Page:The Sacred Books and Early Literature of the East, Volume 08.djvu/49



The good and evil with man's nature blent,

The weal and woe that heaven's decrees have sent---

Impute them not to motions of the skies---

Skies than thyself ten times more impotent.

Against death's arrows what are buckles worth?

What all the pomps and riches of the earth?

When I survey the world, I see no good

But goodness, all beside is nothing worth.

Weak souls, who from the world can not refrain,

Hold life-long fellowship with rule and pain;

Hearts free from worldly cares have store of bliss,

All others seeds of bitter woe contain.

He, in whose bosom wisdom's seed is sown,

To waste a single day was never known;

Either he strives to work great Allah's will,

Or else exalts the cup, and works his own.

When Allah mixed my clay He knew full well

My future acts, and could each one foretell;

Without His will no act of mine was wrought;

Is it then just to punish me in hell?

Ye, who cease not to drink on common days,

Do not on Friday quit your drinking ways;

Adopt my creed, and count all days the same,

Be worshipers of God, and not of days.