The Copper King's Daughter | ابْنَةُ مَلِكِ النُّحاسِ
"An ancient tale from the land of Magan about a princess who defied the gods for love"
ابْنَةُ مَلِكِ النُّحاسِ
The Copper King's Daughter
الفصلُ الأَوَّلُ: أَرْضُ مَجَان
Chapter One: The Land of Magan
فِي زَمانٍ سَحِيقٍ، قَبْلَ أَنْ تُسَمَّى عُمانُ بِهَذا الاسْمِ، كانَتْ تُعْرَفُ بِأَرْضِ مَجَان. وَكانَ يَحْكُمُها مَلِكٌ يُسَمَّى «سَيِّدَ النُّحاسِ» لِأَنَّ جِبالَهُ كانَتْ مَمْلُوءَةً بِهَذا المَعْدِنِ الثَّمِينِ.
In an ancient time, before Oman was called by this name, it was known as the Land of Magan. It was ruled by a king called "Lord of Copper" because his mountains were filled with this precious metal.
كانَ لِلْمَلِكِ ابْنَةٌ وَحِيدَةٌ تُدْعَى شَمْسَةَ، جَمِيلَةٌ كَالْقَمَرِ، ذَكِيَّةٌ كَالنَّسْرِ. أَحَبَّها أَبُوها وَحَبَسَها فِي قَصْرِهِ، خَوْفًا مِنْ أَنْ يَخْطِفَها أَعْداؤُهُ.
The king had an only daughter called Shamsa, beautiful as the moon, clever as the eagle. Her father loved her and kept her in his palace, fearing his enemies might kidnap her.
الفصلُ الثَّانِي: الحُبُّ المُسْتَحِيلُ
Chapter Two: The Impossible Love
ذاتَ يَوْمٍ، رَأَتْ شَمْسَةُ مِنْ نافِذَتِها شابًّا يَعْمَلُ فِي مَناجِمِ النُّحاسِ. كانَ فَقِيرًا وَمُغْبَرًّا، لَكِنَّ عَيْنَيْهِ تَشِعَّانِ بِالكَرامَةِ.
One day, Shamsa saw from her window a youth working in the copper mines. He was poor and dusty, but his eyes shone with dignity.
سَأَلَتْ عَنْهُ فَقِيلَ لَها: «هَذا سالِمٌ، ابْنُ عامِلٍ فِي المَناجِمِ. لَيْسَ لَهُ أَهْلٌ وَلا مالٌ.»
She asked about him and was told: "This is Salim, son of a mine worker. He has no family and no wealth."
لَكِنَّ قَلْبَها لَمْ يَسْمَعْ. أَرْسَلَتْ إِلَيْهِ جارِيَتَها بِرِسالَةٍ، وَبَدَأَتْ بَيْنَهُما قِصَّةُ حُبٍّ سِرِّيَّةٌ.
But her heart did not listen. She sent her maid to him with a message, and between them began a secret love story.
الفصلُ الثَّالِثُ: غَضَبُ المَلِكِ
Chapter Three: The King's Wrath
اكْتَشَفَ المَلِكُ الأَمْرَ فَثارَ كَالبُرْكانِ. أَمَرَ بِإِلْقاءِ سالِمٍ فِي أَعْمَقِ مَنْجَمٍ لِيَمُوتَ جُوعًا.
The king discovered the matter and erupted like a volcano. He ordered Salim to be thrown into the deepest mine to die of hunger.
صَرَخَتْ شَمْسَةُ: «يا أَبِي، اقْتُلْنِي قَبْلَهُ! فَإِنْ ماتَ، مُتُّ مَعَهُ!»
Shamsa screamed: "O Father, kill me before him! For if he dies, I die with him!"
لَكِنَّ المَلِكَ لَمْ يَسْمَعْ. فَهَرَبَتْ شَمْسَةُ فِي اللَّيْلِ، وَنَزَلَتْ إِلى المَنْجَمِ وَحْدَها، تَبْحَثُ عَنْ حَبِيبِها فِي الظَّلامِ.
But the king did not listen. So Shamsa escaped at night, and descended into the mine alone, searching for her beloved in the darkness.
الفصلُ الرَّابِعُ: نُورُ الحُبِّ
Chapter Four: The Light of Love
قِيلَ إِنَّ الآلِهَةَ رَأَتْ شَجاعَتَها فَأَضاءَتْ لَها الطَّرِيقَ. وَجَدَتْ سالِمًا حَيًّا، وَهَرَبا مَعًا عَبْرَ نَفَقٍ سِرِّيٍّ إِلى البَحْرِ.
It was said that the gods saw her courage and lit her path. She found Salim alive, and they escaped together through a secret tunnel to the sea.
رَكِبا سَفِينَةً وَأَبْحَرا بَعِيدًا. وَحِينَ عَلِمَ المَلِكُ، نَدِمَ عَلى قَسْوَتِهِ. أَرْسَلَ رُسُلاً يَدْعُوهُما لِلْعَوْدَةِ، واعِدًا بِمُبارَكَةِ زَواجِهِما.
They boarded a ship and sailed far away. When the king learned, he regretted his cruelty. He sent messengers inviting them to return, promising to bless their marriage.
عادا، وَصارَ سالِمٌ أَمِيرًا، وَأَنْجَبَ مَعَ شَمْسَةَ أَطْفالاً أَصْبَحُوا مُلُوكَ مَجَان بَعْدَ جَدِّهِمْ.
They returned, and Salim became a prince, and with Shamsa he had children who became kings of Magan after their grandfather.
تَمَّتِ القِصَّةُ | The End