The Sufistic Quatrains Of Omar Khayyam - Part 27
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Part 27

XLIII. In ed. 2:

So when at last the Angel of the drink Of Darkness finds you by the river-brink, And, proffering his Cup, invites your Soul Forth to your Lips to quaff it--do not shrink.

In the first draft of ed. 3 the only change made was from proffering to offering, but in ed. 3 the stanza a.s.sumed the form in which it also appeared in ed. 4. The change from the Angel to that Angel was made in MS. by FitzGerald in a copy of ed. 4.

XLIV. In ed. 2:

Is't not a shame--is't not a shame for him So long in this Clay suburb to abide!

XLV. In ed. 2:

But that is but a Tent wherein may rest.

XLVI. In ed. 2:

And fear not lest Existence closing _your_ Account, should lose, or know the type no more.

XLVII. In ed. 2:

As much as Ocean of a pebble-cast.

In ed. 3:

As the SEV'N SEAS should heed a pebble-cast.

XLVIII. In ed. 2:

One Moment in Annihilation's Waste, One Moment, of the Well of Life to taste-- The Stars are setting, and the Caravan Draws to the Dawn of Nothing--Oh make haste.

In the first draft of ed. 3 the third line originally stood:

Before the starting Caravan has reach'd

the rest of the stanza being as in edd. 3 and 4.

STANZA

XLIX. In ed. 2:

A Hair, they say, divides the False and True.

The change from does to may in the last line was made by FitzGerald in MS.

L. In ed. 2:

A Hair, they say, divides the False and True.

LII. In edd. 2 and 3:

He does Himself contrive, enact, behold.

LIII. In the first draft of ed. 3:

To-morrow, when You shall be You no more.

LIV. In ed. 2:

Better be merry with the fruitful Grape.

LV. In ed. 2:

You know, my Friends, how bravely in my House For a new Marriage I did make Carouse.

LVII. In ed. 2:

Have squared the Year to Human Compa.s.s, eh?

If so, by striking from the Calendar.

LXII. In ed. 2

When the frail Cup is crumbled into Dust!

LXIII. In ed. 2:

The Flower that once is blown for ever dies.

LXV. In edd. 2 and 3:

They told their fellows, and to Sleep return'd.

LXVI. In ed. 2:

And after many days my Soul return'd And said, Behold, Myself am Heav'n and h.e.l.l.

LXVII. In ed. 2:

And h.e.l.l the Shadow of a Soul on fire.

LXVIII. In ed. 2:

Of visionary Shapes that come and go Round with this Sun-illumin'd Lantern held.

LXIX. In ed. 2:

Impotent Pieces of the Game He plays.

LXX. In ed. 2: