Bodleian quatrain nr. 19
Anet 1957 - 67
Une coupe fine que le vin a remplie
même un homme ivre n'ose la briser?
Tant de têtes et tant de pieds délicats,
par quel amour ont-ils été réunis? par quelle haine séparés?
Cadell 1899 - 12
He who has formed the goblet from the clay
Can ne'er destroy his art's surpassing token.
These hands and feet and face of beauty - say,
Why framed in love, and why in fury broken?
Christensen 1927 - 77
It is not allowable for a man, [even when] drunk, to de-
stroy the composition of a cup which he has put together.
So many fair heads and feet, formed by His hand, for
love of whom did He make them? and for hate of whom
did He destroy them?
FitzGerald 1859 - 62
Another said--"Why, ne'er a peevish Boy,
"Would break the Bowl from which he drank in Joy;
"Shall He that made the Vessel in pure Love
"And Fancy, in an after Rage destroy?
Grolleau 1902 - 19
Ces atomes d'une coupe qu'il façonna pour l'emplir de vin,
Le buveur ne permettra pas qu'il soit dispersé au hasard.
Tous ces ornements délicats que ses doigts assemblèrent...
Pour l'amour de qui les fit-il? en haine de qui les briserait-il?
Heron-Allen 1898 - 19
The elements of a cup which he has put together,
their breaking up a drinker cannot approve,
all these heads and delicate feet—with his finger-tips,
for love of whom did he make them?—for hate of whom did he break them?
De Marthold 1910 - 19
Tasse qu'il façonna pour y verser du vin,
Le buveur ne veut pas qu'on te jette au chemin:
Ornements que ses doigts par amour assemblèrent,
En haine de qui donc vous briser de sa main?
McCarthy 1889 - 100
WHO CAN BELIEVE THAT HE WHO
MADE THE CUP WOULD DREAM OF
DESTROYING IT? ALL THOSE FAIR
FACES, ALL THOSE LOVELY LIMBS, ALL
THOSE ENCHANTING BODIES, WHAT
LOVE HAS MADE THEM, AND WHAT
HATE DESTROYS THEM?
Nicolas 1867 - 38
Qui croira jamais que celui qui a confectionné la coupe
puisse songer à la détruire? Toutes ces belles têtes, tous ces beaux bras,
toutes ces mains charmantes, par quel amour ont-ils été créés,
et par quelle haine sont-ils détruits?
Von der Porten 1927 - 19
Er nahm die Elemente, und Er formt' den Becher,
Daß der zur Scherbe wieder werde, schmerzt den Zecher;
Der Hals, der schlanke Fuß! Was Er aus Liebe schuf
Mit Künstlerhand, zerstört Er wieder das als Rächer?
Rosen 1928 - 10
The parts which have united to form a goblet
Even the intoxicated refrain to break up again.
So many heads and tender hands;
By whose bounty were they united and through whose wrath were they broken up?
Talbot 1908 - 19
The Craftsman who hath made a cup so rare
To hold his wine, will handle it with care.
For love of whom, then, made He thee and me,
For hate of whom to break and not to spare?
Thompson 1906 - 81
The framework of the cup He did unite.
To break in rage how should God deem it right?
So many comely heads, feet, hands and arms!
Shaped by what love, and broke in what despite?
Tirtha 1941 - V.16
We know that body once can earn His grace,
We should not wear it hence in wasteful ways;
Such graceful form, and slender hands and face,
He cherished so, should we in hate efface?
Whinfield 1883 - 42
Behold these cups ! Can He who deigned to make them,
In wanton freak let ruin overtake them,
So many shapely feet and hands and heads, —
What love drives Him to make, what wrath to break them?
- ARBERRY 1949 - 91
- ARBERRY 1952 - 135
- BOWEN 1961 - 50
- DASHTI 1969 - 22
- FURUGHI 1942 - 22
- GRAVES 1968 - 92
- HEDAYAT 1934 - 44
- HERON-ALLEN 1899 - 85
- KASRA 1975 - 22
- MAHFUZ 1939 - 52
- SAIDI 1991 - 66
- WHINFIELD 1882 - 22