Arabian Poetry: Shorter Pieces of Arabian Poetry: Verses of Yezid To His Father, Mowiah, Who Reproached Him For Drunkenness

MUST then my failings from the shaft
Of anger ne’er escape?
And dost thou storm because I've quaffed
The water of the grape?

That I can thus from wine be driven,
Thou surely ne’er canst think—
Another reason thou hast given
Why I resolve to drink:

’Twas sweet the flowing cup to seize,
’Tis sweet thy rage to see;
And, first, I drink myself to please,
And, next—to anger thee!