ثُمَّThenأُصِبْتُI was afflictedبِمَرَضٍwith an illnessخَيَّلَIt seemedإِلَيَّto meأَنْthatآخِرَتِيmy endقَدْis nearقَرُبَتْhas approachedوَandأَصْبَحْتُI becameلاnotأَسْتَسِيغُI enjoyالطَّعامَthe foodوَandلاnotأَسْتَمْرِئُI can eatالْغِذَاءَthe sustenanceوَandيَئِسْتُI despairedمِنَofالْبَقاءِthe survivalفِيinهَذِهِthisالدُّنْياworldوَandوَطَّنْتُI settledنَفْسِيmy soulعَلَىonلِقاءِmeetingالْمَوْتِdeath
Then I was afflicted with an illness, it seemed to me that my end is near, and I became unable to enjoy food, and I could not eat sustenance; and I despaired of survival in this world, and I settled my soul on meeting death.
••••••
•••
وَثَمَّةَand thereسَمِعْتُI heardصَوْتًاa voiceيَصِيحُshoutingتَغَطَّيْcover yourselfأَيَّتُهاO little oneالدُّودَةُdoeالصَّغِيرَةُthe smallوَالْتَفِّيand wrapبِهَذاwith thisالْخَيْطِthreadالدَّقِيقِfineالَّذِيwhichتُخْرِجِينَهُyou bring outمِنْfromفَمِكِyour mouth
And there I heard a voice shouting: "Cover yourself, O little worm, and wrap with this fine thread that you bring out from your mouth."
فَلَبَّيْتُSo I respondedذَلِكَthatالدُّعاءَthe supplicationمِنْfromفَوْرِيImmediately……وَلَمْAnd I did notأَكَدْalmostأَفْعَلُI would doحَتَّىuntilوَجَدْتُنِيI found myselfمَحْبُوسَةًtrappedفِيinكِيسٍa bag
So I responded to that supplication immediately... and I had not almost done it, until I found myself trapped in a bag!
فَقالَتْAnd she said«أُمُّMother ofراشِدٍ»Rashedمُتَبَرِّمَةً:disgusted:«مَحْبُوسَةًTrappedداخِلَinsideكِيسٍ؟a bag?لَوْIfصَحَّit is trueذَلِكَthatلاخْتَنَقْتِ،you would have suffocated,أَيَّتُهاOh youالمِسْكِينَةُpoorالتّاعِسَةُ!»unfortunate!"
And she said, "Mother of Rashed," disgusted: "Trapped inside a bag? If it is true, you would have suffocated, oh you poor unfortunate!"
فَقالَتْShe said«أُمُّ مازِنٍ»"Umm Mazin"«كلَّا،"No,لَمْI did notأَخْتَنِقْ،choke,بَلْbutنِمْتُI sleptنَوْمًاsoundlyعَمِيقًاdeeply"وانْتَقَلْتُAnd I moved——مُنْذُsinceذَلِكَthatالْحِينِtime —مِنْfromطَوْرِthe stage ofالدُّودِيَّةِthe larvae"إِلَىtoطَوْرِthe stage ofالنَّمْلِيَّةِ.the ants."
Umm Mazin said: "No, I did not choke, but I slept soundly and since that time I moved from the stage of the larvae to the stage of the ants."
فَأَصْبَحْتُThen I became——حِينَئِذٍat that time——عَرُوسًاa brideمِنْofعَرائِسِbridesالنَّمْلِ،of the ants,مَلْفُوفَةًwrappedفِيinأَفْوافِsilksالْحَرِيرِ.of silk.
Then I became a bride of the ants, wrapped in silks.
وَلَمَّاAnd whenاسْتَيْقَظْتُI woke upمِنْfromسُباتِيmy sleep(نَوْمِي الْعَمِيقِ)(deep sleep)أَلْفَيْتُنِيI found myselfقَدِindeedانْتَقَلْتُI transitionedإِلَىtoحالٍstateمُغايرَةٍdifferentلِحالِيfrom my stateالأُولَىthe firstكُلَّallالْمُغايَرَةِ.differences.
And when I woke up from my deep sleep, I found myself having transitioned to a different state from my previous state, indeed all the differences.
