 FitzGerald's source were transcripts sent to him in 1856–1857 by his friend and teacher Edward B. Cowell of two manuscripts, a Bodleian manuscript with 158 quatrains,
and a "Calcutta manuscript".FitzGerald completed his first draft in 1857 and sent it to "Fraser's Magazine" in January 1858.He made a revised draft in January 1859, of which he privately printed 250 copies.