وكأس جلاب بها يطفى اللهب

وكأس جلاب بها يطفى اللهب

يقضى بها عند الخمار ما وجب

يقضى بها عند الخمار ما وجب

And a cup of jullab with which the flame is quenched;

A crystal cup, where burning thirst is quenched,

With it, what is owed at the wine-seller's is paid.

As duty prompts, beside the tavern bench,

كأنها الفضة شيبت بالذهب

كأنها الفضة شيبت بالذهب

تشابه الجليد فيها والحبب

تشابه الجليد فيها والحبب

As though it were silver mingled with gold;

Silver, with golden bubbles overstrewn,

The ice and the bubbles in it looked alike.

Snow chilled, like pearls that sparkling move in moon,

حسبته دراً من المسك انسرب

حسبته دراً من المسك انسرب

فبعضه طاف وبعض قد رسب

فبعضه طاف وبعض قد رسب

I took it for pearls that had streamed from musk:

A scent of musk I fancied it let fall,

So some of it floated, and some had sunk.

Part mounting, part descending in the ball,

كأنما المخوض فيها يضطرب

كأنما المخوض فيها يضطرب

حوت يغوص تارة ثم يشب

حوت يغوص تارة ثم يشب

As though the stirring rod, quivering within it,

The draught seemed troubled, when the cup went round,

Were a fish that dives one moment, then leaps up.

As though a diving whale therein were drowned.