
The Poet's Night of Lamps and Wine
From C2.1, The Prelude. It illustrates C2.1.15–26 (to C2.1.27):
- C2.1.15Amid that vigil’s grief, with tightened breast,I rose, estranged from comfort, sleep, and rest.
- C2.1.16Within my house there lived a loving soul,To whom I called and bade her bring a coal.
- C2.1.17She came into the garden, bright and fair,My darling idol, with a moonlit air.
- C2.1.18She said: “What need of light? Why wake and weep?Will night not bring your wounded spirit sleep?”
- C2.1.19I said: “My idol, sleep will not draw near;Bring me a candle, sun-bright, strong, and clear.
- C2.1.20Set it before me; spread the banquet board,Then take the chang, and let the wine be poured.”
- C2.1.21My darling brought me shining lamps and wine,With quince and orange, pomegranates fine.
- C2.1.22She brought a goblet fit for royal state,Then poured the wine and touched the chang till late.
- C2.1.23As though famed Harut had displayed his art,The darkness lost dominion in my heart.
- C2.1.24My heart was victor over all desire;The dark night turned to daylight by that fire.
- C2.1.25Now hear the words my kind companion said,Once we and the bright goblet had been wed.
- C2.1.26That moon-faced sun addressed me with a smile:“May heaven crown your life through every trial.
In the picture
Woodcut panels, identity sheets and banners © 2026 New Naqqali LLC, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0: share and adapt them for non-commercial use, with credit to New Naqqali. Rights & permissions.
New Naqqali
