وَلَهاAnd to herالْعُذْرُthe excuseفإنَّfor surelyحُبَّloveالأُمَّهاتِmothersكَثِيرًاvery oftenماwhatيَدْفَعُهُنَّdrives themإِلَىtoتَخْوِيفِfearبَنَاتِهِنَّtheir daughtersمِنْfromكُلِّeverythingشَيْءٍthingإِنَّنِيindeed Iجَرِيئَةُbraveالْقَلْبِ،of heart,ياO«أُمَّ مازِنٍ»،‘Mother of Mazin’وَandقَدْindeedكُنْتُI wasأَقْرِضُborrowingالأُرْزَthe riceأَمْسَyesterdayفِيinهَذاthisالْمَكانِplace,فِيinوَضَحِthe brightnessالنَّهَارِ،of the day,أَمامَin front ofرَبَّةِthe mistress ofالدَّارِ،the house,وَandعَلَىuponمَرْأَىsightمِنْهَاfrom her.وَandقَدْindeedشَعَرْتُI felt——أَوَّلَfor the firstمَرَّةٍtime——بِشَيْءٍwith somethingمِنَofالْخَوْفِ،fear,ثُمَّthenعاودَتْنِيreturned to meالشَّجاعَةُcourage.……وَلَعَلَّكِAnd perhaps youلاdo notتَعْرِفِينَ:know:ماذاwhatفَعَلْتُ؟did I do?
And to her is the excuse, for surely the love of mothers often drives them to frighten their daughters from everything... Indeed, I am brave of heart, O 'Mother of Mazin', and I was borrowing the rice yesterday — in this place — in broad daylight, in front of the mistress of the house, and in her sight... And I felt — for the first time — with something of fear, then courage returned to me... And perhaps you do not know: what did I do?
فَقالَتْThen she saidلَهاto her«أُمُّ"Mother ofمازِنٍ»:Mazin":«كَلا،"No,لاnoأَعْرِفُI knowشَيْئًا!»anything!"
Then she said to her "Mother of Mazin": "No, I do not know anything!"
فَقالَتْShe saidأُمُّMotherدِرْصٍDirasإِنَّهاIndeed sheلَمْdid notتَكَدْmanageتَفْتَحُopenهَذِهِthisالْغِرارَةَthe container(الزَّكِيبَةَ)(the jar)الَّتِيwhichأَمامَناin front of usحَتَّىuntilقَفَزْتُI jumpedفِيinوَجْهِهِاher face
She said, "Mother Diras: Indeed she did not manage to open this container (the jar) in front of us, until I jumped in its face."
فاشْتَدَّintensifiedخَوْفُهاher fearوَلاذَتْand fledبِالْفِرارِwith escapeوَصاحَتْand shoutedتَطْلُبُseekingالنَّجْدَةَhelpوَسَأَلْجَأand I will resortإِلَىtoهَذِهِthisالطَّرِيقَةِmethodمَتَىwheneverرَأَيْتُI seeقِطًّاa cat
Her fear intensified, she fled and shouted asking for help. I will resort to this method whenever I see a cat!
نَشِيدُanthemالْفَأْرَةِof the mouse
The Anthem of the Mouse
وَماAnd notزالَتْcontinued«أُمُّMotherدِرْصٍ»of Dirseسابِحَةًswimmingفِيinأَحْلامِها،her dreams,مُتظاهِرَةًdisplayingبِالْجُرْأَةِ،with courage,مُسْتَهِينَةًunderminingبِالأَخْطارِ،with dangers,غَيْرَnotمُقَدِّرَةٍestimatingلِلْعَواقِبِthe consequencesحِسابًا.as an account.ثُمَّThenخَتَمَتْshe concludedغُرُورَها،her vanity,مُتَغَنِّيَةًsingingبِالأُنْشُودَةِwith the anthemالتَّالِيَةِ:that follows:
And she continued, 'Mother of Dirse' swimming in her dreams, displaying courage, underestimating the dangers, not estimating the consequences as an account. Then she concluded her vanity, singing with the following anthem:
حَدَّثَتْShe told
My mother told, and I do not.
ـجَـبَWhatماthatقالَتْهُmy mother saidأُمِّيmy mother
What my mother said!
حَدَّثَتْنَاshe told usبِحَدِيثٍabout a narration
She told us about a narration.
كانَwasوَهْمًاan illusion::أَيَّwhatوَهْمِ!illusion!
It was an illusion: what an illusion!
حَدَّثَتْناshe told usأَنَّthatبَأْسَthe hardshipالـthe
She told us that the hardship is.
قِطِّCatمَرْهُوبٌFrightenedمُخِيفُScary
Cat: Frightened, Scary
وَهُوَand heفِيinرَأْييmy opinionجَبانٌcoward
And he is a coward in my opinion.
خائِرُCowardlyالْعَزْمِ،Determination,ضَعِيفُWeak
Cowardly in determination, weak.
