ʿAttar 's Conference of the birds (Persian poetry reading)

Stella Motion Pictures

Actor Helen Morse reads from ʿAttar 's Conference of the birds, translated by Edward Fitzgerald (a video by Philippe Charluet) #Attar #PersianPoetry #Persia

Transcript

00:00From the Conference of the Birds of Attar, translated by Edward Fitzgerald.

00:08Once on a time, from all the circles seven, between the steadfast earth and rolling heaven,

00:16the birds, of all note, plumage and degree, that float in air and roost upon the tree,

00:24and they that from the waters snatch their meat, and they that scour the desert with long feet.

00:33Birds of all natures, known or not to man, flocked from all quarters into full divan,

00:42on no less solemn business than to find or choose a Sultan Khalif of their kind,

00:48for whom, if never theirs or lost, they pined.

01:02Then came the nightingale, from such a draught of ecstasy that from the rose he quaffed, reeling as drunk,

01:11and ever did distill in exquisite divisions from his bill to inflame the hearts of men.

01:21And thus sang he.

01:23Of whose whole mystery possessed, when I reveal a little to the rest,

01:39forthwith creation, listening, forsakes the reins of reason, and my frenzy takes.

01:46Yea, whosoever once has quaffed this wine,

01:54he leaves unlistened David's song for mine.

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