Xxxviii.*

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?

This quatrain, which is in the nature of a reflection upon the three preceding ones, conveys an idea which is constantly recurrent in the ruba'iyat. Edward FitzGerald himself records, in a note, that, in composing this quatrain, he had in mind a very beautiful story in the Mantik ut-tair of the water of a certain well which, ordinarily sweet, became bitter when drawn in a vessel made from clay which once had been a man. For its inclusion in this poem FitzGerald had the support of two (among many) quatrains from C. 475 and 488.

I pondered over the workshop of a potter; In the shadow of the wheel I saw that the master, with his feet, Made handles and covers for goblets and jars, Out of the skulls of kings and the feet of beggars.

Ref.: C. 475, L. 698, B. 689, S.P. 426, P. 103, B. ii. 576.--W. 466, N. 431, V. 750.

I made my way into the (abode of the) potters of the age, Every moment shewed some new skill with clay; I saw, though men devoid of vision saw it not, My ancestors' dust on the hands of every potter.

Ref.: C. 488, L. 721, B. 710, P. 101, B. ii. 543.--W 493, V. 773.