فَأَصْبَحْتُSo I becameمَخْلُوقَةًa creatureأُخْرَىanotherوَصارَand I hadلِيfor meسِتُّsixأَرْجُلٍ،legsوانْقَسَمَand my body was dividedجِسْمِيmy bodyأَقْسامًاinto sectionsثَلاثَةً؛threeفاسْتَوْلَىand joy took overعَلَيَّupon me الْفَرَحُ،the joy,وَصِحْتُand I shoutedمُبْتَهِجَةً:joyfully:«مَرْحَى!"Hooray!مَرْحَى!Hooray!لَقَدْI haveأَصْبَحْتُbecomeالآنَnowفِيinعِدادِthe count ofالْحَشَراتِ!"the insects!"
So I became another creature and I had six legs, and my body was divided into three sections; and joy took over me, and I shouted joyfully: "Hooray! Hooray! I have now become one of the insects!"
عَلَىOnأَنَّthatفَرَحِيmy happinessلَمْdid notيَدُمْlastطَويلًا،longفَقَدْforكانَit wasقَصِيرَshortالْمَدَى.range.
My happiness did not last long; it was short-lived.
وَقَدْAnd indeedعَلِمْتُI knewأَنَّنِيthat Iكُنْتُwas— إِلَى— untilذَلِكَthat الْحِينِtime— سَجِينَةً— a prisonerفِيin الْكِيسِthe bag الَّذِيthatحَدَّثْتُكِI told youعَنْهُ.about it.وَلَمْAnd I did notأَكُنْI could— حِينئِذٍ— then— أَسْتَطِيعُ— I was ableحِراكًا.movement.وَثَمَّةَAnd thenأَيْقَنْتُI realizedبِالْهَلاكِdestructionمَرَّةًonceأُخْرَى،again,وَحَزِنْتُand I was saddenedلِذَلِكَ،for that,فاسْتَسْلَمْتُso I surrenderedلِلْبُكاءِ.to crying.
And indeed I knew that I was — until that time — a prisoner in the bag that I told you about. And I did not — at that time — have the ability to move. And then I realized the destruction once again, and I was saddened for that, so I surrendered to crying.
فَصاحَتْsaidالْفَأْرَتانِthe two miceلَكِto youاللهُGodأيَّتُهاOالصَّدِيقَةُfriendالتَّاعِسَةُunfortunate
The two mice said: 'To you, God, O unfortunate friend!'
واسْتَأْنَفَتْShe began«أُمُّthe motherمازِنٍ»Mazinقائِلَةً:saying:«ثُمَّThenلَبِثْتُI stayedأَبْكِيcryingوَقْتًاfor a whileطَوِيلًا.long.
Then "the mother of Mazin" began saying: "Then I stayed crying for a long time."
وَإِنِّيAnd Iلَغارِقَةٌam drowningفِيinأَحْزانِيmy sorrows،,مُسْتَسْلِمَةٌresignedلآلامِيto my pains،,إِذْwhenطَرَقَknockedسَمْعِيَmy hearingدَبِيبُthe creepingخُطُواتٍfootsteps،,فَصِحْتُSo I cried outمَغَوِّثَةًdespairinglyأَطْلُبُI seekالنَّجْدَةَrescue،,ثُمَّThenشَعَرْتُI feltبِأَنَّthatرَفِيقاتِيmy companionsالْكَبِيراتِthe elderيَثْقُبْنَare piercingتِلَكِthatالْقِشْرَةَshellالَّتِيwhichتُحِيطُsurroundsبِجِسْمِي.my body.وَماAnd notكِدْنَthey stoppedيَنْتَهِينَthat they ceaseمِنْfromذَلِكِthat،,حَتَّىuntilاقْتَرَبَتْapproachedمِنِّيfrom meإِحْدَىone of theالعامِلاتِworkers،,فَأَمْسَكَتْand she grabbedبِرَقَبَتِي،my neck,وَجَرَّتْنِيand pulled meإِلَيْهَا،to her,بِكُلِّwith allماthatأُوتِيَتْshe was givenمِنْfromقُوَّةٍ.strength.فَصَرَخْتُSo I shoutedمُتَأَلِّمَةً:in pain:«آه!“Ah!تَرَفَّقِيBe gentleبِي —with me —ياOسَيِّدَتِي —My lady —فَقَدْfor I haveآلَمْتِنِيhurt meأَشَدَّseverelyالأَلَمِ!»pain!”
