Page:Quatrains of Omar Khayyam (tr. Whinfield, 1883).djvu/152

96

Ah! seasoned wine oft falls to rawest fools, And clumsiest workmen own the finest tools; And Turki maids, fit to delight men's hearts, Lavish their smiles on beardless boys in schools!

Whilom, ere youth's conceit had waned, methought Answers to all life's problems I had wrought; But now, grown old and wise, too late I see My life is spent, and all my lore is naught.

They, who of prayer-mats make such great display, Are fools to bear hypocrisy's hard sway; Strange! under cover of this saintly show They live like heathen, and their faith betray.