You shall not be less, Khayyam
"We should now go to a different land master..." Disciple said
thoughtfully.
"Any idea?"
They both remained silent for quite a while, until master raised his
voice once again.
 "By
the way I need to tell you this before I forget. We should think of
Edward FitzGerald and Omar Khayyam."
It looked interesting to disciple, but it was confusing at the same
time. Omar Khayyam of Rubaiyat fame is certainly acceptable. But
FitzGerald the translator?
"If not for FitzGerald Khayyam won't be studied this seriously. And
ironically his translations made Iranians look at the poet Khayyam in a
different way. He translated some poems into Latin too."
Disciple was browsing master's bookshelf. Luckily he could locate the
Rubaiyat and it's the FitzGerald translation! He was reading the
introduction given to Khayyam.
"Omar Khayyam (1050-1132) was a Persian scientist and poet. Khayyam
lived in Khurasan as a renowned mathematician, astronomer and
philosopher. Omar's Rubaiyat written in a clear, concise and
epigrammatic style and in a meditative vein, reveals his mind as
concerned with the perennial questions of life and the universe. He
reflects on the frailty of human existence, the cruelty of fate and the
ignorance of man."
Then disciple started reading slowly. Not from the beginning, but
here and there.
How much more of the mosque, of prayer and fasting?
Better go drunk and begging round the taverns.
Khayyam, drink wine, for soon this clay of yours
Will make a cup, bowl, one day a jar.
When once you hear the roses are in bloom,
Then is the time, my love, to pour the wine;
Houris and palaces and Heaven and Hell-
These are but fairy-tales, forget them all.
"Is it difficult to meet Khayyam physically?"
Master was thoughtful for a moment.
"I don't think that's possible son. He lived many centuries ago."
"But sure we can use the time shuttle to visit him."
"It's not that powerful. Perhaps we can meet FitzGerald."
"Who lived in the 1800s," said disciple and made sure he was right
flipping through the pages of Rubaiyat, "but is he that important?"
"You ask it once again. He is important not only because he is one
westerner who turned to study Orientalism, but he is someone who could
give the likes of Khayyam a fresh outlook."
"Perhaps we can see both FitzGerald and Khayyam in the Rubaiyat
verse."
"That's a good idea. That will talk a lot more, I suppose."
Disciple took the book to read, spotting the master settle down in
the sofa quite comfortably.
AWAKE! for Morning in the Bowl of Night
Has flung the Stone that puts the Stars to Flight:
And Lo! the Hunter of the East has caught
The Sultan's Turret in a Noose of Light.
Dreaming when Dawn's Left Hand was in the Sky
I heard a Voice within the Tavern cry,
"Awake, my Little ones, and fill the Cup
Before Life's Liquor in its Cup be dry."
And, as the Cock crew, those who stood before
The Tavern shouted - "Open then the Door!
You know how little while we have to stay,
And, once departed, may return no more."
Now the New Year reviving old Desires.
The thoughtful Soul to Solitude retires,
Where the White Hand Of Moses on the Bough
Puts out, and Jesus from the Ground suspires.
Iram indeed is gone with all his Rose,
And Jamshıd's Sev'n-ring'd Cup where no one knows;
But still the Vine her ancient Ruby yields,
And still a Garden by the Water blows. |
