ما فاض من فلك الزجاجة نورُ

ما فاض من فلك الزجاجة نورُ

إلا وفاض على القلوب سرورُ

إلا وفاض على القلوب سرورُ

No light poured from the wineglass's sphere

When light overflowed from the celestial sphere of the wine bottle,

without joy pouring over the hearts.

Joy overflowed in hearts as well.

وجلا الصفا وجل النفوس وأدبر ال

وجلا الصفا وجل النفوس وأدبر ال

هم العبوس وأقبل التيسير

هم العبوس وأقبل التيسير

And serenity dispelled the souls' dread, and away went

Serenity appeared, souls calmed, gloom retreated,

sullen care, while ease came near.

Ease set in, and thousands were delighted.

فاطرب فقد طرب الهزار وما دنت

فاطرب فقد طرب الهزار وما دنت

منه العقار ولا دعاه غرير

منه العقار ولا دعاه غرير

So rejoice: the nightingale rejoiced, though never

Rejoice! For laughter has spread amongst the drinkers,

did wine approach it, nor did an innocent youth invite it.

Neither reason nor temptation invited it.

واشرب على ورد الخدود بكوكب

واشرب على ورد الخدود بكوكب

درِّيْ تدور به عليك بدور

درِّيْ تدور به عليك بدور

And drink beside the roses of cheeks, with a star,

Drink rose-cheeked wine with a starry chalice

pearl-bright, borne round you by full moons.

Spinning around you constantly.

حتى تقول أمن دمٍ أم عندم

حتى تقول أمن دمٍ أم عندم

ذا والسقاة كواكبٌ أم حور

ذا والسقاة كواكبٌ أم حور

Until you ask, 'Is it blood or dragon's-blood resin—

Until you say, “Is this blood or fermented juice?

this? And are the cupbearers stars or houris?'

And are these servers stars or heavenly maidens?”

وترى جواد الليل يعثر قائلاً

وترى جواد الليل يعثر قائلاً

لا تعجبوا فرس الظلام عثور

لا تعجبوا فرس الظلام عثور

And you see night's steed stumble, saying,

You see the steed of night stumbling and saying,

'Do not marvel: darkness's horse is prone to stumbling.'

“Do not be surprised, the horse of darkness stumbles.”

فإذا نأى الليل البهيم وأقبل ال

فإذا نأى الليل البهيم وأقبل ال

صبح الوسيم وزقزق العصفور

صبح الوسيم وزقزق العصفور

Then when pitch-black night withdraws and there comes

When the gloomy night departs and the brilliant dawn arrives,

the handsome dawn, and the sparrow chirps,

The birds start chirping and the breeze blows gently.

وزها الحباب على الشراب كما زهت

وزها الحباب على الشراب كما زهت

بعد العتاب على الخدود ثغور

بعد العتاب على الخدود ثغور

and bubbles shine upon the wine as shone

Dew drips on the wine like tears of joy

smiling mouths upon cheeks after reproach,

Trickling down flushed cheeks after reconciliation.

نبه نديمك للصبوح ولا تكن

نبه نديمك للصبوح ولا تكن

ممن يجود سويعةً ويجور

ممن يجود سويعةً ويجور

rouse your drinking companion for the morning draught, and do not be

Wake your drinking companion for the dawn libations,

among those generous for a little while, then unjust.

And be not like those who only give a little and then stop.

قوت النفوس من المدامة وحدها

قوت النفوس من المدامة وحدها

فاحفل بها قوتُ الجسوم كثير

فاحفل بها قوتُ الجسوم كثير

The souls' sustenance comes from wine alone;

Strength of spirit comes from wine alone,

so cherish it: sustenance for bodies is plentiful.

So focus on it; nourishment for bodies is abundant.

واعلم بأن لكل فنٍّ آلةً

واعلم بأن لكل فنٍّ آلةً

والشرب من آلاته التبكير

والشرب من آلاته التبكير

And know that every art has an instrument,

Know that everything has its proper instrument,

and among drinking's instruments is an early start,

And drinking early is one of wine’s tools.

بمهفهف يحيى النفوس بصورةٍ

بمهفهف يحيى النفوس بصورةٍ

وينوب عما في الكؤوس يصير

وينوب عما في الكؤوس يصير

with a slender youth who revives souls by his form

With murmuring, it revives souls in a manner

and comes to stand in for what is in the cups.

That transforms whatever is in cups.

قلق المناطق مائج الأرداف مي

قلق المناطق مائج الأرداف مي

ياس القوام كأنه مخمور

ياس القوام كأنه مخمور

His girdles restless, his hips undulating, swaying

It loosens clasped belts and breasts’ laces,

in stature, as though he were drunk.

Straightens bending waists as if drunk itself.

