11
　　 With me along the strip of Herbage strown
　　 That just divides the desert from the sown,
　　 Where name of Slave and Sultan is forgot—
　　 And Peace to Mahmúd on his golden Throne!
　　 平芜携手看黄沙，
　　 牧草靑靑瀚海涯。
　　 白屋朱袍浑不认，
　　 羲皇榻上是吾家。
　　 12
　　 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!
　　 一箪疏食一壶浆，
　　 一卷诗书树下凉。
　　 卿为阿侬歌瀚海，
　　 茫茫瀚海即天堂。
　　 13
　　 Some for the Glories of This World; and some
　　 Sigh for the Prophet's Paradise to come;
　　 Ah, take the Cash, and let the Credit go.
　　 Nor heed the rumble of a distant Drum!
　　 三生事业尽朦胧，
　　 一世浮华总落空。
　　 今日有钱须买醉，
　　 鼓声山外任隆隆。
　　 注：鼓声。喩遥远渺茫事。
　　 14
　　 Look to the blowing Rose about us — "Lo,
　　 Laughing," she says, "into the world I blow,
　　 At once the silken tassel of my Purse
　　 Tear, and its Treasure on the Garden throw."
　　 玫瑰周遭向我开，
　　 嫣然浅笑更低徊：
　　 『看侬一解柔丝蕾，
　　 红向千园万圃来。』
　　 15
　　 And those who husbanded the Golden Grain,
　　 And those who flung it to the Winds like rain,
　　 Alike to no such aureate Earth are turn'd
　　 As, buried once, Men want dug up again.
　　 一杯浊酒无余恨，
　　 死去谁怜金玉榇。
　　 但见明珠出土来，
　　 凄凉白骨无人问。
　　 16
　　 The Worldly Hope men set their Hearts upon
　　 Turns Ashes — or it prospers; and anon,
　　 Like Snow upon the Desert's dusty Face
　　 Lighting a little Hour or two — is gone.
　　 富贵当年想石崇，
　　 银鞍金络气如虹。
　　 可怜雪落平沙里，
　　 曾几何时日又中。
　　 17
　　 Think, in this batter'd Caravanserai
　　 Whose Portals are alternate Night and Day,
　　 How Sultan after Sultan with his Pomp
　　 Abode his destined Hour, and went his way.
　　 乾坤寥落一穹庐，
　　 日夜循环起太初。
　　 多少英雄来复去，
　　 锦衣华盖尽同途。
　　 18
　　 They say the Lion and the Lizard keep
　　 The Courts where Jamshyd gloried and drank deep;
　　 And Bahram, that great hunter — the Wild Ass
　　 Stamps o'er his Head, but cannot break his Sleep.
　　 华表丹墀一例空，
　　 荒凉台榭走蛇虫。
　　 虎踪今遍英雄墓，
　　 无复惊闻李广弓。
　　 19
　　 I sometimes think that never blows so red
　　 The Rose as where some buried Coesar bled;
　　 That every Hyacinth the Garden wears
　　 Dropt in her Lap from some once lovely Head.
　　 红花底事红如此，
　　 想是苌弘血里开。
　　 一地落英愁欲语：
　　 『当年曾伴美人来。』
　　 20
　　 And this reviving Herb whose tender Green
　　 Fledges the River-Lip on which we lean —
　　 Ah, lean upon it lightly; for who knows
　　 From what once lovely Lip it springs unseen!
　　 芳茵绿遍淸江外，
　　 弱草娇柔人欲采。
　　 寄语行人莫损伤，
　　 离离草下知谁在。

21
　　 Ah, my Belovéd, fill the Cup that clears
　　 To-day of past Regrets and future Fears —
　　 To-morrow? — Why, To-morrow I may be
　　 Myself with Yesterday's Sev'n Thousand Years.
　　 为卿斟酒洗尘缘，
　　 莫问明朝事渺然。
　　 我便明朝归去也，
　　 相随昨日七千年。
　　 22
　　 For some we loved, the loveliest and the best
　　 That from his Vintage rolling Time hath prest,
　　 Have drunk their Cup a Round or two before,
　　 And one by one crept silently to Rest.
