Page:The Sacred Books and Early Literature of the East, Volume 08.djvu/105



With many a snare Thou dost beset my way,

And threatenest, if I fall therein, to slay;

Thy rule resistless sways the world, yet Thou

Imputest sin, when I do but obey!

To Thee, whose essence baffles human thought,

Our sins and righteous deeds alike seem naught;

May Thy grace sober me, though drunk with sins,

And pardon all the ill that I have wrought!

If this life were indeed an empty play,

Each day would be an 'lid of festal day,

And men might conquer all their hearts' desire,

Fearless of after penalties to pay!

O wheel of heaven, you thwart my heart's desire,

And rend to shreds my scanty joy's attire,

The water that I drink you foul with earth,

And turn the very air I breathe to fire!

O soul! could you but doff this flesh and bone,

You'd soar a sprite about the heavenly throne;

Had you no shame to leave your starry home,

And dwell an alien on this earthly zone?

Ah, potter, stay thine hand! with ruthless art

Put not to such base use man's mortal part!

See, thou art mangling on thy cruel wheel

Faridun's fingers, and Kai Khosrau's heart!