سَقيتُ أَبا المُطَرّحِ إِذ أَتاني

سَقيتُ أَبا المُطَرّحِ إِذ أَتاني

وَذو الرَعَثاتِ مُنتَصِبٌ يَصيحُ

وَذو الرَعَثاتِ مُنتَصِبٌ يَصيحُ

I gave Abū al-Muṭarraḥ drink when he came to me,

I gave Abu al-Mutarrah to drink when he came to me,

while the wattled cock stood upright, crowing—

while the wattled rooster stood upright, crowing,

شَراباً يَهربُ الذِبّانُ عنهُ

شَراباً يَهربُ الذِبّانُ عنهُ

وَيَلثَغُ حينَ يَشربُهُ الفَصيحُ

وَيَلثَغُ حينَ يَشربُهُ الفَصيحُ

a drink from which flies flee,

a wine from which the flies flee,

and the eloquent man lisps when he drinks it.

and the eloquent man slurs his words when he drinks it.