1. The lightning’s flash in the benighted night,
Or the sun’s radiance in the reveler’s cup?

2. The soul receives life from the fragrant breath
Of wine that eases Raim’s cares when sipped.

3. Fate pressed the day till lone it stood,
Like a discriminating judge’s share,

4. Denied its partner by the judge.
Its grapes were culled from a paradisal vine,

5. Then carried over to the fiery Gehenna’s heat.
The garment of fire well suits it,

6. And it rules to be sipped in bliss.
The water’s rule restrained it mightily,

7. That it intoxicates the sober with its scent.
The goblet is like a crown adorned

8. With side gems of matched pearls.
Bubbles dancing in it,

9. As the generous vine’s first-pressed in noble wine.
It is the elixir against the poison of grief,

10. Nothing heals it but the wise man’s elixir.
She came robed in a striped cloak,

11. That showed its weave perfection to all.
Whenever she stands, she sways folded,

12. Inclining, lost in her rapture, erect.
In her languid glance and voice, the magic

13. Of Harut and Marut, those defiant angels.
She leaves the cup like a burning brand,

14. Scorching every banished devil with grief.
In darkness the dawn flashed for it,

15. And the gloaming retreated from it, vexed.
She zoned a gourd flask as her wine bearer

16. With a belt cinched at her bulging waist.
As if its sparkles were cups for her,

17. A drinker in the west sipping perpetually.
As if the dawn were a cup proffered

18. Just for you from the hand of blameless Imr`an’s son.
As if the east therein were a tender

19. Of veils from Yahya ibn Tammam’s face.
A king in kingship displaying his pride,

20. Precious metal, refined in glory’s essence.
Holding off with the sword foes of the true faith,

21. Keeping to a straight path made clear.
Gentlest of rulers with one who slips,

22. His sword preceded by the forbearance of the forebearing.
Of peerless virtue, he accepts property

23. Never diminished through his perpetual giving.
Stern in wrath toward hostile foes,

24. Compassionate in care toward his subjects.
He who abolished poverty when riches flowed,

25. And allowed plenty when the harem’s Mead was safe.
His fame has the sweet fragrance of basil,

26. Enduring in the ages’ telling and tale.
He for whom the goblet is elevated in highest Heaven,

27. A winner at kingship’s mighty prize.
Bestower of bounty, seedbed of munificence,

28. Does the destitute not profit through it?
Never ceasing to nurture the young of the dew,

29. His hand enriched them since they were babes.
The water of his boons flows unstinting,

30. His copious rain is fertilizing, not desiccate.
No stagnating drops in the reservoir,

31. Nor lightning blinking in the squinter’s eyes.
What convincing proofs his tongue possesses,

32. Uttered by the eloquent sword against the adversary!
He populates war with an army whose land

33. Flows with enemies’ blood, red like crimson.
The fates through it exact soul for soul,

34. Harsh fate toward harsh fate ever hostile.
As if the sun from his scabbard’s tip

35. Peered down from above, with ailing gaze.
It clashed on the anvils, plunging and bending

36. The steel in the hammer’s crash fragmentary.
How would a king not destroy his foes in battle

37. When before him death itself turns servile?
How many dreadful wilds beyond count does it disperse

38. The enemy wave to the dusty, barren plain!
Amidst it the Son of Iwa sought refuge while round him

39. Terror reigned, haunting human and howling owl.
Full of awful dread, were it not for the talisman

40. Its rider possessed, none but the sinful dared it.
Never did my eyes or ears leave it

41. Without intimations to my heart of sleepless fear.
I have determined my will ‘twixt Aldebaran and the star

42. Canopus in the benighted night.
And I attained fulfillment from a bestowing hand

43. From which hopes drain while still desiring.
O Abu-l Thahir, you have renewed

44. Upon the folds of lofty time the ancient kingdom.
You are not like the sea—for its water is brackish,

45. Nor like the lion—for the lion is despised.
Rather God granted you valor and bounty,