Penny Dreadfuls, 1900 · page 34 of 142
Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, and the Salaman and Absal of Jami — page 34: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a page of poetry from *Rubaiyat of* (likely the famous *Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam*), presenting four quatrains numbered XXVIII through XXXI. The verses explore existential themes: the speaker reflects on sowing wisdom but reaping nothing, describes flowing through the universe without understanding origin or destination, laments humanity's inability to answer fundamental questions about existence, and recounts a mystical journey through cosmic gates that unraveled many mysteries but not the ultimate mystery of human fate. The decorative border and serif typeface are characteristic of Victorian-era literary publications.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
; 8 RUBAIYAT OF 8 XXVIII. With them the seed of Wisdom did I sow, And with mine own hand wrought to make it grow ; And this was all the Harvest that I reap’d— ‘“¢T came like Water, and like Wind I go.” XXIX. Into this Universe, and Why not knowing Nor Whence, like Water willy-nilly flowing ; And out of it, as Wind along the Waste, T know not Whither, willy-nilly blowing. : XXX. What, without asking, hither hurried Whence ? And, without asking, Whither hurried hence ! Oh, many a Cup of this forbidden Wine Must drown the memory of that insolence! XXXI. Up from Earth’s Centre through the Seventh Gate I rose, and on the Throne of Saturn sate, And many a Knot unravel’d by the Road ; But not the Master-knot of Human Fate. | 5 COmicoookS. conn