Page:The Sacred Books and Early Literature of the East, Volume 08.djvu/82



"If heaven deny me peace and fame, " I said,

"Let it be open war and shame instead;

The man who scorns bright wine had best beware,

I'll arm me with a stone, and break his head! "

See! the dawn breaks, and rends night's canopy:

Arise! and drain a morning draught with me!

Away with gloom! full many a dawn will break

Looking for us, and we not here to see!

O you who tremble not at fires of hell,

Nor wash in water of remorse's well,

When winds of death shall quench your vital torch,

Beware lest earth your guilty dust expel.

This world a hollow pageant you should deem;

All wise men know things are not what they seem;

Be of good cheer, and drink, and so shake off

This vain illusion of a baseless dream.

With maids stately as cypresses, and fair

As roses newly plucked, your wine-cups share,

Or e'er Death's blasts shall rend your robe of fiesh

Like yonder rose-leaves, lying scattered there!

Cast off dull care, O melancholy brother!

Woo the sweet daughter of the grape, no other;

The daughter is forbidden, it is true,

But she is nicer than her lawful mother!