أَلَذُّ مِنَ المُدامِ الخَندَريسِ

أَلَذُّ مِنَ المُدامِ الخَندَريسِ

وَأَحلى مِن مُعاطاةِ الكُؤوسِ

وَأَحلى مِن مُعاطاةِ الكُؤوسِ

More delightful than aged wine,

Sweeter than honeyed wine

More savory to me than old, fermented wine,

and sweeter than the exchanging of cups,

And more delicious than drinking from cups

And sweeter than the passing round of cups,

مُعاطاةُ الصَفائِحِ وَالعَوالي

مُعاطاةُ الصَفائِحِ وَالعَوالي

وَإِقحامي خَميساً في خَميسِ

وَإِقحامي خَميساً في خَميسِ

is trading blows with blades and tall spears,

Is crossing swords and fighting for glory

Is the exchanging of the broadswords and the spears,

and my driving one army into another.

And plunging headlong into the fray

And my thrusting of one army against another.

فَمَوتي في الوَغى أَرَبي لِأَنّي

فَمَوتي في الوَغى أَرَبي لِأَنّي

رَأَيتُ العَيشَ في أَرَبِ النُفوسِ

رَأَيتُ العَيشَ في أَرَبِ النُفوسِ

So my death in battle is my desire, for I

For I would rather die in battle

For death within the fray is my desire,

have found life in what souls desire.

Than live with cowardice in my soul

Because I see true life in the soul’s high aim.

وَلَو سُقِّيتُها بِيَدي نَديمٍ

وَلَو سُقِّيتُها بِيَدي نَديمٍ

أَسَرُّ بِهِ لَكانَ أَبا ضَبيسِ

أَسَرُّ بِهِ لَكانَ أَبا ضَبيسِ

And were I given it to drink by a drinking companion’s hands,

And if my life is taken by a comrade’s hand

And were I served the cup by a companion's hand

whose company delights me, he would be Abū Ḍabīs.

I will be glad for it is no disgrace

In whom I take delight, it would be Abu Dhabis.