إِنْifرَأْىopinionمِثْليَlike meسَـ(prefix for a verb, indicating future)
If like me
ـبَّاقًاremainingتَوانَىhe delayedعَنْfromلِحاقِهْhis following
He remained, he delayed from following him.
أَيْنَWhereبَأْسُis the sufferingالْقِطِّof the catمِنْfromبَأْthe hurt
Where is the suffering of the cat from the hurt?
سِي؟Say?وَسْبِقِيAnd be aheadمِنْFromسِباقِهْ؟His race?
Say? And be ahead from his race?!
أَبْلِغُواinformالْقِطَّةَthe catعَنِّي:about me:
Inform the cat about me:
أَنَّنِيthat Iأَشْجَعُam braverمِنْهاthan her
That I am braver than her
لَسْتُI am notأَخْشاها،afraid of her,وَلاand notأَفْـI
I am not afraid of her, and not
زَعُI sayإِنْifحُدِّثْتُI am toldعَنْهاabout it
I say if I am told about it!
لَيْتَهاI wish it
I wish it would appear in front of me
لِتَرَىto seeعَزْمِي،my determination,وَandبَأْسِيmy strength.
To see my determination and my strength.
عَلَّنِيTeach meأُلْقِيto throwعَلَيْهاupon it
Teach me to throw it
إِنْifأَتَتْcomesأَبْلَغَI informدَرْسِlesson
If comes, I inform lesson
عَلَّهاPerhapsتُؤْمِنُshe believesأَنَّthatالـthe
Perhaps she believes that the
فَأْرَratلاnotتَرْضَىsatisfiedالْفِراراthe thieving
The rat is not satisfied with the thieving.
وَتَرَىAnd you seeأَنِّيthat Iعَنِيدٌam stubborn
And you see that I am stubborn
فِيinصِراعِيmy struggleلاnotأُبارَىI compete
— In my struggle — I do not compete
وَتَرَىAnd you will seeمِنَّاfrom us—-إِذاwhenثُرْthunder
And you will see from us - when thunder.
ناusأَشِدَّاءَstrongكِرامَاnoble
Us - Strong and Noble
لاnotيُبالُونَcare—-إِذاifماwhat
They do not care — if what
غَضِبُواThey became angryالْمَوْتَthe deathالزُّؤاماthe most grievous
They became angry at the most grievous death!
نَشِيدُanthemالْقِطِّof the cat
(16) The anthem of the cat
وَماAnd notكَادَتْwas about to«أُمُّMother ofدِرْصٍ»Dirsتُتِمُّcompleteآخِرَlastكََلِمَةٍwordفِيinهَذاthisالنَّشِيدِ،the anthem,حَتَّىuntilامْتَلأَfilledقَلْبُهاher heartذُعْرًا.with panic.
And she was about to complete the last word in this anthem when her heart filled with panic.
فَوَقَفَتِSo she stoodالْمِسْكِينَةُthe poor womanعَنِfromالْكَلامِ،the talk,وَقَفَّand her hair stoodشَعْرُهاher hairمِنْfromفَرْطِthe intensity ofالرُّعْبِ،fear,وَجَحَظَتْand her eyes bulgedعَيْناها،her eyes,وَصاحَتْ،and she shouted,وَهِيَand sheتَرْتَجِفُ:trembled:«رَبَّاهُ!"My Lord!ماذاWhatأَرْىَ؟"do I see?"
So the poor woman stood in silence, her hair standing up from the intensity of fear, her eyes bulging, and she shouted, trembling: "My Lord! What do I see?"
أَدْرِكِينِيHelp meياOhأُمَّاهُMotherإِنَّهُIt'sالْقِطُّthe catفَماSo whatحِيلَتِيis my wayفِيinدَفْعِهِdriving it away?
Help me, oh Mother! It is the cat. So what is my way of driving it away?
وَأَقْبَلَAnd he approachedعَلَيْهاto herالْقِطُّthe catيُطارِدُها،was chasing her,وَandيُنْشِدُwas singingتائِهًاa lost oneمَزْهُوًّا:proudly:
And he approached her, the cat was chasing her, and was singing a lost one proudly:
أَيُّهاOالْمَغْرُورُthe deluded::أَهْلًاwelcome
O deluded one: welcome
بِكَwith youإِذْwhenجِئْتَyou cameوَandسَهْلَاeasy
With you, when you came, it was easy.
قَدْindeedتَمَنَّيْتَyou wishedلِقائِيmy meeting
Indeed, you wished for my meeting.
ضَلَّةًshadowمِنْكَfrom youوَandجَهْلاignorance
A shadow from you, and ignorance
أَنتَYouلِيfor meأَفْخَرُthe most proudزادٍprovisions
You are my most proud provisions
أَنْتَYouلِيfor meأَشْهَىmost deliciousطَعامْfood
You are the most delicious food for me.
