Quatrain 11

 

بر چشم  تو عالم ارچه  می آرایند

 

مگرای  بدان  که عاقلان نگرایند

 

بسیار چو تو  روند و بسیار آیند

 

بِربای نصیب خویش  کت  بِربایند

    source, Dashti 66, p. 255 (& Forughi 69)
 

bar cheshm-e to aalam ar che mi aaraayand

magraay bedaan ke aaqelaan nagraayand

besyaar cho to ravand o besyaar aayand

berbaay nasib-e khish kat berbaayand

 

 

'Though they show the world to turn your head
don't go there where the wise never tread.
They come like you and like you they go,
take what's yours, they'll take you off dead.

-

Though they bedeck the world to catch your eyes,

Be tempted not as never are the wise;

so many like you come, so many go--

You'd better get your share before life flies.

Saidi, quatrain 111

 

Translation & Discussion of the quatrain: 

1.  Although they display the world for your eye -- or, although the world is displayed for your eye/'to catch your eyes' as Saidi writes 2.  Do not be intent on that which the wise are not intent on -- as subsequent quatrains will reveal, the wise shun the intense acquisition of knowledge; they are not intent on gaining wealth and keeping busy 3. Many like you (will) go and many (will) come  4. Grab your own share because they will be grabbing you -- a few khayyamic things to hold to and to seek: confidence in the knowledge which one innately possesses, wine, love, simple living.  These 'lists' remind me of another poem by Martial found in the navigational bar to the right under 'Other Poems'

 

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