فَأَجابَتْهاSo she answered herبِصَوْتٍin a quiet voiceخافِتٍsoftمَحْزُونٍsadاسْمِيMy name isأُمُّUm (Mother)مازِنٍMazin
So she answered her in a quiet voice, sad: 'My name is Um Mazin.'
فَقالَتْSo she saidلَهاto herالدَّابَّةُthe creatureالسَّمْراءُthe brown oneأَمَّاas forأَناIفَيَدْعُونَنِيthey call meﺑwith/inأُمِّMother ofراشِدٍRashid
So the creature said to her: "As for me, they call me 'Mother of Rashid.'"
فَقالَتْShe said«أُمُّ مازِنٍ»‘Mother of Mazin’«ما أَبْدَعَها كُنْيَةً،‘How beautiful is her nickname,يا عَزِيزَتِي:O my dear:أُمَّ راشِدٍ!»‘Mother of Rashid!’
She said, ‘Mother of Mazin’: ‘How beautiful is her nickname, O my dear: ‘Mother of Rashid!’
فاهْتَزَتْshook«أُمُّ راشِدٍ»‘Um al-Rashid’قائِلَةً:saying:«إِنِّيIndeed, Iفَأْرَةٌa small mouseصَغِيرَةٌ،little,أَسْكُنُI liveمَعَwithأَهْلِيmy familyهَذاthisالْعُشَّnestالَّذِيthatتَرَيْنَهُyou see itفَوْقَaboveرَأْسَيْنا.»our heads.”
‘Um al-Rashid’ shook, saying: “Indeed, I am a little mouse, I live with my family in this nest that you see above our heads.”
فَنَظَرَتْThen she looked«أُمُّ مازِنٍ»Um Mazinفَرَأَتْand saw— فِي— inأَعْلَىthe highestسَنَابِلِears of grainالْقَمْحِof wheat— كُرَةً— a ballكَبِيرَةًbigمُعَلَّقَةًhangingبَيْنَها.between them.
Then Um Mazin looked and saw — in the highest ears of wheat — a big ball hanging between them.
فَصاحَتْexclaimedمَدْهُوشَةًdazedكَيْفَhowتَقُولِينَdo you sayأَهَذاIs thisهُوَitعُشُّكِyour nestياOأُمَّmotherراشِدٍRashidإِنَّهُIndeed, itلاdoes notيُماثِلُresembleبُيُوتَthe housesالنَّمْلِof the ants
She exclaimed, dazed: "How do you say? Is this your nest, O Rashid's mother? Indeed, it does not resemble the houses of the ants."
أُمُّMotherأَدْراصٍAdras
(7) 'Mother of Adras'
وَصاحَتْAnd shouted«أُمُّ راشِدٍ»Um Rashidتُنادِيcallsأُمَّهاher motherبِأَعْلَىwith a loudصَوْتِها.voice.
And Um Rashid shouted, calling her mother with a loud voice.
فَخَرَجَتْThen she came outمِنَfromالْعُشِّthe nestفَأْرَةٌa mouseأَكْبَرُbiggerمِنْها،than her,ثُمَّthenقالَتْshe saidلَها،to her,وهِيand sheتُدانِيها:approached her:«آه!Ah!هاHere you areأَنْتِ ذِي،you are,ياOبُنَيَّتِيmy dear daughterالْعَزِيزَةَ.beloved.وَقَدْAnd I haveكُنْتُbeenفِيinقَلَقٍworryعَلَيْكِabout you— يا «أُمَّ— O "Motherراشِدٍ»Rashid"فَماSo whatتَصْنَعِينَare you doingهُناhereوَحْدَكِ؟»alone?"
Then she came out from the nest a mouse bigger than her, and then she said to her, as she approached her: "Ah! Here you are, my dear daughter. And I have been in worry about you — O "Mother Rashid" — so what are you doing here alone?"
