"In Infinite Pursuit:" FitzGerald’s Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám 1:39

"In Infinite Pursuit:" FitzGerald’s Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám 1:39

Stanza no. 39 in the first edition of Edward FitzGerald’s Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám recommends having a good time drinking wine rather than devoting yourself to some dreary work or some struggle against someone else. ΧΧΧΙΧ. How long, how long, in infinite Pursuit Of This and That endeavour and dispute? Better be merry with the fruitful Grape Than sadden after none, or bitter, Fruit. A. J. Arberry identified the original as no. 50 in the Bodleian…