This pair of quatrains must be considered together. They owe their origin to O. 155 and O. 149.
If a loaf of wheaten bread be forthcoming, A gourd of wine, and a thigh-bone of mutton, And then, if thou and I be sitting in the wilderness,-- That were a joy not within the power of any Sultan.
_Ref._: O. 155, C. 474, L. 697, B. 688, S.P. 442, P. 229, B. ii. 591. T. 292, P. iv. 24, P. v. 109.--W. 479, N. 448, V. 749.
I desire a flask of ruby wine and a book of verses Just enough to keep me alive,[35] and half a loaf is needful, And then, that thou and I should sit in the wilderness, Is better than the kingdom of a Sultan.
_Ref._: O. 149, S.P. 408.--W. 452, N. 413, E.C. 13.
Some for the Glories of This World; and some Sigh for the Prophet's Paradise to come; Ah, take the Cash, and let the Credit go Nor heed the rumble of a distant Drum!
The original of this quatrain is found in O. 34.
They say that the Garden of Eden is pleasant with houris: _I_ say that the juice of the grape is pleasant. Hold fast this cash and keep thy hand from that credit, For the noise of drums, brother, is pleasant from afar.
_Ref._: O. 34, C. 51, L. 95, B. 91, P. iii. 3, P. 323, P. v. 36.--W. 108, V. 95.
They say that there will be heaven and the Fount of Kausar,[36] That there, there will be pure wine and honey and sugar, Fill up the wine-cup and place it in my hand, (For) ready cash is better than a thousand credits.
_Ref._: C. 156, L. 297, B. 293, S.P. 169, B. ii. 223, T. 141.--N. 169, V. 300.
C. 288 reproduces the same image, and we have a parallel for ll. 1 and 2 in ll. 1 and 2 of C. 225.
Mankind are fallen from vain imagining into pride, And are consumed in the search after houris and palaces.[37]
_Ref._: C. 225, L. 279, B. 275, S.P. 167, T. 163.--W. 184, N. 167, V. 283.
O. 40 may also be cited for the closeness of its parallel both to this, and to the preceding quatrain:
I know not whether he who fashioned me Appointed me to dwell in heaven or in dreadful hell, (But) some food, and an adored one, and wine[38] upon the green bank of a field-- All these three are present cash to me: thine be the promised heaven!
_Ref._: O. 40, L. 89, B. 85, C. 107, S.P. 92, T. 84, P. v. 176.--W. 94, N. 92, V. 89.
Look to the blowing Rose about us--«Lo, Laughing,» she says, «into the world I blow, At once the silken tassel of my Purse Tear, and its Treasure on the Garden throw.»