In the quarter of the winehouse Service many a year I practise;
Yea, the use of folk of fortune In the beggar's gear I practise.
Our admonisher perceiveth Not the scent of truth; I say it
In his presence; for backbiting Ne'er (so God me hear!) I practise.
So that in the snare of union I may take a strutting pheasant,
Expectation, in my ambush, Till the prey draw near, I practise.
Like the East wind, rising, falling, In her street I go and suing
To the basils and the roses, For support and cheer, I practise.
Pathway-snare the charmer's tress is And her glance misfortune's arrow:
Think, o heart, how oft this warning In thy heedless ear I practise
Since thy quarter's dust, o idol, Our annoy may bide no longer,
Henceforth, light'ning of its burden Will, by absence sheer, I practise.
Hide Thou from the eye ill-seeing, O Thou Bounteous Blemish-Hider,
What of licence in the corner Of seclusion here I practise!
God forbid that I be heedless Of the Resurrection-Reck'ning!
Nay, I'll cast the lot to-morrow; But to-day good cheer I'll practise
Still “Amen” the Faithful Spirit From the Throne's right hand exclaimeth,
Orisons when for the monarch, Faith and country dear, I practise.
Prayer for leave to kiss the threshold Of thy majesty, o Sultan,—
So myself to glory's summit Thus I may uprear,—I practise.
In one company I'm Hafiz And dreg-drainer in another:
See, with what a saucy boldness On the folk austere I practise!
Yea, the use of folk of fortune In the beggar's gear I practise.
Our admonisher perceiveth Not the scent of truth; I say it
In his presence; for backbiting Ne'er (so God me hear!) I practise.
So that in the snare of union I may take a strutting pheasant,
Expectation, in my ambush, Till the prey draw near, I practise.
Like the East wind, rising, falling, In her street I go and suing
To the basils and the roses, For support and cheer, I practise.
Pathway-snare the charmer's tress is And her glance misfortune's arrow:
Think, o heart, how oft this warning In thy heedless ear I practise
Since thy quarter's dust, o idol, Our annoy may bide no longer,
Henceforth, light'ning of its burden Will, by absence sheer, I practise.
Hide Thou from the eye ill-seeing, O Thou Bounteous Blemish-Hider,
What of licence in the corner Of seclusion here I practise!
God forbid that I be heedless Of the Resurrection-Reck'ning!
Nay, I'll cast the lot to-morrow; But to-day good cheer I'll practise
Still “Amen” the Faithful Spirit From the Throne's right hand exclaimeth,
Orisons when for the monarch, Faith and country dear, I practise.
Prayer for leave to kiss the threshold Of thy majesty, o Sultan,—
So myself to glory's summit Thus I may uprear,—I practise.
In one company I'm Hafiz And dreg-drainer in another:
See, with what a saucy boldness On the folk austere I practise!