Page:Quatrains of Omar Khayyam (tr. Whinfield, 1883).djvu/188

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132
THE QUATRAINS OF

195.

Though drink is wrong, take care with whom you drink,
And who you are that drink, and what you drink;
    And drink at will, for, these three points observed,
Who but the very wise can ever drink?


196.

To drain a gallon beaker I design,
Yea, two great beakers, brimmed with richest wine;
    Old faith and reason thrice will I divorce,
Then take to wife the daughter of the vine.


197.

True I drink wine, like every man of sense,
For I know Allah will not take offence;
    Before time was, He knew that I should drink,
And who am I to thwart His prescience?


195.   C. L. N. A. B. I.   A hit at the casuistry on the subject of wine.