180
THE QUATRAINS OF
267.
Go to! Cast dust on those deaf skies, who spurn
Thy orisons and bootless prayers, and learn
To quaff the cup, and hover round the fair;
Of all who go, did ever one return?
268.
Though Khayyam strings no pearls of righteous deeds,
Nor sweeps from off his soul sin's noisome weeds,
Yet will he not despair of heavenly grace,
Seeing that one as two he ne'er misreads.
269.
Again to tavern haunts do we repair,
And say "Adieu" to the five hours of prayer;
Where'er we see a long-necked flask of wine,
We elongate our necks that wine to share.
267. C. L. N. A. B. I. J. An answer to the last.
268. C. L. N. A. B. I. J. Tauhíd, or Unitarianism, is the central doctrine of Islám. So Hafiz, Ode 465.
