Wine and Beer in the Daily Life and Reli<;ion of the Ancient Orientals, i^r 



sesses it, and the kingdom therein, though small, how great 

 it is!" 'Abid VII, 1718: "We bid up the price of all old 

 wine, strong and fragrant, whiles we are sober. And we hold 

 of no account, in pursuit of its delights, the mass of our 

 inherited wealth, when we are drunken^." When 'Abd-Yag- 

 hiith was taken prisoner and "was about to be gagged, 

 lest he should utter satires against them before being put to 



death: for he was a famous poet then he said "Ye 



men of Taim, if ye must slay me, let me die as befits one 

 noble". "And how wouldst thou die.^" asked they. "Give me 

 wine to drink, and let me sing my death-song, 'he answered'" I 

 Mutalammis^ describes the wine as his sweetheart'*, who 

 exercises such a great power over him, that his own volition 

 completely succumbs to his beloved. It has made him light- 

 minded, frivolous. But, finally, he severs the bonds and gives 

 up drinking, after he recognized that fear of god and thrift 

 are after all more profitable. He says^: 



"My heart is frivolous after a period of rest and it is gene- 

 rous in submissiveness to the friend. 



i) Lyall, o. c, p. 29; see also 'Abid XXVIII, 4 (Lyall, 0. c, p. 59): "If 

 I drink wine, if I buy the costly juice at its price." 

 _ 2) Lyall, 0. c; pp. 84 and 85. 



3) See Vollers, Arabische Gedichte des MiUalammis , in BA, Vol. V. 

 pp. 189 190 and p. 218. 



4) The poet really turns it around and describes his sweetheart as wine. 

 His love is filled for woman as though he is a drinker etc. 



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Lut^, V^iticulture and Brewing. lO 



