دَعَوتُكَ لِلصَبوحِ وَقُلتُ سَبتٌ

دَعَوتُكَ لِلصَبوحِ وَقُلتُ سَبتٌ

يَحُثُّ عَلى الصَبوحِ وَمِهرَجانُ

يَحُثُّ عَلى الصَبوحِ وَمِهرَجانُ

I invited you to morning wine and said, “Saturday

I called you to the dawn and said it was morning,

urges morning drinking—and so does Mihrajan.”

Urging dawn and celebration.

وَغَيمٌ قَد تَعَلَّقَ مُستَقِلّاً

وَغَيمٌ قَد تَعَلَّقَ مُستَقِلّاً

عَلَيهِ بِديمَةٍ سَحٍّ ضَمانُ

عَلَيهِ بِديمَةٍ سَحٍّ ضَمانُ

And a cloud hangs suspended aloft,

A cloud hung independent,

pledged to shed steady, pouring rain;

Adorned with flowing beauty and guarantee.

وَنَدمانٌ يَسُرُّكَ أَن تَراهُ

وَنَدمانٌ يَسُرُّكَ أَن تَراهُ

لَهُ مِن قَلبِ كُلِّ أَخٍ مَكانُ

لَهُ مِن قَلبِ كُلِّ أَخٍ مَكانُ

And a drinking companion whom it delights you to see,

Regret pleases you to behold,

who has a place in every brother’s heart.

It has a place in each brother's heart.

كَيَعقوبَ بنِ أَحمَدَ أَو أَبيهِ

كَيَعقوبَ بنِ أَحمَدَ أَو أَبيهِ

وَعَن يَعقوبَ يَفتَرُّ الزَمانُ

وَعَن يَعقوبَ يَفتَرُّ الزَمانُ

Like Ya‘qub son of Ahmad, or his father—

Like Ya'qub bin Ahmad or his father,

and Time smiles, revealing Ya‘qub.

Time exaggerates about Ya'qub.

كَريمٌ مِن أَرومَةِ شَيرَزادٍ

كَريمٌ مِن أَرومَةِ شَيرَزادٍ

تَليقُ بِهِ الجَهارَةُ وَالبَيانُ

تَليقُ بِهِ الجَهارَةُ وَالبَيانُ

A noble man of Shirzad’s stock,

A generous one from the perfume of Sherzad,

whom splendid bearing and eloquence befit.

Boastfulness and eloquence suit him.

هِجانٌ مِنهُمُ وَلَرُبَّ مَجدٍ

هِجانٌ مِنهُمُ وَلَرُبَّ مَجدٍ

أَتاكَ بِهِ أَغَرُّهُمُ الهِجانُ

أَتاكَ بِهِ أَغَرُّهُمُ الهِجانُ

Of pure lineage among them—and many a glory

Passionate praise from them, and for the Lord of glory,

their most radiant, purebred one has brought you.

Their most passionate one brought it to you.

أَرادَ مَعاشِرٌ أَن يَبلُغوهُم

أَرادَ مَعاشِرٌ أَن يَبلُغوهُم

وَما يَدنو إِلى الظَنِّ العِيانُ

وَما يَدنو إِلى الظَنِّ العِيانُ

Groups of men have sought to equal them,

Some wanted to reach them,

yet direct sight does not draw near to conjecture.

But neither assumption nor experience comes close.

وَما تَخفى المَكارِمُ حَيثُ كانَت

وَما تَخفى المَكارِمُ حَيثُ كانَت

وَلا أَهلُ المَكارِمِ حَيثُ كانوا

وَلا أَهلُ المَكارِمِ حَيثُ كانوا

And noble deeds are not hidden, wherever they may be,

Noble deeds do not stay hidden where they are,

nor are those who perform them, wherever they may be.

Nor do people of noble deeds, wherever they are.