Chinese and Arabian Literature - E. Wilson - The Search For Mecca

9©
SELECTIONS FROM ARABIAN POETRY
The circle's bounding line are they,
Its centre is my heart,
My ready love the equal ray
That flows to every part.
—
Abou Aly.
A REMONSTRANCE WITH A DRUNKARD"
As drench'd in wine, the other night,
Zeid from the banquet sallied.
Thus I reprov'd his drunken plight,
Thus he my prudence rallied;
" In bev'rage so impure and vile.
How canst thou thus delight? "
" My cups," he answer'd v^^ith a smile,
" Are generous and bright."
" Beware those dang'rous draughts," I cried,
" With love the goblet flows "
" And curst is he," the youth replied,
" Who hatred only knows."
" Those cups too soon with sickness fraught
Thy stomach shall deplore "
" Then soon," he cried, *' the noxious draught
And all its ills are o'er."
" Rash youth, thy guilty joys resign."
" I will," at length he said,
" I vow I'll bid adieu to wine
As soon as I am dead."
VERSES
Tho' such unbounded love you swear,
'Tis only art I see;
Can I believe that one so fair
Should ever dote on me?
"
Yahia Ben Salamet.
"This author was a native of Syria. one who possessed any real authority
and died at Miafarakir in the year of since the reign of Radhi. These I'nes
the Hegira 553.
were addressed to a lady who pretended
" Almonklafi was the thirty-first Ca- a passion for him in his old age.
liph of the house of Abbas, and the only