كئوس المدام تحب الصفا

كئوس المدام تحب الصفا

فكن لتصاويرها مبطلا

فكن لتصاويرها مبطلا

Wine cups love clarity;

The wine cups love serenity,

so efface their images,

So devote yourself to their imagery,

ودعها سواذج من نقشها

ودعها سواذج من نقشها

فأحسن ما ذهبت بالطلا

فأحسن ما ذهبت بالطلا

and leave them plain, free of engraving;

And let their engravings be artless ingénues -

for they are loveliest when gilded with wine.

The best is when you coat them with gold.