[73] The editor of the «Calcutta Review» appends the following note at the foot of Prof. Cowell's article (E.C.), «These lanthorns are very common in Calcutta. They are made of a tall cylinder with figures of men and animals cut out of paper and pasted on it. The cylinder, which is very light, is suspended on an axis, round which it easily turns. A hole is cut near the bottom, and the part cut out is fixed at an angle to the cylinder so as to form a vane. When a small lamp or candle is placed inside, a current of air is produced which keeps the cylinder slowly revolving.» [74] This refers to the game of Polo. In the First and Second Editions for «Here or There» we read «Right or Left» as in the original. [75] C. reads «Upon the Tablet.» [76] Literally, «For the Pen once gone comes not back.» [77] See FitzGerald's note on this quatrain. [78] _i.e._, Of reality as opposed to the dream existence of the present. (E.B.C.) [79] The _Mihrab_ is the spot in a Mosque indicating the precise direction of Mecca towards which all Muhammadans turn in prayer. [80] This metaphor recurs frequently in the ruba'iyat. Compare W. 261 (N. 221) and W. 275 (L. 428). [81] _i.e._, «it was quite problematical how I might turn out.» [82] Here begins the section devoted especially to the talking pots in the workshop of the potter--it ends at quatrain No. 90. In the first edition this section was entitled KUZA-NAMA = the «Pot-book» or «Book of Pots.» It may be observed that the quatrains in this section are not so closely rendered from recognisable originals as the other quatrains composing FitzGerald's poem. This may be accounted for by the fact that the comparison between the human form--the Personal Ego--and a pot made of earth by the Supreme Potter (if one may be allowed the phrase) is constantly recurrent in all ruba'iyat attributed to Omar Khayyam. The section is therefore to a great extent a poetical reflection upon this phase of the philosophy of the ruba'iyat. The use FitzGerald has made of O. 103 cannot fail to amaze the student. _Vide_ his own Note to quatrain 89. [83] Ramazan (or Ramadan) is the ninth month of the Muhammadan year, which is observed as a month of fasting and penance, during which rigid Moslems may neither eat, drink, wash, nor caress their wives, excepting so far as is necessary to support life. Sha'ban is the month immediately preceding it. Shawwal is the month that follows it, which begins with the great feast of Bairam, the festival referred to in line 4. [84] A very obscure distich to translate. The sense is here, however. [85] Compare Romans ch. ix. v. 21. «Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour.» [86] _i.e._, Helping one another to raise their loads. Prof. Denison Ross suggests that this refers to the cry of the porters and muleteers in the narrow streets of Persian cities. «_Pusht! Pusht!_» _i.e._, «Mind your backs!»