وَنَدمانٍ تَرادَفَهُ خُمارٌ

وَنَدمانٍ تَرادَفَهُ خُمارٌ

فَأَورَثَ في أَنامِلِهِ اِرتِعادا

فَأَورَثَ في أَنامِلِهِ اِرتِعادا

And a drinking companion was dogged by a hangover,

And remorse followed by intoxication

And a boon companion whom the hangover overwhelmed,

Which set his fingertips trembling.

Made his fingers tremble

Bequeathing a constant trembling to his fingertips;

فَلَيسَ بِمُستَقِلِّ الكَأسِ ما لَم

فَلَيسَ بِمُستَقِلِّ الكَأسِ ما لَم

تَكُن يُسراهُ لِليُمنى عِمادا

تَكُن يُسراهُ لِليُمنى عِمادا

So he could not lift the cup unless

He cannot handle the wine cup unless

He could not bear the weight of the cup, unless

His left hand supported his right.

His right hand props him up

His left hand served as a pillar for his right.

رَفَعتُ لَهُ يَدي وَهناً بِكَأسٍ

رَفَعتُ لَهُ يَدي وَهناً بِكَأسٍ

بِها مِنها تَزَيَّدَ فَاِستَعادا

بِها مِنها تَزَيَّدَ فَاِستَعادا

Late at night I raised my hand to him with a cup;

I raised to him a cup in my soft hand

I raised my hand to him in the deep of night with a glass,

With it he drank more wine, then asked for it again.

He took a sip and regained composure

With which he exceeded his bounds and sought to repeat,

وَقالَ أَلَستَ مُتبِعَها بِأُخرى

وَقالَ أَلَستَ مُتبِعَها بِأُخرى

تُوَقِّرُني فَإِنَّ بِيَ اِزدِيادا

تُوَقِّرُني فَإِنَّ بِيَ اِزدِيادا

And he said, “Will you not follow it with another

And said, “Won’t you follow it with another

Saying, "Will you not follow it with another

To weigh me down? For I long for more.”

To honor me, for I have capacity”

To steady me? For the shaking within me has grown."

فَقُلتُ بَلى وَبِأُخرَياتٍ

فَقُلتُ بَلى وَبِأُخرَياتٍ

عَلى أَنّي سَأَجعَلُها جِيادا

عَلى أَنّي سَأَجعَلُها جِيادا

I said, “Yes, and several more,

I said “Yes, and with more

I replied, "Yes, and with others to follow,

Provided that I make them fine ones.”

Though I will make them fillies”

Which I shall ensure are excellent and pure."

فَذَلِكَ دَأبُهُ لَيلي وَدَأبي

فَذَلِكَ دَأبُهُ لَيلي وَدَأبي

إِذا ما زِدتُهُ مِنها اِستَزادا

إِذا ما زِدتُهُ مِنها اِستَزادا

So that was his habit through my night, and mine:

Such is his habit at night and mine

Such was his custom and mine throughout the night:

Whenever I gave him more of it, he asked for more,

When I refill it he asks for more

Whenever I added to his share, he demanded yet more,

إِلى أَن خَرَّ ما يَدري أَأَرضاً

إِلى أَن خَرَّ ما يَدري أَأَرضاً

تَوَسَّدَ عِندَ ذَلِكَ أَم وِسادا

تَوَسَّدَ عِندَ ذَلِكَ أَم وِسادا

Until he collapsed, not knowing whether it was the ground

Until he falls, not knowing if it’s ground

Until he collapsed, knowing not whether it was the earth

He had pillowed his head on then, or a pillow.

Or a pillow beneath him at that point

He pillowed his head upon then, or a cushion.