The Sufistic Quatrains Of Omar Khayyam Part 76

150.

Upon earth, no one presses to his heart a charmer with cheeks of the tints of a rose without the time comes that he feels the sting of the thorn. See the comb: before it could caress the perfumed hair of the beauty, it had to be cut into many teeth.

151.

Would that I had constantly in my hand the juice of the vine! Would that my love for these beautiful idols, that are like houris, might never leave my heart! They say to me: G.o.d has ordered you to renounce these things.

Oh! should He give me such a command, I would not obey it. Far be the thought!

152.

Behold, I must go, and life is saddened by my going; for, out of a hundred precious pearls but one have I pierced.

Alas! thanks to the ignorance of men, a hundred thousand things of deepest import yet remain unheard.

153.

To-day the season smiles; 'tis neither hot nor cold. The clouds have washed away the dust which dimmed the roses; and nightingales seem whispering to the yellow flowers that wine is balm for all.

154.

The day when I shall know myself no more, and when they will speak of me as of a fable, then I desire [do I dare say it?] that my clay be made into a jar for wine and destined to service at the tavern.

155.

Drink thou of wine before thy name shall vanish from this world, for, when this nectar enters thy heart, sorrow disappears. Unbind strand by strand the hair of thy charming idol, before the jointure of thy frame itself is loosed.

156.

O idol! ere sorrow comes to a.s.sail thee, order rose-colored wine. Thou art not gold, O imbecile! to believe that after burial in the earth, you can be drawn from it again.

157.

This world has not derived any advantage from my coming here below. Its glory and its dignity are equally unaffected by my departure. My two ears have never heard any one say why I have come, or why I am forced to go again.

158.

All thy secrets are known to the wisdom of Heaven [G.o.d] He knows them hair by hair and vein by vein.

I admit that by power of hypocrisy you may be able to deceive men, but what will you do before Him who knows your misdeeds one by one in every detail?

159.

Wine gives wings to those attacked by melancholy; wine is a mole of beauty upon the cheek of intelligence, we have not drunk of it during the Ramazan which has pa.s.sed, but now the eve of [the month of] Burak hath arrived and we shall make amends.

160.

Live in joy, for the time is coming when all the creatures that you see will disappear under the earth; drink, drink of wine, and never abandon yourself to the sorrow of this world. Those who come after you only too soon become a prey to it.

161.

There is not a night when my mind is not in a state of stupefaction. There is not one when my breast is not inundated with pearls that flow from my eyes. The disquiet which possesses me keeps the bowl of my head from filling itself with wine, can a bowl overturned ever be filled?

162.

When my nature has seemed disposed to fasting and prayer, I have a moment's hope that I am going to attain the aim of my desires; but alas! a breath of wind has sufficed to destroy the efficacy of my ablutions, and a mouthful of wine has annihilated my fast.

163.

All my being is attracted by the sight of beautiful, rose-colored faces; my hand is aye ready to seize a cup of wine. Oh, I wish to enjoy for its part what belongs to each of my members, ere these same members are lost in the Whole.

164.

A worldly love knows not how to produce reflection.

It is like a fire half extinguished which no longer gives heat. A true love should know neither tranquillity, nor repose, nor nourishment, nor sleep for months and years, day nor night.

165.

How long wilt thou pa.s.s thy life in adoring thyself, and seeking the cause of annihilation of thy being? Drink wine, for a life that is followed by death is better spent in sleep or drunkenness.

166.

To-morrow I shall have surmounted the mountain which separates us, and with indescribable happiness take the cup in my hand. My mistress longs for me, the day is bright; if I do not hasten to enjoy myself in such a moment, when shall I find enjoyment?

167.

There are people who through outrageous presumption are sunk in pride; and others who abandon themselves to the houris of celestial palaces. When the curtain is raised, we shall see that they have fallen far, far, far, from Thee [O G.o.d]!

168.

We are a.s.sured that there is a Paradise for us peopled with houris, and that we shall find there limpid wine and honey. It must then be permitted us to love women and wine here below, for is not this our end and aim?