Pleasure

Quatrain 09

“But come with old Khayyam, and leave the Lot

Of Kaikobad and Kaikhosru forgot:

Let Rustum lay about him as he will,

Or Hatim Tai cry Supper—heed them not.”

tr. Edward FitzGerald, 1859

Quatrain 11

“Here with a Loaf of Bread beneath the Bough,

A Flask of Wine, a Book of Verse—and Thou

Beside me singing in the Wilderness—

And Wilderness is Paradise enow.”

tr. Edward FitzGerald, 1859

Quatrain 12

“"How sweet is mortal Sovranty!"—think some:

Others—"How blest the Paradise to come!"

Ah, take the Cash in hand and waive the Rest;

Oh, the brave Music of a distant Drum!”

tr. Edward FitzGerald, 1859

Quatrain 13

“Look to the Rose that blows about us—"Lo,

Laughing," she says, "into the World I blow:

At once the silken Tassel of my Purse

Tear, and its Treasure on the Garden throw."”

tr. Edward FitzGerald, 1859

Quatrain 23

“Ah, make the most of what we yet may spend,

Before we too into the Dust Descend;

Dust into Dust, and under Dust, to lie,

Sans Wine, sans Song, sans Singer and—sans End!”

tr. Edward FitzGerald, 1859

Quatrain 34

“Then to this earthen Bowl did I adjourn

My Lip the secret Well of Life to learn:

And Lip to Lip it murmur'd—"While you live,

Drink!—for once dead you never shall return."”

tr. Edward FitzGerald, 1859

Quatrain 37

“Ah, fill the Cup:—what boots it to repeat

How Time is slipping underneath our Feet:

Unborn TO-MORROW and dead YESTERDAY,

Why fret about them if TO-DAY be sweet!”

tr. Edward FitzGerald, 1859

Quatrain 39

“How long, how long, in infinite Pursuit

Of This and That endeavour and dispute?

Better be merry with the fruitful Grape

Than sadden after none, or bitter, Fruit.”

tr. Edward FitzGerald, 1859

Quatrain 40

“You know, my Friends, with what a brave Carouse

I made a Second Marriage in my house:

Divorced old barren Reason from my Bed,

And took the Daughter of the Vine to Spouse.”

tr. Edward FitzGerald, 1859

Quatrain 42

“And lately, by the Tavern Door agape,

Came stealing through the Dusk an Angel Shape,

Bearing a vessel on his Shoulder; and

He bid me taste of it; and 'twas—the Grape!”

tr. Edward FitzGerald, 1859

Quatrain 43

“The Grape that can with Logic absolute

The Two-and-Seventy jarring Sects confute:

The subtle Alchemist that in a Trice

Life's leaden Metal into Gold transmute.”

tr. Edward FitzGerald, 1859

Quatrain 67

“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."”

tr. Edward FitzGerald, 1859

Quatrain 68

“I have a Friend, a Woman-friend indeed,

More frail and fickle than I am told the Rose,—

Wine, Ruby Wine! my bosom-friend in need,

Brings smiling News of Spring before it blows.”

tr. Edward FitzGerald, 1859