فَبادِر بِنا يا أَخي فُرصَةً
فَلَذَّةُ ذا الدَهرِ تُستَفرَصُ
So hasten with us, my brother, while there is a chance;
for the delight of this life must be seized.
لِنَنظُرَ دَوحاً وَورَقاً عَلى
ذَوائِبِ أَغصانِها تَرقُصُ
Let us surely behold broad-canopied trees, and leaves
dancing upon the tresses of their boughs;
وَوَرداً هُوَ المِسكُ في نَشرِهِ
إِذا فاحَ لَكِنَّهُ أَرخَصُ
and a rose that is musk in the spreading of its scent—
when it breathes perfume, though it is cheaper;
يُريكَ خُدودَ الغَواني غَدَت
بِأَظفارِ عُشّاقِها تُقرَصُ
it shows you the cheeks of beautiful women, now
being pinched by their lovers’ fingernails;
وَماءً صَفا وَحَلا طَعمُهُ
وَرَقَّ وَزادَ فَما يَنقُصُ
and water, clear and sweet to the taste,
grown delicate and abundant, never dwindling.
فَقُم لِنَرى حُسنَ صُنعِ الإِلَهِ
فَما زِلتَ في مِثلِ ذا تَحرِصُ
Then rise, that we may behold the beauty of God’s handiwork;
you have never ceased to long for such a thing.
Sol 5.6