See thou what might displays on other wights ✿ Time with his shifts which could such lords waylay:
They shared together what they gatherèd ✿ And left their joys and fared to Death-decay:
What joys they joyed! what food they ate! and now ✿ In dust they’re eaten, for the worm a prey.
At this the Emir Musa wept bitter tears; and the world waxed yellow before his eyes and he said, “Verily, we were created for a mighty matter!”[[114]] Then they proceeded to explore the palace and found it desert and void of living thing, its courts desolate and dwelling-places waste laid. In the midst stood a lofty pavilion with a dome rising high in air, and about it were four hundred tombs, builded of yellow marble. The Emir drew near unto these and behold, amongst them was a great tomb, wide and long; and at its head stood a tablet of white marble, whereon were graven these couplets:—
How oft have I fought! and how many have slain! ✿ How much have I witnessed of blessing and bane!
How much have I eaten! how much have I drunk! ✿ How oft have I hearkened to singing-girl’s strain!
How much have I bidden! how oft have forbid! ✿ How many a castle and castellain
I have sieged and have searched, and the cloistered maids ✿ In the depths of its walls for my captives were ta’en!
But of ignorance sinned I to win me the meeds ✿ Which won provèd naught and brought nothing of gain:
Then reckon thy reck’ning, O man, and be wise ✿ Ere the goblet of death and of doom thou shalt drain;