1. We rode spirited, sincere youths
On a khutariyyah, speckled, that we whipped along,

2. We had a qasiyya whip from China upon us
With which we drove them, grunting with exertion as they climbed.

3. We set out as high-spirited youths,
To sport with it, striking with little riding-crops.

4. The scions of noble houses,
Who have ruled the people for ages, for a time.

5. It galloped with us at full speed,
Hurrying, as we urged it on.

6. As they vied with us for mastery,
While we steered them as we wished.

7. When we met in our exercise-ground,
On the common way where the riders separate,

8. They had braided their reins,
Not fumbling about or fumbling them.

9. We were two parties in one place.
Paired off well with each other, pair by pair.

10. We shot at them continuously; they dodged about, protectively
Changing colour in their self-protection.

11. When they raised them with the stick for the turn,
Together we turned our eyes up to it.

12. Some urged their mounts slantingly towards it
While their companions urged theirs towards it.

13. Some stood, mounted, spurring her on alone
That he might get past on his own rein held firm.

14. Some erred as he got his chance; but he grieved
For missing what had got by him.

15. You could see some of us ride back,
And some advance upon its blows.

16. Those advancing were not in retreat,
Nor were those retreating advancing.

17. You would fancy they intended to meet,
But they do not expect what they thrust they will hit.

18. They get involved with the sack when they are ahead
While each fancies the others mere players.

19. You see us sincere, shouting advice about a lively
Filly—

20. Have we secured firmness in her legs that she not tumble us?
When we tried to turn her, we found her biddable,

21. Responding to pressure of the rein, and pliant.
If we put pressure on the rein she would

22. Almost bend double, but does not bend double.
When we had sported and the victors won the finest of them,

23. We turned to a prepared residence which delighted the eyes in prospect.
They set up the instruments in order,

24. While we commanded the perfect order.
When we came to it, as we had yearned for it, all together yearningly,

25. We stayed because we considered it a blessing at which the beholder's eye is pleased.
We bumped down and alighted like battle heroes whose heads are not weighed down with aches from the fight.

26. We gestured around the group with the cups yielded ungrudgingly to them,
Ever bowing down to their goblets, bowing much, though they bow not.

27. They pass round goblets of silver continuously, unflagging and unresting.
So the pourers' hands were paralyzed with that

28. While the drinkers' selves delighted in it.
We, in our fine manners,

29. Passed the goblets around to the right.
When they were ordered on the first of the drinkers,

30. They came to the last of them.
The cup did not cease from the bitterness of her imposed round;

31. Nor did we fail to relish drinking it.
When she got her grip on some one of us she provoked him to eructation or made him bump his forehead.

32. We did not leave her in debt to us by postponing drinking her.
We were saluted with her and all drank together. We followed her with roses and jasmine.

33. The eyes of the slave girls sang to us with her.
We took amusement at them and they at us.

34. Beauty of faces, largeness of bodies, like roe-gazelles pasturing.
As the minstrel leads, they all but swoon over us and we over them.

35. We consented to them for our delight:
They with us, we with them delighted.

36. When the flute echoes their voices,
And their strings quaver a melodious plaint,

37. Roused by the cockcrow you would ransom yourselves for us, every one of you ransom the others.
For that we are like swords drawn against them.

38. We love music, revel in it,
And drink our drink fearlessly.

39. In that we expend our wealth
And quaff it without cease so long as we live.

40. For months on end and through the days
We remain in that same state and for years.