ومغرمٍ بالبدال قلت له

ومغرمٍ بالبدال قلت له

صلني فكان الجواب لا أفعل

صلني فكان الجواب لا أفعل

And to one enamored of swapping roles I said:

In love with gifts, I asked of him

"Join me"—and the answer was, "I will not."

To offer prayers, but his reply was “I will not”

كأنه والذي يديم له النع

كأنه والذي يديم له النع

مة مني يخاف أن يحبل

مة مني يخاف أن يحبل

As though—by Him who sustains his bless-

As if he who forever enjoys blessings

ing—he were afraid of becoming pregnant by me!

From me, fears pregnancy

لو قيس بالرمح قرن والده

لو قيس بالرمح قرن والده

لكان منه بمثله أطول

لكان منه بمثله أطول

If his father's horn were measured against a spear,

If compared by spear his father’s horn

it would be twice the spear's length.

Would have been much longer than it

يأتي ويؤتى إذا مخافة أن

يأتي ويؤتى إذا مخافة أن

يقال هذا عليه قد أفضل

يقال هذا عليه قد أفضل

He penetrates and is penetrated, then, for fear that

He comes and goes if afraid that

someone might say, "This man has done him a favor."

It will be said he was outdone by this man

فهو قليل الخلاف لو شئت أن

فهو قليل الخلاف لو شئت أن

يبذل عشراً بالفرد لم يبخل

يبذل عشراً بالفرد لم يبخل

So he offers little resistance; if you wished him to

So he rarely disputes, if you wish that

give ten for one, he would not hold back.

He'd give ten for one, he would not be stingy

لا يعرف الغدر بالحريف ومن

لا يعرف الغدر بالحريف ومن

عادته أن ينام في الأول

عادته أن ينام في الأول

He knows no treachery toward his partner; and it is

He knows no betrayal of a friend, and it’s his habit

his custom to lie down at the outset.

To take the first nap

لكل ميلٍ بعينه أثرٌ

لكل ميلٍ بعينه أثرٌ

وكل عينٍ بميله تكحل

وكل عينٍ بميله تكحل

Every kohl-stick leaves a mark in his eye,

Every inclination has its effect

and every eye is kohled with his stick.

And every eye by its inclination is lined

أحسن ما كان رامحاً يق

أحسن ما كان رامحاً يق

ص الأبطال حتى رأيته أعزل

ص الأبطال حتى رأيته أعزل

At his finest he was a spearman, cut-

The best he was when a spearman relating

ting down champions, until I saw him unarmed.

The feats of heroes, until I saw him disarmed

يكون من فوق راكباً فإذا

يكون من فوق راكباً فإذا

تم له الدست صار من أسفل

تم له الدست صار من أسفل

He rides on top; then, when

He would be high up in the saddle but when

his turn is done, he moves underneath.

His hand was paralyzed he became low

فاغتنم الوقت قبل ينبت في

فاغتنم الوقت قبل ينبت في

خديك ما لا يحش بالمنجل

خديك ما لا يحش بالمنجل

So seize the time before there grows upon

So make the most of time before there sprouts on

your cheeks what cannot be mown with a sickle.

Your cheek what cannot be shaved even with a sickle

فاستعمل النتف ما استطعت فما

فاستعمل النتف ما استطعت فما

أقبح زرع اللحى إذا سنبل

أقبح زرع اللحى إذا سنبل

So resort to plucking as much as you can—for how

So take advantage of the soft hairs while you can for how

ugly is the crop of beards when it puts forth ears!

Ugly is the beard’s crop when it grains

وإن وجه الإقبال عنك إذا

وإن وجه الإقبال عنك إذا

ولى رأيت التعذير قد أقبل

ولى رأيت التعذير قد أقبل

And indeed, when favor's face from you

And if the face of fortune turns from you

turns away, you see the first whiskers have arrived.

You will see excuses turning towards you