Page:Quatrains of Omar Khayyam (tr. Whinfield, 1883).djvu/360

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
304
THE QUATRAINS OF

453.

Reason not of the five, nor of the four,
Be their dark problems one, or many score;
    We are but earth, go, minstrel, bring the lute,
We are but air, bring wine, I ask no more!


454.

Why argue on Yásin and on Barát?
Write me the draft for wine they call Barát!
    The day my weariness is drowned in wine
Will seem to me as the great night Barát!


455.

Whilst thou dost wear this fleshly livery,
Step not beyond the bounds of destiny;
    Bear up, though very Rustams be thy foes,
And crave no boon from friends like Hatim Tai!


453.   N.   C. L. A. I. J. give only the first line of this.   Five senses, four elements.

454.   C. L. N. A. I. J.   Yasín is the 64th, and Barát the 9th, chapter of the Koran.   Barát, the "night of power."