[28] Numbers of quatrains distinguished by the asterisk indicate that the quatrains were not in FitzGerald's first edition, but made their appearance in the second or subsequent editions. FitzGerald may therefore have been «reminded of» them by (and in some instances took them direct from) the text and translation of Nicolas, referred to as N [29] C. reads «Since life passes, what is sweet and what is bitter?» [30] _Dai_ is the month that ushers in the winter quarter of the Muhammadan year. [31] _i.e._, Jamshyd the «_Roi soleil_» of early Persian history, and the Kaianian dynasty--Kai Kobad, Kai Kawus, Kai Khosru, etc. [32] It will be observed that the introduction of Zal in this line was made by FitzGerald in the third edition for metrical effect. The versions in the first edition «Let Rustum lay about him as he will,» and in the second «Let Rustum cry ‹to battle› as he likes» are closer to the phrase in the original «Rustum _son_ of Zal.» [33] Feridun was the sixth king of the Paish-dadian dynasty. _Jamish_ is evidently an error for _Jam-ist_. _Vide_ the MS. [34] See FitzGerald's note to this quatrain. [35] Literally «a stopper of the last breath.» [36] Kausar, in Persian mythology, is the head-stream of the Muhammadan Paradise, whence all other rivers are supposed to flow. A whole chapter of the Qur'an is devoted to this miraculous stream, whose Saki is Ali, the son-in-law of Muhammad. [37] This Persian here is a quotation from a famous verse in the Qur'an, XXV. 11, «Blessed is He who, if He pleaseth, will make for thee a better provision than this, namely, gardens under which rivers flow, and he will provide thee palaces.»--E.B.C. [38] C. reads for «food» and «wine,» «goblet» and «lute,» whence we get «thou beside me _singing_ in the wilderness.» [39] These two lines refer to the practice in the East of burying treasure to hide it when a night attack (line 1) of dacoits or robbers is anticipated. [40] See FitzGerald's note upon this hero, and the following quatrain. [41] Moles or «beauty spots» are very highly esteemed in the East. [42] _i.e._, If life were eternal, you could not take the place of others who have died before you. L. 2, _lit._: «let the world pass, etc.» [43] _i.e._, the Mystic Road or Way of Salvation. [44] Burak was the winged mule of Muhammad on which he is said to have journeyed from Jerusalem to heaven. [45] This is a very difficult quatrain to translate. The mystic soaring of the soul in search of enlightenment is compared to the flight of a falcon. In l. 3, _lit._: «any partner of the secret.» [46] C. reads these two lines:-- These two or three days of the period of my existence pass by They pass as passes the wind in the desert. [47] Compare FitzGerald's «First Morning of Creation» in q. 73. [48] _i.e._, the Curtain that Veils the Mysteries of God, a constantly recurring image in Persian literature.