54
THE QUATRAINS OF
78.
O foolish one! this molded earth is naught;
This particolored vault of heaven is naught;
Our sojourn in this seat of life and death
Is but one breath, and what is that but naught?
79.
Some wine, a Houri (Houris if there be),
A green bank by a stream, with minstrelsy;—
Toil not to find a better Paradise,
If other Paradise indeed there be!
80.
To the wine-house I saw the sage repair,
Bearing a wine-cup, and a mat for prayer;
I said, "O Shaikh, what does this conduct mean?"
Said he, "Go drink! the world is naught but air."
78. Bl. L. N. Shakl i mujassam, 'the earth.' Bl.
79. Bl. C. L. N. A. I. J. Dozakh i farsúda, 'an old hell,' i.e. vain things which create a hell for you. Bl.
80. N.
