مَولايَ أَجوَدُ مَن حَكَم

مَولايَ أَجوَدُ مَن حَكَم

صَبراً عَلَيهِ وَإِن ظَلَم

صَبراً عَلَيهِ وَإِن ظَلَم

My lord is the most generous of those who have ruled.

My Master is the most generous of rulers

Be patient with him, even if he is unjust.

Patience upon him even if he oppresses

لَعِبَ القِلى بِوُعودِهِ

لَعِبَ القِلى بِوُعودِهِ

فَكَأَنَّما كانَت حُطَم

فَكَأَنَّما كانَت حُطَم

Aversion toyed with his promises,

The hopes played with his promises

so they seemed like broken pieces.

As if they were mere ruins

وَمُصَرَّعينَ مِنَ الخُما

وَمُصَرَّعينَ مِنَ الخُما

رِ عَلى السَواعِدِ وَاللِمَم

رِ عَلى السَواعِدِ وَاللِمَم

And men laid low by the hangover,

And two adorned with bracelets

upon forearms and locks of hair—

On the wrists and forearms

قَتَلَتهُمُ خَمّارَةٌ

قَتَلَتهُمُ خَمّارَةٌ

عَمداً وَلَم تُؤخَذ بِدَم

عَمداً وَلَم تُؤخَذ بِدَم

a wine-seller slew them

Were killed by a veiled woman

deliberately, yet she was not held accountable for their blood.

Deliberately, without paying blood money

وَسَقَتهُمُ مَشمولَةً

وَسَقَتهُمُ مَشمولَةً

ظَلَّت تُحَدِّثُ عَن إِرَم

ظَلَّت تُحَدِّثُ عَن إِرَم

And she gave them wine cooled by the north wind

She served them intoxicated

that went on speaking of Iram.

Remaining, talking of Iram

لَمّا أَرَتهُم كَأسَها

لَمّا أَرَتهُم كَأسَها

شَرِبوا وَما قالوا بِكُم

شَرِبوا وَما قالوا بِكُم

When she showed them her cup,

When she saw them drink her cup

they drank, and did not ask, “How much?”

They drank without saying “Stop!”