QUATRAINS OF OMAR KHAYYÁM.

Alif.

1. (3).

'Tis but a day we sojourn here below,
And all the gain we get is grief and woe,
And then, leaving life's riddles all unsolved,
And burdened with regrets, we have to go.

2. (4).

Khaja! grant one request, and only one,
Wish me God-speed, and get your preaching done;
I walk aright, 'tis you who see awry ;

Go! mend your sight, and leave Khayyám alone.

3. (5).

Arise! and come, and of thy courtesy
Relieve my weary heart's perplexity,

And fill my goblet, so that I may drink,
Or ere they make their goblets out of me.

4. (6).

When I am dead, with wine my body lave,
For obit chant a bacchanalian stave,

And, if you need me at the day of doom,
Beneath the tavern threshold seek my grave.

5. (7).

Since no one can assure thee of the morrow,
Rejoice thy heart to-day, and banish sorrow

With moonbright wine, fair moon, for heaven's moon Will look for us in vain on many a morrow.

6. (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."

7. (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.

e not the drunkards, you who wine eschew; I but grace, I would abstain like you; nd mark me, vaunting zealot, you commit indredfold worse sins than drunkards do.

صدرا

9. (12.)

at though 'tis fair to view, this form of man, now not why the Heavenly Artisan

Hath set these tulip cheeks and cypress forms deck the mournful halls of earth's divan.

Be.

10. (17.)

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

11. (22.)

Here in this tavern haunt I make my lair,
Pawning for wine, heart, soul, and all I wear,
Without a hope of bliss or fear of bale,
Rapt above water, earth, and fire, and air.

12. (23.)

Quoth fish to duck, ""Twill be a sad affair

If this brook leaves its channel dry and bare;"

To whom the duck, "When I am dead and roasted,

The brook may mirage prove for aught I care."

Te.

13. (24.)

FROM doubt to clear assurance is a breath,
A breath from infidelity to faith;

Oh, precious breath! enjoy it while you may, 'Tis all that life can give, and then comes death.

14. (25.)

Ah! wheel of heaven, to tyranny inclined,

'Twas e'er your wont to show yourself unkind;

And, cruel earth, if they should cleave your breast,

What store of buried jewels they would find!

15. (26.)

My life lasts but a day or two, and fast
Sweeps by, like torrent stream or desert blast,
Howbeit, of two days I take no heed,—

The day that's future, and the day that's past.