شَرَيتُ الفَتكَ بِالثَمَنِ الرَبيحِ

وَبِعتُ النُسكَ بِالقَصفِ النَجيحِ

I purchased daring hedonism at a profitable price,

And sold pious devotion for successful revelry.

وَأَمكَنتُ المَجانَةَ مِن قِيادي

وَلَستُ مِنَ المُجونِ بِمُستَريحِ

I surrendered my reins to shameless libertinism,

And I never seek rest from such debauchery.

وَرُبَّ مُخَضَّبِ الأَطرافِ رَخصٍ

مَليحِ الدَلِّ ذي وَجهٍ صَبيحِ

How many a soft-skinned youth with henna-dyed fingertips,

Charming in coquetry, with a radiant face,

ظَفِرتُ بِهِ وَنَجمُ الصُبحِ بادٍ

عِبادِيّاً عَلى دينِ المَسيحِ

Did I win over while the morning star was rising—

An 'Ibadi Christian following the faith of the Messiah.

فَسُرَّ بِطَلعَتي لَمّا رَآني

وَأَيقَنَ أَنَّني غَيرُ الشَحيحِ

He rejoiced at my appearance the moment he saw me,

Knowing for certain I was not the stingy type.

وَقامَ بِمِبزَلٍ فَاِفتَضَّ بِكراً

عَجوزاً قَد تَجِلُّ عَنِ المَديحِ

He rose with a drill to broach a virgin seal,

Releasing an aged vintage too grand for mere praise;

رَأَت نوحاً وَقَد شَمِطَت وَشابَت

وَقَد شَهِدَت قُروناً قَبلَ نوحِ

She had seen Noah, having already grown grey and white with age,

Indeed, she had witnessed generations even before Noah.

فَأَسقيهِ إِلى أَن ماتَ سُكراً

وَلَم يُدفَن وَعَيشِكَ في ضَريحِ

I plied him with drink until he died of intoxication,

Though, by your life, he was not buried in a grave.