Bodleian quatrain nr. 120
Cadell 1899 - 137
Of "Is" and "Is not" I know the outside,
The inside, too, of human lore possess.
In this my knowledge yet I take no pride,
For I know how to value drunkenness.
FitzGerald 1859 - 41
For "IS" and IS-NOT though with Rule and Line,
And "UP-AND-DOWN" Without, I could define,
I yet in all I only cared to know,
Was never deep in anything but--Wine.
Grolleau 1902 - 120
Je connais le dehors de l'être et du non-être,
Je connais l'intérieur de tout ce qui est haut et bas:
Pourtant, quelle honte de mon savoir
Si je reconnaissais quelque chose de plus haut que l'ivresse.
Heron-Allen 1898 - 120
I know the outwardness of existence and of non-existence,
I know the inwardness of all that is high and low;
nevertheless let me be modest about my own knowledge
if I recognise any degree higher than drunkenness.
De Marthold 1910 - 120
Je connais le dehors de la grave sagesse,
Mesurant haut et bas de tout avec justesse:
Aussi quel désespoir, honte pour mon esprit,
Si je découvrais rien de plus haut que l'ivresse!
Nicolas 1867 - 300
Je connais tou ce que le néant et l'être ont d'apparant; je sais le fond de toute pensée élevée. eh bien! puisse toute cette science être anéantie en moi si je reconnais chez l'homme un état supérieur à celui de l'ivresse!
Von der Porten 1927 - 120
Ich weiß des Seins und Nichtseins äußres Weben,
Ich weiß, was hoch und tief im Innenleben,
Doch meiner Weisheit will ich mich nicht brüsten,
Denn höchste Weisheit: Sich dem Trunk ergeben.
Rosen 1928 - 234
I know all that is perceptible in the visible and in the invisible world,
I know all that is hidden in every height and depth,
But with all my knowledge I am helpless
To tell the state that lies beyond intoxication.
Talbot 1908 - 120
I know, though outwardly, of Life and Death;
And, inwardly, of all above, beneath;
But let me boast not, for I nothing know
Beyond the inspiration of Wine's breath.
Thompson 1906 - 379
What 's manifest in life and death know I,
The heart of everything both low and high;
But shame upon my knowledge if I know
A state that with wine's ecstasy can vie!
Tirtha 1941 - IX.25
To be and not to be, are at my call,
I know when Time intends a rise or fall;
In spite of this, I loath my learned lore,
For He transcends the mystic trances all.
Whinfield 1883 - 336
I know what is, and what is not, I know
The lore of things above, and things below;
But all this lore will cheerfully renounce,
If one a higher grade than drink can show.
- ARBERRY 1949 - 75
- ARBERRY 1952 - 114
- HERON-ALLEN 1899 - 56
- WHINFIELD 1882 - 177