Page:The Sacred Books and Early Literature of the East, Volume 08.djvu/80



Khayyam! rejoice that wine you still can pour,

And still the charms of tulip cheeks adore;

You'll soon not be, rejoice then that you are,

Think how 'twould be in case you were no more!

Once, in a potter's shop, a company

Of cups in converse did I chance to see,

And lo! one lifted up his voice, and cried,

"Who made, who sells, who buys this crockery? "

Last night, as I reeled from the tavern door,

I saw a sage, who a great wine-jug bore;

I said, "O Shaikh, have you no shame?" Said he,

"Allah hath boundless mercy in his store. "

Life's fount is wine, Khizir its guardian,

I, like Elias, find it where I can;

'Tis sustenance for heart and spirit too,

Allah himself calls wine "a boon to man."

Though wine is banned, yet drink, forever drink!

By day and night, with strains of music drink!

Where'er thou lightest on a cup of wine,

Spill just one drop, and take the rest and drink!

Although the creeds number some seventy-three,

I hold with none but that of loving Thee;

What matter faith, unfaith, obedience, sin?

Thou'rt all we need, the rest is vanity.