Bodleian quatrain nr. 29
Bodenstedt 1881 - IV.1
Kein Mensch kann den Schleier der Schöpfung heben,
Uns ward nur ein Obdach auf Erden gegeben,
Die auch von Geheimnissen so erfüllt,
Daß keines Menschen Geist sie enthüllt.
Cadell 1899 - 14
Behind that veil no man has found a way,
Nor knows he anything of life's array,
He has no home but underneath the clay;
Thy truth thy sorrow is, O woeful lay!
Christensen 1905 - 76
Derrière le voile des secrets personne ne trouvera accès; de cette institution personne n'aura connaissance.
Notre seule demeure est dans le coeur de la terre sombre. Hélas, cette histoire n'est pas brève [à raconter].
Christensen 1927 - 61
Behind the veil of the secrets there is no way for any-
body. Of this scheme of things the soul of no man has any knowledge.
There is no dwelling-place except in the heart of the
dust. Drink wine, for such tales are not short to tell.
Grolleau 1902 - 29
Personne ne peut passer derrière le rideau qui cache l'énigme;
Nul esprit ne sait ce qui vit sous les apparences.
Sauf au coeur de la terre, nous sommes sans asile...
Bois du vin!... Ignores-tu qu'à de tels discours il n'y a pas de fin?
Heron-Allen 1898 - 29
No one can pass behind the curtain that veils the secret,
the mind of no one is cognizant of what is there;
save in the heart of earth we have no haven.
Drink wine, for to such talk there is no end.
De Marthold 1910 - 29
Personne, un voile cache, énigme, tes secrets,
Ne sait, voyant les faits, le fin mot des décrets.
Sauf au coeur de la terre un homme est sans asile...
Bois du vin, car sans but sont les discours abstraits.
McCarthy 1889 - 19
NO ONE HAS EVER PASSED BEHIND
THE VEIL THAT MASKS THE SECRETS
OF GOD. NO ONE SHALL EVER PASS
BEHIND IT; THERE IS NO OTHER
DWELLING-PLACE FOR US THAN THE
BOSOM OF THE EARTH. WOE'S ME
THAT THIS SECRET, TOO, SHOULD BE
SO SHORT.
Nicolas 1867 - 44
Personne n'a accès derrière le rideau mystérieux des secrets de Dieu, personne (pas même en esprit) ne peut y pénétrer;
nous n'avons point d'autre demeure que le sein de la terre. Ô regret! car c'est là aussi une énigme non moins difficile à saisir.
Payne 1898 - 60
For none behind the veil of myst'ries way is;
None in the secret of the world's array is:
Save in earth's breast, for us no place of stay is;
Give ear, for no light matter this I say is.
Von der Porten 1927 - 29
Kein Mensch den Vorhang lüpft, den das Geheimnis webt,
Und niemand weiß, wohin die Weltenordnung strebt.
Nur in der Erde Schoß ist sichre Ruhestätte,
Und endlos sind die Mären, darum trinkt und lebt!
Roe 1906 - 26
The secret 's hidden from the mortal eye,
Nor living soul can read the mystery;
Save in the heart of earth, we have no rest;
So fill the bowl, 'twill soon be time to die.
Rosen 1928 - 42
No one has access to the veil of mystery;
Of this system of life no one has any knowledge.
Except in the heart of the earth there is no resting-place.
Listen, for these tales are not short.
Von Schack 1878 - 110
Keiner hat vom Weltgeheimnis je den Schleier noch gehoben;
Unsres Geistes Auge, ringshin ach! mit Nacht ist es umwoben;
Einen sichern Wohnort haben wir allein, im Erdenschoß;
Ach! wie viel wir sinnen mögen, dieses Rätsel ist zu groß.
Talbot 1908 - 29
Behind the veil the Gods their Secrets keep,
And past that curtain none may hope to peep;
One plot of earth is all we may secure.
Drink, then! for such philosophies are cheap.
Thompson 1906 - 89
For none is there a way behind the veil.
Who tries to pierce its secrets but doth fail?
The only place of rest is earth's dark breast,
Alas, that far from short should be the tale!
Tirtha 1941 - VII.148
Behind the secret curtain none can go,
How life is decked and painted none can know;
But then we have to wait in dusty pits—
Alas this endless tale! and weary show!
Whinfield 1883 - 47
All mortal ken is bounded by the veil.
To see beyond man's sight is all too frail;
Yea! earth's dark bosom is his only home; —
Alas! 't were long to tell the doleful tale.
- ARBERRY 1949 - 70
- ARBERRY 1952 - 109
- BOWEN 1961 - 46
- DASHTI 1969 - 4
- FURUGHI 1942 - 32
- HERON-ALLEN 1899 - 32b
- KASRA 1975 - 32
- MAHFUZ 1939 - 39
- SAIDI 1991 - 56
- WHINFIELD 1882 - 25