فَقالَتْAnd she saidلَهاto herالْفَأْرَةُthe mouseمُسْتَعْجِبَةًin astonishmentسُعِدْتِYou are happyوَسَلِمْتِand safeياOعَزِيزَتِيmy dearآهAhإِنَّكِIndeed you areنَمْلَةٌan antصَغِيرَةٌsmallفَأَيُّSo whatحادِثٍincidentأَتَىcameبِكِwith youإِلَىtoهَذاthisالْبَيْتِhouseالآهِلِinhabitedبِساكِنِيهِ؟by its inhabitants?لَقَدْIndeedغَرَّرْتِdeceivedبِنَفْسِكِyourselfعَرَّضْتِهاyou exposed itلِلْهَلاكِto ruinفَإِنَّكِfor you areمُسْتَهْدِفَةٌtargetedلِلأَخْطارِto dangersإِذاifأَصْرَرْتِyou insistعَلَىonالْبَقاءِstayingفِيinهَذِهِthisالدَّارِhouseوَمَاand whatأَيْسَرَeasierعَلَىforأَيٍّanyكَانَwasأَنْtoيَسْحَقَكِcrush youبِقَدَمِهِ،with his foot,عَنْintentionally,قَصْدٍ،intention,أَوْorعَنْunintentionally.غَيْرِ
And the mouse said to her in astonishment: "You are happy and safe, my dear... Ah... Indeed you are a small ant... So what incident brought you to this inhabited house by its inhabitants? Indeed, you have deceived yourself (exposed her to ruin) for you are targeted by dangers if you insist on staying in this house. And how easy it would be for anyone to crush you underfoot, intentionally or unintentionally."
فارْجِعِيReturnإِلَىtoوادِيكِyour valleysإِنْifأَرَدْتِyou wantالسَّلامَةَsafetyفَماsoأَظُنُّكِI think youقَدِمْتِarrivedإِلَىtoهُناhere—أَيَّتُهاOhالشَّرِهَةُgreedyالصَّغِيرَةُlittle—إِلاexceptرَغْبَةًdesireفِيinأَنْtoتَأْكُلِيyou eatمِنَfromالسُّكَّرِsugar،وَأَلْوانِand kindsالْحَلْوَىsweets،وandالْفَطائِرِpastriesاللَّذِيذَةِdelicious…إِنِّيI amجِدُّveryعارِفَةٍknowledgeableبِماabout whatتُؤْثِرِينَهُyou prefer itمِنْfromلَذائِذِdelicaciesالأَطْعِمَةِfood!
Return to your valleys, if you want safety. I don't think you came here - oh, little greedy one - except out of a desire to eat sugar, and types of sweets, and delicious pastries... I am very knowledgeable about what you prefer from delicacies!
فَقالَتْThen she said«أُمُّ مازِنٍ»‘Umm Mazin’«كلَّا،‘No,يا سَيِّدَتِي الْفَأْرَةَ،O my lady, the mouse,ما جِئْتُ هُناI did not come hereمُخْتارَةٌ،of my own choice,بَلْbutساقَتْنِيَI was drivenالْمَقادِيرُby fateمُرْغَمَةًcompelled,إِلَىtoهَذاthisالسِّجْنِ.prison.”
She said, ‘No, my lady the mouse, I did not come here of my own choice, but fate has compelled me to this prison.’
وَقَدْAnd indeedبَذَلْتُI have exertedجُهْدِي،my effort,مُتَلَمِّسَةًseekingمَنْفَذًاan outletلِلْخُرُوجِto escapeمِنْfromهَذِهِthisالدَّارِ،house,فَلَمْbut did notأُوَفَّقْsucceedفِيinسَعْييmy strivingإِلَىtoالآنَ.so far.وَلَكِنْButخَبِّرِينِي —inform me —مُتَفَضِّلَةً —as a favor —بِكُنْيَتِكِ،your nickname,لأُكَرِّمَكِso that I may honor youبِهَاwith itإِذاwhenنَادَيْتُكِ.I call you.
And indeed, I have exerted my effort, seeking an outlet to escape from this house, but did not succeed in my striving so far. But inform me — as a favor — of your nickname, so that I may honor you with it when I call you.
فَقالَتْthen she saidلَهاto herالْفَأْرَةُthe mouseكُنْيَتِيmy nicknameأَيَّتُهاOالْعَزِيزَةَthe belovedهِيَshe isأُمُّmother ofدِرْصٍdris
Then the mouse said to her: 'My nickname, O beloved, is the mother of dris.'
وَلَمْand notتَكَدْalmost«أُمُّMotherدِرْصٍ»Dirsتُتِمُّcompletesهَذِهِthisالْجُمْلَةَ،sentence,حَتَّىuntilسَمِعَتْshe heardحَرَكَةًa movementتَنْبَعِثُemergingمِنْfromرُكْنٍcornerمُظْلِمٍ.dark.
