Mim.

168. (305.)

ALLAH, our Lord, is merciful, though just;
Sinner! despair not, but His mercy trust!
For though to-day you perish in your sins,
To-morrow He'll absolve your crumbling dust.

169. (306.)

Your course annoys me, 0 ye wheeling skies!
Unloose me from your chain of tyrannies!
If none but fools your favours may enjoy,
Then favour me, -I am not very wise!

170. (309.)

When Khayyam quittance at Death's hand receives, And sheds his outworn life, as trees their leaves,. Full gladly will he sift this world away,

Ere dustmen sift his ashes in their sieves.

F

171. (310.)

This wheel of heaven, which makes us all afraid,
I liken to a lamp's revolving shade,

The sun the candlestick, the earth the shade,
And men the trembling forms thereon portrayed.

172. (311.)

Who was it that did mix my clay? Not I.
Who spun my web of silk and wool? Not I.
Who wrote upon my forehead all my good,
And all my evil deeds? In truth not I.

173. (312.)

O let us not forecast to-morrow's fears,
But count to-day as gain, my brave compeers!
To-morrow we shall quit this inn, and march
With comrades who have marched seven thousand years.

174. (313.)

Ne'er for one moment leave your cup unused!

Wine keeps heart, faith, and reason too, amused;
Had Iblis swallowed but a single drop,

To worship Adam he had ne'er refused!

175. (316.)

Ah! by these heavens, that ever circling run,
And by my own base lusts I am undone,

Without the wit to abandon worldly hopes, And wanting sense the world's allures to shun!

176. (317.)

On earth's green carpet many sleepers lie,
And hid beneath it others I descry;

And others, not yet come, or passed away,
People the desert of Nonentity!

177. (318.)

Sure of Thy grace, for sins why need I fear? How can the pilgrim faint whilst Thou art near? On the last day Thy grace will wash me white, And make my "black record" to disappear.

178. (319.)

Think not I dread from out the world to hie,
And see my disembodied spirit fly;

"Tis

I tremble not at death, for death is true,

my ill life that makes me fear to die!

179. (320.)

Let us shake off dull reason's incubus,

Our tale of days or years cease to discuss,

And take our jugs, and plenish them with wine,

Or ere grim potters make their jugs of us!

180. (321.)

How much more wilt thou chide, O raw divine,
For that I drink, and am a libertine ?

Thou hast thy weary beads, and saintly show, Leave me my cheerful sweetheart, and my wine!

181. (322.)

Against my lusts I ever war, in vain,

I think on my ill deeds with shame and pain;
I trust Thou wilt assoil me of my sins,
But even so, my shame must still remain.

182. (323.)

In these twin compasses, O Love, you see
One body with two heads, like you and me,
Which wander round one centre, circlewise,

But at the last in that one point agree.

183. (324.)

We shall not stay here long, but while we do,
'Tis folly wine and sweethearts to eschew;
Why ask if earth etern or transient be?
Since you must go, it matters not to you.

184. (325.)

In reverent sort to mosque I wend my way,

But, by great Allah, it is not to pray ;

No! but to steal a prayer-mat!

I go again, another to purvey.

When 'tis worn,

185. (329.)

The world is false, so I'll be false as well,
And with bright wine, and gladness ever dwell!

They say, "May Allah grant thee penitence!"
He grants it not, and did he, I'd rebel!

186. (330.)

When Death shall tread me down and pluck me bare,

Like some fat capon, or poor chanticlere;

Then mould me to a cup, and fill with wine;

Its perfume will revive me then and there.