Penny Dreadfuls, 1900 · page 40 of 142
Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, and the Salaman and Absal of Jami — page 40: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page Description This is a text page from what appears to be a Victorian-era edition of *The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám* (verse 52-55 visible). The page contains running poetry arranged in numbered quatrains, with decorative floral borders. The verses discuss philosophical themes: the unknowable nature of existence, mortality and the passage of time, advice against futile pursuits, and a metaphorical celebration of wine and pleasure over reason. The final quatrain describes the speaker's "Second Marriage"—a poetic rejection of reason in favor of wine's comfort.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
SS ee RUBAIYAT OF i es LIT, A moment guess’d-—then back behind the Fold Immerst of Darkness round the Drama roll’d Which, for the Pastime of Eternity, He doth Himself contrive, enact, behold. | LIIl. ' But if in vain, down on the stubborn floor Of Earth, and up to Heav’n’s unopening Door, You gaze To-pay, while You are You—how then To-morrow, You when shall be You no more? LIV. Waste not your Hour, nor in the vain pursuit Of This and That endeavour and dispute ; , Better be jocund with the fruitful Grape Than sadden after none, or bitter, Fruit. Taal LY. | You know, my Friends, with what a brave Carouse I made a Second Marriage in my house ; Divorced old barren Reason from my Bed, } And took the Daughter of the Vine to Spouse. \ ¢ Libee ——————————————— ES ee Se ees (C(O) MIGDoOo <S 4(CO) mn