مثّلته المنى فظلّ نديمي

مثّلته المنى فظلّ نديمي

فتنعمتُ قاهراً للنعيمِ

فتنعمتُ قاهراً للنعيمِ

Longing conjured him before me, and he remained my companion;

My hopes embodied him, so he remained my boon companion.

I reveled, surpassing bliss itself.

I reveled, conquering delight.

ثم مُكْنتُ منه حتى أُناجي

ثم مُكْنتُ منه حتى أُناجي

ه بسرّي وسرّه المكتومِ

ه بسرّي وسرّه المكتومِ

Then I was granted such intimacy with him that I could whisper

Then I confided in him until I conversed

to him my secret, and his own secret kept hidden.

With him about my secret and his hidden mystery.

ظِلتُ أسقيه ثم اشرب من في

ظِلتُ أسقيه ثم اشرب من في

ه رضاب المعتق المختومِ

ه رضاب المعتق المختومِ

I kept giving him drink, then drank from his

I went on watering him, then drank from his

mouth the nectar of sealed, well-aged wine—

Sealed and stamped wineskin.

وأغنية ثم أسمع منه

وأغنية ثم أسمع منه

ونديم فديته من نديمِ

ونديم فديته من نديمِ

and then a song I heard from him,

And a song, then I heard from him

and what a companion—may I be his ransom!—what a companion.

A boon companion I ransomed with a boon companion.