ليتَ العناقَ وشُربَ الرَّاح قد عُقدا

ليتَ العناقَ وشُربَ الرَّاح قد عُقدا

بالنَّجم أو خُزِنَا في ذِروَةِ الفَلَك

بالنَّجم أو خُزِنَا في ذِروَةِ الفَلَك

Would that embracing and a draught of wine had been bound

If only embracing and drinking wine had been bound

to the star, or stored at the summit of the firmament;

To the stars, or stored at the summit of the celestial sphere,

فلم يُعانق مَليحاً غَيرُ ذي كَرَمٍ

فلم يُعانق مَليحاً غَيرُ ذي كَرَمٍ

ولم يَخبَّ إلى كأس سوى ملكِ

ولم يَخبَّ إلى كأس سوى ملكِ

then none but a generous man would embrace a beauty,

So that none but a noble man would embrace a beauty,

and none but a king would hasten toward a cup.

And none but a king would hasten to a cup.

شيئان نغَّص أهلَ الفضلِ طيبُهما

شيئان نغَّص أهلَ الفضلِ طيبُهما

تشارك الناس لا طيبٌ لمشتَركِ

تشارك الناس لا طيبٌ لمشتَركِ

Two things—their sweetness has been spoiled for people of merit

Two things whose pleasure is spoiled for people of merit

by everyone’s sharing; there is no savor in what is held in common.

By everyone sharing in them—there is no pleasure in what is shared.