Oneself to defend!

1814
-----
For woman due allowance make!

Form’d of a crooked rib was she,—­

By Heaven she could not straightened be. 
Attempt to bend her, and she’ll break;
If left alone, more crooked grows madam;
What well could be worse, my good friend, Adam?—­
For woman due allowance make;
’Twere grievous, if thy rib should break!

1819.*
-----
Firdusi (Speaks).

Oh world, with what baseness and guilt thou art rife!

Thou nurtures, trainest, and illest the while.

He only whom Allah doth bless with his smile
Is train’d and is nurtured with riches and life.

1819.*
-----
Suleika (Speaks).

The mirror tells me, I am fair!

Thou sayest, to grow old my fate will be. 
Nought in God’s presence changeth e’er,—­

Love him, for this one moment, then, in me.

1819.*
-----
V. RENDSCH name

BOOK OF GLOOM.

It is a fault oneself to praise,

And yet ’tis done by each whose deeds are kind;
And if there’s no deceit in what he says,

The good we still as good shall find.

Let, then, ye fools, that wise man taste

Of joy, who fancies that he s wise,
That he, a fool like you, may waste

Th’ insipid thanks the world supplies.

1816.
-----
VI.  HIKMET name.

BOOK OF PROVERBS.

Call on the present day and night for nought,
Save what by yesterday was brought.
-----
The sea is flowing ever,
The land retains it never.
-----
Be stirring, man, while yet the day is clear;
The night when none can work fast Draweth near.
-----
When the heavy-laden sigh,
Deeming help and hope gone by,
Oft, with healing power is heard,
Comfort-fraught, a kindly word.
-----
How vast is mine inheritance, how glorious and sublime! 
For time mine own possession is, the land I till is time!
-----
Unwary saith,—­ne’er lived a man more true;
The deepest heart, the highest head he knew,—­
“In ev’ry place and time thou’lt find availing
Uprightness, judgment, kindliness unfailing.”
-----
Though the bards whom the Orient sun bath bless’d
Are greater than we who dwell in the west,
Yet in hatred of those whom our equals we find. 
In this we’re not in the least behind.
-----

Would we let our envy burst,

Feed its hunger fully first! 
To keep our proper place,

We’ll show our bristles more;
With hawks men all things chase,

Except the savage boar.
-----
By those who themselves more bravely have fought
A hero’s praise will be joyfully told. 
The worth of man can only be taught
By those who have suffer’d both heat and cold.
-----
“Wherefore is truth so far from our eyes,
Buried as though in a distant land?”
None at the proper moment are wise!

Could they properly understand,