وَذِي نَخْوَةٍ نَازَعْتُهُ الْكَأْسَ مَوْهِناً

وَذِي نَخْوَةٍ نَازَعْتُهُ الْكَأْسَ مَوْهِناً

عَلَى غِرَّةِ الأَحْرَاسِ وَاللَّيْلُ دَامِسُ

عَلَى غِرَّةِ الأَحْرَاسِ وَاللَّيْلُ دَامِسُ

And with a proud-spirited man I shared the cup late at night,

And one with pride, I contested the cup with him, surrendering,

While the guards were unaware and the night was pitch-dark.

At the naivety of companions and the night was oppressive.

فَمَا زِلْتُ أَسْقِيهِ وَأَشْرَبُ مِثْلَهُ

فَمَا زِلْتُ أَسْقِيهِ وَأَشْرَبُ مِثْلَهُ

إِلَى أَنْ هَفَا سُكْرَاً وَإِنِّي لَجَالِسُ

إِلَى أَنْ هَفَا سُكْرَاً وَإِنِّي لَجَالِسُ

I kept giving him drink and drinking as much myself,

So I did not cease to pour for him and drink like him,

Until he reeled with drunkenness, while I remained seated.

Until he became drunk while I was still sitting.

فَبِتُّ أَقِيهِ السُّوءَ إِذْ كَانَ صَاحِبي

فَبِتُّ أَقِيهِ السُّوءَ إِذْ كَانَ صَاحِبي

وَأَحْرُسُهُ إِنِّي لَدَى الْخَوْفِ حَارِسُ

وَأَحْرُسُهُ إِنِّي لَدَى الْخَوْفِ حَارِسُ

So I spent the night shielding him from harm, since he was my companion,

So I spend the night protecting him from harm when he was my companion,

And guarding him—for in the face of fear I stand guard.

And I guard him - truly I am on guard against fear.

لَدَى مَوْطِنٍ لا يَصْحَبُ الْمَرْءَ قَلْبُهُ

لَدَى مَوْطِنٍ لا يَصْحَبُ الْمَرْءَ قَلْبُهُ

حِذَاراً وَلا تَسْرِي إِلَيْهِ الْهَوَاجِسُ

حِذَاراً وَلا تَسْرِي إِلَيْهِ الْهَوَاجِسُ

In a place where a man's heart deserts him

By an abode that does not give comfort to the heart of a man,

From dread, and no anxious thoughts steal upon him:

Beware, nor do anxieties flow to it.

عَدُوٌّ وَلَيْلٌ مُظْلِمٌ وَصَوَاهِلٌ

عَدُوٌّ وَلَيْلٌ مُظْلِمٌ وَصَوَاهِلٌ

تَجَاذَبُ فِي أَرْسَانِهَا وَتَمَارَسُ

تَجَاذَبُ فِي أَرْسَانِهَا وَتَمَارَسُ

An enemy, a dark night, and neighing horses

An enemy and a dark night and awe-inspiring wastes

Tugging at their halters and tussling with one another.

Wrestling in its chasms and continuing.

فَلَمَّا اسْتَهَلَّ النُّورُ وَانْحَسَرَ الدُّجَى

فَلَمَّا اسْتَهَلَّ النُّورُ وَانْحَسَرَ الدُّجَى

قَلِيلاً وَحَنَّتْ لِلصَّبَاحِ النَّوَاقِسُ

قَلِيلاً وَحَنَّتْ لِلصَّبَاحِ النَّوَاقِسُ

Then, when the light dawned and darkness receded

So when dawn shone and gloom receded

A little, and the bells chimed plaintively for dawn,

A little and the birds bent towards the morning,

دَنَوْتُ أُفَدِّيهِ وَأَغْمِزُ كَفَّهُ

دَنَوْتُ أُفَدِّيهِ وَأَغْمِزُ كَفَّهُ

بِرِفْقٍ وَأَدْعُو بِاسْمِهِ وَهْوَ نَاعِسُ

بِرِفْقٍ وَأَدْعُو بِاسْمِهِ وَهْوَ نَاعِسُ

I drew near, offering my life for his, and pressed his palm

I approached to bid him farewell and wink at his palm

Gently, and called him by name while he was drowsy.

Gently and call him by name while he was sleepy.

فَجَاوَبَنِي وَالسُّكْرُ فِي لَحَظَاتِهِ

فَجَاوَبَنِي وَالسُّكْرُ فِي لَحَظَاتِهِ

يُسَائِلُ مَاذَا تَبْتَغِي وَهْوَ عَابِسُ

يُسَائِلُ مَاذَا تَبْتَغِي وَهْوَ عَابِسُ

Then he answered me, drunkenness in his glances,

So he answered me while drunkenness was in his glances,

Asking, "What do you seek?" while frowning.

Asking what do you want while he was frowning.

فَقُلْتُ أَفِقْ هَذَا هُوَ الصُّبْحُ مُقْبِلٌ

فَقُلْتُ أَفِقْ هَذَا هُوَ الصُّبْحُ مُقْبِلٌ

عَلَيْنَا وَهَذِي فِي الذَّهَابِ الْحَنَادِسُ

عَلَيْنَا وَهَذِي فِي الذَّهَابِ الْحَنَادِسُ

So I said, "Rouse yourself! Here is dawn approaching

So I said, "Awake, this is the morning coming upon us

Us, and this deep darkness is passing away."

And these are the cranes leaving."

وَنَاوَلْتُهُ كَأْسَاً فَمَدَّ بَنَانَهُ

وَنَاوَلْتُهُ كَأْسَاً فَمَدَّ بَنَانَهُ

إِلَيْهَا عَلَى كُرْهٍ بِهِ وَهْوَ آيِسُ

إِلَيْهَا عَلَى كُرْهٍ بِهِ وَهْوَ آيِسُ

And I offered him a cup; he stretched out his fingers

And I handed him a cup so he stretched his fingers

Toward it reluctantly, while he was without hope.

Towards it reluctantly while he was hopeless.

فَمَا ذَاقَهَا حَتَّى تَهَلَّلَ ضَاحِكَاً

فَمَا ذَاقَهَا حَتَّى تَهَلَّلَ ضَاحِكَاً

وَأَقْبَلَ مَسْرُورَاً بِمَا هُوَ آنِسُ

وَأَقْبَلَ مَسْرُورَاً بِمَا هُوَ آنِسُ

No sooner had he tasted it than he beamed with laughter,

So no sooner had he tasted it than he laughed gleefully

And came forward, delighted with what he found comforting.

And turned happily to what he found intimate.

وَمِنْ شِيَمِي بَذْلُ الْوِدَادِ لأَهْلِهِ

وَمِنْ شِيَمِي بَذْلُ الْوِدَادِ لأَهْلِهِ

كَذَلِكَ إِنِّي فِي الْوِدَادِ أُنَافِسُ

كَذَلِكَ إِنِّي فِي الْوِدَادِ أُنَافِسُ

And among my traits is giving affection to those deserving it;

It is my way to show affection to loved ones,

Such am I: in affection I vie with others.

Thus I compete in affection.