وذي ضغنٍ كففتُ النفسَ عنهُ

وذي ضغنٍ كففتُ النفسَ عنهُ

وإني في مساءتِهِ مقيتُ

وإني في مساءتِهِ مقيتُ

And from one harboring rancor I restrained myself,

I held back my soul from the melody,

though I am capable of doing him harm.

Though I hated being at odds with it.

يَبِيتُ اللّيلَ مُرتفعا ثقيلاً

يَبِيتُ اللّيلَ مُرتفعا ثقيلاً

على فُرُشِ الفتاةِ ولا أبيتُ

على فُرُشِ الفتاةِ ولا أبيتُ

He lies through the night, raised high and heavy,

It would spend the night high and heavy

upon the maiden's bedding, while I do not.

On the bed of a girl with whom I would not spend the night.

وسيفي صارمٌ لا عيبَ فيه

وسيفي صارمٌ لا عيبَ فيه

ويمنعني من الرَّهَقِ النبيتُ

ويمنعني من الرَّهَقِ النبيتُ

And my sword is sharp, with no flaw in it,

My sword is flawless,

and al-Nabīt protects me from oppression,

And saves me from spending nights awake.

بأُسدٍ لا تنهنهُ عن هواها

بأُسدٍ لا تنهنهُ عن هواها

بها مِن دونِ أشبلها نُهيتُ

بها مِن دونِ أشبلها نُهيتُ

with lions undeterred from their desire;

With a lioness whom cubs do not make timid

by them I was shielded, ahead of their cubs.

I was forbidden from approaching her cubs.

متى ما يأتِ يومي لا تجدني

متى ما يأتِ يومي لا تجدني

بمالي حينَ أترُكُهُ شَقِيتُ

بمالي حينَ أترُكُهُ شَقِيتُ

Whenever my day comes, you will not find me

Whenever my day comes, you will not find me

to have been wretched over my wealth when I leave it behind.

Regretful for the money I will leave behind.

وفتيانٍ أطالوا اللهوَ عندي

وفتيانٍ أطالوا اللهوَ عندي

فابوا حامدينَ وما خزيتُ

فابوا حامدينَ وما خزيتُ

And young men prolonged their merriment with me,

And the youths who lingered with me too long amusing themselves

then returned full of praise, and I was not disgraced.

Departed ashamed, and I did not disgrace them.

وخَيلٍ بعضُها حربٌ لبعضٍ

وخَيلٍ بعضُها حربٌ لبعضٍ

بحدِّ ظباتها أصلاً صُليتُ

بحدِّ ظباتها أصلاً صُليتُ

And cavalry, some at war with others—

And horses, some of which make war on others

I was scorched at evening by the edges of their blades.

With their gleaming swords, I originally reconciled.