And Mother Dirs almost completes this sentence, until she heard a movement emerging from a dark corner.
فَرَفَعَتْshe raisedأُمُّmotherدِرْصٍDirsأَطْرافَedgesأَنْفِهاof her noseوَأُذُنَيْهاand her earsمُرْتاعَةًfrightenedثُمَّthenسُرِّيَwas liftedعَنْهاfrom herحِينَwhenتَلَفَّتَتْshe turned aroundفَلَمْbut she did notتَجِدْfindشَيْئًاanythingفِيinالْحُجْرَةِthe roomفَقالَتْthen she saidساخِرَةًsarcasticallyماwhatأَشَدَّextremeغَبائِيfoolishnessوَجُبْنِيand cowardiceفَإِنِّيfor Iدائِمَةُalwaysالْخَوْفِfearمِنَfromالْقِطِّthe catلَأَنَّbecauseأُمِّيmy motherطالَماas long asحَذَّرَتْناwarned usمِنْهُof itوَأَوْهَمَتْناand made us believeأَنْthatخَطَرَهُits dangerلاnotيُدْفَعُis repelledوَأَنَّand thatبَأَسَهُits ferocityمَرْهُوبٌis feared
The mother of Dirs raised the edges of her nose and ears, frightened; then she was relieved when she turned around and found nothing in the room, and she said sarcastically: 'How extreme is my foolishness and cowardice! For I am always afraid of the cat, because my mother often warned us about it, and made us think that its danger cannot be repelled, and that its ferocity is feared.'
وَقَدْAndطالَماoftenحَدَّثَتْناtold usأَحادِيثَstoriesمُفْزِعَةًfrighteningعَنِaboutالْقِطَطِ،the cats,وَمَصايدِand trapsالْفَأْرِ.for the mice.وَقَدْAndحَظَرَتْforbadeعَلَيْناusالدُّخُولَto enterفِيinهَذاthisالْمَطْبَخِkitchenالْحافِلِfull ofبِأَشْهَىdeliciousالأَطْعِمَةِfoods.…...
And often she told us frightening stories about the cats, and traps for the mice. And she forbade us to enter this kitchen full of delicious foods ...
وَلَكِنَّنِيBut Iلَنْwill notأَعْبَأَcareبِنَصِيحَتِهَاabout her advice——فِيinهَذِهِthisالْمَرَّةِtime——فَقَدْfor Iأَيْقَنْتُhave realizedأَنَّهاthat sheتُغالِيexaggeratesفِيinالْخَوْفِfearوالْفَزَعِand fright،,مِمَّاfrom whatلاis notيُخِيفُfrightensوَلاand norيُفْزِعُscares……
But I will not care about her advice — in this time — for I have realized that she exaggerates in fear and fright, from what does not frighten or scare.
أَلاIsn'tتَرَيْنَyou seeهَذاthisالْبابَthe doorأَيَّتُهاOالنَّمْلَةُantالصَّغِيرَةُsmallإِنَّIndeedخَلْفَهُbehind itمِنْamongنَفائِسِdelicaciesالأَطْعِمَةِfoodsوَandلَذائِذِdelightsالْمآكِلِof the mealsالْمُرْتَقِياتِthat ascendماwhatيُنْسِيmakes forgetالْجَبانَthe cowardجُبْنَهُhis cowardiceوَandيَجْعَلُهُmakes himشُجاعًاbraveجَرِيئًاdaringيَسْتَهِينُto despiseبِالأَخْطارِthe dangersوَلاand does notيُبالِيcareبِالْعَواقِبِthe consequences…...
Don't you see this door, O small ant? Behind it are delicacies of the foods and delights of the ascending meals, which makes the coward forget his cowardice, and makes him brave, daring, despising the dangers, and not caring about the consequences...
إِنَّهُIndeed, itفِيهِin itكَثِيرًاmanyمِنْofأَلْوانِcolorsالْخُبْزِ،bread,والْأُرْزِ،and rice,والْجُبْنِand cheeseاللَّذِيذِ،delicious,وماand whatإِلَىtoذَلِكَthatمِنْofأَصْنافِkindsالطَّعامِof food……
Indeed, there are many kinds of bread, rice, and delicious cheese, and other types of food…
أَلاDo notتَشَمِّينَyou smellهَذِهِthisالرَّائِحَةَscentالطَّيِّبَةَgood؟?لَقَدْindeedطالَماfor a long timeنَعِمْتُI enjoyedبِاقْتِحامِby invadingهَذاthisالْبابِdoor،,وَأَكَلْتُand I ateماwhatشِئْتُI wantedمِنْfromهَذِهِthisاللَّذائِذِdelicacies……ثُمَّthenعُدْتُI returnedإِلَىtoأَهْلِيmy familyراضِيَةًpleasedمَسْرُورَةًhappy……فَإِنَّforأُسْرَتِيmy familyتَقْطُنُresidesمُسْتَوْدَعَstoreالْقَمْحِof wheatالْقَرِيبَnearمِنْfromهَذِهِthisالْحُجْرَةِroomحَيْثُwhereتُخْفِيhidesزادَناour provisionsمِنَfromالْجَوْزِwalnuts،,وand……
Don't you smell this good scent? I have long enjoyed invading this door, and I have eaten whatever I wanted from these delicacies... Then I returned to my family pleased and happy... For my family resides in the store of wheat near this room where it hides our provisions from walnuts, and...