فَأَجابَتْهاSo she answered her«أُمُّ‘Mother ofراشِدٍ»:Rashid’:«لَسْتُ‘I am notهُناhere,وَحْدِي،alone,يا أُمِّي،O my mother,فانْظُرِيso lookإِلَىatهَذِهِthisالزَّائِرَةِvisitorالصَّغِيرَةِ.little.”
So she answered her, 'I am not here alone, O my mother, so look at this little visitor.'
فَقالَتْThen she said«أُمُّ أَدْراصٍ»‘Umm Adras’«آه!Ah!صَدَقْتِ،You have spoken the truth,ياO«أُمَّ راشِدٍ»،‘Umm Rashid’,فَإِنَّهاfor it isنَمْلَةٌ.a small ant.وَماAnd I don’tأَظُنُّهاthink itإِلاexceptشارِدَةًa strayضَلَّتِthat lostالطَّرِيقَthe wayإِلَىtoبَيْتِها.her house.أَلَيْسَIs it notكَذَلِكَ،like that,أَيَّتُهاO,النَّمْلَةُlittle ant?
Then she said, 'Umm Adras': 'Ah! You have spoken the truth, O ‘Umm Rashid’, for it is a small ant. And I don’t think it except a stray that lost the way to her house. Is it not like that, O little ant?'
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فَلَمْSo notتَسْتَطِعْable«أُمُّMother ofمازِنٍ»Mazenأَنْtoتُجِيبَهاanswer herبِكَلِمَةٍwith a wordواحِدَةٍ.one.
So, 'Umm Mazin' could not answer her with a single word.
فانْبَرَتْThen she startedأُمُّMotherراشِدٍRashidقائِلَةً:saying:إِنَّهاIndeed, sheتُدْعَىis calledأُمَّMother ofمازِنٍ،Mazin.وَقَدْAnd indeedدَهِمَتْهاit crashed upon her,الْعاصِفَةُ،the storm,فِيماas sheتَقُولُ.says.
Then the 'Mother of Rashid' began saying: 'Indeed, she is called the
فَقالَتْAnd she said«أُمُّ أَدْراصٍ»'Um Adras'«خَبِّرِينِي،'Tell me,يا صَغِيرَتِي الْعَزِيزَةَ:O my dear little one:أَلَسْتِAre you notتَقْطُنِينَlivingتِلْكِthatالْقَرْيَةَvillageالْعامِرَةَ،the populated,الَّتِيwhichفِيinأَسْفَلِthe bottom ofشَجَرَةِthe treeالْبُرْقُوقِof the plumالْكَبِيرَةِ؟»large?'
And she said, 'Um Adras': 'Tell me, O my dear little one: Are you not living in that populated village, which is at the bottom of the large plum tree?'
فَأَجابَتْهاSo she answered herأُمُّmotherمازِنٍMazinصَدَقْتِyou have spoken the truthياOسَيِّدَتِيmy ladyفَإِنَّfor indeedبَيْتَناour houseهُناكَthereبِالْقُرْبِnearمِنْfromجِذْعِthe trunkتِلْكِthatالشَّجَرَةِtree
So she answered her, 'Indeed, our house is there, near the trunk of that tree.'
فَقالَتْThen she said«أُمُّ راشِدٍ»"Um of Rashid"لَعَلَّPerhapsأَمَّكِyour motherشَدِيدَةُis anxiousالْقَلَقِabout anxietyعَلَيْكِfor youبَعْدَafterأَنْthatطالَتْyour absence has been longغَيْبَتُكِyour absence
Then she said, 'Perhaps your mother is anxious for you, after your absence has been long!'
فَقالَتْThen she said«أُمُّ مازِنٍ»‘Mother of Mazin’«تَقُولِينَ:‘You say:أُمِّي،my mother,وَلَسْتُand I do notأَعْرِفُknowأَنَّthatلِيI haveأُمًّاa motherوَلَدَتْنِي؟!who gave birth to me?!
Then she said, ‘Mother of Mazin’: ‘You say: my mother, and I do not know that I have a mother who gave birth to me?!
فَسَأَلَتْهاSo she asked her«أُمُّ راشِدٍ»Umm Rashid«أَتَعْنِينَAre you implyingأَنَّهاthat sheقَدْhasماتَتْ؟died?