فَتَأَهَّبْSo prepare yourselfلِلِقائِيfor my meeting
So prepare yourself for my meeting
واغْنَمِAnd seizeالْمَوْتَthe deathالزُّؤامْ.the bitter (death).
And seize the bitter (death).
وَظَلَّتْand remained«أُمُّ دِرْصٍ»Um Dirassتَجْرِيrunningفِيinأَرْجاءِthe corners ofالْمَطْبَخِ،the kitchen,عَلَىwithoutغَيْرِanyهُدىً،guidance,والْقِطُّand the catيُطارِدُهاwas chasing herوَيَسُدُّand blockingعَلَيْهاherمَنافِذَthe exitsالْهَرَبِ؛of escape;وَهِيَand sheتُغَوِّثُ،was calling for help,طالِبَةًseekingالنَّجْدَةَ،rescue,فَلاbut notيُغِيثُهَاcould help herأَحَدٌ.anyone.
And Um Dirass continued running in the corners of the kitchen, without any guidance, while the cat was chasing her and blocking her exits of escape; and she was calling for help, but no one could help her.
(١٧)(17)عاقِبَةُConsequencesالْغُرُورِDelusion
The consequences of delusion.
فانْسَلَّتْshe escapedمِنْfromبَيْنِbetweenأَرْجُلِlegsعَدُوِّهاher enemyاللَّدُودِrivalوَأَسْرَعَتْand hurriedتَجْرِيrunningبِكُلِّwith allسُرْعَتِهاher speedحَتَّىuntilوَجَدَتْshe foundمِكْنَسَةًa broomفِيinزاوِيَةِcornerالْمَطْبَخِthe kitchenفاخْتَبَأَتْshe hidخَلْفَهاbehind herوَهِيَand sheتُعَلِّلُjustifyingنَفْسَهاherselfبِكاذِباتِwith liesالأَمْانِيِّhopesوَتَظُنُّand she thinksأَنَّthat«أَباAbuخَداشٍ»Khaddashلَنْwill notيَراها.see her.
She escaped from between her enemy's legs, and hurried running with all her speed, until she found a broom in the kitchen corner, and hid behind it, justifying herself with the lies of hopes, and thinking that 'Abu Khaddash' would not see her.
وَتَقُولُAnd saysلِنَفْسِهاto herselfنادِمَةًregretfulمَحْزُونَةًsadلَيْتَنِيIf only Iأَصْغَيْتُhad listenedإِلَىtoنُصْحِكِyour adviceياOأُمَّاهُmy motherإِذَنْthenلَنَجَوْتُI would have escapedمِنَfromالْخَطَرِdangerالدَّاهِمِthe greatوَلَكِنَّbutغُرُورِيmy arroganceأَوْرَدَنِيled me toمَوارِدَthe places ofالْهَلاكِdestructionوَلَئِنْand even ifنَجَوْتُI survivedفِيinهَذِهِthisالْمَرَّةِtimeلَمْI will notأُخالِفْdisobeyلَكِfor youقَوْلًاa wordبَعْدَafterالْيَوْمِtoday
And she says to herself regretfully and sadly: "If only I had listened to your advice, O my mother! Then I would have escaped from the great danger, but my arrogance led me to the places of destruction... and even if I survive this time, I will not disobey you again!"
وَلَكِنَّButآمالَhopes«أُمِّMotherدِرْصٍ»Dirseتَبَدَّدَتْ،dispersed,وَذَهَبَتْand wentأَدْراجَthe stairsالرِّياحِ،of the winds,فَقَدْforرَبَضَremained«أُبُوAbuخَداشٍ»Khudashأَمامَin front ofالْمِكْنَسَةِ،the broom,وَظَلَّand continuedيَتَرَقَّبُwaitingفَرِيسَتَهُ،his prey,بِفارِغِwith emptyالصَّبْرِ،of patience,وَهُوَand heيَتَحَفَّزُis getting readyلِلْفَتْكِfor the killبِها،with it,والانْقِضاضِand swoopingعَلَيْهَا،on it,وَقَدْand indeedسالَflowedلُعابُهُhis salivaشَوْقًاwith desireإِلَىtoازْدرادِها.swallowing it.
But the hopes of 'Umm Dirse' have dispersed, and went the stairs of the winds; 'Abu Khudash' remained in front of the broom, and continued waiting for his prey, with empty patience, and he was getting ready to kill it, and swoop down on it, and indeed his saliva flowed with desire to swallow it.
وَظَلَّAnd he continuedيُمِرُّto passلِسانَهُhis tongueعَلَىonشَفَتَيْهِhis lipsمِرارًاrepeatedlyوَandهُوheفَرْحانُhappyبِهَذاwith thisالْفَطُورِbreakfastالشَّهِيِّdeliciousالْوَشِيكِthat is approaching
And he continued to pass his tongue over his lips repeatedly, and he is happy with this delicious approaching breakfast!