سقى وواعدني وصلاً ألذّ به

سقى وواعدني وصلاً ألذّ به

عند الرقاد ولا والله ما فعلا

عند الرقاد ولا والله ما فعلا

He gave me drink and promised me intimacy I would delight in,

He promised me a sweet union at nightfall

At bedtime—but no, by God, he did not fulfill it.

Yet when it came, by God, he did not fulfill.

فيا له الله من ساق مواعده

فيا له الله من ساق مواعده

كانت مواعيد عرقوب لها مثلا

كانت مواعيد عرقوب لها مثلا

O God, what a cupbearer he is! His promises

Curse him and his false promises -

Had ʿArqūb’s promises as their model.

They were like mirages leading men astray.