The Sufistic Quatrains Of Omar Khayyam Part 21

They say that the moon of Ramazan[83] shines out again Henceforth one cannot linger over the wine; At the end of Sha'ban I will drink so much wine That during Ramazan I may be found drunk until the festival (arrives).

_Ref._: C. 198, L. 352, B. 348, S.P. 172, P. 347, B. ii. 216, T.

125.--W. 188, N. 172, V. 351. See also the quatrain from the Notes, p.

155.

Lx.x.xIV.

Said one among them--Surely not in vain My substance of the common Earth was ta'en And to this Figure moulded, to be broke, Or trampled back to shapeless Earth again.

The sentiment of this quatrain is traceable in C. 293.

There is a cup which wisdom loud acclaims, And for its beauty gives it a hundred kisses on the brow, Such a sweet cup, this Potter of the World Makes, and then shatters it upon the ground.

_Ref._: C. 293, L. 456, B. 452, B. ii. 321, T. 194.--W. 290, V. 495.

Lx.x.xV.

Then said a Second--Ne'er a peevish Boy Would break the Bowl from which he drank in joy; And he that with his hand the Vessel made Will surely not in after Wrath destroy.

The inspiration for this quatrain comes from O. 19.

The elements of a cup which he has put together, Their breaking up a drinker cannot approve;[84]

All these heads and feet--with his finger-tips, For love of whom did he make them?--for hate of whom did he break them?

_Ref._: O. 19, C. 64, L. 40, S.P. 37, P. ii. 7, P. 95, B. ii. 77, T.

309.--W. 42, N. 38, V. 220.

Lx.x.xVI.

After a momentary silence spake Some Vessel of a more ungainly make; They sneer at me for leaning all awry: What! did the Hand then of the Potter shake?

This quatrain is a perfect reflection and companion of all these Kuza Nama quatrains, but I have not found a ruba'i in O. or C. which can be pointed out as having directly inspired[85] it. It must, I think, be considered together with No. 88.

Lx.x.xVII.

Whereat some one of the loquacious Lot-- I think a Sufi pipkin--waxing hot-- All this of Pot and Potter--Tell me, then, Who is the Potter pray, and who the Pot?

Lx.x.xVII. _Ante sub_ Lx.x.xIII.

Lx.x.xVIII.

Why, said another, Some there are who tell Of one who threatens he will toss to h.e.l.l The luckless Pots he marr'd in making--Pish!

He's a Good Fellow, and 'twill all be well.

The inspiration for this quatrain, and I think for No. 86, comes from C.

69 and C. 159:

Since the Director set in order the elements of natures, For what cause does He again disperse them into loss and deficiency?

If they are good, why should He break them?

And if they turn out bad, well, why is there any blame to these forms?

_Ref._: C. 69, L. 103, B. 99, P. 94, B. ii. 107.--W. 126, V. 103.

They say that at the resurrection there will be much searching, And that that excellent Friend will be hasty; Nothing but good ever came from the Unalloyed Goodness, Be happy! for the upshot will be all right!

_Ref._: C. 159, L. 316, B. 312, S.P. 178, P. 197.--W. 193, N. 178, V.

318.

Lx.x.xIX.

Well, murmured one, Let whoso make or buy, My Clay with long Oblivion is gone dry: But fill me with the old familiar Juice, Methinks I might recover by and by.

This quatrain is inspired by C. 188 and O. 116:

At that moment when the plant of my existence shall be rooted up, And its branches scattered in all directions; If then they make a flagon of my clay, When they fill it with wine it will live again.

_Ref._: C. 188, S.P. 115.--N. 115.

When I am abased beneath the foot of Destiny, And am rooted up from the hope of life, Take heed that thou makest nothing but a goblet of my clay, Haply when it is full of wine I may revive.

_Ref._: O. 116, C. 345, L. 539, B. 534, S.P. 289, P. 227, B. ii. 385, T.

230, P. v. 146.--W. 330, N. 290, V. 579.

XC.

So while the Vessels one by one were speaking, The little Moon look'd in that all were seeking: And then they jogg'd each other, Brother! Brother!

Now for the Porter's shoulder-knot a-creaking!

This quatrain which concludes the Kuza Nama is inspired by the concluding quatrain of O. 158.

The month of Ramazan pa.s.ses and Shawwal comes, The season of increase, and joy, and storytellers comes; Now comes that time when Bottles upon the shoulder!

They say--for the porters come and are back to back.[86]

_Ref._: O. 158.--W. 218.

XCI.