Omar Khayyam (383) “it is a shame for anyone to be well-known for righteousness”

Posted on 10/09/2012 by Juan Cole

It is a shame for anyone
to be well-known for righteousness.
It is a great disgrace to feel
distress at the injustice of 
the turning of the wheels of fate.
To get drunk on the nose of a
fine vintage born of luscious grapes
is better than to be renowned
to be a self-denying prude.

Translated by Juan Cole
from Omar Khayyam’s Rubaiyat, [pdf] Whinfield 383

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Posted in Omar Khayyam, Uncategorized | 2 Comments | Print

§ 2 Responses to “Omar Khayyam (383) “it is a shame for anyone to be well-known for righteousness””

  • Eleanor says:
    10/09/2012 at 9:26 am

    I keep saying how much I like these… Well, I do.

  • Christopher Salfai says:
    10/09/2012 at 11:49 pm

    Thank you for your lovely translations. I enjoyed seeing you at UW-Eau Claire. Hope you return.