وكأس جلاب بها يطفى اللهب

وكأس جلاب بها يطفى اللهب

يقضى بها عند الخمار ما وجب

يقضى بها عند الخمار ما وجب

And a cup of julep, with which one quenches the blaze;

And a cup of jullab, with which the flame is quenched;

At the vintner’s, it settles whatever is due.

With it, what is owed at the wine-seller’s is settled.

كأنها الفضة شيبت بالذهب

كأنها الفضة شيبت بالذهب

تشابه الجليد فيها والحبب

تشابه الجليد فيها والحبب

As though it were silver blended with gold—

As though it were silver mingled with gold;

The ice and bubbles within it look alike.

The ice and the bubbles within it looked alike.

حسبته دراً من المسك انسرب

حسبته دراً من المسك انسرب

فبعضه طاف وبعض قد رسب

فبعضه طاف وبعض قد رسب

I took it for pearls of musk scattered abroad:

I thought it pearls of musk that had flowed forth;

Some floated, while others had sunk.

So some of it floated, and some had sunk.

كأنما المخوض فيها يضطرب

كأنما المخوض فيها يضطرب

حوت يغوص تارة ثم يشب

حوت يغوص تارة ثم يشب

As though the stirring rod, thrashing within it,

As though the stirring stick, moving to and fro within it,

Were a fish that dives awhile, then leaps up.

Were a fish that dives one moment, then leaps up.