لَولا هَوانُ الخَمرِ ما ذُقتُ طَعمَها

لَولا هَوانُ الخَمرِ ما ذُقتُ طَعمَها

وَلا سُفتَ إِبريقاً بِأَنفِكَ مُترَعا

وَلا سُفتَ إِبريقاً بِأَنفِكَ مُترَعا

Were wine not so cheap, I would not have tasted its flavor,

If not for the disgrace of wine, I'd not have tasted its flavor

nor would you have sniffed a brimful ewer with your nose,

Nor poured a jug under your nose hoping to entice you

كَما لَم يَذُقها إِذ تَكونُ عَزيرَةً

كَما لَم يَذُقها إِذ تَكونُ عَزيرَةً

أَبوكَ وَلا تُدنى إِلَيهِ فَيَطمَعا

أَبوكَ وَلا تُدنى إِلَيهِ فَيَطمَعا

just as he never tasted it when it was costly—

Just as your father never tasted it, so noble was he

your father—nor was it brought near him for him to crave it.

Nor was it offered, that he might yearn for a sip