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Jackson6612 Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Would you that spangle of existence spend

Would you that spangle of existence spend
About the secret quick about it, friend
A hair perhaps divides the False and True
And upon what, prithee, may life depend?
[Khayyam, Omar]

I would have writtten it as: Would you spend that spangle of existence...? Does it affect the meaning? I believe the original one is a versified version.

"quick about it" - What does it mean?

"prithee" - Is it being used to express request here?

Please guide me.
  

Top answer

Hi, Would you that spangle of existence spend About the secret quick about it , friend A hair perhaps divides the False and True And upon what, prithee , may life depend? [Khayyam, Omar] I would have writtten it as: Would you spend that spangle of existence ...? Does it affect the meaning?

— Clive

  • Hi, Would you that spangle of existence spend About the secret quick about it , friend A hair perhaps divides the False and True And upon what, prithee , may life depend?
  • [Khayyam, Omar] I would have writtten it as: Would you spend that spangle of existence ...?
  • Does it affect the meaning?
  • I believe the original one is a versified version.
  • It's just a poetic kind of word order, that's all.
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5 Answers
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Hi,
Would you that spangle of existence spend
About the secret quick about it, friend
A hair perhaps divides the False and True
And upon what, prithee, may life depend?
[Khayyam, Omar]

I would have writtten it as: Would you spend that spangle of existence...? Does it affect the meaning? I believe the
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Thanks, Clive.
Clive"quick about it" - What does it mean? Here's where the reader has to do some interpretation.
Consider that 'quick' has some uncommon meanings
living, alive (eg the quick and the dead)
the source of feeling or emotion (eg her words cut me to the quick)
In my humble view, I think one of the following senses fits here better. Do you
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Hi,
Before you (or I) try to interpret it, here's my suggestion.
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Oh, Clive, you are so nice!

Incidentally I had been to that webpage before I asked you.

I have a rough interpretation in my mind but it would take too many words to put it here.

Would you spend that spangle of existence (glittering object of existence - 'glittering' perhaps suggests superficial attractiveness, illusory nature of human existence. I think "About the secr
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Hi,
Would you that spangle of Existence spend
About THE SECRET -- quick about it, Friend!
A Hair, they say, divides the False and True --
And upon what, prithee, does Life depend?

I
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