The Festival of Spring, from the Díván of Jeláleddín / Rendered in English Gazels after Rückert's Versions, with an Introduction and a Criticism of the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám

by Maulana Jalal al-Din Rumi

And took the Daughter of the Vine to Spouse!'

And what possibly could come of it, but what did come? When it could no longer be disputed that the Day was dawning, then the Reckoning must be settled, and his last leering grin is for his drunken boon-companions, now alas! ignominiously low:—

'Landlady, count the lawin',

The Day is near the dawin';

Ye're a' blind drunk, boys,

And I'm but jolly fou.

Hey tutti, taiti,

How tutti, taiti—

Wha's fou now?'

O ye self-blinded, neurotic Votaries of the Omar Khayyám Cult, be warned in time: for be sincerely assured that on counting 'the lawin', Paying the Reckoning will be all that you will ever get, even at your drunkest, out of this bankrupt, blustering, purblind Braggart!