And I am drowning in my sorrows, resigned to my pains, when I heard the creeping footsteps. And I cried out despairingly, asking for rescue. Then I felt that my elder companions were piercing that shell that surrounds my body. And not long after that, one of the workers approached me, grabbed my neck, and pulled me to her with all the strength she had. So I shouted in pain: “Ah! Be gentle with me — O my lady — for you have hurt me severely!”
وَكانَتْAnd wasتِلْكِthatالْمُرْضِعَةُnursing womanفِيماin whatيُخَيَّلُit seemsإِلِيَّto meصَمَّاءَ،deaf,لاnotتَسْمَعُ.hear.
And that nursing woman — in what seems to me — is deaf, cannot hear.
فَقَدْIndeedظَلَّتْcontinuedتَجُرُّنِي،dragging me,وَلَمْand did notتَأْبَهْcareلِصَيْحاتِي،to my cries,وَلَمْand did notتُصْغِlistenلِتَأَوُّهاتِي،to my moans,واقْتَرَبَتْand it approachedجَمْهَرَةٌa crowdمِنَfrom theالعامَلاتِworkersلِيُساعِدْنَهاto help herفِيinذَلِكِ.that.وَماAnd whatكِدْنَthey intendedيَفْعَلْنَ،to do,حَتَّىuntilسَمِعْتُI heardصَوْتَthe voice ofالْقِشْرَةِthe crustالَّتِيwhichتَكْتَنِفُsurroundsجِسْمِي،my body,وَهِيand itتَتَكَسَّرُ.is breaking.
Indeed, it continued dragging me, and did not care for my cries, nor did it listen to my moans, and a crowd of workers approached to help her in that. And they hardly intended to do anything until I heard the voice of the crust that surrounded my body, and it is breaking.
وَهَكَذاAnd thusخَرَجْتُI exitedمِنْfromسِجْنِيmy prisonالضَّيِّقِ،the narrow,وَأَناand Iأَضْعَفُam weakestماwhatأَكُونُ.I am.وَقَدْAnd indeedأُغْمِيَI was faintedعَلَيَّupon meمِنْfromفَرْطِexcessiveالأَلَمِpainوالضَّنَى.and fatigue.
And so I exited from my narrow prison, and I am weakest as I could be. And indeed I was fainted from excessive pain and fatigue.
ثُمَّThenأَحاطَتْSurroundedبِيَMeالْمُرْضِعاتُThe nursesالْحانِياتُThe attentive،,والْعامِلاتُAnd the workersالرَّفِيقاتُThe companions،,وَظَلَلْنَAnd they shadedيَدْلُكْنَThey rubجِسْمِيMy body،,حَتَّىUntilأَيْقَظْنَنِيThey awakened meمِنْFromغَشْيَتِيMy faint،,وَأَعَدْنَAnd they brought me backإِلَىَّTo meرُشْدِيMy sanityبَعْدَAfterزَمَنٍA periodقَلِيلٍShort…...ثُمَّThenمَرَّتْDays passedبِيWith meأَيَّامٌDaysقَلِيلَةٌFew،,فَشَعَرْتُAnd I feltبِالْقُوَّةِThe powerتَسْرِيFlowingفِيInجَسَدِيMy bodyشَيْئًاSomethingفَشَيْئًاLittle by little،,حَتَّىUntilأَصْبَحْتُI becameكَمَاAsتَرَيانِYou see،,أَيَّتُهَاOالصَّدِيقَتانِTwo friends
Then the attentive nurses and the diligent workers surrounded me, and they shaded me while they rubbed my body until they awakened me from my faint and brought me back to my sanity after a short period of time… Then a few days passed by me, and I felt the power flowing in my body little by little until I became as you see, O two friends!
فِيinطَرِيقِthe path ofالنَّمْلِthe ant
In the path of the ant
فَقالَتْThen she said«أُمُّMotherأَدْراصٍ»Adras«ماWhatأَجْمَلَMore beautifulقِصَّتَكِ،Your story,ياO«أُمَّMotherمازِنٍ».Mazin.
Then she said, 'Mother Adras: What a beautiful story you have, O Mother Mazin.'
