THE Reader's attention is invited to the following points in this translation of the Bústán of Shaikh Musliḥu-d-dín Sa'dí of Shíráz:
a. The couplets are numbered, rendering reference easy.
b. Each line of the translation agrees with the corresponding line in the original Persian text; the two lines, forming a couplet, are not run into each other.
c. A full index to the discourses is given.
d. Foot-notes give information as to the couplets of the Bustán which are omitted in the 'Iḳd-i-manẓúm, while the index shows the stories of the 'Iḳd-i-manẓúm, which are omitted in the examination for “High Proficiency” in Persian.*
The Persian texts of the Bústán differ greatly. The Persian text of this ṭranslation is that which was brought out, under the auspices of the Oriental Society of Germany, by Charles M. Graf, at Vienna, in 1858.
The student, as he reads, should number the couplets of his Persian text, so as to make them accord with those of this translation. Much trouble in making references will thus be saved.
The Bústán, as a whole, or in part, is required for the—
| High Proficiency | } | Examinations in Persian, in India. |
| Higher Standard | ||
| Degree of Honour |
The original is in Persian verse. This translation is in prose. In this I have but pursued the course which Mr. Wollaston has followed in rendering the verses of the Anvár-i-Suhailí. To render the Bústán in verse, one should be a poet, at least equal in power to the author. Even then it would be well-nigh impossible to clothe the Bústán in such an English dress as would truly convey its beauties. Moreover, if such a translation could be prepared,—no matter how beautiful it might be in execution,—it would be of little advantage to the student. That which is now offered is so literal and so annotated as to encourage the hope that it may in a great measure relieve the student from the labour of consulting a dictionary.
The following table shows the work done in this translation:
| Number of | In Introduction. | In Chapter | Grand Total. | |||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |||
| Couplets | 190 | 971 | 518 | 364 | 527 | 202 | 174 | 438 | 273 | 330 | 112 | 4099 |
| Discourses | 4 | 33 | 27 | 28 | 30 | 17 | 15 | 33 | 16 | 24 | 6 | 233 |
“When one couplet out of a thousand is pleasing to thee,
In the name of manliness! restrain thy hand from criticism.”“Bústán,” Introduction, couplet 124.
H. WILBERFORCE CLARKE, Captain, R.E.
THE Frontispiece is a portrait of Shaikh Muslihu-d-dín Sa'dí Shírází, by a Persian artist, from a picture in the Haftán, built by Vakíl Karím Khán in 1775-79.
The Haftán, near Shíráz, is an enclosure 33 by 110 yards, containing the graves of seven darveshes whose names are unknown; and an 'imárat, or edifice, in which are two oil-portraits—one of Sa'dí, half life-size, over the door on the west side; and the other of Háfiz, in a niche, over the door on the east side.
The bowl in Sa'dí's hand is called “Kashkúl,” or alms-bowl.
For a full description of this picture see Vol. I. of Binney's “Travels in Persia.”
Through the kindness of Mr. J. J. Fahie, of the Persian Telegraph Department, this copy of the picture was obtained for this work.
Page 325, line 9, for From which the wife's clamour issues loudly, read From which, loud issues the wife's clamour.
1 In the name of the Lord life-creating!
The Wise One speech-creating within the tongue!
The Lord, the giver, hand-seizing!
Merciful, sin-forgiving, excuse-accepting!
A King such that whosoever turned away his head from
His door
Found not any respect at the doors to which he went,1
The heads of kings, neck-exalting,
(Are), at His court, on the ground of supplication.
5 He does not instantly seize the froward;
He does not drive away, with violence, those excuse-
bringing.
And, though He becomes angry at bad conduct,
When thou didst return, He cancelled the past circumstance
(in the book of sins).
The two worlds (this and the next) are (like) a drop in
the sea of His knowledge;
He sees a crime, but in mercy covers it with a screen.
If a person seeks a quarrel with his father,
Doubtless, the father becomes very angry.
And, if a relation be not satisfied with a relation (on
account of bad conduct),
He drives him from before him, like strangers.
