Changes

Undoubtedly the best-known stanza is:

Undoubtedly the best-known stanza is:

&nbsp;&nbsp;A Book of Verses underneath the Bough,<br>

:''A Book of Verses underneath the Bough,

&nbsp;&nbsp;A Jug of Wine, a Loaf of Bread&mdash;and Thou<br>

:''A Jug of Wine, a Loaf of Bread&mdash;and Thou

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Beside me singing in the Wilderness&mdash;<br>

::''Beside me singing in the Wilderness&mdash;

&nbsp;&nbsp;Oh, Wilderness were Paradise enow!<br>

:''Oh, Wilderness were Paradise enow!

Another famous verse, highlighting the futility of regret, is referred to in the musical [[Kismet]]:

Another famous verse, highlighting the futility of regret, is referred to in the musical [[Kismet]]:

&nbsp;&nbsp;The Moving Finger writes; and having writ,<br>

:''The Moving Finger writes; and having writ,

&nbsp;&nbsp;Moves on; nor all your Piety nor Wit<br>

:''Moves on; nor all your Piety nor Wit

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,<br>

::''Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,

&nbsp;&nbsp;Nor all your tears wash out a word of it.<br>

:''Nor all your tears wash out a word of it.

FitzGerald's translation is not literal. FitzGerald believed he was being true to the spirit of the original.

FitzGerald's translation is not literal. FitzGerald believed he was being true to the spirit of the original.

Khayyam alludes to his professional work as mathematician and astronomer in the quatrain:

Khayyam alludes to his professional work as mathematician and astronomer in the quatrain:

&nbsp;&nbsp;Ah, but my Computations, People say,<br>

:''Ah, but my Computations, People say,

&nbsp;&nbsp;Reduced the Year to better reckoning?&mdash;Nay<br>

:''Reduced the Year to better reckoning?&mdash;Nay

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'Twas only striking from the Calendar<br>

::''<nowiki>'</nowiki>Twas only striking from the Calendar

&nbsp;&nbsp;Unborn To-morrow, and dead Yesterday.<br>

:''Unborn To-morrow, and dead Yesterday.

[[Category:Poetry|Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyam, The]]

[[Category:Poetry|Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyam, The]]