Fling back thy veil! how long, oh tell me! shall drapery thy beauty
pale?
This drapery, no profit bringing, can only for thy shame avail.
A fire within the rose's bosom was kindled when she saw thy face;
And soon as she inhaled thy fragrance, she grew all rose-dew from
disgrace.
The love thy countenance awakens whelms Háfiz in misfortune's sea;
Death threatens him! ho there! give help, ere yet that he has ceased
to be!
While life is thine, consent not, Háfiz,
That it should speed ignobly by;
But strive thou to attain the object
Of thy existence ere thou die.
XX
I swear—my master's soul bear witness, faith of old times, and
promise leal!—
At early morning, my companion, is prayer for thy unceasing weal.
My tears, a more o'erwhelming deluge than was the flood which Noah
braved,
Have washed not from my bosom's tablet the image which thy love has
graved.
Come deal with me, and strike thy bargain: I have a broken heart to
sell,
Which in its ailing state out-values a hundred thousand which are well.
Be lenient, if thou deem me drunken: on the primeval day divine
Love, who possessed my soul as master, bent my whole nature unto wine.
Strive after truth that for thy solace the Sun may in thy spirit rise;
For the false dawn of earlier morning grows dark of face because it
lies.[24]