　　 旧日湖山同醉客，
　　 只今寥落已无多。
　　 几杯飮罢魂销尽，
　　 一一生涯酒里过。
　　 23
　　 And we, that now make merry in the Room
　　 They left, and Summer dresses in new Bloom,
　　 Ourselves must we beneath the couch of Earth
　　 Descend, ourselves to make a couch — for whom?
　　 醉眠陵上草芊芊，
　　 草下长埋古圣贤。
　　 借问他年陵上客，
　　 阿谁枕我骨头眠。
　　 24
　　 Ah, make the most of what we yet may spend,
　　 Before we too into the Dust descend;
　　 Dust into Dust, and under Dust, to lie,
　　 Sans Wine, sans Song, sans Singer, and — sans End!
　　 时恐秋霜零草莽，
　　 韶华一旦随花葬。
　　 微尘身世化微尘，
　　 无酒无歌无梦想。
　　 25
　　 Alike for those who for To-day prepare,
　　 And those that after some To-morrow stare,
　　 A Muezzin from the Tower of Darkness cries
　　 "Fools! your Reward is neither Here nor There!"
　　 饭颗山头饭颗生，
　　 莲花灯下莲花起。
　　 忽闻棒喝一声来：
　　 『道不在斯不在彼。』
　　 26
　　 Why, all the Saints and Sages who discuss'd
　　 Of the Two Worlds so wisely — they are thrust
　　 Like foolish Prophets forth; their words to scorn
　　 Are scatter'd, and their Mouths are stopt with Dust.
　　 地狱天堂说未眞，
　　 恒恒贤哲几多人。
　　 玲珑妙口今安在，
　　 三尺泥中不复闻。
　　 27
　　 Myself when young did eagerly frequent
　　 Doctor and Saint, and heard great Argument
　　 About it and about: but evermore
　　 Came out by the same door where in I went.
　　 少年执麈好谈玄，
　　 邹子雕龙衍子天。
　　 犹是野狐心未悟，
　　 金函不学学逃禅。
　　 28
　　 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 —
　　 "I came like Water, and like Wind I go. "
　　 辜负高人细解蒙，
　　 希夷妙道未能通。
　　 此心本似无根草，
　　 来是行云去是风。
　　 29
　　 Into this Universe, and Why not knowing,
　　 Nor Whence, like Water willy-nilly flowing:
　　 And out of it, as Wind along the Waste,
　　 I know not Whiter willy-nilly blowing.
　　 浑噩生来非自宰，
　　 生来天地又何之。
　　 苍茫野水流无意，
　　 流到何方水不知。
　　 30
　　 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!
　　 生本无因死亦空，
　　 前身后世影朦胧。
　　 何如十斛兰陵酒，
　　 世界微尘一醉中。

31
　　 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.
　　 骑鹤神游阿母台，
　　 七重天阙拂云来。
　　 玉皇仙籍偷观尽，
　　 司命天书揭不开。
　　 32
　　 There was the door to which I found no Key;
　　 There was the Veil through which I might not see:
　　 Some little Talk awhile of Me and Thee
　　 There was — and then no more of Thee and Me.
　　 太极庄严门矗立，
　　 谷神缥缈帐深垂。
　　 微闻玉锁初开日，
　　 度得红尘一客归。
　　 33
　　 Earth could not answer; nor the Seas that mourn
　　 In flowing Purple, of their Lord forlorn;
　　 Nor rolling Heaven, with all his Signs reveal'd
　　 And hidden by the sleeve of Night and Morn.
　　 遍访乾坤总惘然，
　　 天垂日月寂无言。
　　 海涛悲涌深蓝色，
　　 不答凡夫问太玄。
　　 34
　　 Then of the Thee in Me who works behind
　　 The Veil, I lifted up my hands to find
　　 A Lamp amid the Darkness; and I heard,
　　 As from Without — "The Me within Thee blind!"