So Umm Rashid asked her, "Are you implying that she has died?"
فَأَجابَتْهاSo she answered her«أُمُّ مازِنٍ»:"Umm Mazin":«ذَلِكَ"ThatماwhichأَجْهَلُهُI know the least aboutالْجَهْلَthe ignoranceكُلَّهُentirelyفَإِنَّنِيfor Iلَمْhave notأَرَهاseen herقَطُّ!ever!"
So Umm Mazin answered her: "That is how little I know of the total ignorance, for I have never seen her!"
فَسَأَلَتْهاSo she asked her«أُمُّ راشِدٍ»Mother of Rashid«إِذًاSoفَمَنْwhoكانَwasيَتَعَهَّدُكِtaking care of youبِالْغِذاءِ،with food,فِيduringأَثْناءِthe time ofطُفُولَتِكِ؟»your childhood?
So she asked her, 'So who was taking care of you with food during your childhood?'
فَقالَتْAnd she saidأُمُّMotherمازِنٍMazinكانَتْwereمُرْضِعاتُناour nursesالْعامِلاتُwho workedيَتَعَهَّدْنَناthey took care of usوَandيَسْهَرْنَthey stayed awakeعَلَىonراحَتِنا.our comfort.وَإِنِّيAnd Iأُؤَكِّدُconfirmلَكِto youأَنَّهُنَّthat theyلَمْdid notيُقَصِّرْنَshortenفِيinتَلْبِيَةِfulfillingرَغَباتِنا،our desires,والْعِنايَةِand the careبِأَمْرِنا.of our matter.
And she said, 'Mother Mazin: our nurses who worked took care of us, and they stayed awake on our comfort. And I confirm to you that they did not shorten in fulfilling our desires and the care of our matter.'
فَقالَتْThen she said«أُمُّMotherراشِدٍ»:Rashed:«أَلَيْسَIsn't thereلَكِfor youمِثْلُlikeماwhatلَناwe have——مَعْشَرَfolk ofالْفأَرِ —the rats —أُمًّاa motherحَنُونًا،caring,تَتَعَهَّدُكِtaking care of youبِبِرِّهاwith her kindnessوَandعَطْفِها؟her affection?ياOhلَكِfor youمِنْfromشَقِيَّةٍunfortunateتاعِسَةٍ!»miserable!"
Then she said, "Isn't there for you, Mother of Rashed, a caring mother, who takes care of you with her kindness and affection? Oh you unfortunate one!"
فَقالَتْShe saidأُمُّMotherمازِنٍMazinإِنَّIndeedلَناWe haveمَعْشَرَGroup ofالنَّمْلِthe antsأُمَّاتٍ.mothers.
She said, 'Mother of Mazin: Indeed, we have a group of ants that are mothers.'
وَلَكِنَّهُنَّBut theyيُحْبَسْنَare imprisonedفِيinغُرْفَةٍa roomبَعَيْنِهاwith its eyeمِنْfromغُرَفِthe roomsالْقَرْيَةِof the villageوَيَقْضِينَand they spendفِيهاin itأَعْمَارَهُنَّtheir lifetimesكُلَّهاallلِيَبِضْنَto become pale
But they are imprisoned in a room with its eye from the rooms of the village, and they spend their lifetimes all in it to become pale.
وَقَدْAnd indeedحَدَّثُونِيthey told meأَنَّنِيthat Iحِينَwhenكُنْتُwasإِحْدَىone ofذَلِكَthatالْبَيْضِthe eggالصَّغِيرِthe small
And indeed, they told me that I was one of that small egg.
فَقاطَعَتْهاBut she interrupted her«أُمُّ راشِدٍ»"Umm Rashid"قائِلَةً:saying:«لَقَدْ"IndeedكُنْتُI wasأَحْسَبُthinkingأَنَّthatالطُّيُورَthe birdsهِيَthey are——وَحْدَهاalone——الَّتِيthatتَبِيضُ!lay eggs!
