Bodleian quatrain nr. 2
Bodenstedt 1881 I.17
Ich mag lieber mit Dir sein in der Schencke,
Um dir Alles zu sagen, was ich denke,
Als ohne Dich vor die Kanzel treten,
In gedankenlosen Worten zu beten.
Ja, Du Schöpfer aller Dinge
Im kreisenden Weltenringe,
So will ich leben und sterben,
Zum Segen oder Verderben!
Cadell 1898 103
It gives me greater joy to speak to Thee
Of that dark secret in the tavern gay
Than without Thee in sombre mosque to pray.
O Thou of all creation First and Last!
Say wilt Thou burn me at the end of time
Or be all goodness then to me and mine?
Christensen 1927 52
If I tell Thee my secrets in the tavern, it is better
than to perform the prayer in the mihráb without Thee.
O Thou, the beginning and the end of all creation.
burn me, if such is Thy will, cherish me, if such is Thy will.
FitzGerald 1859 56
And this I know: whether the one True Light,
Kindle to Love, or Wrath consume me quite,
One Glimpse of It within the Tavern caught
Better than in the Temple lost outright.
Grolleau 1902 2
Je vaut-il pas mieux te dire mes secrètes pensées dans une taverne
Que me prosterner sans Toi devant le Mihrab?
O Toi le Premier et le Dernier de tous les êtres,
Donne-moi l'Enfer ou le Ciel, mais fais de moi ce que tu veux.
Heron-Allen 1898 2
If I talk of the mystery with Thee in a tavern,
it is better than if I make my devotions before the Mihrab without Thee.
O Thou, the first and last of all created beings!
burn me an Thou wilt, or cherish me an Thou wilt.
De Marthold 1910 2
Vaut-il pas mieux t'ouvrir mon coeur à la taverne
Que vers La Mecque en vain sans Toi je me prosterne ?
Toi Premier, Toi Dernier, Toi principe. Toi but.
Enfer ou Ciel pour moi, décide à ta gouverne.
McCarthy 1889 87
I WOULD RATHER IN THE TAVERN
WITH THEE POUR OUT ALL THE
THOUGHTS OF MY HEART, THAN WITH-
OUT THEE GO AND MAKE MY PRAYER
UNTO HEAVEN. THIS, TRULY, O
CREATOR OF ALL THINGS PRESENT AND
TO COME, IS MY RELIGION; WHETHER
THOU CASTEST ME INTO THE FLAMES,
OR MAKEST ME GLAD WITH THE LIGHT
OF THY COUNTENANCE.
Nicolas 1867 222
J'aime mieux être avec toi dans la taverne, et te dire là mes secrètes pensées,que d'aller sans toi faire la prière au méhrab.
Oui ô Créateur de tout ce qui fut et de tout ce qui est! telle est ma foi,soit que tu me fasses brûler, soit que tu m'accordes tes -faveurs.
Payne 1898 465
In the tavern with Thee better secrets to say
Than without Thee it were in the prayer-niche to pray!
O Thou, of all creatures the First and the Last,
At Thy pleasure, caress or consume me away!
Von der Porten 1927 2
Im Gasthaus mit Dir dem Geheimnis nachzugehn,
Ist mehr, als ohne Dich vor dem Mihrâb zu stehn.
Wirst Du, Du erster und Du letzter aller Schöpfung,
Für mich einst Feuer oder Gnade ausersehn?!
Roe 1906 5
And better far, with Thee, in taverns learn,
Than in the temple from Thy visage turn.
Oh, First and Last of all creation Thou,
Whate'er Thou wilt, or cherish me or burn.
Rosen 1928 172
If I secretly discourse with Thee in the tavern,
It is better than if I perform my worship before the niche of prayer without Thee.
Oh Thou the beginning, and Thou the end of all creation! -
Burn me or cherish me as it best pleaseth Thee.
Von Schack 1878 17
Weit lieber mit einer Schönen mag ich im Weinhaus plaudern,
Als ohne sie in den Moscheen beten;
Ja, Gott, ich wage sonder Zagen und Zaudern
Mit diesem Glaubensbekenntniss vor dich zu treten.
Talbot 1908 2
Perchance within the Tavern I may see
The inmost secret of Thy Mystery,
While at the Shrine in ignorance I bow;
Burn me or Bless me; I am part of Thee.
Thompson 1906 305
In taverns better I commune with Thee
Than far from Thee in mosques feign piety;
O Thou of all created first and last!
If Thou wilt, burn, if Thou wilt, cherish me!
Tirtha 1941 VIII.1
I SPEAK to Thee in Tavern, what I feel,
In shrines without Thee Lord! I would not kneel;
Thou art the First Creator, Thou the Last,
Aye! Burn me please, or aye! Thy Grace reveal.
Whinfield 1883 262
In taverns better far commune with Thee,
Than pray in mosques, and fail Thy face to see!
O first and last of all Thy creatures
Thou,'Tis Thine to burn, and Thine to cherish me!
- HERON-ALLEN 1899 - 90