The Sufistic Quatrains Of Omar Khayyam Part 55

332. L. N. B.

333.

Though I had sinned the sins of all mankind, I know Thou would'st to mercy be inclined; Thou sayest, I will help in time of need One needier than I where wilt Thou find?

333. C. L. N. A. I. J. The _waw_ in _'afw_ is a consonant, and therefore takes _kasra_ for the _izafat_, without the intervention of conjunctive _ya_.

334.

Am I a wine-bibber? What if I am?

Gueber or infidel? Suppose I am?

Each sect miscalls me, but I heed them not, I am my own, and, what I am, I am.

334. C. L. N. A. I. J. _Zan i khud_ for _azan i khud_, my own property.

335.

All my life long from drink I have not ceased, And drink I will to-night on Kadr's feast; And throw my arms about the wine-jar's neck, And kiss its lip, and clasp it to my breast!

335. C. L. N. A. I. J. _Kadr_ the night of power. Koran, xcvi. 1.

336.

I know what is, and what is not, I know The lore of things above, and things below; But all this lore will cheerfully renounce, If one a higher grade than drink can show.

336. L. N. B. Line 1, Being and Not-being, Grade, _i.e._, of learning.

337.

Though I drink wine, I am no libertine, Nor am I grasping, save of cups of wine; I scruple to adore myself, like you; For this cause to wine-wors.h.i.+p I incline.

337. C. L. N. A. I. J. A hit at the vain and covetous Mollas. Also ascribed to Anwari.

338.

To confidants like you I dare to say What mankind really are--moulded of clay, Affliction's clay, and kneaded in distress, They taste the world awhile, then pa.s.s away.

338. C. L. N. A. I. J. Note the archaic form.

339.

We make the wine-jar's lip our place of prayer, And drink in lessons of true manhood there, And pa.s.s our lives in taverns, if perchance The time mis-spent in mosques we may repair.

339. L. N. This quatrain is probably Mystical.

340.

Man is the whole creation's summary, The precious apple of great wisdom's eye; The circle of existence is a ring, Whereof the signet is humanity.

340. C. L. N. A. I. Man is the microcosm. See _Gulshan i Raz_, p. 15.

The captain jewel of the carcanet.

341.

With fancies, as with wine, our heads we turn, Aspire to heaven, and earth's low trammels spurn; But, when we drop this fleshly clog, 'tis seen From dust we came, and back to dust return.

341. L. N.

342.

If so it be that I did break the fast, Think not I meant it; no! I thought 'twas past;-- That day more weary than a sleepless night,-- And blessed breakfast-time had come at last!

342. L. N. _Roza khwardan_, to avoid fasting. In line 2, for _bekhabar_ read _bakhabar_.

343.

I never drank of joy's sweet cordial, But grief's fell hand infused a drop of gall; Nor dipped my bread in pleasure's piquant salt, But briny sorrow made me smart withal!

343. C. L. N. A. I. Line 4, literally, eat a roast of my own liver.

344.

At dawn to tavern haunts I wend my way, And with distraught Kalendars pa.s.s the day; O Thou! who know'st things secret, and things known, Grant me Thy grace, that I may learn to pray!

344. C. L. N. A. I. J. _Khafiyyat_ means manifest, as well as concealed. Lucknow commentator.

345.

The world's annoys I rate not at one grain, So I eat once a day I don't complain; And, since earth's kitchen yields no solid food, I pester no man with pet.i.tions vain.

345. C. L. N. A. I. J. In line 3 the _Alif_ in _az_ is not treated as an _Alif i wasl_. Bl., Pros. 10.

346.

Never from worldly toils have I been free, Never for one short moment glad to be!