De eerste Engelse vertaling van Khayyám beslaat anderhalf kwatrijn, opgenomen in 'A Grammar of The Persian Language' (Londen, 1771) van Sir William Jones (1746-94). De naam van Khayyám wordt hier nog niet genoemd, de verzen worden pas later aan hem toegeschreven.

Hear how the crowing cock at early dawn
Loudly laments the rising of the sun
Has he perceived that of your precious life
Another night has passed, and you care not?

As spring arrived and winter passed away,
The pages of our life were folded back.