But she interrupted her, saying: "Indeed I was thinking that the birds alone lay eggs!"
فَقالَتْShe saidأُمُّMotherمازِنٍMazeenنَعَمْYesوَكُنْتُAnd I wasمُنْذُSinceزَمَنٍtimeيَسِيرٍshortشَيْئًاsomethingمُسْتَدِيرًاroundغايَةًextremelyفِيinالصِّغَرِsmallnessوَلَمْAnd I did notيَكُنْhaveلِيfor meرَأْسٌheadوَلاnorأَرْجُلٌlegsوَلاnorأَعْيُنٌeyesوَلَسْتُAnd I am notأَذْكُرُI rememberذَلِكَthatالزَّمَنَtimeجَيِّدًاwell
Then 'the mother of Mazeen' said: 'Yes, and I was -- since a short time -- something round, extremely small, and I did not have a head, nor legs, nor eyes... and I do not remember that time well.'
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فَقالَتْSo she said«أُمُّ راشِدٍ»‘Mother of Rashid’ضاحِكَةً:laughing:لَقَدْIndeedفَهِمْتُI have understoodماwhatتَعْنِينَ،you mean,فَقَدْso indeedكُنْتِyou wereفِيinذَلِكِthatالْوَقْتِtime;جَنِينًا؛a fetus;لَمْnotتَتِمَّcompleteخِلْقَتُهُ،its creation,وَلَمْand has notيَتَكَوَّنْdevelopedرَأْسُهُits headبَعْدُ.yet.
So she said, ‘Mother of Rashid’, laughing: ‘Indeed I have understood what you mean, so indeed you were in that time a fetus; it has not completed its creation, and its head has not developed yet.’
واسْتَأْنَفَتْAnd she began«أُمُّ مازِنٍ»"The mother of Mazin"قائِلَةً:saying:«وَفِي ذاتِ يَوْمٍ"And on a certain dayانْشَقَّit splitذَلِكِ الْبَيْظُ —that egg —فِيما حَدَّثَتْنِيas my nurse told meمُرْضِعَتِي «أُمُّ مَشْغُولٍ» —"My wet nurse, 'Um al-Mashghoul' —وَخَرَجَتْ مِنْand it came out fromواحِدَةٍ مِنْهُ:one of them:دُودَةٌa wormبَيْضاءُ.white.
And she began, "The mother of Mazin" saying: "And on a certain day it split that egg — as my nurse told me, 'Um al-Mashghoul' — and it came out from one of them: a white worm.
وَكانَتْAnd it wasهَذِهِthisالدُّودَةُwormهِيَshe isأَناI
And this worm is I!
وَقَدْAnd indeedكُنْتُI was——حِينَئِذٍthen——جِدَّveryسَعِيدَةٍhappy
And indeed I was very happy then.
وَكانَتْAnd wereالْمُرْضِعاتُthe nursesيُغَذِّينَنِيnourished meفِيinذَلِكَthatالْعَهْدِeraكُلَّeveryصَباحٍ،morning,ثُمَّthenيَحْمَلْنَنِيthey carried meإِلَىtoضَوْءِthe lightالشَّمْسِ،of the sun,وَيَدْلُكْنَand they rubbedجِسْمِي،my body,وَيَلْعَقْنَهُ،and they licked it,حَتَّىuntilإِذاwhenأَمْسَيْتُI spent the eveningحَمَلْنَنِيthey carried meإِلَىtoالْبَيْتِ …the house …وَقَدِand theانْقَضَىhad passedهَذاthisالزَّمَنُtimeالسَّعِيدُhappyإِلَىtoغَيْرِwithoutعَوْدَةٍ؛return;فَماSo howكانَit wasأَطْيَبَهُ،the best,وَأَرْوَحَand most delightfulذِكْراهُ!memory!
And the nurses nourished me --- in that era --- every morning, then they carried me to the light of the sun, and they rubbed my body, and they licked it, until when I spent the evening, they carried me to the house … and that happy time had passed without return; how delightful it was, and most delightful its memory!