10 And if the clever slave is not of use,
The master holds him not dear,
And, if thou art not kind to friends,
The friend will fly from thee to the distance of a league.
And if a soldier abandons service,
The king army-leading becomes quit of him.
But, the Lord of high and low (God),
Shuts not the door of food on anyone, on account of his
sin.
The embroidered leather surface of the earth is His common
table;
At this open table, whether enemy (infidel), or friend
(the faithful)—what matter?2
15 And if He had hastened against one tyranny-practising,
Who would have obtained safety from the hand of His
violence?3
His nature (is) free from suspicion of opposition and simi-
litude;
His kingdom independent of the devotion of jinn and
mankind.3a
The servant of His order every thing and person:
The son of Ádam, and fowl, and ant, and fly.
He spreads so wide a tray of liberality,
That the Símurgh (in the mountains of) Káf (the Caucasus)
enjoys a portion.3b
Grace and liberality diffusing, and work executing;
Because He is the Possessor of Creation, and Knower
of secrets.
20 Grandeur and egotism are proper for Him,
Whose kingdom is ancient, and nature independent.
He places the crown of fortune on the head of one;
He brings another from a throne to the dust.
This one (has) the cap of Good-Fortune on his head;
That one the blanket of Mis-fortune on his body.3c
He makes a fire, a rose-garden, for Ibráhím;
He takes a crowd, from the waters of the Nil, to the fire
(of Hell).4
If that (making the fire a rose-garden)—it is the written
order of His beneficence;
And, if this (the destruction of Far'ún in the Níl)—it is
the sign manual of His order.
25 Behind the screen He sees bad acts:
By His own favour, He covers them with a veil.
If, with threatening, He draws forth the sharp sword of
Command,
The Cherubim will remain deaf and dumb.
And if, from the tray of Liberality, He gives victuals to be
carried home,
'Azázíl (i.e. Satan) will say, “I may carry away a good
portion.”
At the Court of His grace and greatness,
The Great Ones have put greatness out of their heads.
In mercy, near to those who are distressed:
A hearer of the prayer of those supplication-making.
30 Concerning circumstances not yet come to pass, His know-
ledge penetrating;
As to secrets unspoken, His grace informed.
By power, the Guardian of high (sky) and low (earth),
The Lord of the Court of the day of reckoning (Judgment-
day).4a
The back of a person is not free from obedience to Him
(it must bend);
On His word, there is not room for the finger of a person
(in slander).
The ancient doer of good, good-approving;
With the reed of Destiny, in the womb, picture-painting.5
From the east to the west, the moon and sun,
He put into motion; and spread the firmament on the
water.
35 The earth, from distress of earthquake, became stupefied;
On its skirt, He drove down a mountam as a nail.5a
He gives to the seed of man, a form like a parí;
Who has made a painting on the water?
He places the ruby and turquoise, in the back-bone (middle)
of the rock;
The red rose, on the branch of green colour.
From the cloud, He casts a drop towards the ocean;
From the back-bone (of the father) He brings the seed
into the womb.
From that drop, He makes an incomparable pearl;
And from this, He makes a form (of man) like the lofty
cypress.
40 The knowledge of a single atom is not hidden from Him,
To whom the evident and the hidden are one.
He prepares the daily food of the snake and the ant;
Although, they are without hands, and feet, and strength.
By His order, He pourtrayed existence from non-
existence;
Who, except Him, knows how to make the existing from
the non-existing?
Another time, He takes away (creation) to the concealment
of non-existence;
And, thence conveys (it) to the plain of the place of assem-
bling (the Resurrection).
(The people of the) world are agreed to His divine origin;
Overpowered in respect to the substance of His essence.
45 The people discovered not what was beyond His majesty;
The vision discovered not the extent of His power.
The bird of Fancy flies not to the summit of His nature;
The power of the intellect arrives not at the skirt of His
description.
In this whirlpool, a thousand ships (of reason) foundered,
In such a way that not a plank was found on the marge.
