The Rubáiyát [antikvár]

Publisher's NoteTHE seventy-five stanzas of verse presented here are themost avidly read composition. It probably matches the worksof the best-known poets of any language in the world. TheEnglish translation of The Rubaiyat had appeared at a timewhen the prevalent reading was dominated by something likemilitant faith, the idea of 'scientific spirit' being so very belligerent.In the midst of the reassuring optimism of Browning, Tennyson,Charles Kingsley, Carlyle, et al who were singing from 'all'sright with the world' to 'if we did the duty all would be well',came the stanzas of doubt and misgiving with uncanny charmand fascination.Edward Fitzgerald presented the translation of The Rubaiyatby Khayyam of the 11th century, some 800 years later (he didso, anonymously, in 1859). Another notable translation of TheRubaiyat that achieved tremendous success was by ElihuVedder (1836-1923). He had created the artwork for the entirebook including the calligraphic tones that set a new publishingstandard for the designer books in the West.It is however important to appreciate that the souls andhearts of the original Persian work and its English translationsdiffer, just as any two individuals and cultures would do intime and space. Given that most readers found Omar Khayyamas a vague and mystic person, our enjoyment of his work aspresented by Fitzgerald is quite distinct from the original lyricswritten by the venerable Persian. This is not to suggest thatforeknowledge of the Persian language, or an acquaintance