I seek a flask of ruby wine, a book of verse, a momentary peace in life and bread enough. And if with these, my friend, in some lone spot with thee I could repose, 'twould be a happiness above a Sultan's regal joy. 414. How long these arguments upon the five and the four, O cupbearer? In comprehending one, O cupbearer! it is difficult to grasp a hundred thousand. We are all of earth, O cupbearer! strike the harp: we are all as the wind, bring the wine, O cupbearer! 415. How long will you speak of Yassin and Berat, O cupbearer? Give me a treatise upon the tavern, O cupbearer! The day that it is closed will be for me the night of Berat, O cupbearer! 416. While you have in your body bones, veins, and nerves, place not your foot outside the limits of your destiny. Yield never to your enemy, be that enemy Rustum, son of Zal; accept nothing which puts you under obligation to a friend, be that friend Hatim-tai. 417. You may indeed be taken with lips tinted with the color of the ruby, you may indeed appreciate the cup of wine, you may indeed call for the noise of the drum, the sound of the harp and of the flute, but these are only trifles. God is my witness, while you do not break the bonds of this dark world, you nothing are. 418. Bestir yourself, since you are under this tyrannic vault; drink wine, since you are in this world, a seat of woe. And, from beginning to the end, being only earth, act like a man who is upon the earth, and not as if thou wert beneath the earth. 419. Since you all secrets know, my friend, why be a prey to so many vain torments? Suppose things do not fall in touch with your desires, you can at least be gay while you still breathe. 420. Everywhere I cast my eyes I believe I see the sod of Paradise and the brook of Koocer. They say the field outside of Hell is transformed into a celestial sojourn. Rest then in that celestial place near some celestial fair. 421. Follow no other way than that which the Kalendar follows; seek no other place than the tavern; occupy yourself only with wine, song and the friend [the Divinity]; place in your hand a cup of wine, upon your back a gourd; drink, O dear object of my heart! drink and speak not of foolish things. 422. Do you wish life to rest upon a rock? Do you wish life for some time free to be from grief? Dwell for one instant without drinking wine, then at each breath you'll find a new attraction in existence. 423. In this world, this house of pilferers, it is useless to count upon a friend. Listen to the counsel I give you, and confide it to no one. Bear your suffering and seek no remedy here, be happy in your sorrows and try not to divide them with another. 424.