　　 闻道天人原合一，
　　 微机分寸自能参。
　　 如何缘业凭天结，
　　 天道恢恢不可探。
　　 35
　　 Then to the lip of this poor earthen Urn
　　 I lean'd, the Secret of my Life to learn:
　　 And Lip to Lip it murmur'd — "While you live
　　 Drink! — for once dead you never shall return."
　　 红泥酒爵在唇边，
　　 欲问前缘与后缘。
　　 酒爵多情低语我：
　　 『且将陶醉换华年。』
　　 36
　　 I think the Vessel, that with fugitive
　　 Articulation answer'd, once did live,
　　 And drink; and Ah! the passive Lip I kiss'd,
　　 How many Kisses might it take — and give!
　　 醉向冰壶问短长，
　　 冰壶前世是刘郞。
　　 试看此日壶唇上，
　　 多少脂痕渍粉香。
　　 37
　　 For I remember stopping by the way
　　 To watch a Potter thumping his wet Clay:
　　 And with its all-obliterated Tongue
　　 It murmur'd — "Gently, Brother, gently, pray!"
　　 南山采土冶为瓯，
　　 土语啾啾说不休：
　　 『我亦当年尘上客，
　　 劳君雕琢要温柔。』
　　 38
　　 And has not such a Story from of Old
　　 Down Man's successive generations roll'd
　　 Of such a clod of saturated Earth
　　 Cast by the Maker into Human mould?
　　 不闻野老瓜棚下，
　　 扪虱荒唐说鬼狐。
　　 见说天公能造化，
　　 揑成骨肉自泥涂。
　　 39
　　 And not a drop that from our Cups we throw
　　 For Earth to drink of, but may steal below
　　 To quench the fire of Anguish in some Eye
　　 There hidden — far beneath, and long ago.
　　 独对山川高酌罢，
　　 临风细细酹余觞。
　　 遥知几滴馨香酒，
　　 必有泥中醉鬼尝。
　　 40
　　 As then the Tulip for her morning sup
　　 Of Heav'nly Vintage from the soil looks up,
　　 Do you devoutly do the like, till Heav'n
　　 To Earth invert you — like an empty Cup.
　　 郁金花瓣朝天舞，
　　 好趁晨风醉甘露。
　　 日易盈昃露易晞，
　　 空垂残萼伤迟暮。

41
　　 Perplext no more with Human or Divine,
　　 To-morrow's tangle to the winds resign,
　　 And lose your fingers in the tresses of
　　 The Cypress-slender Minister of Wine.
　　 成佛成仙渺果因，
　　 明朝身世付烟云。
　　 携壶浪迹山林上，
　　 翠柏苍松供酒神。
　　 42
　　 And if the Wine you drink, the Lip you press,
　　 End in what All begins and ends in — Yes;
　　 Think then you are To-day what Yesterday
　　 You were — To-morrow you shall not be less.
　　 绿酒朱唇空过眼，
　　 微尘原自化微尘。
　　 今朝我即明朝我，
　　 昨日身犹此日身。
　　 43
　　 So when that Angel of the darker Drink
　　 At last shall find you by the river-brink,
　　 And, offering his Cup, invite your Soul
　　 Forth to your Lips to quaff — you shall not shrink.
　　 茫茫天地有筵台，
　　 司命高持黑酒杯。
　　 酒过数巡应到我，
　　 欣然尽飮莫徘徊。
　　 44
　　 Why, if the Soul can fling the Dust aside,
　　 And naked on the Air of Heaven ride,
　　 Were't not a Shame — were't not a Shame for him
　　 In this clay carcase crippled to abide?
　　 一朝蝉蜕余躯壳，
　　 魂魄悠悠归碧落。
　　 低首烟寰应自羞，
　　 几年为此皮囊缚。
　　 45
　　 'Tis but a Tent where takes his one day's rest
　　 A Sultan to the realm of Death addrest;
　　 The Sultan rises, and the dark Ferrásh
　　 Strikes, and prepares it for another Guest.
　　 皮囊甲帐驻苏丹，
　　 明日苏丹又西作。
　　 寥落穹庐野火中，
　　 苏丹骏马飞沙漠。
　　 46
　　 And fear not lest Existence closing your
　　 Account, and mine, should know the like no more;
　　 The Eternal Sáki from that Bowl has pour'd
　　 Millions of Bubbles like us, and will pour.
