وكم لائم لي في الشرابِ زجرتُه

وكم لائم لي في الشرابِ زجرتُه

فقلت له دعني وما أنا شارب

فقلت له دعني وما أنا شارب

And many a critic of my drinking have I rebuked,

How many blamers have I silenced when they scolded me for drinking,

then said to him: Leave me and what I drink alone.

I said to them: “Leave me be, I am no drinker.”

فلست عن الصهباء ما عشت مقصِراً

فلست عن الصهباء ما عشت مقصِراً

وإن لامني فيها اللئام الأشائب

وإن لامني فيها اللئام الأشائب

For I shall not abstain from tawny wine as long as I live,

I’ve never shirked the silvern draft as long as I’ve lived,

even if the base, motley rabble blame me for it.

Though the vile and ignoble criticize me for it.

أأترك لذّاتي وآتي هواكم

أأترك لذّاتي وآتي هواكم

ألا ليس مثلي يابن قيسٍ يخالب

ألا ليس مثلي يابن قيسٍ يخالب

Shall I abandon my pleasures and follow your desires?

Shall I leave my pleasures and obey your whims?

Mark this: one like me, son of Qays, is not to be beguiled.

No, Ibn Qais, a man like me will not be cowed.

أنا الليث معدوّاً عليه وعاديا

أنا الليث معدوّاً عليه وعاديا

إذا سلّت البيض الرقاق القواضب

إذا سلّت البيض الرقاق القواضب

I am the lion, whether attacked or attacking,

I am the lion, provoked, who then attacks,

when the white, slender, keen-cutting swords are drawn.

When the slender anklets were loosened.

فأنتَ حليمٌ تزجر الناس عن هوى

فأنتَ حليمٌ تزجر الناس عن هوى

نفوسهم جهلاً وحلمُكَ عازب

نفوسهم جهلاً وحلمُكَ عازب

So you are forbearing, restraining people from the desires

You are forbearing, chiding people away

of their souls in ignorance, while your forbearance is absent.

From following their souls’ passions in ignorance, and your forbearance is unheeded.

فحلمكَ صنه لا تذ له وخلّني

فحلمكَ صنه لا تذ له وخلّني

وشأني واركب كل ما أنت راكب

وشأني واركب كل ما أنت راكب

Then guard your forbearance; do not debase it, and leave me

So guard your forbearance, don’t debase it for me,

and my affairs alone; ride whatever you ride.

Let me be, for my way and yours differ.

فإني امرؤٌ عوّدت نفسي عادةً

فإني امرؤٌ عوّدت نفسي عادةً

وكلّ امري لاشك ما اعتاد طالب

وكلّ امري لاشك ما اعتاد طالب

For I am a man who has accustomed himself to a habit,

I am a man who has accustomed his soul to a habit,

and every man, without doubt, seeks what he has grown used to.

And all I do, undoubtedly, is what the seeker has accustomed.

أجود بمالي ما حييت سماحةً

أجود بمالي ما حييت سماحةً

وأنت بخيلٌ يجتويك المصاحب

وأنت بخيلٌ يجتويك المصاحب

I give freely of my wealth as long as I live, out of generosity,

I give generously of my wealth, open-handedly,

while you are a miser, detested by your companion.

While you are a miser, eaten away by greed.

فما أنت أو ما غيُّ من كان غاوياً

فما أنت أو ما غيُّ من كان غاوياً

إذا أنتَ لم تسدَد عليك المذاهب

إذا أنتَ لم تسدَد عليك المذاهب

What are you, then—or what is the error of one who has gone astray—

So neither you, nor any who went astray like you,

if the paths have not been barred to you?

Can deter me, when doctrines collide.