XLII.

And if the Wine you drink, the Lip you press, End in what All begins and ends in--Yes; Think then you are TO-DAY what YESTERDAY You were--TO-MORROW you shall not be less.

The inspiration for this quatrain is contained in the following, O. 102 and C. 412.

Khayyam, if thou art drunk with wine,[52] be happy, If thou reposest with one tulip-cheeked, be happy, Since the end of all things is that thou wilt be naught, Whilst thou art, imagine that thou art not--be happy!

_Ref._: O. 102, C. 291, L. 454, B. 450, S.P. 241, P. 202, B. ii. 322, T. 192 and 296, P. iv. 26, P. v. 5.--W. 282, N. 242, V. 493.

Remember not the day that has passed away from thee, Be not hard upon the morrow that has not come, Think not about thine own coming or departure, Drink wine _now_, and fling not thy life to the winds.

_Ref._: C. 412, L. 619, B. 611, P. 116, B. ii. 444, P. v. 121.--V. 666.