ونديمٍ نبَّهت ليلاً فهبَّا

ونديمٍ نبَّهت ليلاً فهبَّا

وهو سكراً يميل شرقاً وغربا

وهو سكراً يميل شرقاً وغربا

A boon companion I woke at night—and up he sprang,

I roused a drinking companion at night, and he sprang up,

though drunk, swaying eastward and westward.

Swaying drunkenly east and west.

قال لبيك قلت هات اسقنيها

قال لبيك قلت هات اسقنيها

فتردَّى وقال طوعاً وحبَّا

فتردَّى وقال طوعاً وحبَّا

He said, “At your service!” I said, “Come, pour me some.”

He said, 'At your service!' I said, 'Bring it; pour it for me.'

He threw on his robe and said, “Willingly and gladly.”

Then he donned his cloak and said, 'Willingly and with love.'

فسقاني ثلاثةً وتحسَّى

فسقاني ثلاثةً وتحسَّى

بعض كأسٍ فردَّها وأكبَّا

بعض كأسٍ فردَّها وأكبَّا

He poured me three cups, then took a sip himself

So he served me three cups and sipped

from part of a cup; he handed it back and slumped forward.

Part of a cup, then put it back and slumped forward.

قلت أفديك من نديمٍ مطيعٍ

قلت أفديك من نديمٍ مطيعٍ

لو رأى طاقةً بها ما تأبَّى

لو رأى طاقةً بها ما تأبَّى

I said, “I would ransom you—what an obedient companion!

I said, 'I would ransom you—what an obedient drinking companion!'

Had he found strength for it, he never would have refused.”

Had he found the strength for it, he would not have refused.

ثم بن وسَّدته وعدت إلى الشُّر

ثم بن وسَّدته وعدت إلى الشُّر

ب وحيداً فما استلذَّيت شربا

ب وحيداً فما استلذَّيت شربا

Then: “Sleep.” I pillowed him and went back to drink—

Then [unclear word] I pillowed his head and returned to drink—

—ing alone, but I found no pleasure in drinking.

—ing alone, but found no pleasure in drinking.

إن طيب المدام بين النَّدامى

إن طيب المدام بين النَّدامى

وسرور النُّدمان فيمن أحبَّا

وسرور النُّدمان فيمن أحبَّا

The sweetness of wine lies among boon companions,

Indeed, wine's delight is among drinking companions,

and the drinkers’ delight lies in the one they love.

And drinking companions find joy in those they love.

لو رأوا لذَّةً بدون شريبٍ

لو رأوا لذَّةً بدون شريبٍ

لم يُسَمُّوا فيها ندامى وشِربا

لم يُسَمُّوا فيها ندامى وشِربا

Had they found pleasure without a drinking companion,

Had they found pleasure without a fellow drinker,

they would not, over wine, be called companions and drinkers.

They would not have been called, in drinking it, companions and fellow drinkers.