تفتر مشكاة السلاف له كما

تفتر مشكاة السلاف له كما

يفتر صبٌّ في حشاه سعير

يفتر صبٌّ في حشاه سعير

The wine's lamp-niche smiles for him, as

The wine bearer’s lantern glows for it

a lover smiles with a blaze within his breast.

Like sparks in fiery embers.

أو غادة فُنُقٌ كأن جبينها

أو غادة فُنُقٌ كأن جبينها

فلقٌ وفاحم شعرها ديجور

فلقٌ وفاحم شعرها ديجور

Or a graceful, pampered maiden, whose brow seems

Or like the bright full moon, her forehead

daybreak, while her coal-black hair is darkest night.

Seems split and her disheveled hair scattered.

بخدودها للنيرين مطالعٌ

بخدودها للنيرين مطالعٌ

وبصدرها للفرقدين سرير

وبصدرها للفرقدين سرير

On her cheeks are rising-places for the two luminaries,

In her cheeks are the rising spots for the two Nile rivers,

and on her breast a couch for the two Farqad stars.

And in her breast a bed for the two ducks.

أخذ الفتور بطرفها وبعطفها

أخذ الفتور بطرفها وبعطفها

لعب النشاط كأنه يعفور

لعب النشاط كأنه يعفور

Languor seized her gaze, and in her figure

Lassitude took hold of her eyes and liveliness

vigor frolicked as though it were a gazelle fawn.

Played in her softness as if she was a frisky doe.

فهما هما القمران كلٌّ منهما

فهما هما القمران كلٌّ منهما

نورٌ على فلك الجمال ينير

نورٌ على فلك الجمال ينير

So they are the very two moons; each of them

As if they were two moons, each of them

is a light shining upon beauty's sphere.

Shedding light in the celestial sphere of beauty.

لله قلبي والحسان ينشنه

لله قلبي والحسان ينشنه

بخصورهن قنا الملاح خصور

بخصورهن قنا الملاح خصور

God help my heart, as beauties pierce it

My heart is for God, yet passion moves it

with their waists—the beauties' lances are waists.

To the maidens’ thin waists like lute strings.

لا يستقر ولا يفر كأنه

لا يستقر ولا يفر كأنه

طير يرفرف والجناح قصير

طير يرفرف والجناح قصير

It neither rests nor flees, as though it were

It finds no rest or escape as if it were

a fluttering bird whose wing is short.

A bird fluttering with clipped wings.

ما لي وللجنات أطلب زهرها

ما لي وللجنات أطلب زهرها

وزهور أرباب الغرام ثغور

وزهور أرباب الغرام ثغور

What have I to do with gardens, seeking their flowers,

Why should I long for the gardens’ flowers

when lovers' flowers are smiling mouths?

When the blossoms of the beloveds’ cheeks are open?

يا صاح قد دعت السلاف لريقها

يا صاح قد دعت السلاف لريقها

وابيضَّ من إبريقها الديجور

وابيضَّ من إبريقها الديجور

O friend, the wine has called us to its mouth's dew,

My friend, the maiden has invited you to her saliva,

and darkest night grew white from its ewer.

And the chalice has turned white with her fermented juice.

والسنُّ صاح وقال حيَّ على التي

والسنُّ صاح وقال حيَّ على التي

طافت عليك بها الملاح الحور

طافت عليك بها الملاح الحور

And age cried out, saying, 'Come to that

The gray hair of old age said, “Long live she

which the lovely, dark-eyed ones carried round to you.'

Who has served you wine, O you blessed by heavenly maidens!”

فاحذر تفوتك فرصة الزمن الذي

فاحذر تفوتك فرصة الزمن الذي

يعطي ويمنع فالزمان غدور

يعطي ويمنع فالزمان غدور

So beware lest you miss the chance of time, which

So beware missing the opportunity of time

gives and withholds—for time is treacherous—

That gives and deprives. For fate is fickle.

أو أن يُفيتَكها الفتورُ فذنبُ شا

أو أن يُفيتَكها الفتورُ فذنبُ شا

ربها الغيورِ بنفعها مغفور

ربها الغيورِ بنفعها مغفور

or lest languor rob you of it: for the sin of

Or let not apathy make you miss her,

its zealous drinker is forgiven through its benefit.

Then the sin of her jealous Lover will be forgiven.

إني قرأت من الحباب كتابةً

إني قرأت من الحباب كتابةً

مضمونها أن الإله غفور

مضمونها أن الإله غفور

I read a message written in the bubbles,

I have read in the bubbles a message

whose content was that God is forgiving.

Whose meaning is that God is Forgiving.

