وَحانَةٍ بِالعَلثِ وَسطَ السوقِ

وَحانَةٍ بِالعَلثِ وَسطَ السوقِ

نَزَلتُها وَصارِمي رَفيقي

نَزَلتُها وَصارِمي رَفيقي

And a tavern in al-ʿAlth, in the middle of the market—

A tavern amidst the filth in the middle of the market

I lodged there, with my keen-edged sword as my companion,

I entered with my companion as my friend

عَلى غلامٍ من بَني الخَليقِ

عَلى غلامٍ من بَني الخَليقِ

بِكُلِّ فِعلٍ حَسَنٍ خَليق

بِكُلِّ فِعلٍ حَسَنٍ خَليق

As the guest of a youth of Banū al-Khalīq,

A lad from the good people

Worthy of every good deed.

With every beautiful deed well-mannered

فَجاءَ بِالجام وَبِالإِبريقِ

فَجاءَ بِالجام وَبِالإِبريقِ

أَما رَأَيتَ قِطَعَ العَقيقِ

أَما رَأَيتَ قِطَعَ العَقيقِ

Then he came with the goblet and the ewer.

He brought the cup and the ewer

Have you not seen pieces of carnelian?

Have you not seen the pieces of carnelian

أَما رَأَيتَ شِقَقَ البُروقِ

أَما رَأَيتَ شِقَقَ البُروقِ

أَما شَمَمتَ نَكهَةَ المَعشوقِ

أَما شَمَمتَ نَكهَةَ المَعشوقِ

Have you not seen streaks of lightning?

Have you not seen the clefts of lightning

Have you not smelled the beloved's breath?

Have you not smelled the scent of the beloved

ما أَحسَنَ الأَيّامَ بِالصَديقِ

ما أَحسَنَ الأَيّامَ بِالصَديقِ

عَلى صَبوحٍ وَعَلى غَبوقِ

عَلى صَبوحٍ وَعَلى غَبوقِ

How lovely the days are with a friend,

How beautiful are the days with a friend

Over a morning draught and over an evening draught,

In the mornings and in the evenings

إِن لَم يَحُل ذاكَ إِلى التَفريقِ

إِن لَم يَحُل ذاكَ إِلى التَفريقِ

If that does not turn into separation.

If that does not lead to separation