62.

Literally "Alif," meaning the One (God), "is enough." Hafiz (Ode, 416) uses the same ex

Probably a quotation.

i.e., all existences other than the Deity are merely phenomena.

66.

Allah writes his decrees with the "pen on the "tablet." See Koran lxviii. 1. Omar hints that all these are merely

subjective.

68.

Alluding to the life-giving breath of Jesus, and the hand of Moses, "white as snow." See Exodus iv. 6.

69.

This is one of the quatrains which lends itself either to a mystic or material interpretation. For the mystic view see the preface to my "Masnavi i Ma'navi, the Spiritual Couplets of Jalal ud Din. i Rumi" (Trübner, 1887).

"Is it good unto Thee that Thou shouldest oppress, that Thou shouldest despise the work of Thine hands?"

78.

Borák, the steed on which Mohammad made his famous nocturnal ascent into heaven.

So Job

82.

"No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you."

93.

Voltaire has some similar lines in his poem on the Lisbon earthquake.

95.

Bairam, the feast on the first of the month following Ramazan, the month of fasting.

97.

Being, i.e., the Deity, the only real existence, and Notbeing, the nonentity in which His attributes are reflected. See Gulshan i Raz, p. 14.

101.

Were it not for the Almighty's "Canon 'gainst self slaughter."

102.

66

Beyond his nature," i.e., beyond the limits of his own thought.

104.

So Job

"The thunder of his power who can understand?"

106.

Mohammad said, "My people shall be divided into sever three sects, all of which, save one, shall have their portion the fire." Pococke, Specimen, 210.

107.

A hit at the casuistry on the subject of wine.

108.

Koran ii. 2-30.

A triple divorce is irrevocable.

110.

"False dawn," i.e., the faint light before sunrise.

A hit at the astrologers.

122.

124.

Compare Ecclesiastes

"There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in grave, whither thou goest."

"There is no piety in turning your face to the east or west, but h pious who believeth in God . . . and disburseth his wealth to needy," &c.

Sunna means the tradition of the elders.

136.

So Hafiz, Ode 355 (Blockhaus)—

"How can our eyes behold Thee, as Thou art?"

148.

I.e., holds firmly the doctrine of the Unity of the Deity. See Hafiz, Ode 465.

151.

Tús, at one time capital of Persia, was near Nishapúr. Kawús, one of the Kaiannian dynasty.

155.

Men's speculations as to their origin and destiny.

156.

Formulas of faith are indifferent. See Gulshan i Raz, p. 83.

So Pope

161.

"For forms and creeds let graceless zealots fight:

He can't be wrong whose life is in the right."

This is the doctrine condemned by the 18th Article of Religion. See Masnavi, p. 30.

165.

Literally, until you dig up your life, and eat blood for fifty years, they will not show you the way from words to "states.' The hearing of the word accompanied by self-discipline leads the hearer on to experience what the Sufis called "states" of heart, i.e., intuition of the Truth (God) by the "eye of certainty," communion with the Truth, &c. Compare St. Paul, "Faith cometh by hearing," and Job, “I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth Thee." Also see Masnavi, p. 166.

173.

The Moslem belief was that the world was 7000 years old in Omar's time. Compare Hafiz, Ruba'i, 10.

174.

See Koran ii. 31.

176.

The sleepers on the earth are those sunk in the sleep of superstition and ignorance.

177.

See Koran xiii. 47.

178.

Compare Sir Philip Sidney

"Since Nature's works be good, and death doth serve

As Nature's work, why should we fear to die?"

182.

Mr. Fitzgerald quotes a similar conceit from the poet Donne, for which see Ward's "English Poets,” i. 562.

184.

To "steal a prayer-mat" is to pray to be seen of men (M. Nicolas)—a satire on some hypocrite, perhaps himself.

191.

Kader, the "night (of power," on which the Koran was revealed. See Koran xcvi. 1.

Man is the microcosm.

195.

See Gulshan i Raz, p. 15—

"The captain jewel of the carcanet."