وعجبت كيف يموت مجروح الأسى

وعجبت كيف يموت مجروح الأسى

والراح آس والحباب ذرور

والراح آس والحباب ذرور

And I wondered how one wounded by sorrow could die,

And I wondered how one who dies of love’s wounds still lives,

when wine is a physician and the bubbles healing powder.

While the soul is tempestuous and passions are raging.

ما بال هاجي الراح يرصد حينه

ما بال هاجي الراح يرصد حينه

لينالها ويصد حين تنير

لينالها ويصد حين تنير

Why does wine's detractor watch for his hour

Why does the wind ambush the breeze in her season

to obtain it, yet turn away when it shines?

To reach her, yet block her when she shines?

ويخالها الشاني الخبيث خبيثةً

ويخالها الشاني الخبيث خبيثةً

وإذا تنشأها يقول عبير

وإذا تنشأها يقول عبير

And its foul hater deems it foul,

And the despicable rival calls her despicable,

yet when he sniffs it, he says, 'Perfume!'

Yet when she is born, he calls her a fragrance.

حاشا لمثلك أن يغادر مثلها

حاشا لمثلك أن يغادر مثلها

للجاهلين ونفعها مشهور

للجاهلين ونفعها مشهور

Far be it from one like you to leave its like

It is far from one like you to abandon one like her

to the ignorant, when its benefit is well known.

To the ignorant, when her beneficence is well-known.

واللَه لا تركت ومعسول اللمى ال

واللَه لا تركت ومعسول اللمى ال

تركي بالكاس الرويِّ يدور

تركي بالكاس الرويِّ يدور

By God, I shall not forsake it while the sweet, dark-lipped

By God, I shall not forsake the sweet union of mouths

Turk goes round with the brimming cup,

To keep the rotating chalice company at the gathering.

ويقول عن أنطون ألتون افهموا

ويقول عن أنطون ألتون افهموا

إن الذي قد قاله التفسير

إن الذي قد قاله التفسير

and says of Antun, 'Altun'—understand

Anton Alton says, understand that what I have said is the interpretation.

that what he has said is the interpretation.

The star of Damascus is pure goodness.

فالكوكب الشامي تبرٌ خالص

فالكوكب الشامي تبرٌ خالص

ما شان جوهر فضله تغيير

ما شان جوهر فضله تغيير

For the star of al-Sham is pure gold;

Why change the essence of its overflowing virtue?

no change has marred the substance of his excellence.

It turns to you drawing near and away like rain-bearing clouds.

يوليك مقترباً ومبتعداً كما

يوليك مقترباً ومبتعداً كما

يوليك بحرٌ جاء منه مطير

يوليك بحرٌ جاء منه مطير

He bestows on you, near or far, as

He is the perfect, generous scholar who cannot be deceived,

a sea bestows, with a rain-cloud issuing from it.

Jealous in upholding his position.

فهو الأديب الكامل المتكرم ال

فهو الأديب الكامل المتكرم ال

فطن الأريب على المقام غيور

فطن الأريب على المقام غيور

He is the consummate, generous man of letters,

He who has almost dripped with subtlety and gentleness

the discerning, sagacious one, zealous for his standing.

As if he were the Elixir itself.

وهو الذي قد كاد يقطر رقةً

وهو الذي قد كاد يقطر رقةً

ولطافةً فكأنه إكسير

ولطافةً فكأنه إكسير

He is one who almost drips with tenderness

Mysteries have bowed to his discernment.

and delicacy, as though he were an elixir.

All that is hidden to you is contained in his mind.

خضعت لفطنته الغيوب فكل ما

خضعت لفطنته الغيوب فكل ما

يخفى عليك بباله مسطور

يخفى عليك بباله مسطور

Hidden things submit to his discernment; everything

Affairs have yielded to his resolve.

concealed from you is inscribed in his mind.

If he decided a night should last, the dawn would not breathe.

وعنت لعزمته الأمور فلو قضى

وعنت لعزمته الأمور فلو قضى

ببقاء ليلٍ ما تنفَّس نور

ببقاء ليلٍ ما تنفَّس نور

Affairs yield to his resolve; were he to decree

If others pride themselves on being a refuge,

that night remain, no light would breathe.

It is to him the helpless and refugees turn.

إن كان يفخر باليراعة غيره

إن كان يفخر باليراعة غيره

فبه المهنَّد واليراع فخور

فبه المهنَّد واليراع فخور

If others take pride in the reed pen,

And when assemblies take pride in their men,

the Indian-forged sword and the reed pen take pride in him.

Their elite take pride in him in particular.

وإذا المجالس فاخرت برجالها اف

وإذا المجالس فاخرت برجالها اف

تخرت فطاحلها به والدور

تخرت فطاحلها به والدور

And when assemblies boast of their men,

That breast, even if one preceded him,

their great men and the houses boast of him.

Is grateful to God, protective.

