وسلق طلا قاس علي فؤاده

وسلق طلا قاس علي فؤاده

فما شئت من منع لديه ومن منح

فما شئت من منع لديه ومن منح

And [apparently a server] of wine, whose heart is cruel to me;

He bore his soul's affliction with resilience

With him, then, is all the withholding and giving you could wish.

Granting and denying as he wished, at will

ولو لم تكن قوت النفوس صفاته

ولو لم تكن قوت النفوس صفاته

لما جمعت بين الحلاوة والملح

لما جمعت بين الحلاوة والملح

And if his qualities were not the nourishment of souls,

Were it not for the qualities of strong spirits

they would not have combined sweetness with salt.

Sweet and salt never mixed so well

إذا ما حبا رب الندي بكأسه

إذا ما حبا رب الندي بكأسه

ورياه فانظر ما يجل عن الشرح

ورياه فانظر ما يجل عن الشرح

Whenever he favors the gathering’s master with his cup

When the lord of generosity offers his cup

and his fragrance, behold what surpasses description:

Gaze, and see what defies expression

إلى النجم يسقي بدراً سماؤه

إلى النجم يسقي بدراً سماؤه

سحاب بخور في إناء من الصبح

سحاب بخور في إناء من الصبح

the star giving drink to a full moon, whose sky is

To the star whose sky waters the full moon

a cloud of incense in a vessel made of dawn.

Cloud of incense in a vessel of dawn