　　 人来人去千秋事，
　　 水泻危崖泡沫轻。
　　 泡沫刹那倶幻灭，
　　 华严瀑布永奔腾。
　　 47
　　 When You and I behind the Veil are past,
　　 Oh, but the long, long while the World shall last,
　　 Which of our Coming and Departure heeds
　　 As the Sea's self should heed a pebble-cast.
　　 一入重帏客渺然，
　　 无情天地自绵绵。
　　 浮萍几点随波去，
　　 不改苍茫海色玄。
　　 注：重帏。据波斯传说，天堂有重帏，上帝高坐其后。
　　 48
　　 A Moment's Halt — a momentary taste
　　 Of being from the Well amid the Waste —
　　 And Lo! — the phantom Caravan has reach'd
　　 The Nothing it set out from — Oh, make haste!
　　 平沙万里踄明驼，
　　 寻得甘泉且放歌。
　　 莫问远乡多少路，
　　 远乡遥指是亡何。
　　 49
　　 Would you that spangle of Existence spend
　　 About the secret — quick about it, Friend!
　　 A Hair perhaps divides the False and True —
　　 And upon what, prithee, may life depend?
　　 儒者登坛墨者逃，
　　 由来眞伪爽毫毛。
　　 一生一死寻常事，
　　 谁把天心示我曹。
　　 50
　　 A Hair perhaps divides the False and True;
　　 Yes; and a single Alif were the Clue —
　　 Could you but find it — to the Treasure-house,
　　 and peradventure to The Master too;
　　 眞伪由来爽一丝，
　　 元眞故故在希夷。
　　 凭君参尽人天理，
　　 得见天心未可知。

51
　　 Whose secret Presence, through Creation's veins
　　 Running Quicksilver-like eludes your pains;
　　 Taking all shapes from Máh to Máhi; and
　　 They change and perish all — but He remains;
　　 月明海上化仙禽，
　　 忽幻鱼龙入水深。
　　 世界刹那千万相，
　　 盎然不变是天心。
　　 注：月化鱼。波斯俗以「化鱼」喩变迁。
　　 52
　　 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.
　　 浩荡天门瞬息开，
　　 千秋蝼蚁浪疑猜。
　　 云山几度成沧海，
　　 造化红尘游戏来。
　　 53
　　 But if in vain, down on the stubborn floor
　　 Of Earth, and up to Heav'n's unopening Door,
　　 You gaze To-day, while You are You — how then
　　 To-morrow, when You shall be You no more?
　　 举首叩天天不语，
　　 低头问地地无闻。
　　 即今俯仰犹迷惘，
　　 何况他年墓里人。
　　 54
　　 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.
　　 垦道求眞终不获，
　　 便成果实亦酸辛。
　　 何如独到南山上，
　　 摘取葡萄祭酒神。
　　 55
　　 You know, my Friends, with what a brave Carouse
　　 I made a Second Marriage in my house;
　　 Divorc'd old barren Reason from my bed,
　　 And took the Daughter of the Vine to Spouse.
　　 落落心怀久不开，
　　 酒酣拔剑断琴台。
　　 忍敎智慧成离妇，
　　 新娶葡萄公主来。
　　 56
　　 For "Is" and "Is-not" though with Rule and Line
　　 And "Up-and-down" by Logic I define,
　　 Of all that one should care to fathom, I
　　 Was never deep in anything but — Wine.
　　 是非原在有无中，
　　 竭想穷思总是空。
　　 借问一心何所好，
　　 满杯春酒漾娇红。
　　 57
　　 Ah, but my Computations, People say,
　　 Reduc'd the Year to better reckoning? — Nay,
　　 'Twas only striking from the Calendar
　　 Unborn To-morrow, and dead Yesterday.
