And David's lips are lockt; but in divine And those who husbanded the Golden Grain, Red Wine!"-the Nightingale cries to the As, buried once, Men want dug up again. Rose XXIV Ah, make the most of what we yet may spend, Before we too into the Dust descend; Dust into Dust, and under Dust to lie, Sans12 Wine, sans Song, sans Singer, and-sans End! XXV Alike for those who for TO-DAY prepare, "Fools! your Reward is neither Here nor There.'' XXVI Why, all the Saints and Sages who discuss'd Of the Two Worlds so wisely-they are thrust Like foolish Prophets forth; their Words to Scorn Are scatter'd, and their Mouths are stopt with Dust. XXVII Myself when young did eagerly frequent XXVIII With them the seed of Wisdom did I sow, And with mine own hand wrought to make it grow; And this was all the Harvest that I reap'd"I came like Water, and like Wind I go."' XXIX Into this Universe, and Why not knowing XXX What, without asking, hither hurried Whence? XXXI Up from Earth's Centre through the Seventh And not a drop that from our Cups we throw Gate I rose, and on the Throne of Saturn14 sate, And many a Knot unravell'd by the Road; But not the Master-knot of Human Fate. XXXII There was the Door to which I found no Key; 12 without 13 A summoner to prayer. 14 "Lord of the Seventh Heaven." For Earth to drink of, but may steal below To quench the fire of Anguish in some Eye There hidden-far beneath, and long ago. XL As then the Tulip for her morning sup 15 "Some dividual Existence or Personality dis tinct from the Whole." XLI Perplext no more with Human or Divine, To-morrow's tangle to the winds resign, And lose your fingers in the tresses of The Cypress-slender Minister of Wine. XLII And if the Wine you drink, the Lip you press, End in what All begins and ends in-Yes; Think then you are TO-DAY what YESTERDAY | Running Quicksilver-like eludes your pains; You were-To-MORROW you shall not be less. XLIII So when the Angel of the darker Drink And, offering his Cup, invite your Soul Forth to your Lips to quaff-you shall not shrink. XLIV Why, if the Soul can fling the Dust aside, And naked on the Air of Heaven ride, Were 't not a Shame-were 't not a Shame for him In this clay carcase crippled to abide? XLV Taking all shapes from Máh to Máhi; and They change and perish all-but He remains; LII A moment guess 'd-then back behind the Fold LIII But if in vain, down on the stubborn floor TO-MORROW, You when shall be You no more? LIV 'Tis but a Tent where takes his one day's rest Waste not your Hour, nor in the vain pursuit A Sultán to the realm of Death addrest; Of This and That endeavour and dispute; Better be jocund with the fruitful Grape Than sadden after none, or bitter, Fruit. LV You know, my Friends, with what a brave Carouse I made a Second Marriage in my house; Divorced old barren Reason from my Bed, And took the Daughter of the Vine to Spouse. LVI For "Is" and "IS-NOT" though with Rule and Line, AndUP-AND-DOWN'' by Logic I define, Of all that one should care to fathom, I Was never deep in anything but-Wine. LVII Ah, but my Computations, People say, LVIII And lately, by the Tavern Door agape, 3 The letter a. often represented by a slight mark 5 Omar assisted in reforming the calendar. |