وَهُناAnd hereوَقَفَتْstood«أُمُّMotherدِرْصٍ»Dirṣعَنِaboutالْكَلامِ،the speech,فَقَدْfor sheسَمِعَتِheardالْحَرَكَةَthe movementتَنْبَعِثُarisesمِنَfromالرُّكْنِthe cornerالْمُظْلِمِ،the dark,مَرَّةًonceأُخْرَى.again.والْتَفَتَتْAnd she turned«أُمُّMotherمازِنٍ»Māzinفَرَأَتِand sawالْعَيْنَينِthe two eyesالْبَرَّاقَتَيْنِthe sparklingالْكَبِيرَتَيْنِthe big onesتَقْدَحانِstrikingبِالشَّرَرِ.with sparks.
And here "Mother Dirṣ" stood about the speech, for she had heard the movement arising from the dark corner, once again. And "Mother Māzin" turned and saw the two big sparkling eyes striking with sparks.
وَandكَانَتِwasالْقِطَّةُthe cat——فِيinهَذِهِthisالْمَرَّةِtime——قَرِيبَةًcloseمِنْها،to her,فارْتَجَفَتْand shivered«أُمُّ‘Mother ofمازِنٍ»Mazin’.”
And the cat—this time—was close to her, and shivered ‘Mother of Mazin.’
وَلَمْAnd notتَكُنْbeقَدْalreadyرَأَتِsawالْقِطَّthe catقَبْلَbeforeهَذِهِthisالْمَرَّةِtimeوَلَمْAnd notتَسْتَبِنْdistinguish——مِنْfromخِلالِthroughالظَّلامِdarkness——إِلاexceptعَيْنَيْهِ،his eyes,فَقالَتْso she saidمَذْعُورَةً:terrified:«الْزَمِي“Holdالصَّمْتَ،the silence,ياO«أُمَّ“Motherدِرْصٍ».Dirç.”فإِنِّيfor Iأَتَوَجَّسُsuspectشَرًّا،evil,وَقَدْand alreadyخُيِّلَit seemedإِلَيَّto meأَنَّنِيthat Iأَرَىseeشَيْئًاsomethingمُخْتَبِئًاhidingفِيinبَعْضِsomeالزَّوايا.corners.
And she had never seen the cat before this time, and she could only distinguish — through the darkness — its eyes, so she said terrified: “Stay silent, oh Mother Dirç.” For I suspect evil, and it seemed to me that I see something hiding in some corners.
غُرُورُarroganceالْفَأْرَةِthe mouse
The arrogance of the mouse
فَقالَتْShe said«أُمُّ"Mother ofدِرْصٍ»Dirsi"هازِئَةً:mockingly:«ها!"Ha!ها!Ha!ها!Ha!ياOلَكِto youمِنْofرِعْدِيدَةٍRidaidaخائِرَةِweak الْعَزْمِ!the will!عَلَىOnأَنَّthatمَجالَthe area الْعُذْرِexcuseأَمامَكِbefore youفَسِيحٌ،is wide,لأَنَّكِbecause youحَشَرَةٌinsectضَعِيفَةُweak الْحَوْلِthe powerوالطَّوْلِand size……أَمَّاAs forأَناIفَلَسْتُam notجَدِيرَةًworthyأَنْtoأَخْشَىfearكائِنًاbeingكانَwas……إِنَّنِيIndeed, Iلاdo notأُبالِيcareبِالنَّاسِ،about people,وَلاnorبِمَصايدِabout traps الْفَأْرِ،of mice,وَلاnorبِالْقِطاطِ،of cats,لأَنَّنِيbecause Iعاقِلَةٌrationalرَشِيدَةٌ،wise,وَإِنْand ifكانَتْwasأُمِّيmy motherتَأَبَىrefusesإِلاexceptأَنْtoتُعامِلَنِيdeal with meكَماasتُعامِلُtreatطِفْلَةًa child,صَغِيرَةً.small.
She said, "Mother of Dirsi" mockingly: "Ha! Ha! Ha! O, how weak is the will before you! Because the area for excuse is wide before you, because you are a weak insect… As for me, I am not worthy to fear any being, for indeed I do not care about people, nor about mouse traps, nor about cats, because I am sensible and wise, even if my mother refuses to treat me as a little child.