Many nights, I sate lost in this journey (of thought
of God),
When (suddenly) terror seized my sleeve, saying, “Get
up!”6
The knowledge of the King (God) is the encircler of the
wide plain (of creation);
Thy conjecture becomes not the encircler of Him.6a
50 Genius reaches not to the substance of His nature,
Thought reaches not to the profundity of His qualities.
One can attain to (the 'Arab poet), Suhbán, in eloquence;
(But) one cannot reach to the substance of God without
equal.7
Because the immature ones have on this road urged the
steed (of thought),
At (the words) “lá ahsá,” they have wearied of the
pace.7a
One cannot gallop a steed in every place,
Places there are where it is proper to cast the shield (yield).7b
And, if a traveller (a pious one) becomes acquainted with
the secret of God,
They (the angels) will shut on him the door of returning
(to the world).7c
55 In this banquet (of the mystery of God), they give a cup
(of the wine of the love of God) to that one,
To whom they give a draft of senselessness (that he may
not utter the mystery of God).
The wise man fears this sea of blood (the mystery of God),
Out of which no one has taken the bark (of his life).
Of this hawk (the Rationalist), the eye is sewn up (blind
to the knowledge of God);
Of the other (the holy man), the eyes are open (to the
knowledge of God); and feathers (of flight to the
world) burned.
No one went to the (buried) treasure of Kárún (mystery of
God);
And if he found a way, he found not (a way) out of it.8
If thou art a seeker, who over this ground (of the know-
ledge of God) dost travel,
First thou shouldst pluck up the foot of the steed of
returning.8a
60 Shouldst reflect, in the mirror of the mind;
Shouldst acquire purity by degrees.
Possibly the perfume of the love (of God) makes thee
intoxicated;
Makes thee a seeker of the Covenant—“Am I your
God?”8b
With the foot of search thou dost travel to that place (the
mystery of God);
And thence, thou dost fly with the wing of the love of
God.9
Truth tears the curtains of fancy;
There remains not a lofty curtain, save the glory of God.
Again for the steed of reason there is no running;
Astonishment will seize its rein, saying, “Stand!”
65 In this sea (of God) only the man-guardian (Muhammad)
went:
That one became lost, who went not behind the inviter
(Muhammad).
Those persons, who have turned back from this road (of
following Muhammad)
Travelled much, and are distressed.
That person, who chooses the way opposite to the Prophet,
Will never arrive at the stage (of his journey).
Oh Sa'dí! think not that the path of purity,
One can travel, except behind the Chosen One (Mu-
hammad).
Generous of dispositions, beautiful of natures!
The Prophet of creatures, the Intercessor of nations!10
70 The Imám of the prophets, the Leader of the road!
The faithful of God, the place of descent of the Angel
Jibrá,il!10a
The Intercessor of mortals, the Lord of raising and dis-
persing (the Judgment-day)!
The Imám of the guides, the Chief of the Court of
Assembling (the Resurrection)!
The Speaker, whose Mount Sinai is the celestial sphere;
All lights are the rays of his light.10b
The orphan (Muhammad) who, the Kurán un-completed,
Washed the library of (effaced) so many religions,
When anger drew forth his sword of terror,
Struck, by a miracle, the waist of the moon in two halves.10c
75 When his fame fell in the mouths of the people of the
world,
An earthquake occurred in the court of Kisrí (King Nau-
shiraván).11
By the words—lá iláha illa-lláh—he broke into small pieces
(the idol) Lát;
For the honour of religion, he took away the reputation of
(the idol) 'Uzzá.11a
He brought not forth the dust of (the idols) Lát and
'Uzzá (only);
But made the Old Testament and Gospel obsolete.11b
One night he sate (on the beast Burák); he passed beyond
the Heavens:
In majesty and grandeur, he exceeded the angels.11c
So impetuous, he urged (his steed) into the plain of propin-
quity (to God),
While Jibrá,il remained behind him, at the tree of paradise.11d
80 The Chief of the sacred house (of the Ka'ba) spoke to him,
Saying:—“Oh, bearer of the Divine Revelation! move
proudly higher.
