Omar Khayyám

Quotes

1. Ah Love! could you and I with Him conspire.

2. 

   A book, a woman, and a flask of wine:

   The three make heaven for me; it may be thine

   Is some sour place of singing cold and bare —

   But then, I never said thy heaven was mine.

   p. 32

3. 

   Would but some wing'ed Angel ere too late

   Arrest the yet unfolded Roll of Fate,

   And make the stern Recorder otherwise

   Enregister, or quite obliterate!

4. 

   What! from his helpless Creature be repaid

   Pure Gold for what he lent him dross-allay'd —

   Sue for a Debt he never did contract,

   And cannot answer — Oh, the sorry trade!

5. 

   And when Thyself with shining Foot shall pass

   Among the Guests Star-scatter'd on The Grass,

   And in Thy joyous Errand reach the Spot

   Where I made one — turn down an empty Glass!

6. 

   And this I know: whether the one True Light

   Kindle to Love, or Wrath-consume me quite,

   One Flash of It within the Tavern caught

   Better than in the Temple lost outright.

7. 

   The Vine had struck a fibre: which about

   If clings my being — let the Dervish flout;

   Of my Base metal may be filed a Key,

   That shall unlock the Door he howls without.

8. 

   Yon rising Moon that looks for us again —

   How oft hereafter will she wax and wane;

   How oft hereafter rising look for us

   Through this same Garden — and for one in vain!

9. 

   But here are wine and beautiful young girls,

   Be wise and hide your Sorrows in their curls,

   Dive as you will in life's mysterious sea,

   You shall not bring us any better pearls.

   p. 45

10. 

    One half so precious as the stuff they sell.

11. 

    I wonder often what the Vintners buy

    One half so precious as the stuff they sell.

12. 

    Ah, with the Grape my fading Life provide,

    And wash the Body whence the Life has died,

    And lay me, shrouded in the living Leaf,

    By some not unfrequented Garden-side.