1. ومغرمٍ بالبدال قلت له

    صلني فكان الجواب لا أفعل

    And to one enamored of swapping roles I said:

    "Join me"—and the answer was, "I will not."

  2. كأنه والذي يديم له النع

    مة مني يخاف أن يحبل

    As though—by Him who sustains his bless-

    ing—he were afraid of becoming pregnant by me!

  3. لو قيس بالرمح قرن والده

    لكان منه بمثله أطول

    If his father's horn were measured against a spear,

    it would be twice the spear's length.

  4. يأتي ويؤتى إذا مخافة أن

    يقال هذا عليه قد أفضل

    He penetrates and is penetrated, then, for fear that

    someone might say, "This man has done him a favor."

  5. فهو قليل الخلاف لو شئت أن

    يبذل عشراً بالفرد لم يبخل

    So he offers little resistance; if you wished him to

    give ten for one, he would not hold back.

  6. لا يعرف الغدر بالحريف ومن

    عادته أن ينام في الأول

    He knows no treachery toward his partner; and it is

    his custom to lie down at the outset.

  7. لكل ميلٍ بعينه أثرٌ

    وكل عينٍ بميله تكحل

    Every kohl-stick leaves a mark in his eye,

    and every eye is kohled with his stick.

  8. أحسن ما كان رامحاً يق

    ص الأبطال حتى رأيته أعزل

    At his finest he was a spearman, cut-

    ting down champions, until I saw him unarmed.

  9. يكون من فوق راكباً فإذا

    تم له الدست صار من أسفل

    He rides on top; then, when

    his turn is done, he moves underneath.

  10. فاغتنم الوقت قبل ينبت في

    خديك ما لا يحش بالمنجل

    So seize the time before there grows upon

    your cheeks what cannot be mown with a sickle.

  11. فاستعمل النتف ما استطعت فما

    أقبح زرع اللحى إذا سنبل

    So resort to plucking as much as you can—for how

    ugly is the crop of beards when it puts forth ears!

  12. وإن وجه الإقبال عنك إذا

    ولى رأيت التعذير قد أقبل

    And indeed, when favor's face from you

    turns away, you see the first whiskers have arrived.