The Sufistic Quatrains Of Omar Khayyam Part 75

131.

Would that the tavern could always be animated by the presence of drinkers, that fire would reach the hem of the holy robe of devotees, that their monk's frock might be torn to tatters and their blue woolen garment be trampled under the feet of the drinkers.

132.

How long wilt thou be a dupe to colors and perfumes?

When wilt thou cease to seek out good and bad?

Thou mightest be the source of Zemzem, thou mightest even be the water of life since thou wouldst not know how to escape entering the bosom of the earth.

133.

Renounce not the drinking of wine if you have any, for a hundred repentances follow one such resolution.

The roses scatter their blossoms, the nightingales fill the air with their song, and would it be reasonable to renounce drinking in a moment like this?

134.

As long as the friend [G.o.d] will pour for me the wine which rejoices my soul, as long as the heavens have not deposited a hundred kisses upon my head and feet, whatever they may do, when the moment comes, to induce me to renounce drinking, how can I renounce it, G.o.d not having ordered me to?

135.

Whoever has constancy will not renounce drinking wine, for wine has within itself the virtue of the water of life.

If any one renounce it during the month of Ramazan, let him at least abstain from engagement in prayer.

136.

When I am dead, smooth to the level of the soil the dust of my tomb, that I may thus be an example to other men. Then, mix with wine the earth of my body and make of it--a cover for a wine-jar.

137.

O Khayyam! although the Wheel of the Heavens has, in setting up his tent, closed the door to discussions, [it is evident, nevertheless,] that the cupbearer of eternity [G.o.d] has produced, in the form of globules of wine in the cup of creation, a thousand other Khayyams like thee.

138.

Give thyself to gaiety, for sorrow will be infinite. The stars will continue movement in the firmament, and the bricks which will be made of thy body will serve to construct palaces for others.

139.

Pa.s.s joyously thy life, for many other travelers will file through this world; the soul will cry after the body from which it will be separated, and the head, the seat of the pa.s.sions, will be trampled under the potter's feet.

140.

Happy the heart of him who has pa.s.sed unknown, who has not been clothed in a robe of ceremony, nor in luxurious garments, nor in stuffs of great price, who, like the _simourg_, is lifted into the skies to the place of his delight as the owl sits among the ruins of this world.

141.

Drinkers alone know how to appreciate the language of the roses and of wine, and not the feeble in heart or the poor in spirit. Those who have no idea of what is occult, to them ignorance is pardonable, for drunkards alone can understand what belongs to such an order of of things.

142.

Once in the tavern, one can make his ablutions only with wine. There, when a name is soiled, it cannot be restored. Bring, then, some wine, since the veil of our shame is torn in such a manner that it cannot be repaired.

143.

Pierced with a vain hope, I have thrown to the wind a part of my existence, and that without having known here below a day of happiness. That which I fear now is that time will prevent me from seizing the opportunity to make amends for the past.

144.

Alas! my heart has not been able to find any remedy [for its grief], my soul has arrived at the edge of my lips [death], without having attained the object of its love.

Alas! my life has pa.s.sed in ignorance, and the enigma of this love has not been explained.

145.

In the regions of the soul, it is necessary to walk with discernment; upon the things of this world, it is well to be silent. While we have our eyes, our tongues, and our ears, we should be without eyes, without tongues, and without ears.

146.

In this world, he who commands a loaf of bread and who can cover his body with any garment whatsoever, he who is neither master nor servant, tell him to live content, for he has a sweet existence.

147.

One should not plant in his heart the tree of sadness.

On the contrary, he should ever peruse the book of joy.

One should drink wine, and follow the trend of his own heart, for behold, the length of time remaining to you in this world is quickly measured.

148.

Has Thy empire gained in splendor by my obeisance, O G.o.d? Or have my sins retrenched in any degree Thy immensity? Pardon, O G.o.d, and do not punish, for I know well that Thou punishest late and pardonest early.

149.

It would be troublesome if my hand, accustomed to seize the cup, took the Koran and depended upon Mohammedan diet. With you it is different; you are a dry devotee, while I am a depraved one, moist [through drink], and the only fire I know is kindled by wine.