The Sufistic Quatrains Of Omar Khayyam Part 10

The cup is a hundred times better than the kingdom of Feridun,[33]

The tile that covers the jar is better than the crown of Kai Khosru.

_Ref._: O. 136, L. 650, B. 642, S.P. 378, P. 246, B. ii. 511, P. v.

178.--N. 382, V. 609.

One draught of wine is better than the Empire of Kawus, And is better than the Throne of Kobad and the Empire of Tus.

_Ref._: C. 57, L. 122, B. 119, S.P. 61, P. 297.--W. 64, N. 61, V. 121.

The last two lines are translated from C. 503 (ll. 3 and 4).

Bow not thy neck though Rustum son of Zal be thy foe, Be not grateful though Hatim Tai befriend thee.[34]

_Ref._: C. 503, L. 746, B. 732. S.P. 411, P. 150, B. ii. 552, P. iv.

23.--W. 455, N. 416, V. 798.

XI.

With me along the strip of Herbage strown That just divides the desert from the sown, Where name of Slave and Sultan is forgot-- And Peace to Mahmud on his golden Throne!

XII.

A Book of Verses underneath the Bough, A Jug of Wine, a Loaf of Bread--and Thou Beside me singing in the Wilderness-- Oh, Wilderness were Paradise enow!

This pair of quatrains must be considered together. They owe their origin to O. 155 and O. 149.

If a loaf of wheaten bread be forthcoming, A gourd of wine, and a thigh-bone of mutton, And then, if thou and I be sitting in the wilderness,-- That were a joy not within the power of any Sultan.

_Ref._: O. 155, C. 474, L. 697, B. 688, S.P. 442, P. 229, B. ii. 591. T.

292, P. iv. 24, P. v. 109.--W. 479, N. 448, V. 749.

I desire a flask of ruby wine and a book of verses Just enough to keep me alive,[35] and half a loaf is needful, And then, that thou and I should sit in the wilderness, Is better than the kingdom of a Sultan.

_Ref._: O. 149, S.P. 408.--W. 452, N. 413, E.C. 13.

XIII.

Some for the Glories of This World; and some Sigh for the Prophet's Paradise to come; Ah, take the Cash, and let the Credit go Nor heed the rumble of a distant Drum!

The original of this quatrain is found in O. 34.

They say that the Garden of Eden is pleasant with houris: _I_ say that the juice of the grape is pleasant.

Hold fast this cash and keep thy hand from that credit, For the noise of drums, brother, is pleasant from afar.

_Ref._: O. 34, C. 51, L. 95, B. 91, P. iii. 3, P. 323, P. v. 36.--W.

108, V. 95.

C. 156 is almost identical in sentiment:

They say that there will be heaven and the Fount of Kausar,[36]

That there, there will be pure wine and honey and sugar, Fill up the wine-cup and place it in my hand, (For) ready cash is better than a thousand credits.

_Ref._: C. 156, L. 297, B. 293, S.P. 169, B. ii. 223, T. 141.--N. 169, V. 300.

C. 288 reproduces the same image, and we have a parallel for ll. 1 and 2 in ll. 1 and 2 of C. 225.

Mankind are fallen from vain imagining into pride, And are consumed in the search after houris and palaces.[37]

_Ref._: C. 225, L. 279, B. 275, S.P. 167, T. 163.--W. 184, N. 167, V.

283.

O. 40 may also be cited for the closeness of its parallel both to this, and to the preceding quatrain:

I know not whether he who fashioned me Appointed me to dwell in heaven or in dreadful h.e.l.l, (But) some food, and an adored one, and wine[38] upon the green bank of a field-- All these three are present cash to me: thine be the promised heaven!

_Ref._: O. 40, L. 89, B. 85, C. 107, S.P. 92, T. 84, P. v. 176.--W. 94, N. 92, V. 89.

XIV.

Look to the blowing Rose about us--Lo, Laughing, she says, into the world I blow, At once the silken ta.s.sel of my Purse Tear, and its Treasure on the Garden throw.

This quatrain is translated from C. 383

The rose said: I brought a gold-scattering hand, Laughing, laughing, have I blown into the world, I s.n.a.t.c.hed the noose-string from off the head of my purse and I am gone!

I flung into the world all the ready money that I had.

_Ref._: C. 383 _only_.

XV.

And those who husbanded the Golden grain, And those who flung it to the winds like Rain, Alike to no such aureate Earth are turn'd As, buried once, Men want dug up again.

The inspiration for this quatrain comes from O. 68.

Ere that fate makes an attack upon thy head Give orders that they bring thee rose-coloured wine; Thou art not treasure, O heedless dunce! that thee They hide in the earth and then dig up again.[39]

_Ref._: O. 68, C. 151, L. 277, B. 273, S.P. 156, P. 336, P. v. 11.--W.

175, N. 156, E.C. 31, V. 281.

XVI.

The Worldly Hope men set their Hearts upon Turns Ashes--or it prospers; and anon, Like Snow upon the Desert's dusty Face, Lighting a little hour or two--is gone.