486.
I wish that Allah would rebuild these skies,
And earth, and that at once, before my eyes,
And either raze my name from off his roll,
Or else relieve my dire necessities!
487.
Lord! make thy bounty's cup for me to flow,
And bread unbegged for day by day bestow;
Yea, with thy wine make me beside myself.
No more to feel the headache of my woe!
488.
Omar! of burning heart, perchance to burn
In hell, and feed its bale-fires in thy turn.
Presume not to teach Allah clemency,
For who art thou to teach, or he to learn?
486. N. This rather sins against Horace's canon, "Nec Deus intersit," &c.
487. C. L. N. A. I. J.
488. C .L. N. A. I. J. The Persian preface states that, after his death, Omar appeared to his mother in a dream, and repeated this quatrain to her. For the last line I am indebted to Mr. Fitzgerald.