　　 曾司北斗与招摇，
　　 玉历天衡略整调。
　　 纸上淋漓纵醉笔，
　　 勾除昨日与明朝。
　　 注：珈音乃古波斯名数学家，曾创新暦。
　　 58
　　 And lately, by the Tavern door agape,
　　 Came shining through the Dusk an Angel Shape
　　 Bearing a Vessel on his Shoulder; and
　　 He bid me taste of it; and 'twas — the Grape!
　　 蓬门昨夜有人敲，
　　 王母仙童馈绿醪。
　　 翠色新瓷包锦袱，
　　 启瓶一酌是葡萄。
　　 59
　　 The Grape that can with Logic absolute
　　 The Two-and-Seventy jarring Sects confute:
　　 The sovereign Alchemist that in a trice
　　 Life's leaden Metal into Gold transmute;
　　 葡萄美酒紫金钟，
　　 药鼎丹炉笑葛洪。
　　 输与此时一杯酒，
　　 琴心三迭十年功。
　　 60
　　 The mighty Mahmúd, Allah-breathing Lord,
　　 That all the misbelieving and black Horde
　　 Of Fears and Sorrows that infest the Soul
　　 Scatters before him with his whirlwind Sword.
　　 酒降人间感上苍，
　　 一杯洗尽九回肠。
　　 钟馗手秉旋风剑，
　　 独立天庭百鬼惶。

61
　　 Why, be this Juice the growth of God, who dare
　　 Blaspheme the twisted tendril as a Snare?
　　 A Blessing, we should use it, should we not?
　　 And if a Curse — why, then, Who set it there?
　　 上帝传符造甘酒，
　　 杜康降自九天遥。
　　 若非天旨分明在，
　　 谁敢皇皇犯戒条。
　　 62
　　 I must abjure the Balm of Life, I must,
　　 Scar'd by some After-reckoning ta'en on trust,
　　 Or lured with Hope of some Diviner Drink,
　　 To fill the Cup — when crumbled into Dust!
　　 天上何时禁酒觞，
　　 人间甘露我偷尝。
　　 拚将缥缈三生债，
　　 换得千秋醉道场。
　　 63
　　 Oh threats of Hell and Hopes of Paradise!
　　 One thing at least is certain — This Life flies;
　　 One thing is certain and the rest is Lies;
　　 The Flower that once has blown for ever dies.
　　 碧落黄泉皆妄语，
　　 三生因果尽荒唐。
　　 浊醪以外无眞理，
　　 一谢花魂再不香。
　　 64
　　 Strange, is it not? that of the myriads who
　　 Before us pass'd the door of Darkness through,
　　 Not one returns to tell us of the Road,
　　 Which to discover we must travel too.
　　 道失冥关谁借问，
　　 了无归客说岖崎。
　　 漫漫别路深如许，
　　 寂寞行人只自知。
　　 65
　　 The Revelations of Devout and Learn'd
　　 Who rose before us, and as Prophets burn'd,
　　 Are all but Stories, which, awoke from Sleep
　　 They told their comrades, and to Sleep return'd.
　　 哲人敧枕漫游仙，
　　 睡眼惺忪说太玄。
　　 地狱天堂言未已，
　　 转身榻上又高眠。
　　 66
　　 I sent my Soul through the Invisible,
　　 Some letter of that After-life to spell:
　　 And by and by my Soul return'd to me,
　　 And answer'd "I Myself am Heav'n and Hell. "
　　 欲寻身后路茫茫，
　　 自遣离魂到大荒。
　　 魂魄归来唯一语：
　　 『我兼地狱与天堂。』
　　 67
　　 Heav'n but the Vision of fulfill'd Desire,
　　 And Hell the Shadow from a Soul on fire,
　　 Cast on the Darkness into which Ourselves,
　　 So late emerged from, shall so soon expire.
　　 醉抛衣带成河汉，
　　 泪洒云山作汴湘。
　　 火借愁心为地狱，
　　 酒空尘欲即天堂。
　　 68
　　 We are no other than a moving row
　　 Of Magic Shadow-shapes that come and go
　　 Round with the Sun-illumin'd Lantern held
　　 In Midnight by the Master of the Show;
　　 琉璃冰罩转玲珑，
　　 巧镂山河大匠功。
　　 中有光明灯一盏，
　　 纸人泥马影憧憧。
　　 69
　　 But helpless Pieces of the Game He plays
　　 Upon this Chequer-board of Nights and Days;
　　 Hither and thither moves, and checks, and slays,
　　 And one by one back in the Closet lays.
