ونديمٍ نبَّهت ليلاً فهبَّا

وهو سكراً يميل شرقاً وغربا

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

though drunk, swaying eastward and westward.

قال لبيك قلت هات اسقنيها

فتردَّى وقال طوعاً وحبَّا

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

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

فسقاني ثلاثةً وتحسَّى

بعض كأسٍ فردَّها وأكبَّا

He poured me three cups, then took a sip himself

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

قلت أفديك من نديمٍ مطيعٍ

لو رأى طاقةً بها ما تأبَّى

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

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

ثم بن وسَّدته وعدت إلى الشُّر

ب وحيداً فما استلذَّيت شربا

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

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

إن طيب المدام بين النَّدامى

وسرور النُّدمان فيمن أحبَّا

The sweetness of wine lies among boon companions,

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

لو رأوا لذَّةً بدون شريبٍ

لم يُسَمُّوا فيها ندامى وشِربا

Had they found pleasure without a drinking companion,

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