THE CONVIVIAL BOOK.
CAN the Koran from Eternity be？
'Tis worth not a thought！
Can the Koran a creation， then， be？
Of that， I know nought！
Yet that the book of all books it must be，I believe， as a Mussulman ought.
That from Eternity wine， though， must be，I ever have thought；That 'twas ordain'd， ere the Angels， to be，As a truth may be taught.
Drinkers， however these matters may be，Gaze on God's face， fearing nought.
1815.
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第一章YE'VE often， for our drunkenness，Blamed us in ev'ry way， And， in abuse of drunkenness，Enough can never say.
Men， overcome by drunkenness，Are wont to lie till day；And yet I find my drunkennessAll night-time make me stray；For， oh！ 'tis Love's sweet drunkennessThat maketh me its prey， Which night and day， and day and night，My heart must needs obey，--A heart that， in its drunkenness，Pours forth full many a lay， So that no trifling drunkennessCan dare assert its sway.
Love， song， and wine's sweet drunkenness，By night-time and by day，--How god-like is the drunkennessThat maketh me its prey！
1815.
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