　　 纵横日夜为棋局，
　　 枰上千秋劫正浓。
　　 转换腾那犹未了，
　　 残棋一一入壶中。
　　 70
　　 The Ball no question makes of Ayes and Noes,
　　 But Here or There as strikes the Player goes;
　　 And He that toss'd you down into the Field,
　　 He knows about it all — He knows — HE KNOWS!
　　 眼看乾坤一局棋，
　　 满枰黑白子离离。
　　 铿然一子成何劫，
　　 惟有苍苍妙手知。

71
　　 The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,
　　 Moves on: nor all your Piety nor Wit
　　 Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
　　 Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it.
　　 冥冥有手写天书，
　　 彩笔无情挥不已。
　　 流尽人间泪几千，
　　 不能洗去半行字。
　　 72
　　 And that inverted Bowl they call the sky,
　　 Whereunder crawling coop'd we live and die,
　　 Lift not your hands to It for help — for It
　　 As impotently moves as you or I.
　　 浑圆天盖碧深沉，
　　 月运星移古至今。
　　 莫向苍天求解脱，
　　 苍天旋转不由心。
　　 73
　　 With Earth's first Clay They did the Last Man knead,
　　 And there of the Last Harvest sow'd the Seed:
　　 And the first Morning of Creation wrote
　　 What the Last Dawn of Reckoning shall read.
　　 天化劳人泥与水，
　　 身渗苦水到穷途。
　　 云山沧海何年尽，
　　 都在鸿蒙纸上书。
　　 74
　　 Yesterday this Day's Madness did prepare;
　　 To-morrow's Silence, Triumph, or Despair:
　　 Drink! for you know not whence you came, nor why:
　　 Drink! for you know not why you go, nor where.
　　 风云一一安排好，
　　 世界如荼入眼来。
　　 痛飮不闻狂客问，
　　 明朝何处化尘埃。
　　 75
　　 I tell you this — When, started from the Goal,
　　 Over the flaming shoulders of the Foal
　　 Of Heav'n Parwin and Mushtari they flung,
　　 In my predestin'd Plot of Dust and Soul
　　 天马长嘶振鬣毛，
　　 溟蒙驰道接云高。
　　 神明马上伸天手，
　　 摘取星辰向我抛。
　　 注：星辰。指珈音所属宫位。
　　 76
　　 The Vine had struck a Fibre: which about
　　 If clings my being — let the Dervish flout;
　　 Of my Base Metal may be filed a Key,
　　 That shall unlock the Door he howls without.
　　 神山一树众生出，
　　 我是仙桃树上虫。
　　 偷得人间金锁钥，
　　 醉眠内府宝藏中。
　　 77
　　 And this I know: whether the one True Light
　　 Kindle to Love, or Wrath-consume me quite,
　　 One Flash of It within the Tavern caught
　　 Better than in the Temple lost outright.
　　 心中幻灭有明灯，
　　 幻出人间爱与憎。
　　 灯影酒中犹照我，
　　 神明坛上见何曾。
　　 78
　　 What! out of senseless Nothing to provoke
　　 A conscious Something to resent the yoke
　　 Of unpermitted Pleasure, under pain
　　 Of Everlasting Penalties, if broke!
　　 天公取土雕成我，
　　 爱欲痴嗔泥里和。
　　 争又人间设果因，
　　 三生却问他生过。
　　 79
　　 What! from his helpless Creature be repaid
　　 Pure Gold for what he lent him dross-allay'd —
　　 Sue for a Debt he never did contract,
　　 And cannot answer — Oh the sorry trade!
　　 天赐人间自在身，
　　 形骸放浪是元眞。
　　 此生那有他生债，
　　 未向苍天借一文。
　　 80
　　 Oh Thou, who didst with Pitfall and with Gin
　　 Beset the Road I was to wander in,
　　 Thou wilt not with Predestin'd Evil round
　　 Enmesh, and then impute my Fall to Sin!
