Preface
'Every moment a breath of life is spent; if I consider, not much of it remains. O thou, whose fifty [years] have elapsed in sleep, wilt thou perhaps overtake them in these five days?[1]Shame on him who has gone and done no work; the drum of departure was beaten, but he had not made his load. Sweet sleep on the morning of departure retains the pedestrian from the road. Whoever had come had built a new edifice; he departed and left the place to another, and that other one concocted the same futile schemes, and this edifice was not completed by anyone. Cherish not an inconstant friend, such a traitor is not fit for amity. As all the good and bad must surely die, he is happy who carries off the ball of virtue. Send provision for thy journey to thy tomb, nobody will bring it after thee; send it before; life is snow, the sun is melting hot,[2] but little remains, but the gentleman is slothful still. O thou who hast gone empty-handed to the bazâr, I fear thou wilt not bring a towel filled. Who eats the corn has sown while it is still green, must at harvest time glean the ears of it. Listen with all they heart[3] to the advice of Sa'di; such is the way, be a man and travel on.
'The capital of man's life is his abdomen: if it be gradually emptied there is no fear; but if it be so closed as not to open, the heart may well despair of life; and if it be open so that it cannot be closed, go and wash thy hands of this world's life. Four contending rebellious dispositions[4] harmonise but five days[5] with each other; if one of these four becomes prevalent,
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- ↑ The poet here asks himself whether he will be able to make up for his long inactivity, during the brief span of life still remaining to him.
- ↑ Literally, 'the sun is Tamuz,' and the Syrian month Tamuz corresponds to July.
- ↑ Literally 'with the ears of the soul.'
- ↑ The four humours or temperaments, namely, the bilious, lymphatic, melancholy, and sanguine are meant in this line.
- ↑ Meaning 'a short time.'
