ — to look
• اِسْتَمَرَّ — to continue
• رَأَى — to see
• اِنْحَدَرَ — to descend
• لَمَحَ — to glimpse
• نَمَّ — to indicate
• بَلَغَ — to reach
• أَوْقَفَ — to stop
• وَقَفَ — to stand
• أَسْرَعَ — to hasten
• سَاقَ — to drive
• حَمَلَ — to carry
• ضَرَبَ — to hit
• أَنَاخَ — to make kneel
• أَزَاحَ — to remove
• قَالَ — to say
• مَدَّ — to extend
• أَسْنَدَ — to support
• اِتَّكَأَ — to lean
• وَثَبَ — to jump
• أَجْهَدَ — to exhaust
• أَبَى — to refuse
• أَصَابَ — to afflict
• حَدَا — to drive
• اِبْتَسَمَ — to smile
• سَمِعَ — to hear
• أَمْسَى — to become
• طَرِبَ — to be delighted
• شَارَكَ — to participate
• عَرَفَ — to know
• أَنْشَدَ — to recite
• ضَحِكَ — to laugh
• رَمَى — to throw
• جَلَسَ — to sit
• مَغْنًى — abode
• قَافِلَة — caravan
• رَبِيع — spring
• جَانِب — side
• وَادِي — valley
• كِسَاء — garment
• حَشِيش — grass
• زَهْر — flower
• سَمَاء — sky
• قِطْعَة — piece
• سَحَاب — cloud
• أَبْيَض — white
• شَمْس — sun
• غَرْب — west
• فَم — mouth
• ظِل — shadow
• أَجَمَة — thicket
• إِبِل — camel
• خَطْو — step
• وَئِيد — slow, deliberate
• شَيْء — thing
• فَضَاء — air
• صَوْت — voice
• حَادِي — camel driver
• أُرْجُوزَة — poem
• نَغَمٌ — melodies
• حَرْب — war
• نَسِيب — love poem
• رَأْس — head
• نَشِيط — energetic
• غِنَاء — singing
• مُطْرِب — melodious
• فَتَى — young man
• زِمَام — rein
• بَعِير — camel
• هَوْدَج — palanquin
• ثَوْب — a garment
• مُلَوَّن — colored
• مُخَطَّط — striped
• حَرِير — silk
• ضَوْء — light
• غَارِب — setting
• نَسِيم — breeze
• هَادِئ — calm
• شَابّ — young man
• أَسْمَر — brown
• لَوْن — color
• قِوَام — stature
• رُمْح — spear
• يَمِين — right hand
• قَامَة — stature
• عَالِيَة — high
• صَدْر — chest
• فَسِيح — spacious
• ذِرَاع — arm
• مَفْتُولَة — muscular
• قَوِيَّة — strong
• حِين — time
• عَيْن — eye
• لَمْح — glance
• خَاطِف — quick
• مَلِيء — full
• نَاظِر — onlooker
• وَجْه — face
• أَنْف — nose
• أَقْنَى — aquiline
• غِلَظ — thickness
• جَبِين — forehead
• عَيْسَة — sadness
• حُزْن — sadness
• كَمِين — ambush, hidden aspect
• رَكْب — caravan
• قِطَار — caravan
• وُقُوف — standing
• عَبْد — slave
• أَتْبَاع — followers (of a leader, ideology, or religion)
• مَاشِي — walker
• آخِر — end
• رَاحِلَة — mount
• زَاد — provision
• مَاء — water
• عَصَا — stick
• غَلِيظَة — thick, coarse (feminine adjective)
• نَاحِيَة — side
• سِتَار — curtain
• فَتَاة — young woman
• مَنْزِل — dwelling
• كَرِيم — generous
• يَد — hand
• سَاعِد — forearm
• خَفِيفَة — light
• سَيِّدَة — lady
• سِدْرَة — lote tree
• حُدَاء — camel-driving song
• طَيْر — bird
• شِمْلَة — cloak
• رَمْل — sand
• يَوْم — day
• حَمَاسَة — enthusiasm
• بَاسِمَة — smiling
• وَصْف — description
• بَاسِم — smiling