اِعزِم عَلى سَلوَةٍ إِلّا عَنِ الكاسِ

اِعزِم عَلى سَلوَةٍ إِلّا عَنِ الكاسِ

وَدَع سِواها مِنَ اللَذّاتِ لِلناسِ

وَدَع سِواها مِنَ اللَذّاتِ لِلناسِ

Resolve to forget all but the cup,

Be resolved to drink wine alone, and leave other pleasures to the people,

Resolve to find solace in nothing but the cup,

And leave all other pleasures to the people.

For living in a garden surrounded by narcissus, myrtle, and apple trees,

And leave all other pleasures to the rest of men.

فَالعَيشُ في مَجلِسٍ حُفَّت جَوانِبُهُ

فَالعَيشُ في مَجلِسٍ حُفَّت جَوانِبُهُ

بِالنَرجِسِ الغَضِّ وَالنِسرينِ وَالآسِ

بِالنَرجِسِ الغَضِّ وَالنِسرينِ وَالآسِ

For life in a gathering whose sides are ringed

Is dearer to the soul than the hounds' chasing hares or shooting with a crossbow,

For true life is found in a gathering whose borders are lined

With fresh narcissus, wild roses, and myrtle,

Especially when rotated by a singing-girl, slender as a willow wand.

With tender narcissus, wild rose, and fragrant myrtle.

أَشهى إِلى النَفسِ مِن عَدوِ الكِلابِ عَلى

أَشهى إِلى النَفسِ مِن عَدوِ الكِلابِ عَلى

أَرانِبِ الصَيدِ أَو مِن رَميِ بُرجاسِ

أَرانِبِ الصَيدِ أَو مِن رَميِ بُرجاسِ

Is more pleasing to the soul than hounds running after

Though you desire her, she keeps away; between hope and despair you lie.

More desirable to the soul than the coursing of dogs

Hares in the hunt, or than shooting at a target—

Chasing hares in the hunt, or the striking of targets.

لا سِيَّما إِن أُديرَت مِن مُقَرطَقَةٍ

لا سِيَّما إِن أُديرَت مِن مُقَرطَقَةٍ

أَو مُرهَفٍ كَقَضيبِ البانِ مَيّاسِ

أَو مُرهَفٍ كَقَضيبِ البانِ مَيّاسِ

Especially if it is passed round by a tunic-clad girl,

Especially when the wine is served by a maiden in a tunic,

Or a slender youth, swaying like a branch of the bān tree.

Or a slender youth, swaying like a willow bough;

إِطراقُهُ مَطمَعٌ وَالوَصلُ مُمتَنِعٌ

إِطراقُهُ مَطمَعٌ وَالوَصلُ مُمتَنِعٌ

فَأَنتَ مِنهُ عَلى الأَطماعِ وَالياسِ

فَأَنتَ مِنهُ عَلى الأَطماعِ وَالياسِ

His lowered gaze invites hope, yet union is unattainable;

His lowered gaze invites hope, yet union is denied,

So, with him, you remain between hopes and despair.

Leaving you, for his sake, suspended between longing and despair.