And gifted of God is he who saith:--

In the morn I am richest of men * And in joy at good news I start
up
For I look on the liquid gold[FN#89] * And I measure it out by
the cup.

And how goodly is the saying of the poet:--

By Allah, this is th' only alchemy * All said of other science
false we see!
Carat of wine on hundredweight of woe * Transmuteth gloomiest
grief to joy and glee.

And that of another:--

The glasses are heavy when empty brought * Till we charge them
all with unmixed wine.
Then so light are they that to fly they're fain * As bodies
lightened by soul divine.

And yet another:--

Wine-cup and ruby-wine high worship claim; * Dishonour 'twere to
see their honour waste:
Bury me, when I'm dead, by side of vine * Whose veins shall
moisten bones in clay misplaced;
Nor bury me in wold and wild, for I * Dread only after death no
wine to taste."[FN#90]