At the Cafe d'Alsace

Last night, at the Cafe d'Alsace, our host acquainted us with these lines from "The Kasidah of Haji Adul El-Yezdi," by Richard F. Burton:

                                         

                                        Cease, Man, to mourn, to weep, to wail; 

                                        enjoy thy shining hour of sun;

                                        We dance along death's icy brink,

                                        but is the dance less full of fun?