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and at its head a tablet of white marble, whereon were graven the following verses:
How often have I stood, how oft set on in fight! How many a thing, indeed, hath passed before my sight!
How much have I consumed of meat and drink, and songs How many have I heard of singing wench and wight!
How much did I command and eke how much forbid! How many a rampired hold, thou’dst deem beyond man’s might
To take, I’ve stormed and sacked and all the cloistered maids, That hid within its walls, discovered to the light!
But, of my ignorance, I sinned that I might win Hopes that must pass away, undurable and slight.
Bethink thee, then, O man, before thou drink the cup Of death, and reckon up thy reckoning forthright.
Yet but a little while and on thy head the dust Shall sure be strewn and life shall fail unto thy spright.
The Amir and his companions wept; then, drawing near unto the pavilion, they saw that it had eight doors of sandal-wood, studded with nails of gold and stars of silver and inlaid with all manner precious stones. On the first door were written these verses:
That which I left, I left it not of generous purpose; nay, But fate and fortune fore-ordained still o’er mankind bear sway.
What while content and prosperous I was, my hoarding-place, Even was a raging lion fierce, I did defend alway.
Ne’er was I still and of my good so niggard, not a grain Of mustard-seed, though I were cast on fire, I gave away,
Till, of the fore-ordained decree of God, the Lord of Might, The Maker and the Fashioner, I stricken was one day.
Death, sudden, irrevocable, in haste upon me came: I could not ward it with my store, nor eke the vast array
Of troops I gathered neath my hand availed me any jot; Nor friend nor neighbour aided me the feet of fate to stay.
All my life’s days, or if it were in solace or in stress, Still in my journey to the grave I toiled and wearied aye.
I fared the road that all must fare, till, when the money-bags Are full, though dinar, without cease, to dinar thou shouldst lay,
