Bodleian quatrain nr. 51
Bodenstedt 1881 - IV.4
Durch meine Geburt ward der Welt kein Vortheil geboren;
Durch mein Scheiden wird ihr nichts gewonnen noch verloren.
Warum ich gekommen, warum ich muß scheiden,
Vernahmen noch nie meine beiden Ohren.
Cadell 1899 - 62
My advent on the world no gain conferred,
Nor will my going raise its rank or state;
Nor have mine ears from any mortal heard
The reason why I came, or what my fate.
Christensen 1927 - 94
To Heaven it was of no profit to bring me hither, and
to take me away could not increase its magnificence and dignity.
Nor have my two ears ever heard from anyone for
what reason it brings me and takes me away.
Cowell 1858 - 17
Heaven derived no profit from my coming hither,
And its glory is not increased by my going hence;
Nor hath my ear ever heard from mortal man, -
This coming and going - why they are at all?
Grolleau 1902 - 51
Ma venue ne fut d'aucun profit pour la sphère céleste;
Mon départ ne diminuera ni sa beauté, ni sa grandeur;
Mes deux oreilles n'ont jamais entendu dire par personne
Le pourquoi de cette venue et celui de ce départ.
Heron-Allen 1898 - 51
My coming was of no profit to the heavenly sphere,
and by my departure naught will be added to its beauty and dignity;
neither from anyone have my two ears heard
what is the object of this my coming and going.
De Marthold 1910 - 51
Ma venue ici fut sans profit pour la terre,
Mon départ ne nuira nullement à la sphère;
Je n'entendis jamais dire à nul la raison
De la venue et du départ ni pourquoi j'erre.
McCarthy 1889 - 195
THIS WORLD HAS GAINED NOTHING
BY MY SOJOURN HERE BELOW, AND
ITS GLORY AND GREATNESS WILL NOT
BE LESSENED BY MY DEPARTURE. I
HAVE NEVER HEARD WITH MY EARS,
AND HAVE NEVER BEEN TOLD BY ANY-
ONE THE REASON OF MY COMING OR
GOING.
Nicolas 1867 - 157
Ce monde n'a retiré aucun avantage de ma venue ici-bas. Sa gloire et sa dignité n'ont également rien gagné à mon départ.
Mes deux oreilles n'ont jamais entendu dire à personne pourquoi l'on m'y a fait venir, pourquoi l'on m'en fait sortir.
Payne 1898 - 239
The bringing me hither profited nought to the Sphere,
Nor its glory 's increased by the hearing me off from here.
Nay, for what is my bringing hither and carrying hence
From any that liveth my ears could never hear.
Von der Porten 1927 - 51
Mein Kommen brachte nicht Gewinn den Sphären,
Mein Gehen wird nicht Glanz noch Würde mehren,
Mit meinen Ohren hort' ich nichts, das könnte
Des Gehens und des Kommens Zweck erklären.
Roe 1906 - 79
Then oh, what profit to the sphere my birth?
Or, when I die, what will my death be worth?
Or who beneath the vault of Heav'n can tell
Or why we come, or why we leave the earth?
Rosen 1928 - 125
From having brought me here Heaven will derive no benefit.
And from taking me away its glory and its splendour will not increase,
Nor have my two ears ever heard from any one
The object in bringing me and in taking me away again.
Von Schack 1878 - 289
Nichts hat es der Welt genützt, als ich auf die Erde gekommen,
Und, geh' ich wieder hinweg, wie weiter beklagte sie's?
Viel hab' ich geforscht und gelauscht, allein noch von keinem vernommen,
Warum mich zu Leben und Tod das Schicksal hierher verstieß.
Talbot 1908 - 51
The Universe gained nothing from my birth,
Nor will my going cause it any dearth
Of dignity or beauty. None can say
Why I should come to, or why leave, the Earth.
Thompson 1906 - 228
My coming brought no profit to the sky,
My going adds not to its majesty
Or pomp, from none have my two ears e'er heard.
Coming or going, the true reason why.
Tirtha 1941 - II.10
Time brought me here: what profit did it gain?
It takes me hence, but conquers no domain;
My Master knows, but none can ever guess
Why Time thus brings and carries me again.
Whinfield 1883 - 176
My coming brought no profit to the sky,
Nor does my going swell its majesty;
Coming and going put me to a stand,
Ear never heard their wherefore nor their why.
- ARBERRY 1949 - 10
- ARBERRY 1952 - 26
- DASHTI 1969 - 20
- FURUGHI 1942 - 60
- HEDAYAT 1934 - 3
- HERON-ALLEN 1899 - 47b
- KASRA 1975 - 60
- MAHFUZ 1939 - 100
- WHINFIELD 1882 - 96