The constant sequence of springtime and autumn makes the leaves of our existence disappear. Drink wine, my friend, for sages have well said that grief in this world is a poison and its antidote is wine. 403. O my heart! drink of wine, drink of it in a garden and enjoy the presence of thy friend [the Divinity]; renounce hypocrisy and show. Is it the doctrine of Ahmed you follow? In that case, draw from the fountain-head a cup of wine into the bowl which Ali, in his round of cupbearing, shall serve. 404. But yesterday, at eve, I broke a china cup against a stone. I was drunk when committing this senseless act. This cup seemed to say to me: «I have been like thee; thou wilt, in thy turn, be like me.» 405. The flowers are in blossom, O cupbearer! bring wine. Leave thy acts of worship, O cupbearer! Ere the angel of death put a watch upon us, come, and with a cup of ruby wine in hand, let us rejoice while yet there are some days with the sweet presence of the friend [the Divinity]. 406. Arise, get off thy bed, O cupbearer! and pour the limpid wine. Before they yet make pitchers of our skulls, pour out some wine from pitcher into bowl, O cupbearer! 407. This hypocrisy [which I everywhere see], O cupbearer! crushes my heart with weariness. Arise, and gaily bring me wine, O cupbearer! and to procure it, put in pawn the prayer-rug and the turban. Perhaps my arguments will then rest upon a solid basis. 408. Examine thyself, if thou art intelligent, and observe what thou hast brought in the beginning and what thou wilt carry away at the end. Thou sayest that thou dost not drink because one must die. Whether thou drinkest friend, or dost not drink, thou needs must die. 409. Open the door, for it is only Thou who canst open it; show me the way, for it is only Thou who canst show a way of safety. I will give my hand to none of those who wish to lead me, for all are perishable, and only Thou eternal. 410. All that you tell me emanates from hatred [O mullah]! You never cease to treat me as an atheist, a man without religion. I am convinced of that which I am, and I avow it; and should I be right, is it for you to lecture me thus? 411. Resign yourself to grief if you would find a remedy, and do not complain of your suffering if you would cure it. In poverty, be thankful to Providence, if you wish some day to have riches for your portion. 412. I have seen a wise man in the house of a drunken man at evening. I asked him if he could give me some news of the absent. He answered me: Drink wine, friend, for many like you have gone out but have never returned. 413.