قالوا نَزَعتَ وَلَمّا يَعلَموا وَطَري

قالوا نَزَعتَ وَلَمّا يَعلَموا وَطَري

في كُلِّ أَغيَدَ ساجي الطَرفِ مَيّاسِ

في كُلِّ أَغيَدَ ساجي الطَرفِ مَيّاسِ

They said, "You have given it up," not yet knowing my desire

They said you withdrew, though they did not know, and my inclination

They claim I have repented, yet they know not my desire for every slender, languid-eyed beauty who sways,

for every supple youth, languid-eyed and swaying.

In every luxurious abode, the lively of glance, wine’s color in the cup.

How can I abstain, when my heart is torn apart by the glances of eyes and the hue of wine in the cup?

كَيفَ النُزوعُ وَقَلبي قَد تَقَسَّمَهُ

كَيفَ النُزوعُ وَقَلبي قَد تَقَسَّمَهُ

لَحظُ العُيونِ وَلَونُ الراحِ في الكاسِ

لَحظُ العُيونِ وَلَونُ الراحِ في الكاسِ

How can I give it up, when my heart has been divided

How could I withdraw when my heart was torn asunder

If I incline toward rectitude, I am besieged by two concerns that occupy my prosperity and my ruin:

by the eyes' glances and the wine's hue in the cup?

By the glances of eyes and the hue of wine in the glass?

For ease is squandered cheaply in the revelry of days, while hardship lies in uniting with the one I adore.

إِذا نَزَعتُ إِلى رُشدٍ تَكَنَّفَني

إِذا نَزَعتُ إِلى رُشدٍ تَكَنَّفَني

رَأيانِ قَد شَغَلا يُسري وَإِفلاسي

رَأيانِ قَد شَغَلا يُسري وَإِفلاسي

When I turn toward sound judgment, I am beset

When I withdrew to decency, I was enveloped

There is no good in life save for old wine shared with peers, amidst the roses, the gilliflowers, and the myrtle,

by two thoughts that preoccupy me in wealth and destitution:

By two opinions that preoccupied my ease and my loss.

And a singer who chants while the cups are urged upon us, passing round in their fives and their sixes.

فَاليُسرُ في القَصفِ لِلأَيّامِ مُبتَذَلٌ

فَاليُسرُ في القَصفِ لِلأَيّامِ مُبتَذَلٌ

وَالعُسرُ في وَصلِ مَن أَهوى مِنَ الناسِ

وَالعُسرُ في وَصلِ مَن أَهوى مِنَ الناسِ

for wealth is lavished on days of revelry,

Ease in moderation for the days is overused,

O you who strike the flint that fails to spark: kindle your brand, if you wish, from the fire in my heart.

and hardship lies in union with those people I love.

And hardship in bonding with those I love from mankind.

لا خَيرَ في العَيشِ إِلّا بِالمُدامِ مَعَ ال

لا خَيرَ في العَيشِ إِلّا بِالمُدامِ مَعَ ال

أَكفاءِ في الوَردِ وَالخيرِيِّ وَالآسِ

أَكفاءِ في الوَردِ وَالخيرِيِّ وَالآسِ

There is no good in life except with wine, with the

There is no good in life but with wine along with

peers amid roses, wallflowers, and myrtle,

Peers in flowers, goodness, and tumblers.

وَمُسمِعٍ يَتَغَنّى وَالكُؤوسُ لَها

وَمُسمِعٍ يَتَغَنّى وَالكُؤوسُ لَها

حَثٌّ عَلَينا بِأَخماسٍ وَأَسداسِ

حَثٌّ عَلَينا بِأَخماسٍ وَأَسداسِ

and a singer singing, while the cups

And a singer who chants while cups

urge us on, in fives and sixes.

Urge us with fifths and sixths.

يا مورِيَ الزَندِ قَد أَعيَت قَوادِحُهُ

يا مورِيَ الزَندِ قَد أَعيَت قَوادِحُهُ

اِقبِس إِذا شِئتَ مِن قَلبي بِمِقباسِ

اِقبِس إِذا شِئتَ مِن قَلبي بِمِقباسِ

O kindler of the fire-stick, its strikers have failed;

O stirrer of trouble, his cups are exhausted,

take fire, if you wish, from my heart with a firebrand.

Ignite, if you wish, from my heart with tongs.