The Sufistic Quatrains of Omar KhayyamOmar Khayyam
ReligionSufism
The Sufistic Quatrains of Omar Khayyam
Omar Khayyam
FitzGerald, Edward, 1809-1883; Sufi poetry
53. C. L. N. A. I. J. See Koran, lxxxii. 1. Note the _alif i wasls_ in
lines 1 and 2. In line 4 scan _kata lat_, transposing the last vowel.
Bl., Prosody, p. ii.
54.
To knaves Thy secret we must not confide,
To comprehend it is to fools denied,
See then to what hard case Thou doomest men,
Our hopes from one and all perforce we hide.
54. C. L. N. A. B. I. There is a variation of this, beginning _Asrar i
jahan_.
55.
Cupbearer! what though fate's blows here betide us,
And a safe resting-place be here denied us,
So long as the bright wine-cup stands between us,
We have the very Truth at hand to guide us.
55. C. L. N. A. I. In line 3 scan _mayast_. Bl., Prosody, p. 13, and
note _tashdid_ on _hakk_ dropped. Ibid, p. iv.
56.
Long time in wine and rose I took delight,
But then my business never went aright;
Since wine could not accomplish my desire,
I have abandoned and forsworn it quite.
56. C. L. N. A. I. J.
57.
Bring wine! my heart with dancing spirits teems,
Wake! fortune's waking is as fleeting dreams;
Quicksilver-like our days are swift of foot,
And youthful fire subsides as torrent streams.
57. C. L. N. A. I. J. In line 3 scan _bedariyi_.
58.
Love's devotees, not Moslems here you see,
Not Solomons, but ants of low degree;
Here are but faces wan and tattered rags,
No store of Cairene cloth or silk have we.
58. L. N. For the story of Solomon and the ants, see Koran, xxvii., 18.
_Kasab_, linen made in Egypt.
59.
My law it is in pleasure's paths to stray,
My creed to shun the theologic fray;
I wedded Luck, and offered her a dower,
She said, «I want none, so thy heart be gay.»
59. C. L. N. A. I. J.
60.
From mosque an outcast, and to church a foe,
Allah! of what clay didst thou form me so?
Like sceptic monk, or ugly courtesan,
No hopes have I above, no joys below.
60. C. L. N. A. I. J. _Ummed_ has the _tashdid ob metrum_. Bl., Prosody
9. Line 2 is in metre 17. _Gil i mara_ for _gil i man ra_, Vullers, pp.
173 and 193.
61.
Men's lusts, like house-dogs, still the house distress
With clamour, barking for mere wantonness;
Foxes are they, and sleep the sleep of hares;
Crafty as wolves, as tigers pitiless.
61. C. L. N. A. I. J. «Sleep of hares,» deceit.
62.
Yon turf, fringing the margent of the stream,
As down upon a cherub's lip might seem,
Or growth from dust of buried tulip cheeks;
Tread not that turf with scorn, or light esteem!
62. C. L. N. A. I. J. _Juyiy_: the _ya_ of _juy_ is hamzated because
followed by another _ya_. Vullers, p. 24.
63.
Hearts with the light of love illumined well,
Whether in mosque or synagogue they dwell,
Have _their_ names written in the book of love,
Unvexed by hopes of heaven or fears of hell.
63. C. L. N. A. I. J. Compare Hafiz, Ode 79: «Wherever love is, there is
the light of the Beloved's face.»
64.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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