an_ of Goethe or the
_Ghaselen_ of Platen. _Carpe diem_ is the sum and substance of the
philosophy of such poems as "Einladung" (p. 287) and "Lebensgnuege" (p.
293); their note is in thorough accord with Hafid, when he exclaims
(H. 525. 7):

[Arabic]
[Arabic]

"to me, who worship the beloved, do not mention anything else; for
except for her and my cup of wine, I care for none." We are admonished
to leave alone idle talk on how and why ("Im Fruehlingsthau," p. 261),
for as Hafid says (H. 487. 11): "Our existence is an enigma, whereof
the investigation is fraud and fable." The tavern is celebrated with as
much enthusiasm (e.g. "Das Weinhaus," p. 290) as the [Arabic] to which
Hafid was destined by God (H. 492. 1). Monks and preachers are scored
mercilessly (e.g. "Der Bussprediger," p. 255; "Dem Prediger," p. 295) as
in H. 430. 7:

[Arabic]
[Arabic]

"The admonisher spoke tauntingly: Wine is forbidden, do not drink!
I said: On my eye (be it); I do not lend my ear to every ass."

The characteristic Persian images and rhetorical figures, familiar to us
from Platen, are also found here in still greater variety and number.
Thus to mention some new ones, the soul is likened to a bird (p. 270,
No. 29, cf. H. 427. 5: [Arabic]); the cypress is invoked to come to the
brook (p. 336, cf. H. 108. 3: [Arabic] "the place
of the straight cypress is on the bank of the brook"); the rose-bush
glows with the fire of Moses ("Gnosis," p. 350, cf. H. 517. 2: [Arabic]
[Arabic] "the rose displays the fire of Musa"); _Hafis_ is an
idol-worshipper (p. 305, "Liebesandacht," cf. H. 439. 6, where
[Arabic] "the idol of sweet motions" is addressed). We meet also the
striking Oriental conception of the dust of the dead being converted
into cups and pitchers. In "Von irdischer Herrlichkeit" (p. 257) the
character "der alte Wirth" is the _pir_ of H. 4. 10 et passim, and
when speaking of the fate of Jamsid, Sulaiman and Ka'us Kai, he says:

Von des Glueckrads hoechstem Gipfel warf der Tod in Staub sie,
Und ein Toepfer nahm den Staub in Dienst des Toepferrades.
Diesen Becher formt' er draus, und glueht' ihn aus im Feuer.
Nimm! aus edlen Schaedeln trink und deiner Lust nicht schad' es!

This very striking thought, as is well known, is extremely common in
Persian poetry. To cite from Hafid (H. 459. 4):

[Arabic]
[Arabic]

"The day when the wheel (of fate) from our dust will make jugs,