WINE AND WISDOM.
(FROM THE PERSIAN.)
The wise man drinketh well, I wis,
In late or early walking,
The old wine in his cellar is,
The new wit in his talking;
For if you us of one deprive,
The other hardly will survive,
They stand or fall together.
The deeper down we dip in wine,
The more our spirits raise us,
When wisdom's beard can drip in wine,
Then all the world surveys us:
In ecstasy surrounding us,
With threefold transport rapturous,
Of wine and song and loving.
The wise man with his cup you see
Above the vulgar standing,
As mountains looming up you see,
The vale below commanding;
The mountain shines in heaven's light,
Our faces beam with clearer sight,
Illumined by the goblet.
What is it Cato proffers us
Instead of our good living?
Than joys a revel offers us,
What better is he giving?
One thing I know—not he forsooth!
If Clara in her blooming youth
Were teasing me with kisses.
Since life is short and care is long,
This aim the wise can boast of,
The time that will not spare us long,
We mean to make the most of;
Then drop your scruples, youngster do!
Come up here to our jolly crew,
Like sunlight on the mountain.