ماnot باتتspent the night الراحthe wine تشكوlamenting والملاحand the fair ones علىon
ما باتت الراح تشكو والملاح على
وشكverge الرحيلdeparture سوىexcept for خوفfear منof السفلاthe ignoble
وشك الرحيل سوى خوف من السفلا
Wine spent the night lamenting, while the fair ones were on the
verge of departure, for no reason but fear of the ignoble.
لاmay ... not عذبtorment اللَهGod صبّاًa lovesick man صاحcried out مبتهلاimploring
لا عذب اللَه صبّاً صاح مبتهلا
ليتwould that الملاحthe fair ones وليتand would that الراحthe wine قدalready جُعِلاboth were placed
ليت الملاح وليت الراح قد جُعِلا
May God never torment a lovesick man who cried out in supplication:
Would that the fair ones, and would that the wine, had both been placed
فيin جبهةbrow الليثthe lion أوor فيin قبةdome الفلكِthe firmament
في جبهة الليث أو في قبة الفلكِ
ذدward off عنهماfrom them both ياO بديعwondrous الصنعthe workmanship كلevery ردٍa vile man
ذد عنهما يا بديع الصنع كل ردٍ
on the lion’s brow, or in the vault of heaven.
Ward off every vile man from them both, O wondrous Maker,
وأبعدهماand keep them both away عنfrom نديمa drinking companion باردٍdull نكدٍill-natured
وأبعدهما عن نديم باردٍ نكدٍ
واحفظهماand preserve them both لذَكٍfor a discerning man يصبوyearns لذيfor one possessing غيدٍsupple grace
واحفظهما لذَكٍ يصبو لذي غيدٍ
and keep them both far from a dull, ill-natured drinking companion.
And save them both for a discerning man who yearns for one of supple grace,
كيso that لاnot يقبلkiss ذاone possessing ثغرسlips (apparent typo) سوىexcept أسدٍa lion
كي لا يقبل ذا ثغرس سوى أسدٍ
ولاand not يطوفgo round بكاساتٍwith goblets سوىexcept ملكan angel
ولا يطوف بكاساتٍ سوى ملك
so that none but a lion may kiss one with lovely lips,
and none but an angel may go round bearing goblets.