Omar Khayyám

Quotes

1. Alas, that Spring should vanish with the Rose!

   That Youth's sweet-scented Manuscript should close!

   The Nightingale that in the Branches sang,

   Ah, whence, and whither flown again, who knows!

2. 

   As impotently moves as you or I.

3. 

   Came out by the same Door where in I went.

4. 

   Strange, is it not? that of the myriads who

   Before us pass'd the door of Darkness through,

   Not one returns to tell us of the Road,

   Which to discover we must travel too.

5. 

   'Tis but a Tent where takes his one day's rest

   A Sultan to the realm of Death addrest;

   The Sultan rises, and the dark Ferrash

   Strikes, and prepares it for another Guest.

6. 

   Up from Earth's Centre through the Seventh Gate

   rose, and on the Throne of Saturn sate;

   And many a Knot unravel'd by the Road;

   But not the Master-knot of Human Fate.

7. 

   Waste not your Hour, nor in the vain pursuit

   Of This and That endeavour and dispute;

   Better be jocund with the fruitful Grape

   Than sadden after none, or bitter, Fruit.

8. 

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

   How Time is slipping underneath our Feet:

   Unborn and dead ,

   Why fret about them if be sweet!

9. 

   Into this Universe, and why not knowing,

   Nor whence, like Water willy-nilly flowing:

   And out of it, as Wind along the Waste,

   I know not whither, willy-nilly blowing.

10. 

    With them the Seed of Wisdom did I sow,

    And with my own hand labour'd it to grow:

    And this was all the Harvest that I reap'd—

    "I came like Water, and like Wind I go."

11. 

    For in the Market-place, one Dusk of Day,

    I watch'd the Potter thumping his wet Clay:

    And with its all obliterated Tongue

    It murmur'd—"Gently, Brother, gently, pray!"

12. 

    Why, if the Soul can fling the Dust aside,

    And naked on the Air of Heaven ride,

    Were't not a Shame — were't not a Shame for him

    In this clay carcase crippled to abide?