فالصدر ذاك ولو تصدر قبله

فالصدر ذاك ولو تصدر قبله

رجلٌ شكورٌ للإله غيور

رجلٌ شكورٌ للإله غيور

He is the foremost, even if before him presided

The best of prophets is the last, and so

a man grateful to God and zealous.

The honor of the living goes to the mule as he is the last.

خير النبيين الأخير وهكذا

خير النبيين الأخير وهكذا

شرف الحيا للوبل وهو أخير

شرف الحيا للوبل وهو أخير

The best of prophets was the last; likewise,

So honor him, O people of knowledge, a banner

rain's honor belongs to the downpour, though it comes last.

Whose nobility turns eyes away in awe.

فاكرِم به علماً لأرباب العلى

فاكرِم به علماً لأرباب العلى

يرتدُّ عنه الطرف وهو حسير

يرتدُّ عنه الطرف وهو حسير

How noble a standard he is for the lords of eminence!

Sweet of traits, his soft speech is a gift,

The gaze turns back from him, exhausted.

Delightful, though his might is bitter.

حلو الشمائل والحديث نوالُهُ

حلو الشمائل والحديث نوالُهُ

عذبٌ وأما بأسه فمرير

عذبٌ وأما بأسه فمرير

Sweet in character and speech, his bounty

The House of Glory rose with him as did

is sweet; as for his might, it is bitter.

Those he praised, the noble and the commoner.

سادت به دار الكنانة واستوى

سادت به دار الكنانة واستوى

بمديحه المخدوم والمأمور

بمديحه المخدوم والمأمور

Through him the land of al-Kinana became supreme, and alike

O star of Damascus, its famed garden

in praising him are master and subordinate.

Whose peer is rarely found and who is most blessed!

يا كوكب الشام الشهير وروضها ال

يا كوكب الشام الشهير وروضها ال

غض النضير وإنك المخبور

غض النضير وإنك المخبور

O famed star of al-Sham, and its

I have not found a steed nobler than your father,

fresh, flourishing garden—you are indeed proven!

In discernment of horses, only the wise are experts.

لم ألق أفرس من أبيك سواك في

لم ألق أفرس من أبيك سواك في

علم الفراسة واللبيب خبير

علم الفراسة واللبيب خبير

I have met none more discerning than your father, save you, in

You have risen to his saying, “The sea whose abundance

the art of physiognomy; the wise man is perceptive.

Sustains the settled lands.”

فلقد سموت كقوله البحر الذي

فلقد سموت كقوله البحر الذي

من جوده يتكسب المعمور

من جوده يتكسب المعمور

For you have indeed risen high, as he said: 'The sea

And in the prime of your life you reached a rank

from whose bounty the inhabited world earns its living.'

That the seasoned ocean did not attain in its old age.

وبلغت في أبان عمرك رتبةً

وبلغت في أبان عمرك رتبةً

ما نالها البحري وهو كبير

ما نالها البحري وهو كبير

And in the prime of your life you attained a rank

So you have the joy in it and in the positions

that al-Bahri never reached, though he was old.

Indicated by the rise of its celestial body.

فلك الهناء بها وبالرتب التي

فلك الهناء بها وبالرتب التي

لبزوغ كوكبها البنان تشير

لبزوغ كوكبها البنان تشير

May you rejoice in it, and in the ranks

And if I make a mistake about the celestial bodies by one,

to whose star's rising the fingers point.

The statement is corrected and good tidings commence.

وإذا غلطت من البنان بواحدٍ

وإذا غلطت من البنان بواحدٍ

صح البيان وأقبل التبشير

صح البيان وأقبل التبشير

And if you err by one letter in al-banan, 'the fingers,'

I have seen that Lebanon who adores you

the meaning comes right, and glad tidings arrive,

Yearn to you joyfully with outstretched hands.

ورأيت لبنان التي بك تيمت

ورأيت لبنان التي بك تيمت

تومي إليك ودستها مسرور

تومي إليك ودستها مسرور

and you see Lebanon, enthralled by you,

May harmony constantly be your orbit,

beckoning to you, its throne delighted.

And the orbits of others revolve around you.

دام الصفا لك دارةً موموقةً

دام الصفا لك دارةً موموقةً

وعلى عداك الدائرات تدور

وعلى عداك الدائرات تدور

May serenity remain a cherished abode for you,

And may you remain supported in vastness, successful

and may ill turns of fortune circle over your foes.

When light overflowed from the celestial sphere of the wine bottle.

وبقيت مأموم الرحاب موفقاً

وبقيت مأموم الرحاب موفقاً

ما فاض من فلك الزجاجة نور

ما فاض من فلك الزجاجة نور

And may you remain, your courts frequented, blessed with success,

so long as light pours from the wineglass's sphere.