LX.

The mighty Mahmud, Allah-breathing Lord, That all the misbelieving and black Horde Of Fears and Sorrows that infest the Soul Scatters before him with his whirlwind Sword.

This reference to Mahmoud the Ghasnavide, who made war upon the black infidels of Hindostan, comes from an apologue in the Mantik ut-tair of Ferid ud din Attar, (beginning at distich 3117). The last two lines come from O. 81, ll. 3 and 4.

Praise be to God! thou realizest that wine Is a juice that frees thy heart from a hundred pains.

_Ref._: O. 81, C. 180, L. 367, B. 363, S.P. 188, P. 231, B. ii. 241, P. v. 187.--W. 203, N. 188, V. 366.

LXI.*

Why, be this Juice the growth of God, who dare Blaspheme the twisted tendril as a Snare? A Blessing, we should use it, should we not? And if a Curse--Why, then, Who set it there?

The inspiration for this quatrain is contained in O. 75.

I drink wine, and everyone drinks who, like me, is worthy of it; My wine-drinking is but a small thing to Him; God knew on the Day of Creation, that I should drink wine; If I do not drink wine God's knowledge would be ignorance.

_Ref._: O. 75, C. 202, L. 356, B. 352, S.P. 182, P. 324, B. ii. 234, T. 129, P. v. 181.--W. 197, N. 182, V. 355.

LXII.*

I must abjure the Balm of Life, I must, Scared by some After-reckoning ta'en on trust, Or lured with Hope of some Diviner Drink, To fill the Cup--when crumbled into Dust!

This quatrain is taken from C. 505 and O. 143, ll. 3 and 4.

They say, «Do not drink wine for thou wilt suffer for it, On the Day of Rewards thou wilt be cast into the fire.» That is so; but what is worth both the worlds Is the moment when thou art elated with wine.

_Ref._: C. 505, L. 748, B. 734, P. 250, B. ii. 587.--V. 800.

Make thyself a heaven here with wine and cup, For at that place where heaven is, thou mayst arrive, or mayst not.

_Ref._: O. 143, C. 495. L. 733, B. 721, S.P. 379, P. 209, B. ii. 529, P. v. 129.--W. 427, N. 383, V. 786.