وكانand used to الصديقthe friend يزورvisit الصديقَthe friend
وكان الصديق يزور الصديقَ
لشربto drink المدامwine وعزفand music-making القيانِthe singing girls
لشرب المدام وعزف القيانِ
And a friend used to visit a friend,
The friend used to visit a friend
To drink wine and hear the music of singing girls.
To drink wine and play the lute
فصارthen came to الصديقthe friend يزورvisit الصديقَthe friend
فصار الصديق يزور الصديقَ
لبثِّto pour out الهمومthe worries وشكوىand complaining of الزمانِthe times
لبثِّ الهموم وشكوى الزمانِ
Then a friend took to visiting a friend,
But now the friend visits a friend
To pour out worries and complain of the times.
To vent sorrows and complain of fate