أَما وَصُدودِ مَخمورٍ

بِعَينَيهِ عَنِ الكاسِ

The drunkard closed his eyes

Nay, by the feigned refusal of one languid with drink,

To the wine cup, fearing reproach

Turning his eyes away from the cup;

فَلَمّا خَشِيَ الإِلحا

حَ مِن صَحبٍ وَجُلّاسِ

From boon companions.

Yet when he feared the relentless urging

He pretended to sip the wine,

Of companions and seated guests,

وَأَلّا يَقبَلوا عُذراً

تَحَسّاها مَعَ الحاسي

Lifting the cup with languid eyes,

And saw that they would accept no excuse,

With slow, weak hands.

He sipped the wine alongside the drinker,

بِكَفَّي فاتِرِ اللَحظِ

رَخيمِ الدَلِّ مَيّاسِ

From the hands of one with heavy-lidded gaze,

His eyes and head promised us

Soft in coquetry, swaying with grace.

لَنا مِنهُ مَواعيدٌ

بِعَينَيهِ وَبِالراسِ

That he would drink.

We hold secret promises from him,

If you are called Abbas,

Given by his eyes and the nod of his head.

لَئِن سُمّيتَ عَبّاساً

فَما أَنتَ بِعَبّاسِ

You are no Abbas!

If indeed you were named Abbas [the Stern],

You are no man of generosity,

You show no sternness of face

لَدى الجودِ وَلَكِنَّ

كَ عَبّاسٌ لَدى الباسِ

Rather an Abbas of meanness.

In times of generosity, but truly

You deserve distinction,

You are stern as a lion in the heat of war.

وَبِالفَضلِ لَكَ الفَضلُ

أَبا الفَضلِ عَلى الناسِ

Father of distinction above all mankind!

And by virtue, all virtue belongs to you,

O Abu al-Fadl [Father of Virtue], above all mankind.