The Rubaiyat: Quatrain XXV

This quatrain completes the 1st third of the First Edition of the translation by Edward FitzGerald.

First Edition: Quatrain XXV

Why, all the Saints and Sages who discuss'd
Of the Two Worlds so learnedly, are thrust
Like foolish Prophets forth; their Words to Scorn
Are scatter'd, and their Mouths are stopt with Dust.



Second Edition: Quatrain XXIX

Identical to First Edition




Fifth Edition: Quatrain XXVI

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.


This is somewhat unusual in that the First and Second Editions are the same, while the Fifth has some differences. In the past, the First and Second frequently differed while the Second and Fifth were most similar.

The only difference I can see occurs in the second line. In the First and Second editions, the Saints and Sages discussed the Two Worlds "learnedly" while in the Fifth edition, they discussed them "wisely." "[L]earnedly" has the flavor of academia or bookishness attached to it while "wisely" suggests experience grounded in reality. In either case, it makes little difference for the "learned" and the "wise" are compared to "foolish Prophets" and their words are scorned and they are silent in the grave.

It seems to me that a new theme has arisen. Previously the quatrains had pointed out that life is short and that we get once chance only, so we should make the most of it--eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die. This quatrain, however, focuses on our ignorance of this world and the next. Moreover, this quatrain specifies not only our ignorance, but also the ignorance of the "Saints" and the "Sages." While their discussions are learned and wise, they are also like foolish prophets, whose words are scorned. We may know something of this world, but what do we really know of the next?

The quatrain surprisingly, to me anyway, does not believe that the religious (Saints) are any more knowledgeable than those who look more to this world than the next. This dichotomy may also be seen as the Saints being practitioners of religious values while the Sages are more imbued with worldly knowledge.

I had read that Omar Khayyam had been under suspicion of being a heretic for a time. Such dismissal of the knowledge of the afterlife would seem risky to me, considering that the Moslems have knowledge of the afterlife from the Koran, which is accepted as the actual words of Allah, transmitted faithfully and accurately by Mohammed.

Or, perhaps it's just a case of over-reading.

Any thoughts on this?