1. يمين اللَه لا أهجو

    من الأتراك مأمورا

    By God, I shall not lampoon

    an official from among the Turks.

  2. يكلل ورد وجنته

    حياءً منك كافورا

    The rose of his cheek wreathes

    camphor, out of bashfulness before you.

  3. وتحسب طرفه السحّا

    رَ إن ناجاك مسحورا

    And you deem his bewitching gaze,

    if he whispers to you, bewitched.

  4. وأقسم إن حنثت وقد

    حلفت ونلت ميسورا

    And I swear: if I break my oath—having already

    sworn and gained some means—

  5. أموت ولا أبيت على

    نهود الغيد مسرورا

    may I die and not spend the night upon

    the breasts of graceful beauties, delighted.

  6. فصدق من غدا مثل ال

    قطا بالصدق مشهورا

    So believe one who has become, like the

    sandgrouse, renowned for truthfulness.

  7. وقد أضحى نواسياً

    يحب المرد والحورا

    And he has become like Abu Nuwas,

    loving beardless youths and dark-eyed women.

  8. إذا ما صار بينهما

    وبين الكاس مخمورا

    Whenever he finds himself between them both

    and the wine cup, drunk,

  9. يفيدها بريقهما ال

    دراهم والدنانيرا

    their gleam brings it the

    dirhams and dinars.

  10. فَجُد بالألف من ذهبٍ

    ودم بالخير مغمورا

    So give generously a thousand in gold,

    and remain immersed in blessings.

  11. فما مئةٌ بكافيةٍ

    لمن لم يشك معسورا

    For a hundred is not enough

    for one who has not complained while hard up.