That Edward FitzGerald was not following any particular ruba'iyat of the original MSS. is clearly indicated by the great variation observable in the forms that this quatrain successively assumed in the first, second and third editions. It suggests an exposition of the Sufi doctrine of the emanation of the mortal Creature from God the Creator, and his reabsorption into God. There is a quatrain in L. (No. 641) and in B. ii. (No. 457) which is akin to it, but FitzGerald was not acquainted with these texts. (It is No. 400 in W.) I have no doubt that FitzGerald's 34th quatrain was suggested to him by two intricate passages in the Mantik ut-tair, commencing respectively at distich 3090 and distich 3735. The first of these may be translated: «The Creator of the World spoke thus to David from behind the Curtain of the Secret: ‹For everything in the world, good or bad, visible or invisible, thou canst find a substitute, but for Me, thou canst find neither substitute nor equal. Since nothing can be substituted for Me, do not cease to abide in Me. I am thy Soul, destroy not thou thy Soul, I am necessary to thee, O thou my servant. Seek not to exist apart from Me.›» The second passage reads: «Since long ago, really, I am thee, and thou art Me, we two are but One. Art thou Me, or am I thee? is there any duality in the matter? Either I am thee, or thou art Me, or thou, thou art thyself. Since thou art Me and I am thee for ever, our two bodies are One: Salutation!» XXXV. Then to the Lip of this poor earthen Urn I lean'd, the Secret of my Life to learn; And Lip to Lip it murmur'd--«While you live, «Drink!--for, once dead, you never shall return.» This quatrain is translated from O. 100: In great desire I pressed my lips to the lip of the jar, To enquire from it how long life might be attained; It joined its lip to mine and whispered, «Drink wine! for to this world thou returnest not.» _Ref._: O. 100, C. 283, L. 446, B. 442, P. 99, B. ii. 303, T. 185, P. v. 193.--W. 274, E.C. 25, V. 482. C. 489 is a mystic and doctrinal quatrain containing the same injunction. Drink wine! for I have told you a thousand times There is no returning for you; when you are gone, you are _gone_! _Ref._: C. 489, L. 723, B. 712, S.P. 385, B. ii. 526, P. iv. 67, P. v. 104--W. 431, N. 389, V. 775. XXXVI. I think the Vessel, that with fugitive Articulation answer'd, once did live, And drink; and Ah! the passive Lip I kiss'd, How many Kisses might it take--and give! The inspiration for this quatrain occurs in O. 9. This jug was once a plaintive lover, as I am, And was in pursuit of one of comely face;[50] This handle that thou seest upon its neck Is an arm that once lay around the neck of a friend. _Ref._: O. 9, C. 48 and 426, L. 81, B. 77, S.P. 28, P. 108, B. ii. 28, P. v. 142.--W. 32, N. 28, E.C. 5, V. 80. XXXVII.