Bodleian quatrain nr. 50
Cadell 1899 - 73
The slaves of reason, prudence, human lore
For what "is not" and "is," sigh helplessly;
Choose ye, my friends, the red grape's juicy core:
Pride made these fools like shrivelled raisins dry.
Christensen 1927 - 48
Those who are become the slaves of intellect and ar-
gument, in anxious ponderings over existence and non-
existence they are become naught.
Go, thou know-nothing, and choose the juice of the
[ripe] grapes, for those know-nothings from eating the un-
ripe grapes [of wisdom] are become [like] dry raisins.
FitzGerald 1859 - 39
How long, how long, in infinite Pursuit
Of This and That endeavour and dispute?
Better be merry with the fruitful Grape
Than sadden after none, or bitter, Fruit.
Grolleau 1902 - 50
Ceux qui sont les esclaves de l'intellect et des vaines subtilités
Sont morts au milieu des querelles sur l'être et le non-être.
Va! toi le simple, choisis le jus de la grappe,
Car les ignorants, d'avoir mangé des raisins secs, sont devenus comme des raisins verts.
Heron-Allen 1898 - 50
Those who are the slaves of intellect and hair-splitting,
have perished in bickerings about existence and non-existence;
go, thou ignorant one, and choose rather grape-juice,
for the ignorant from eating dry raisins have become like unripe grapes themselves.
De Marthold 1910 - 50
Les faux savants subtils, les creux parleurs diserts
Sont morts se querellant en mots vains et déserts.
Va! toi, simple, choisis le doux jus de la grappe,
Deviens, mangeant des raisins secs, comme les verts.
Payne 1898 - 267
Those who the bondmen and lieges of reason and wit are
Concerned with the care of To-be and To-be-not no whit are:
Like those who are wise, choose the juice of the grape, for the know-nots,
Ill-grape-like, dry up, or e'er for the winepress they fit are.
Von der Porten 1927 - 50
Die Narren, die am Grübeln, Tüfteln kranken,
Vergehn, weil sie um Sein und Nichtsein zanken.
Du Narr! sieh, daß den Traubensaft du wählest:
Durch dürre Frucht verdorren die Gedanken.
Roe 1906 - 84
"Oh, learned fools," the voice of Wisdom saith.
"Why spend the hours in talk of life and death?
'T is dried up fruit, go taste the vine instead;
On what can ne'er be known, why waste your breath?"
Talbot 1908 - 50
The Slaves of Intellect in talk persist;
Die, arguing does this or that exist;
Fools eat dry raisins 'til their souls become
Sour grapes; but wise men on New Wine insist.
Thompson 1906 - 264
Those who are slaves of wit and subtle thought,
Fretting o'er "Is" and "Is not" come to naught.
Go, with the wise drink grape-juice, for these fools
From unripe grapes to raisins have been brought.
Tirtha 1941 - X.30
Entangled in their mind some men have thought,
Their search for "Is" or "Is not" came to nought,
Go! Know that He exists, so take His Word,
For unripe minds are only made to rot.
Whinfield 1883 - 216
Slaves of vain wisdom and philosophy,
Who toil at Being and Nonentity,
Parching your brains till they are like dry grapes,
Be wise in time, and drink grape-juice like me!
- GRAVES 1968 - 59
- HERON-ALLEN 1899 - 54a
- MAHFUZ 1939 - 108
- SAIDI 1991 - 73
- WHINFIELD 1882 - 118