　　 千山岐路何人辟，
　　 要问冥冥造化来。
　　 鞭底苍茫征路远，
　　 乱蓬好自为吾开。

91
　　 Ah, with the Grape my fading Life provide,
　　 And wash the Body whence the Life has died,
　　 And lay me, shrouded in the living Leaf,
　　 By some not unfrequented Garden-side.
　　 一旦魂归万事空，
　　 劳君倾酒洗萍踪。
　　 遗身愿裹葡萄叶，
　　 葬在名花怒放中。
　　 92
　　 That ev'n my buried Ashes such a Snare
　　 Of Vintage shall fling up into the Air
　　 As not a True Believer passing by
　　 But shall be overtaken unaware.
　　 死化寒灰带酒香，
　　 河山千古葬遗觞。
　　 他年游子来凭吊，
　　 犹得坟前醉一场。
　　 93
　　 Indeed the Idols I have loved so long
　　 Have done my credit in this World much wrong:
　　 Have drown'd my Glory in a shallow Cup,
　　 And sold my Reputation for a Song.
　　 不事神明事酒魔，
　　 前尘后事任蹉跎。
　　 借来年命偿杯酒，
　　 卖去浮名买醉歌。
　　 94
　　 Indeed, indeed, Repentance oft before
　　 I swore — but was I sober when I swore?
　　 And then and then came Spring, and Rose-in-hand
　　 My threadbare Penitence a-pieces tore.
　　 平生悔恨我何曾，
　　 醉里模糊说不淸。
　　 见说人间春又到，
　　 尊前莫作懊憹声。
　　 95
　　 And much as wine has play'd the Infidel,
　　 And robb'd me of my Robe of Honour — well,
　　 I often wonder what the Vintners buy
　　 One half so precious as the stuff they sell.
　　 酒误浮名犹爱酒，
　　 转怜卖酒村前叟。
　　 卖来不过几文钱，
　　 何物能如酒一斗。
　　 96
　　 Yet Ah, that Spring should vanish with the Rose!
　　 That Youth's sweet-scented Manuscript should close!
　　 The Nightingale that in the Branches sang,
　　 Ah, whence, and whither flown again, who knows!
　　 墓里古人浑不语，
　　 杨花榭后飘香絮。
　　 子规啼尽一春心，
　　 飞到天涯何处去。
　　 97
　　 Would but the desert of the fountain yield
　　 One glimpse — if dimly, yet indeed, reveal'd,
　　 To which the fainting Traveller might spring,
　　 As springs that trampled herbage of the field!
　　 古野犹生春草绿，
　　 茫茫大漠何寥哉。
　　 行人远道凄凉甚，
　　 可有淸泉慰客来。
　　 98
　　 Would but some winged Angel ere too late
　　 Arrest the yet unfolded Roll of Fate,
　　 And make the stern Recorder otherwise
　　 Enregister, or quite obliterate!
　　 愿见仙人启玉楼，
　　 天书细细写从头。
　　 生涯不为重斟酌，
　　 便把微身一笔勾。
　　 99
　　 Ah Love! could you and I with Him conspire
　　 To grasp this sorry Scheme of Things entire,
　　 Would not we shatter it to bits — and then
　　 Re-mould it nearer to the Heart's Desire!
　　 梦游昨夜到天池，
　　 欲借神明剑一枝。
　　 斩碎三千愁世界，
　　 从头收拾旧须弥。
　　 100
　　Yon rising Moon that looks for us again —
　　 How oft hereafter will she wax and wane;
　　 How oft hereafter rising look for us
　　Through this same Garden — and for one in vain!
　　 明月多情伴客身，
　　 人来人去月无闻，
　　 从今几度黄昏月，
　　 遍照园林少一人。
　　 101
　　 And when like her, oh Sáki, you shall pass
　　 Among the Guests Star-scatter'd on the Grass,
　　 And in your joyous errand reach the spot
　　 Where I made One — turn down an empty Glass!
