Now at that time a young shoemaker wedded
A virtuous wife, rich and of good repute,
But failed in nuptial duty, and his mother
Lamented bitterly his grievous case.
Howbeit she had some wine in store. She took
Her son to her own house and bade the youth:—
“Drink seven cups to hearten thee. Perchance
Thou mayest break this stubborn seal to-night.
How can a woollen mattock mine in stone?”
He quaffed cups seven or eight, and verily
His feet and hide waxed strong. The cups had made
The young man confident; he came, achieved
His purpose, and then went back to his mother
In high delight thereat, and thus it chanced:
A lion of the Sháh's had broken loose,
And came along the road. Now at the time
The shoemaker was still in drink—a sea
That made his fingers thumbs. He ran, bestrode
The roaring lion, and then reaching out
He clutched its ears. The lion had been fed;
The youth maintained his seat. Post-haste the keeper
Came running after them, a chain in one hand,
A lasso in the other. He beheld
A shoemaker upon the lion's back,
Perched there like some bold rider on an ass,
Ran to the palace-gate, came unabashed
Before the Sháh, and told about the wonder
That he had seen, with his own eyes, and none
Beside had heard. The world-lord all amazed
Called the high priest and chiefs, and bade the former:—
“See what the stock of this shoemaker is.
If he shall prove a paladin by birth
'Tis well, for courage fitteth paladins.”
They sought and asked his mother: “Is his rank
Above his station?”

When the talk grew long

She hurried to the Sháh and told him all,
First doing her obeisance and exclaiming:—
“Live happily till time shall be no more.
This youth, who had not come to man's estate,
Must take himself a partner and keep house,
And then prove impotent! His wife, she said:—
‘This weakling was self-sown!’ All privily
I gave to him three cups of wine, and none
In all the world was ware thereof. Forthwith

It flushed his cheeks and made a man of him.
Three cups of wine are his nobility;
Who could imagine that the Sháh would wish
To hear thereof? Shoemaker was his granddad,
And so is he, and not by birth above
His trade.”

The Sháh smiled on the crone, and said:—

“This is no tale to hide.”

He thus addressed

The archmage: “Wine is now permissible,
And we should drink thereof to his extent
Who in his cups still can bestride a lion,
And not be overthrown, but not to his
Who lieth all dead-drunk upon the road
What while some black crow pecketh out his eyes.”
A proclamation went up from the gate:—
“O paladins who wear the golden girdle!
Drink wine in moderation, all of you!
Considering the end when ye begin,
And when the wine hath led you to delight
Then go to sleep but not in helpless plight.”