As drench'd in wine, the other night,
Zeid from the banquet sallied,
Thus I reprov'd his drunken plight,
Thus he my prudence rallied;
"In bev'rage so impure and vile,
How canst thou thus delight?"--
"My cups," he answer'd with a smile,
"Are generous and bright."
"Beware those dang'rous draughts," I cried,
"With love the goblet flows"--
"And curst is he," the youth replied,
"Who hatred only knows."
"Those cups too soon with sickness fraught
Thy stomach shall deplore"--
"Then soon," he cried, "the noxious draught
And all its ills are o'er."
"Rash youth, thy guilty joys resign."
"I will," at length he said,
"I vow I'll bid adieu to wine
As soon as I am dead."
_Yahia Ben Salamet_.
[40] This author was a native of Syria, and died at Miafarakir in the
year of the Hegira 553.