If this life were indeed an empty play, Each day would be an _'lid_ of festal day, And men might conquer all their hearts' desire, Fearless of after penalties to pay! 434. N. N takes _taklid_ in the sense of «authority,» but I think it alludes to Koran, xxix. 64. See _Gulshan i Raz_, p. 50. 435. O wheel of heaven, you thwart my heart's desire, And rend to shreds my scanty joy's attire, The water that I drink you foul with earth, And turn the very air I breathe to fire! 435. C. L. N. A. I. 436. O soul! could you but doff this flesh and bone, You'd soar a sprite about the heavenly throne; Had you no shame to leave your starry home, And dwell an alien on this earthly zone? 436. C. L. N. B. A. I. 437. Ah, potter, stay thine hand' with ruthless art Put not to such base use man's mortal part! See, thou art mangling on thy cruel wheel Faridun's fingers, and Kai Khosrau's heart! 437. C. L. N. A. I. Faridun and Kai Khosrau were ancient kings of Persia. Kai Khosrau is usually identified with Cyrus. 438. O rose! all beauties' charms thou dost excel, As wine excels the pearl within its shell; O fortune! thou dost ever show thyself More strange, although I seem to know thee well! 438. N. _Mimani_, You resemble. 439. From this world's kitchen crave not to obtain Those dainties, seeming real, but really vain, Which greedy worldlings gorge to their own loss; Renounce that loss, so loss shall prove thy gain! 439. L. N. B. 440. Plot not of nights, thy fellows' peace to blight, So that they cry to God the live-long night; Nor plume thee on thy wealth and might, which thieves May steal by night, or death, or fortune's might. 440. N. _Ta bar nikashand_, «Let us abstain from oppressing people, so that they may not heave a sigh, saying, O Lord.» 441. This soul of mine was once Thy cherished bride, What caused Thee to divorce her from Thy side? Thou didst not use to treat her thus of yore, Why then now doom her in the world to abide? 441. L. N. 442. Ah! would there were a place of rest from pain, Which we, poor pilgrims, might at last attain, And after many thousand wintry years, Renew our life, like flowers, and bloom again! 442. C. N. A. I. J. 443. While in love's book I sought an augury; An ardent youth cried out in ecstasy, «Who owns a sweetheart beauteous as the moon, Might wish his moments long as years to be!» 443. C. L. N. A. I. Compare the «_sortes Virgilianæ._» Line 4 is freely paraphrased. 444. Winter is past, and spring-tide has begun, Soon will the pages of life's book be done! Well saith the sage, «Life is a poison rank, And antidote, save grape-juice, there is none.» 444. C. L. N. A. I. J. 445.