The Sufistic Quatrains Of Omar Khayyam Part 31

7. Bl. C. L. N. A. B. I. J. Line 2 is in metre 14.

8.

Let lovers all distraught and frenzied be, And flown with wine, and reprobates, like me; When sober, I find everything amiss, But in my cups cry, Let what will be, be.

8. Bl. L. N. Line 3 is in metre 13.

9.

In Allah's name, say, wherefore set the wise Their hearts upon this house of vanities?

Whene'er they think to rest them from their toils, Death takes them by the hand, and says, Arise.

9. Bl. C. L. N. A. I.

10.

Men say the Koran holds all heavenly lore, But on its pages seldom care to pore; The lucid lines engraven on the bowl,-- _That_ is the text they dwell on evermore.

10. Bl. L. N. A. B. I. J. Lines were engraven on the bowl to measure out the draughts. Bl.

11.

Blame not the drunkards, you who wine eschew, Had I but grace, I would abstain like you, And mark me, vaunting zealot, you commit A hundredfold worse sins than drunkards do.

11. Bl. C. L. N. A. I.

12.

What though 'tis fair to view, this form of man, I know not why the heavenly Artisan Hath set these tulip cheeks and cypress forms To deck the mournful halls of earth's divan.

12. Bl. C. L. N. A. I.

13.

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

13. Bl. C. L. N. A. I. J. The anacoluthon in line 3, and the missing rhyme before the burden, in line 4, are characteristic of Khayyam. Bl.

14.

Thus spake an idol to his worshipper, 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.

14. L. Meaning, all is of G.o.d, even idols.

15.

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!

15. L. b. Line 1 is in metre 14.

16.

O Thou! to please whose love and wrath as well, Allah created heaven and likewise h.e.l.l; Thou hast thy court in heaven, and I have naught, Why not admit me in thy courts to dwell?

16. Bl. L. The person addressed is the prophet Muhammad. The Sufis were fond of dwelling on the opposition between the beautiful and the terrible attributes of Deity.

17.

So many cups of wine will I consume, Its bouquet shall exhale from out my tomb, And every one that pa.s.ses by shall halt, And reel and stagger with that mighty fume.

17. Bl. C. L. N. A. I. J.

18.

Young wooer, charm all hearts with lover's art, Glad winner, lead thy paragon apart!

A hundred Ka'bas equal not one heart, Seek not the Ka'ba, rather seek a heart!

18. Bl. C. L. N. A. I. J. Line 2, In the presence seize the perfect heart.

19.

What time, my cup in hand, its draughts I drain, And with rapt heart unconsciousness attain, Behold what wondrous miracles are wrought, Songs flow as water from my burning brain.

19. L. N.

20.

To-day is but a breathing s.p.a.ce, quaff wine!

Thou wilt not see again this life of thine; So, as the world becomes the spoil of time, Offer thyself to be the spoil of wine!

20. L. N.

21.