The moon beam splinters night's skirt with light –
Drink wine, there is no better time than this;
Be glad, but remember how long for moonbeams
There'll only be your grave and mine to shine on.
Lit.
or,
Wake! For the Sun who scatter'd into flight
The Stars before him from the Field of Night,
Drives Night along with them from Heav'n and strikes,
The Sultan's Turret with a Shaft of Light.
FitzGerald 1889
or,
The Sun has cast about the city towers
A noose of light; Kai-Kosru-like, he showers
His wine in Morning's cup, - but hark! A voice
Cries out and bids us seize the transient hours!
Garner 1895
or,
See! The dawn breaks, and rends night's canopy:
Arise! And drain a morning draught with me!
Away with gloom! Full many a dawn will break
Looking for us, and we not here to see!
Whinfield 1883
or,
Behold the dawn appears. She has torn aside the veil of night.
Rise, then, and empty the morning's cup. Why so sad?
Drink heart, drink, for these dawns will follow and follow with their faces turned to us,
When our faces shall be turned to the earth.
McCarthy 1889
or,
Wake! For the sun, the shepherd of the sky,
Has penned the stars within their fold on high,
And shaking darkness from his mighty limbs,
Scatters the daylight from his burning eye.
or,
Yea! 'tis the morn! And like a morning star
The Sultan's palace glitters from afar,
No false mirage of morning, phantom-fair,
But blue-eyed day throned on his diamond car.
Le Gallienne 1901
or,
It's early dawn, my love, open your eyes and arise,
Gently imbibing and playing the lyre;
For those who are here will not tarry long,
And those who are gone will not return.
Moonlight has pierced the night with her rays;
Drink your wine, for you cannot find a better moment;
Enjoy yourself and think that one day the moon
Will shine on the graves of every one of us.
Karim Emami 1988
"What it might sound like"
