The Sufistic Quatrains Of Omar Khayyam Part 41

143. C. L. N A. I. In line 2, note the arrangement of the prepositions.

There is a proverb, The Devil lives in Mecca and Medinah.

144.

To him who would his sins extenuate, Let pious men this verse reiterate, To call G.o.d's prescience the cause of sin In wisdom's purview is but folly's prate.

144. L. N. _Sahl_, of no account.

145.

He brought me hither, and I felt surprise, From life I gather but a dark surmise, I go against my will;--thus, why I come, Why live, why go, are all dark mysteries.

145. C. L. N. A.

146.

When I recall my grievous sins to mind, Fire burns my breast, and tears my vision blind; Yet, when a slave repents, is it not meet His lord should pardon, and again be kind?

146. L. N. In line 2, _az sar guzarad_ means drops from the eyes, and in line 4, remits the penalty. This change of meaning is called _Tajnis_.

147.

They at whose lore the whole world stands amazed, Whose high thoughts, like Borak, to heaven are raised, Strive to know Thee in vain, and like heaven's wheel Their heads are turning, and their brains are dazed.

147. C. L. N. A. Borak, or Burak, the steed on which Muhammad made his famous nocturnal ascent to heaven.

148.

Allah hath promised wine in Paradise, Why then should wine on earth be deemed a vice?

An Arab in his cups cut Hamzah's girths,-- For that sole cause was drink declared a vice.

148. L. N. Nicolas says this refers to an event which occurred to Hamzah, a relation of Muhammad.

149.

Now of old joys naught but the name is left, Of all old friends but wine we are bereft, And that wine _new_, but still cleave to the cup, For save the cup, what single joy is left?

149. L. N. B.

150.

The world will last long after Khayyam's fame Has pa.s.sed away, yea, and his very name; Aforetime we were not, and none did heed.

When we are dead and gone, 'twill be the same.

150. N.

151.

The sages who have compa.s.sed sea and land, Their secret to search out, and understand,-- My mind misgives me if they ever solve The scheme on which this universe is planned.

151. C. L. N. A. I.

152.

Ah! wealth takes wings, and leaves our hands all bare, And death's rough hands delight our hearts to tear; And from the nether world none e'er escapes, To bring us news of the poor pilgrims there.

152. C. L. N. A. I.

153.

'Tis pa.s.sing strange, those t.i.tled n.o.blemen Find their own lives a burden sore, but when They meet with poorer men, not slaves to sense, They scarcely deign to reckon them as men.

153. C. L. N. A. I.

154.

The wheel on high, still busied with despite, Will ne'er unloose a wretch from his sad plight; But when it lights upon a smitten heart, Straightway essays another blow to smite.

154. C. L. N. A. I. Vullers, Section 207.

155.

Now is the volume of my youth outworn, And all my spring-tide blossoms rent and torn.

Ah, bird of youth! I marked not when you came, Nor when you fled, and left me thus forlorn.

155. C. L. N. A. I.

156.

These fools, by dint of ignorance most cra.s.s, Think they in wisdom all mankind surpa.s.s; And glibly do they d.a.m.n as infidel, Whoever is not, like themselves, an a.s.s.

156. N. So Job, Ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.

Probably addressed to the 'Ulama.