Bodleian quatrain nr. 21
Cadell 1899 - 37
As my first coming was no wish of mine
So my departure I can not devise.
Gird thyself, Saki! Fair bright Saki rise,
Lest time should fail to drink this skin of wine.
Christensen 1927 - 32
Since my coming was not of my own choosing from
the first day, and my going has been irrevocably fixed without my will,
arise and gird thy loins, o nimble Sáqí, for I will
wash down the grief of the world with wine.
Cowell 1858 - 8
My coming was not of mine own design,
And one day I must go, and no choice of mine;
Come, light-handed cupbearer, gird thee to serve,
We must wash down the care of this world with wine.
FitzGerald 1859 - 30
What, without asking, hither hurried whence?
And, without asking, whither hurried hence!
Another and another Cup to drown
The Memory of this Impertinence!
Grolleau 1902 - 21
Puisque ma venue ne fut pas pour moi le jour de la Création
Et que mon départ est l'objet d'une sentence que j'ignore,
Lève-toi et ceins bien tes reins, agile porte-coupe,
Je vais noyer la misère de ce monde dans le vin.
Heron-Allen 1898 - 21
Seeing that my coming was not for me the Day of Creation,
and that my undesired departure hence is a purpose fixed for me,
get up and gird well thy loins, O nimble Cup-bearer,
for I will wash down the misery of the world in wine.
De Marthold 1910 - 21
Puisque je fus créé au hasard du destin
Et que ma fin viendra d'un décret incertain,
Lève-toi, ceins tes reins, agile porte-tasse,
Je noierai le néant de ce monde en du vin.
Payne 1898 - 94
Since hither, willy nilly, I came the other day
And hence must soon be going, without my yea or nay,
Up, cupbearer! thy middle come gird without delay;
The world and all its troubles with wine I 'll wash away.
Von der Porten 1927 - 21
Ich kam zur Welt, mein Kismet war ein harter Pfühl,
Muß wider Willen gehn ich, wer fragt, was ich fühl?!
Komm, Schenke! gürte deine Lenden, bring mir Wein,
Daß ich das Elend dieser Welt hinunterspül!
Roe 1906 - 44
Thrust into life without my own consent,
Thrust back to death, with who knows what intent?
Arise, bright saki, fill the cup with wine
And drown the burden of my discontent.
Von Schack 1878 - 146
Der Mensch kam auf die Welt und wurde nicht gefragt,
Ihn fragen wird man nicht, wenn man hinweg ihn jagt;
So gab der Himmel ihm die Traube zum Geschenke,
Damit er, weinberauscht, der Unbill nicht gedenke.
Talbot 1908 - 21
I was not asked to choose my natal morn,
I die as helplessly as I was born.
Bring wine, and I will strive to wash away
The recollection of Creation's scorn.
Thompson 1906 - 157
Since coming at the first was naught of mine,
And I unwilling go by fixed design,
Cupbearer, rise ! and quickly gird thy loins!
For worldly sorrows I 'll wash down in wine!
Tirtha 1941- VIII.72
Since here I came unwilling and perforce,
To go unplanning is my proper course;
Arise O Guide! and girdle up thy waist,
And with Thy Word absolve me from remorse.
Whinfield 1883 - 110
I came not hither of my own free will,
And go against my wish, a puppet still;
Cupbearer! gird thy loins, and fetch some wine;
To purge the world's despite, my goblet fill.
- HERON-ALLEN 1899 - 30a
- WHINFIELD 1882 - 64