ساقي المدام فزند الشوق قد قدحا

قم واسقنيها سلافاً واملُ لي القدحا

O cupbearer of wine, for longing's fire-stick has struck sparks.

Rise, give me pure wine to drink, and fill my cup.

وعاطينها صبوحاً كالصباح لقد

رق النسيم وراقت والزمان صحا

And pass it to me as a morning draught, like dawn; indeed,

the breeze has softened, the wine grown clear, and time grown bright.

واخلع عذارك إذ تجلى عليك ولا

تطع مقالة لاحٍ لام أو نصحا

And cast off your bridle when it shines upon you, and do not

heed a reproacher's words, whether he blames or counsels.

فإنما الراح راحات النفوس فقم

واغنم من العيش واللذات ما منحا

For wine is the solace of souls; so rise,

and seize whatever has been granted of life and pleasures.

وباكر الروض وانشق عرفه سحراً

واجلُ الكؤوس وخذها بكرةً وضحا

And visit the garden early, breathing its fragrance before dawn,

and polish the goblets; take it at dawn and in the forenoon—

بكراً معتقة شحطاءَ محدثةً

عهد السرور لصبِ هام واصطبحا

a virgin vintage, aged and brought from afar, renewing

the covenant of joy for a lovesick lover who pined and drank at dawn;

مدامةً أطلقت فوق الكؤوس لنا

من الحباب نجوماً أشرقت فرحا

a wine that set loose above the goblets for us

stars of bubbles, shining with joy.

دخلت حانتها ليلاً أطوف بها

فاشرق الدن صبحاً والشذا نفحا

I entered its tavern at night, wandering through it;

then the wine-jar shone like dawn, and fragrance wafted forth.

فكال خمارها من دنه ذهباً

وكلته فضةً تاللَه ما ربحا

Its wine-seller measured gold from his wine-jar,

and I measured out silver to him—by God, he made no profit.

كم ليلةٍ بتها والكاس دائرةٌ

يديرها أهيف كالظبي ان سرحا

How many a night I spent with the cup passing round,

passed by a slender-waisted youth, like a gazelle when it roams free;

مهفهفٌ مائس الأعطاف معتدلٌ

بلين قامته غصن النقا فضحا

slender, swaying at the flanks, well-proportioned,

with his supple stature he put the dune's branch to shame.

ساقٍ تداوي الحشا أقداح خمرته

لكنه بسهام اللحظ قد جرحا

A cupbearer whose wine-cups heal the heart,

yet he has wounded it with the arrows of his glance.

أذاع وجدي به سحار مقلته

والحب أحسنه ما كان مفتضحا

His eye's enchanter has proclaimed my passion for him,

and the finest love is love laid bare.

عذاره الذهبي روحي به ذهبت

وجفنه الأدعج السفاح قد سفحا

His golden cheek-down has carried off my soul,

and his dark, murderous eyelid has shed blood.

تريك غرته من تحت طرته

ليلاً وصبحاً معاً جل الذي منحا

His radiant brow beneath his forelock shows you

night and dawn together—exalted be He who bestowed them!

أصبحت لا أرعوي عن حبه أبداً

ولا أراعي عذولاً لامني ولحا

Now I never turn away from loving him,

nor heed a reproacher who blames and upbraids me.

اسلو محبته أن اسلو مدح أخي

عزٍ لغير اكتساب الحمد ما جنحا

I would forget loving him if I forgot praising a man

of honor, who has never inclined toward anything but earning praise.

أعني الأمير الذي من فيض راحته

سحايب الجود تهمي كلما سمحا

I mean the prince, from whose overflowing palm

clouds of generosity pour whenever he gives.

مولى كريم سما قدراً أو طاب سناً

ومنعمٌ من تراث المجد قد رجحا

A generous lord, lofty in rank or fair in radiance,

and a benefactor made preeminent by his inheritance of glory.

بشير نصرٍ أرانا بدرُ طلعته

شهاب سعدٍ أفلاك العلى لمحا

Bashir, herald of victory: his full-moon countenance has shown us

Shihab, fortune's meteor, flashing through the spheres of eminence.

ليث تذيب العدى رعباً مهابته

ان هز صارمه البتار أو رمحا

A lion whose imposing presence melts his foes with terror,

when he brandishes his keen, cleaving sword or a spear.

صافي السريرة هاجت خواطره

لنيل مكرمةٍ إلّا بها نجحا

Pure of heart, whenever his thoughts stir

to win a noble distinction, he succeeds in attaining it.

يغرد العدل في ساحاته طرباً

ويرتع الأمن في روضاته مرحا

Justice warbles joyfully in his courtyards,

and safety grazes merrily in his gardens.

كم مجرمٍ بات ظمآناً بسطوته

ومعدمٍ في ندى كفيه قد سجا

How many a criminal has lain thirsty under his power,

and how many a destitute man has rested in the dew of his palms!

أضحت له رتب العلياءِ زاهرةً

لما تردى بثوب المجد واتشحا

The ranks of high honor grew radiant for him

when he donned the robe of glory and draped it about himself.

عم الانام سروراً تود رتبته

وإن تكن هجمت فالعز ما جمحا

He filled all people with joy; his rank is cherished,

and though it was assailed, glory did not bolt away.

ما فارقته قلىً بل أظهرت حكماً

وطرفها لسواه قط ما طمحا

It did not leave him out of hatred, but displayed wisdom,

and its gaze never aspired toward anyone else.

إليك أهدي الهنا يا من بسودده

كاس المسرة والأفراح قد طفحا

To you I offer congratulations, O you through whose nobility

the cup of delight and joy has overflowed,

بخلعة زفها مجدٌ وجاء بها

سعدٌ فلا زال يجلوها ولا برحا

for a robe of honor that glory escorted as a bride and that was brought

by good fortune—may it keep unveiling it, and never cease!

غراء جاءت تنادي وهي باسمةٌ

إن الصباح لذي عينين قد وضحا

Radiant, it came proclaiming with a smile:

Indeed, dawn has grown clear to anyone with two eyes.

فافتر ثغر المعالي عند ما ابتسمت

لك الأماني وراق الدهر واصطحا

So the lips of high honor parted in a smile when

hopes smiled upon you, and time grew pleasant and clear.

واقبلت بنت فكر تنجلي طرباً

من خادمٍ مخلصٍ هنّا وقد مدحا

And a daughter of thought came forth, unveiling herself joyfully,

from a faithful servant who congratulated and praised you.

هبها القبول ودم بالنصر ذا سلمٍ

ما طائرٌ فوق أفنان الربى صدحا

Grant her acceptance, and remain victorious and at peace,

as long as a bird sings above the boughs of the hills.