Dream 231
I saw Ibrahim Pasha emerge right out of his own statue
and go wandering from cafe to cafe, challenging the top
backgammon champions and defeating them one by one.
Dream 232
I found myself in the Al Ghouriya district and there were
twice as many police as civilians. I saw my father walking
toward me with a policeman on either side of him. I pan-
icked, thinking he was under arrest. But then he greeted
me and said: I see a policeman on either side of you, and
I'm afraid you've been arrested.
Dream 233
I found myself in our old house in El Abbassiya, with my
mother and sisters overcome with grief over the death of
our faithful and much-loved dog. I had only ever seen them
in such a state when the dearest to us had passed away.
Dream 234
I saw myself as the proprietor of a large farm around which
I had built a modern village with clean running water and
electricity. There was also a hospital, a school, a mosque,
and a church. I'd doubled the wages of the workers. Then
the warden of the district came to tell me: You stand accused
of showing up the neighboring landlords and, therefore, of
inciting anarchy and revolt among the innocent peasants.
Dream 235
I found myself in a group of young men listening to Osman
Bouzi, the most prominant producer of perfumes during
my youth: he was calling on us to boycott foreign goods.
My father told me, sitting xcross-legged on his prayer rug:
That's all very well, but we haven't yet manufactured the
most essential products. I told him: Well, let's start with
what is possible.
Dream 236
I saw myself entering a new apartment, with the doorman
leading the way. Then he was nowhere to be seen. I became
homesick and wanted to leave, but I couldn't find my way
out. Voices, offering guidance, began to direct me. Some-
times they said to turn right and other times left. I called
out to the doorman, and then I called out to my family.
Darkness fell, everything was confusion. And yet, some-
how, I never altogether lost hope.
______________________
Naguib Mahfouz
I Found Myself . . .
translated by Hisham Matar
New Directions, 2025
