عَلى حُكم الهَوى أَدرِ المُداما
وَعُد لِهَوى المَها وَدع المَلاما
Turn the wine round in circles, and blame not the bending of inclination,
And promise the beloved ones your love, and leave reproach.
وَأَكرم أَهل ودّك لا لأمرٍ
عراك وَدُم عَلى ما الودّ داما
Honor your intimate friends, not for any cause of
Strife and blood, so long as affection lasts.
هُمُ الكُرَماء مَهما طالَ صدٌّ
لِحُكم الودّ ما سَلُّوا حُساما
They are the noble ones, though estrangement be long lasting
To the rule of love, whatsoever they sought with swords.
سُرورُ المَرء لَولا العَهد أَلوى
وَهمّ المَرء لَولا الوَعد داما
One's joy but for the pact would fail,
And one's anxiety but for the promise would last.
أمرُّ عَلى الطُلول طُلول سَلمى
أسلّم لا لِأُسمعها السَلاما
To pass by the encampments is more bitter than aloes-
Yet I pass them by, no "Peace" do I hear in salutation.
أَراهُم كُلَّما مَرّوا سِراعاً
عَلى أَهل الهَوى مَرّوا كِراما
Whenever they pass the people of passionate love,
They pass exalted, generous.
طَلاً ألمى أَدار لَماه راحاً
حَلالاً ما أَراد طِلاً حراما
My eyes have turned from visitation, for when he departed
He made lawful what he desired of unlawful kissing.
وَما أَردى الحَسود عَلى هَواها
سِوى هَمٍّ طَمى وَهمى ركاما
Naught but anxiety and care intense caused the envious one
Against his passion, save misery, sadness, and ruin.
وَآرام رَعوا لِلودِّ عَهداً
سَموا أَعلى العُلى هِمَماً وَهاما
And they lived to keep affection's pact,
They aspired to the highest above the highest endeavor.
وَكَم حال أَحال الدَهرَ مكراً
وَصادمها وَسَلّ لَها حُساما
How many a just man has time betrayed and opposed!
How many drawn swords against him has it wielded!
وَكَم ملك مُطاع الأَمر وَلّى
وَما لِسِوى الإِله الملك داما
How many a ruler obeyed, exalted in command,
Yet none remains ruler save God who endures.
وَما أَدراكَ ما أَطلال سَلمى
رُسوم لا طَعام لَها وَلا ما
Thou wouldst deem the deserted abodes of Salma
To be, because of lack of food and drink, without inhabitants.
أَرى كلّاً حَوى أَسرار مَولىً
إِلى أَهل الهُدى أَمسى إِماما
I see everyone loves mysteries for his comrades,
Is become a guide to the people of truth among guides.
سَما كُلّ الوَرى كَرَماً وَحلماً
إمام طالَما صَلّى وَصاما
The heavens and earth in bounty and clemency-
He long prayed and fasted from worldly inclination.
رَعى اللَه الحِمى وَحَمى كراما
لَها حَول الحِمى المَكلوم حاما
May God preserve the protectorate, and protect the generous ones!
Around the preserve of God the Compassionate, preserves it.
وَلَو صَدح الحمام أَعادَ صَدحاً
لَهُ وَأَعار مَسمعه الحماما
And if the dove made repeated cries in calling,
It toward it, and lent its call to the dove.
وَما هَلّ الهِلال وَلاحَ إِلّا
أَهلّ مَدامِعاً أَو سامَ ساما
Naught caused the new moon to appear and gleam
Save it moved to tears or poisoned poison.
