Those, O Saki, who have gone before us,
Have fallen asleep, O Saki, in the dust (or khwab sleep) of self-esteem,
Go thou and drink wine, and hear the truth from me,
Whatever they have said, O Saki, is but wind!
Ref.: O. 140, C. 453, L. 687, B. 678, S.P. 380, P. 260, B. ii. 525, T. 279, P. v. 22.—W 428, N. 384, V. 739.
Those who are the cream of the existence of mankind,
Spur the Burak of their thoughts up to the highest heaven,[44]
In the study of your being, like heaven itself
Their heads are turned, and overset, and spinning.
Ref.: C. 236, L. 326, B. 322, S.P. 120, T. 155, W. 147, N. 120, V. 328.
Myself when young did eagerly frequent
Doctor and Saint, and heard great argument
About it and about: but evermore
Came out by the same door wherein I went.
With them the seed of Wisdom did I sow,
And with mine own hand wrought to make it grow;
And this was all the Harvest that I reap'd—
«I came like Water, and like Wind I go.»
These two quatrains must be considered together. They are inspired by O. 121, C. 281, and O. 72.