435. Before you are made drunk by the cup of death, before the revolutions of time are full behind you, endeavor to make a foundation here below, for you will profit nothing by going away empty-handed. 436. It is Thou who disposest of the lot of the living and of the dead. It is Thou who governest this unruly Wheel of the Heavens. Although I am bad, I am only Thy slave, Thou art my master. Who then is guilty here below? Art Thou not the Creator of all? 437. O my King! how can such a man as I, finding himself in the season of roses, in the midst of joyous society, surrounded by wine, by dancers, remain a passive spectator? Oh! to find oneself in a garden with a flask of wine and a lute are things preferable to Paradise with its houris and its Koocer. 438. See the clearness of the light, the sparkle of the wine and of the moon, O cupbearer! See the ravishing beauty of the rose's face, like a shining ruby, O cupbearer! Recall nothing of what belongs to the earth to this heart that burns like fire, throw it not to the wind, but bring wine, O cupbearer! 439. O limpid wine, wine full of sheen! Fool that I am, I'd drink thee in such quantity, that all perceiving me from far would my identity confound with thine, and say to me: O master wine! tell me, whence do you come? 440. Be welcome, Thou, who art the repose of my soul! Thou art here, and nevertheless I cannot believe my eyes. Oh! for the love of God, and not for the love of my heart, drink, drink of wine, drink to the point when I can doubt that it is Thou. 441. A Sheikh said to a prostitute: You are in wine. Each instant you are taken in the toils of law. She answered him: O Sheikh, I am all that you say; but are you what you seem to be? 442. [I have already said] the entire world, like a bowl, was rolling in a hollow which, when I slept dead drunk, I noticed no more than if I saw a grain of barley rolling along. Yesterday, at evening, I put myself in pawn at the tavern for a cup of wine. The wine merchant never ceased to say: O excellent security that here I hold. 443. Sometimes Thou art concealed, showing Thyself to none; sometimes Thou revealest Thyself in all things created. It is for Thyself, without doubt, and for Thy pleasure that Thou hast produced these marvellous effects, for Thou art at once the maker of the spectacle we see and Thine own beholder. 444. Should you come to people the whole earth, that action would not make a saddened soul rejoice. It would be more to thy advantage to enslave a free man, through thy gentleness, than to give freedom to a thousand slaves. 445.