Page:The Sacred Books and Early Literature of the East, Volume 08.djvu/109



These ruby lips, and wine, and minstrel boys,

And lute, and harp, your dearly cherished toys,

Are mere redundancies, and you are naught,

'Till you renounce the world's delusive joys.

Bow down, heaven's tyranny to undergo,

Quaff wine to face the world, and all its woe;

Your origin and end are both in earth,

But now you are above earth, not below!

You know all secrets of this earthly sphere,

Why then remain a prey to empty fear?

You can not bend things to your will, but yet

Cheer up for the few moments you are here!

Behold, where'er we turn our ravished eyes,

Sweet verdure springs, and crystal Kausars rise;

And plains, once bare as hell, now smile as heaven:

Enjoy this heaven with maids of Paradise!

Never in this false world on friends rely,

(I give this counsel confidentially);

Put up with pain, and seek no antidote;

Endure your grief, and ask no sympathy!

Of wisdom's dictates two are principal,

Surpassing all your lore traditional;

Better to fast than eat of every meat,

Better to live alone than mate with all!