Volume Iv Part 40 (1/2)

John Wilmot [1647-1680]

CERTAIN MAXIMS OF HAFIZ

I If It be pleasant to look on, stalled in the packed serai, Does not the Young Man try Its temper and pace ere he buy?

If She be pleasant to look on, what does the Young Man say?

”Lo! She is pleasant to look on, give Her to me today!”

II Yea, though a Kaffir die, to him is remitted Jehannum If he borrowed in life from a native at sixty per cent per annum.

III Blister we not for bursati? So when the heart is vexed, The pain of one maiden's refusal is drowned in the pain of the next.

IV The temper of chums, the love of your wife, and a new piano's tune-- Which of the three will you trust at the end of an Indian June?

V Who are the rulers of Ind--to whom shall we bow the knee?

Make your peace with the women, and men will make you L. G.

VI Does the woodp.e.c.k.e.r flit round the young ferash?

Does the gra.s.s clothe a new-built wall?

Is she under thirty, the woman who holds a boy in her thrall?

VI If She grow suddenly gracious--reflect. Is it all for thee?

The black-buck is stalked through the bullock, and Man through jealousy.

VIII Seek not for favor of women. So shall you find it indeed.

Does not the boar break cover just when you're lighting a weed?

IX If He play, being young and unskilful, for shekels of silver and gold, Take His money, my son, praising Allah. The kid was ordained to be sold.

X With a ”weed” among men or horses verily this is the best, That you work him in office or dog-cart lightly--but give him no rest.

XI Pleasant the snaffle of Courts.h.i.+p, improving the manners and carriage; But the colt who is wise will abstain from the terrible thornbit of Marriage.

XII As the thriftless gold of the babul, so is the gold that we spend On a Derby Sweep, or our neighbor's wife, or the horse that we buy from a friend.

XIII The ways of a man with a maid be strange, yet simple and tame To the ways of a man with a horse, when selling or racing that same.

XIV In public Her face turneth to thee, and pleasant Her smile when ye meet.

It is ill. The cold rocks of El-Gidar smile thus on the waves at their feet.

In public Her face is averted, with anger She nameth thy name.

It is well. Was there ever a loser content with the loss of the game?

XV If She have spoken a word, remember thy lips are sealed, And the Brand of the Dog is upon him by whom is the secret revealed.

If She have written a letter, delay not an instant, but burn it.

Tear it in pieces, O Fool, and the wind to her mate shall return it!

If there be trouble to Herward, and a lie of the blackest can clear, Lie, while thy lips can move or a man is alive to hear.

XVI My Son, if a maiden deny thee and scufflingly bid thee give o'er, Yet lip meets with lip at the lastward--get out!