Page:The Sacred Books and Early Literature of the East, Volume 08.djvu/35



What though 'tis fair to view, this form of man,

I know not why the heavenly Artizan

Hath set these tulip cheeks and cypress forms

To deck the mournful halls of earth's divan.

My fire gives forth no smoke-cloud here below,

My stock-in-trade no profit here below,

And you, who call me tavern-haunter, know

There is indeed no tavern here below.

Thus spake an idol to his worshiper,

"Why dost thou worship this dead stone, fair sir?

'Tis because He who gazeth through thine eyes

Doth some part of His charms on it confer. "

Whate'er thou doest, never grieve thy brother,

Nor kindle fumes of wrath his peace to smother;

Dost thou desire to taste eternal bliss,

Vex thine own heart, but never vex another!

O Thou! to please whose love and wrath as well,

Allah created heaven and likewise hell;

Thou hast thy court in heaven, and I have naught,

Why not admit me in thy courts to dwell?

So many cups of wine will I consume,

Its bouquet shall exhale from out my tomb,

And every one that passes by shall halt,

And reel and stagger with that mighty fume.