صحبتI kept company with شكيباShakib برهةa span of time لمdid not يفزsucceed بهاin gaining it
صحبت شكيبا برهة لم يفز بها
سواىanyone but me علىdespite أنthe fact that الصحابthe companions كثيرmany
سواى على أن الصحاب كثير
I kept Shakib company for a time enjoyed
By none but me, though companions were many.
حرصتI was protective عليهاof it آنةa moment ثمthen آنةa moment
حرصت عليها آنة ثم آنة
كماjust as ضنّwas loath to part بالماسwith diamonds الكريمprecious خبيرa connoisseur
كما ضنّ بالماس الكريم خبير
I treasured it, moment after moment,
As a connoisseur jealously guards precious diamonds.
فلماso when تساقيناwe gave each other drink الوفاءloyalty وتمand became complete ليfor me
فلما تساقينا الوفاء وتم لي
ودادa friendship علىover كلall الودادfriendship أميرa prince
وداد على كل الوداد أمير
So when we had drunk of each other’s loyalty, and I had gained in full
A friendship, prince over all friendships,
تفرّقbecame separated جسميmy body فيin البلادthe lands وجسمهand his body
تفرّق جسمي في البلاد وجسمه
ولمand did not يتفرّقbecome separated خاطرmind وضميرand heart
ولم يتفرّق خاطر وضمير
My body and his were parted across the lands,
Yet our minds and hearts remained undivided.
Sol 6.1