فَوَداعًاSo farewellأَيَّتُهاOالصَّدِيقَةُfriendالصَّغِيرَةُlittleفَإِنَّfor indeedزَوْجِيmy husband«أَبا أَدْراصٍ»Abu Adrasلا يَزالُstillكَماasتَرَكْتُهُI left him—-وَحِيدًاaloneفِيinعُشِّهِhis nestفَلأَذْهَبْso let me goإِلَيْهِto himمَعَwithابْنَتِيmy daughter«أُمِّUmmراشِدٍ»Rashid»»
So farewell, O little friend, for indeed my husband «Abu Adras» is still — as I left him — alone in his nest. So let me go to him with my daughter «Umm Rashid».
فَوَدَّعَتْهُماAnd she bid them farewell«أُمُّ مازِنٍ» "Um Mazin"وَأَسْرَعَتِ الْفَأْرَتانِand the two mice hurriedإِلَى عُشِّهِماto their nestوَحَيَّتا صَدِيقَتَهُماand greeted their friendوَهُما تَتَسَلَّقانِand they climbedسَنَابِلَ الْقَمْحِthe wheat earsفِي خِفَّةٍwith lightnessوَرَشاقَةٍand agility.
And "Um Mazin" bid them farewell, and the two mice hurried to their nest, and greeted their friend, as they climbed the wheat ears, with lightness and agility.
واسْتَخْفَتْand hid«أُمُّ مازِنٍ»the mother of Mazinبَيْنَamongسَنَابِلِthe earsالْقَمْحِ.of wheat.
And the mother of Mazin hid among the ears of wheat.
وَظَلَّتْand she continuedتُواصِلُto pursueسَيْرَها،her journey,حَتَّىuntilوَصَلَتْshe arrivedإِلَىatسَهْلٍa plainفَسِيحٍ.spacious.فَلَمْBut she did notتَهْتَدِfindإِلَىtoسَبِيلِهاher pathالَّتِيwhichتَسْلُكُهاshe takesإِلَىtoبَيْتِها،her home,وَأَيْقَنَتْand she realizedأَنَّهاthat sheقَدْhasضَلَّتِgone astrayالطَّرِيقَ.the path.وَحارَتْand she was confusedفِيinأَمْرِهَا،her matter,فَلَمْSo she did notتَدْرِknowكَيْفَhowتَصْنَعُ؟to act?
And she continued to pursue her journey, until she arrived at a spacious plain. But she did not find her path which she takes to her home, and she realized that she had gone astray. And she was confused in her matter, so she did not know: how to act?
وَإِنَّهاAnd indeed sheلَتَسِيرُwill walkمُعْتَسِفَةًwith determination(عَلَى غَيْرِ هُدًى)(without guidance)إِذْWhenأَبْصَرَتْshe sawلِحُسْنِthe beauty ofحَظِّهَاher luckطَرِيقَthe way ofالنَّمْلِ.the ants.
And indeed she will walk with determination (without guidance), when she saw the beauty of her luck, the way of the ants.
وَلاحَAnd she hadلَهاfor herسَطْحُthe surfaceبَيْتِهاof her houseالْعالِي،high,فَصاحَتْand she exclaimedمُبْتَهِجَةًjoyfullyمَسْرُورَةً:happy:«ياOلَهاfor herمِنْofسَعادَةٍ!happiness!لَقَدِIndeed, Iاهْتَدَيْتُhave foundإِلَىtoوَادِيناour valleyالْعامِرِ.the prosperous.
And she had a high surface of her house, and she exclaimed joyfully, happy: 'O, what happiness for her! Indeed, I have found our prosperous valley.'
وَلَكِنَّهاBut sheشَعَرَتْfeltبِأَلَمِthe pain ofالْجُوعِ،hunger,فَآثَرَتْso she preferredأَنْtoتَذْهَبَgoإِلَىtoبَقَراتِهاher cows.لِتَحْلُبَها.to milk them.
But she felt the pain of hunger, so she preferred to go to her cows to milk them.
وَثُمَّةَand thenأَسْرَعَتْhurriedإِلَىtoشَجَرَةِtreeالْبُرْقُوقِ،the plum,حَيْثُwhereرَأَتْshe sawجَمْهَرَةًa gathered groupمِنْofرَفِيقاتِها:her companions:دائِبَةَactiveالْحَرَكَةِ،movement,مَوْفُورَةَabundantالنَّشاطِ،activity,بَيْنَbetweenرائِحَةٍodorوَغادِيَةٍ.and passing by.
And then she hurried to the plum tree, where she saw a gathered group of her companions: active in movement, abundant in activity, between odors and passing by.