　　 酒僮酒僮劝客来，
　　 座中无我莫徘徊。
　　 醉翁去后余何物，
　　 一只空空覆酒杯。
　　 鲁拜集终

海亚姆最著名的数学著作是《还原与对消问题之论证》，其阿拉伯文手稿保存至今，已被译成多种文字。海亚姆定义代数学为“解方程的科学”，他创立了一种借助圆锥曲线解三次方程的方法，这是代数与几何相结合的前驱工作。他还研究过二项式展开、开方、比例等问题，详细注释过欧几里得的著作，他的《对欧几里得几何原本中困难公设的注释》一书，据说对东方数学有过积极影响。
海亚姆那些优美的抒情四行诗，在他本来只是略出余绪而已，谁知身后竟会因为这些四行诗而享誉全球，眼见得还有流芳百世的可能，这对他来说实为不虞之誉。
1859年，菲茨杰拉德将海亚姆流传下来的诗歌从波斯语译为英语出版，取名《鲁拜集》，“Rubaiyat”即波斯语“四行诗”之意。这些四行诗从此成为世界文学史上的明珠。菲茨杰拉德的英译，本来就有再创作的成分，中文译者再依据他的英译来中译，当然又是另一次再创作。
四种《鲁拜集》中译本，郭沫若译本和黄杲炘译本（他的书名是《柔巴依集》）都采用现代诗体，除了大致照顾韵脚，基本上不会受到别的约束。黄克孙要译成旧体诗中的绝句，难度自然就大了许多。另有于贞志的中译（仅选译30首），也采用了旧体诗中的绝句形式，但不合平仄之处比比皆是，较黄译远逊。
不妨就以被用作本文标题的两句所在的那首为例，比较一下四种中译的异同优劣。这首诗是编号第12首：
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！
——菲茨杰拉德英译
柳树下放着一卷诗章，
一瓶葡萄美酒，一点干粮，
有你在这荒原中傍我欢歌——
荒原呀，啊，便是天堂！
——郭沫若译文
在枝干粗壮的树下，一卷诗章，
一大杯葡萄美酒，加一个面包——
你也在我身旁，在荒野中歌唱——
啊，在荒野中，这天堂已够美好！
——黄杲炘译文
一箪疏食一壶浆，一卷诗书树下凉，
卿为阿侬歌瀚海，茫茫瀚海即天堂。
——黄克孙译文
轻荫如盖耽华章，美酒干酪溢流芳。
为有卿卿清歌发，直把僻乡作帝乡。
——于贞志译文
相传编号12的这首诗，是自菲茨杰拉德英译《鲁拜集》以来，这101首诗中被引用最多的。黄杲炘曾说：“据认为，除了《圣经》之外，没有任何英诗译文能象它这样为英语国家的人民所熟知。”这首诗既是如此著名，每位中译者自然都应该不敢轻慢，会使出全力提供优美译文，故通过这首诗的译文来比较各家的异同优劣，比随机挑选另外100首中的诗来比较，应该更为合理。
现在我们来比较四家的译文。用现代诗体的郭沫若和黄杲炘，基本上不相上下，都有相当浓厚的“文艺腔”，而且诗意寡淡，明显不如用旧体诗的两家——当然我必须承认，我对旧体诗有一点偏爱。黄克孙和于贞志的译文，都力图用旧诗中常见的表达法来翻译原诗，而且都相当成功。于译中仅“僻乡”一词，不甚符合这一要求（其实既已让“干酪”入诗，不如干脆用“荒原”取代“僻乡”）。
但是既用旧体诗，当然以符合平仄格律为胜，这一点上黄克孙远胜于贞志。黄译的这首平仄极为规范，完全是标准的绝句。而于译仅第四句勉强合律（也还犯了孤平），其余三句皆不成律句，说明他对旧诗格律缺乏基本的了解，或无法在旧诗格律的约束下完成翻译。
附带指出，四家的译文还证明了同一点：译诗是一种再创作成分很大的翻译工作。
——以上引自江晓原——“卿为阿侬歌瀚海，茫茫瀚海即天堂”——从黄克孙译《鲁拜集》谈起