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Cover of Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám, and Salámán and Absál: Together with a Life of Edward Fitzgerald and an Essay on Persian Poetry by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám, and Salámán and Absál: Together with a Life of Edward Fitzgerald and an Essay on Persian Poetry by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Written by Ralph Waldo Emerson,Omar Khayyam,Jami

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Persian poetry

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About this book

"Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám and Salámán and Absál" by Omar Khayyám, Edward FitzGerald, and Jami is a collection of classic Persian poetry translated into English verse, likely compiled in the 19th century. This work encompasses the famous quatrains of Khayyám, reflecting on themes of love, existence, and the fleeting nature of life, alongside "Salámán and Absál," a narrative poem exploring love and desire. The translations aim to capture the essence of Persian poetry while adapting it for an English-speaking audience. The opening of this edition features an illustration and a preface that outlines the significance of the poets involved, particularly Edward FitzGerald as the translator of Khayyám’s work. It also hints at the biography of FitzGerald, discussing his friendships and literary life, while providing context on the historical background of Omar Khayyám, including his achievements in mathematics and astronomy alongside his poetic legacy. The translations themselves commence with verses that vividly depict the beauty of nature, the joys of wine, and the melancholy of life's transience, inviting readers into a contemplative and lyrical exploration of human emotions and experiences.

Reading guide

Themes, characters and key ideas in Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám, and Salámán and Absál: Together with a Life of Edward Fitzgerald and an Essay on Persian Poetry by Ralph Waldo Emerson, written by Chaptra AI.

  • about 8 hours
  • advanced
  • contemplative
  • melancholy
  • lyrical

This edition compiles Edward FitzGerald's renowned translation of Omar Khayyám's 'Rubáiyát' with Jami's narrative poem 'Salámán and Absál,' enriched by a biographical sketch of FitzGerald and an essay on Persian poetry by Ralph Waldo Emerson. The 'Rubáiyát' presents a series of quatrains meditating on the transient nature of life, the pursuit of earthly pleasures, and existential philosophical questions, often through the lens of wine, love, and mortality. 'Salámán and Absál' offers a Sufi-infused allegorical tale of love, desire, and the journey toward spiritual enlightenment. Together, these works provide a window into classical Persian thought and poetry, expertly rendered into English, and framed by critical context that illuminates their significance and the translator's craft.

“A Book of Verses underneath the Bough, A Jug of Wine, a Loaf of Bread—and Thou Beside me singing in the Wilderness— Oh, Wilderness were Paradise enow!”

Key themes

The Fleetingness of Life and Carpe Diem
Central to the 'Rubáiyát,' this theme explores the brevity of human existence and the inevitability of death. Given this impermanence, Khayyám's speaker often advocates for seizing the day, indulging in present pleasures like wine and love, as tomorrow is uncertain and the past unchangeable.
Fate, Free Will, and Divine Inscrutability
Both Khayyám and Jami (though differently) grapple with the question of destiny versus human agency. Khayyám's speaker often laments the 'Moving Finger' of fate, questioning divine justice and the ultimate purpose of a life seemingly predetermined. Jami's poem, while showing a path to spiritual choice, also implies a divine plan guiding Salámán.
Love: Earthly vs. Divine
This theme is central to 'Salámán and Absál' and present in the 'Rubáiyát.' Jami's poem is an allegory for the Sufi path, where intense earthly love (for Absál) is a stepping stone or a reflection of the ultimate, purifying love for God. Khayyám's love, while often sensual, can also be seen as a search for connection and meaning in a transient world.

Worth discussing

How does FitzGerald's translation of the 'Rubáiyát' reflect or depart from the original spirit of Omar Khayyám, and what does this say about the nature of translation itself?

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