Re: [mukto-mona] Omar Khayyám

Yes, I have Edward FitzGerald's translation. I haven't read it for years but have found since this thread started that I can still recite the verses. 

Does anyone have a reference to another translation to English with which to compare FitzGerald's? Translation always down to the mindset of the individual doing the translating, so it would be interesting to compare.

"Your reward is neither here nor there". Wonderful!

And since  I have been berated for not worshiping Dawkins:

Try this one:

Think, in the batter'd Caravanserai 

Where doorways are alternate Night and Day

How Sultan after Sultan with his pomp

Abode his Hour or two, and went his way.

And this one:

I sometimes think that never blows so red

The Rose where some buried Caesar bled,

That every Hyacinth the Garden wears

Dropt in its Lap from one once lovely Head.

Thank you so much for reminding me of Omar Khayyám 

A.

On 14-Nov-08, at 11:52 PM, "subimal chakrabarty" wrote:

It would be too shallow to quote Omar Khyyam simply to give an instructive message to a believer. Omar Khyyam's rubais have much more deeper meaning that is thought provoking for both believers and nonbelievers. Many believers (examples, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Dr. Shahidullah, Gholam Mostafa (?)) have translated Khyyam. Syed Mujtaba Ali who edited Nazrul's translation has also some of his own. Kanti Ghosh has well known translation of two rubais: "nogod ja pao hat pete nao, bakir khatay shunyo thak durer badyo lav ki shune majh khane je bejay phank" and "prothom matite gora hoye gechhe shesh manusher kay shesh nobanno hobe je dhanye taro beej acjhhe tay."      The above two have been quoted from memory. I have Fitzerald. I think Audrey is referring to this translation. This is superb. I am controlling my temptation to quote some. The above two quotes from Kanti Ghosh (I hope I am right) fully reflect Khyyam's wonderings about human existence and its boundedness, and his destiny. Therefore, value this short life. Wine, Saki, etc. are peripheral.  "Alike for those who for To-day prepare, And those that after a To-morrow stare, A Muezzin from the Tower of Darkness cries 'Fools! your Reward is neither Here nor There!'"       -SC           --- On Wed, 11/12/08, Kamal Das@yahoo.com <Kamal Das@yahoo.com> wrote: From: Kamal Das@yahoo.com <Kamal Das@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Omar Khayyám - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - Sent Using Google Toolbar To: mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com Date: Wednesday, November 12, 2008, 3:14 AM I picked up these verses for their contents.  I hope the believers with blind faith would learn something from them. On Wed, Nov 12, 2008 at 3:54 AM, <"Audrey Manning"> wrote: Ah Omar Khayyám! This brought back memories of when I could recite all 75 verses of the Rubaiyat from memory. Thanks, Audrey On 5-Nov-08, at 1:28 AM, Kamal Das wrote: Omar Khayyám - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia .org/wiki/ The Koran! well, come put me to the test— Lovely old book in hideous error drest—  Believe me, I can quote the Koran too, The unbeliever knows his Koran best.   And do you think that unto such as you, A maggot-minded, starved, fanatic crew,  God gave the secret, and denied it me?— Well, well, what matters it! believe that too. "Heed not the Sunna, nor the law divine; If to the poor his portion you assign, And never injure one, nor yet abuse, I guarantee you heaven, and now some wine! Slaves of vain wisdom and philosophy, Who toil at Being and Nonentity, Parching your brains till they are like dry grapes, Be wise in time, and drink grapejuice like me! You, who in carnal lusts your time employ, Wearing your precious spirit with annoy, Know that these things you set your heart upon Sooner or later must the soul destroy! Never in this false world on friends rely, (I give this counsel confidentially) ; Put up with pain, and seek no antidote; Endure your grief, and ask no sympathy! You know all secrets of this earthly sphere, Why then remain a prey to empty fear? You can not bend things to your will, but yet Cheer up for the few moments you are here!"

__._,_.___

*****************************************
Sign the Petition : Release the Arrested University Teachers Immediately : An Appeal to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh

http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/university_teachers_arrest.htm

*****************************************
Daily Star publishes an interview with Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/news/daily_star/daily_star_MM.pdf

*****************************************

MM site is blocked in Islamic countries such as UAE. Members of those theocratic states, kindly use any proxy (such as http://proxy.org/) to access mukto-mona.

*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates 5th Anniversary
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/5_yrs_anniv/index.htm

*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates Earth Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Earth_day2006/index.htm

*****************************************
Kansat Uprising : A Special Page from Mukto-Mona 
http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/kansat2006/members/


*****************************************
MM Project : Grand assembly of local freedom fighters at Raumari
http://www.mukto-mona.com/project/Roumari/freedom_fighters_union300306.htm

*****************************************
German Bangla Radio Interviews Mukto-Mona Members:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/german_radio/


Mukto-Mona Celebrates Darwin Day:

http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/index.htm

*****************************************

Some FAQ's about Mukto-Mona:

http://www.mukto-mona.com/new_site/mukto-mona/faq_mm.htm

****************************************************

VISIT MUKTO-MONA WEB-SITE : http://www.mukto-mona.com/

****************************************************

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
               -Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190

Your email settings: Individual Email|Traditional
Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch to Fully Featured
Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe

__,_._,___