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On the wall in local historian Ian Addis' grandparent's

9 comments


bedroom there was a sampler which fascinated him, aged 8 which he remembered………..

’ If thou of fortune be bereft

And of thine earthly store hath left Two loaves, sell one, and with the dole Buy Hyacinths to feed the soul. ’

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I messed up the spacing, was thinking about Hyacinths.

'If thou of fortune be bereft

And of thine earthly store hath left

Two loaves, sell one, and with the dole

Buy Hyacinths to feed the soul.'

9 Sep, 2017

 

That takes me back. The Russian translator where I used to work copied this our for me when I married. I think I still have a copy somewhere.

9 Sep, 2017

 

Hi Diane, this sounds as though it's from the rubayat of Omar Kayam, only slightly different wording, in the rubayat it goes; If of thy worldly goods thou art bereft, and of thy meagre store, 2 loaves alone to thee are left, sell 1, and with the dole, buy Hyacinth's to feed thy soul.

My late wife wrote this in a gardening book she bought me about 40 years ago, so now whenever I buy someone a gardening book, I write this in it, Derek.

9 Sep, 2017

 

What beautiful words :)

9 Sep, 2017

 

Amazing to know others knew this verse too !
Thanks Derek, Stera, and Pam.

10 Sep, 2017

 

Oh yes Derek, that's the version I had, I'd forgotten.
Didn't realise it was from the Rubayat - hate to think how may years it is since I read that! Will you be buying hyacinths this winter Diane?

10 Sep, 2017

 

How nice. Lovely thought Derek.

11 Sep, 2017

 

Lovely quote, Diane and Derek. I had forgotten it also.

14 Sep, 2017

 

Derek, I very much like your idea to replicate the poem in gifts of gardening books, I think I will do the same.

15 Sep, 2017

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