أَخِي بَلْ رَئِيْسِي بَلْ أَمِيْرِي وَسَيِّدِي

أَخِي بَلْ رَئِيْسِي بَلْ أَمِيْرِي وَسَيِّدِي

وَمَنْ لَمْ يَزَلْ لِلْفَضْلِ وَالبِرِّ مَأْمُولاَ

وَمَنْ لَمْ يَزَلْ لِلْفَضْلِ وَالبِرِّ مَأْمُولاَ

My brother—nay, my chief—nay, my prince and master,

And you who have always been looked to for generosity and kindness,

أَغِثْنَا فَإِنَّا قَدْ ظَمِئْنَا وَرَوِّنَا

أَغِثْنَا فَإِنَّا قَدْ ظَمِئْنَا وَرَوِّنَا

مِنَ الرَّائِقِ المَطْبُوخِ وَلْيَكُ مَعْسُولاَ

مِنَ الرَّائِقِ المَطْبُوخِ وَلْيَكُ مَعْسُولاَ

Come to our aid, for we have grown thirsty, and quench our thirst

With clear, boiled wine, and let it be sweetened with honey.

فَنَحْنُ بِحَالٍ لَوْ تَرَانَا لَخِلْتَنَا

فَنَحْنُ بِحَالٍ لَوْ تَرَانَا لَخِلْتَنَا

لِئَامَاً وَإِنْ كُنَّا كِرَامَاً بَهَالِيْلاَ

لِئَامَاً وَإِنْ كُنَّا كِرَامَاً بَهَالِيْلاَ

For we are in such a state that, if you saw us, you would think us

Base men, though we are noble, magnanimous men.

سِتَارَتُنَا مَهْجُورَةٌ وَكُؤُوسُنَا

سِتَارَتُنَا مَهْجُورَةٌ وَكُؤُوسُنَا

تُعَلَّلُ بِالنَّزْرِ الصُّبَابَةِ تَعْلِيْلاَ

تُعَلَّلُ بِالنَّزْرِ الصُّبَابَةِ تَعْلِيْلاَ

Our curtain is neglected, and our cups

Are merely comforted with a scant remnant.

تَرَى مَاءَهَا أَضْعَافَ دَرٍّ رَحِيْقِهَا

تَرَى مَاءَهَا أَضْعَافَ دَرٍّ رَحِيْقِهَا

فَتَحْسَبُهَا فَوْقَ الأَكُفِّ قَنَادِيْلاَ

فَتَحْسَبُهَا فَوْقَ الأَكُفِّ قَنَادِيْلاَ

You see their water many times the amount of their nectar,

So you take them for lamps above the palms.

وَحَدَّثَنَا السَّقِي لِيَبْقَى شَرَابُهُ

وَحَدَّثَنَا السَّقِي لِيَبْقَى شَرَابُهُ

وَقَدْ قِيْلَ فِي السَّاقي المُحَدِّثِ مَا قِيْلاَ

وَقَدْ قِيْلَ فِي السَّاقي المُحَدِّثِ مَا قِيْلاَ

And the cupbearer talked to us to make his drink last,

Though people have said what they have said about the talkative cupbearer.