ودُونَكَهُ أذْكى نَدِيْمٍ مُساعِدٍ

ودُونَكَهُ أذْكى نَدِيْمٍ مُساعِدٍ

على الأُنْسِ في جَوْفِ الدُّجُونِ وأكْتما

على الأُنْسِ في جَوْفِ الدُّجُونِ وأكْتما

And take him—the brightest boon companion, who helps

With you my best friend and confidant

bring cheer in the depths of gloom and is the most discreet.

To cheer loneliness in the depths of gloom and cover up.

يُناجِيْكَ ما امْتَدَّ الظلامُ بِسِرّهِ

يُناجِيْكَ ما امْتَدَّ الظلامُ بِسِرّهِ

فإنْ لاحَ واشي الصُّبحِ أبدى تَكتُّما

فإنْ لاحَ واشي الصُّبحِ أبدى تَكتُّما

He whispers his secret to you as long as darkness lasts;

He confides to you what darkness conceals,

but if the telltale dawn appears, he shows reserve.

When dawn's spy appears, he feigns ignorance.

قَدِ احْمَرَّ ثُمَّ اصفرّ لا عَنْ ضَغِينةٍ

قَدِ احْمَرَّ ثُمَّ اصفرّ لا عَنْ ضَغِينةٍ

ولكنَّهُ هابَ العُلا إذْ تَقدَّما

ولكنَّهُ هابَ العُلا إذْ تَقدَّما

He turned red, then yellow—not out of rancor,

He blushed then paled, not out of spite,

but he stood in awe of eminence as he advanced.

But shrank from grandeur as he gained advancement.

فَمَهِّدْ لَهُ جَنْبَ السُّرورِ تَفُزْ بِهِ

فَمَهِّدْ لَهُ جَنْبَ السُّرورِ تَفُزْ بِهِ

على قِلَّةِ النَّدْمى نَديماً مُسَلِّما

على قِلَّةِ النَّدْمى نَديماً مُسَلِّما

So make him a place beside joy, and you will gain him,

Prepare for him joy's refuge, and he will leap

despite the scarcity of boon companions, as a compliant companion.

Beyond few bosom friends, a surrendered companion.