لَمّا أَتَوني بِكَأسٍ مِن شَرابِهِمُ

يُدعى الطِلاءَ صَليباً غَيرَ خَوّارِ

When they brought me a cup of their drink

When they brought to me a cup of their drink,

Called figuratively the purest, though tasteless,

Called 'The Thickened'—potent, firm, and unyielding,

أَظهَرتُ نُسكاً وَقُلتُ الخَمرُ أَشرَبُها

وَاللَهُ يَعلَمُ أَنَّ الخَمرَ إِضماري

I feigned piety and said: “Wine I will drink,

I feigned piety and said, 'Is it wine that I drink?'

Though God knows that wine’s my life’s sweetness.”

While God knows well that wine is my heart's hidden desire.

آلى زَعيمُهُمُ بِالنارِ قَد طُبِخَت

يُريدُ مِدحَتَها بِالشَينِ وَالعارِ

Their leader by fire was cooked, so they claim,

Their leader swore an oath that it had been cooked by fire,

Meaning to praise him, but heaping him shame.

Seeking to praise it through what is its shame and disgrace.

فَقُلتُ مَن ذا الَّذي بِالنارِ عَذَّبَها

لا خَفَّفَ اللَهُ عَنهُ كُربَةَ النارِ

I said: “Who tortured wine with fire?” May he

So I exclaimed, 'Who is the one who tortured it with flame?'

Be spared by God the torment of fire!

May God not lighten for him the anguish of the Fire!