“When thou didst find me sincere in friendship,
“Why didst thou twist the reins from my love?”
Jibrá,il said:—“The power to move higher was not to me:
“I remained here, because the power of wing remained
not to me.
“If I fly one hair's breadth higher,
“The effulgence of splendour will burn my feathers.”
On account of sins, a person remains not in restraint,
Who has such a Lord (Muhammad) as guide.
85 What acceptable praise may I say to thee?
Oh, Prophet of Mortals! peace be on thee!
May the benedictions of angels be on thy soul!
May they be on thy companions and followers!12
First Abú-Bakr, the old disciple;
'Umar, grasp on the convolution of the contumacious demon
(Satan);
The wise 'Usmán, night, alive-keeping;
The fourth 'Alí-Shán, Duldul, riding.12a
Oh God! by the right of the sons of Fátima,
May I, on the word of faith, conclude (my life)!12b
90 If thou dost reject my claim, or if thou dost accept,
I, and the hand, and the skirt of the offspring of the
Prophet (are together).
Oh chief happy footed! what loss occurs
Of thy exalted dignity, at the court of the Living One,
That there are a few beggars of the tribe,
Humble companions, guests, at the House of Safety
(paradise)?12c
God praised and honoured thee (oh Muhammad!)
Jabrá,il performed the ground-kiss of thy worth.
The lofty sky, before thy worth, (is) ashamed,
Thou created, and man yet water and clay.13
95 Thou from the first, the essence of the existence of man;
Whatever else became existent is an offshoot from thee.
I know not what words I may say to thee,
Who art higher than what I say of thee.
To thee, the honour of—“but for thee”—is sufficient
grandeur;
Thy praise in the verse of the Kurán—táhá wa yasín—is
sufficient.13a
What praise may the imperfect Sa'dí make?
Oh Prophet! on thee be benedictions, and safety!
In the extremes of the world, I wondered much;
With every one, I passed my time.13b
100 From every corner, I found pleasure;
From every harvest, I obtained an ear of corn.
Like the pure ones of Shíráz of dust-like (submissive) dis-
position,
I saw not (one).—May mercy be on this pure soil (of
Shíráz)!
The cultivating of friendship of the men of this pure soil,
Drew away my heart from Syria and Turkey.
I said to my heart:—“From Egypt, they bring sugar;
They take it as a present to friends.”
From all that garden (of the world), I was loath
To go empty-handed to my friends.14
105 If my hand be empty of that sugar,
There are words sweeter than sugar—
Not that sugar that men apparently enjoy;
But that, which the lords of truth take away on paper
(with respect).14a
When I completed this palace of wealth,
I prepared in it ten doors (chapters) of instruction.14b
One chapter is on Justice, and Deliberation, and Judgment;
The guarding of the people, and the fear of God.14c
(In) the second chapter, I laid the foundation of Benefi-
cence,
That the benefactor may praise (by liberality) the excel-
lence of God.
110 The third chapter is on Love (of God), and Phrenzy, and
Perturbation,—
Not the worldly love that men fasten, with force, on them-
selves.15
The fourth chapter is on Humility; the fifth,—Content-
ment;
The sixth,—the description of the man Contentment-
choosing.
The seventh chapter on the description of the Science of
Education;
The eighth chapter,—on thanks for safety.15a
The ninth chapter is on Repentance and the way of
Rectitude;
The tenth,—on Prayers and the Conclusion of the book.
On the august day, and happy year;
On the auspicious date, between the two 'ídds,—15b
115 It was fifty-five years more than six hundred,
Since that this renowned treasury (the Bústán) became full
of pearls (of eloquence).
My jewel of speech has remained in a woman's veil;
Yet from shame, I carry my head on my bosom.16
Because, in the sea there is the pearl and also the oyster
(pearl-less);
In the garden there is the lofty tree and the small.
Ho! oh wise man of happy disposition!
I have not heard the skilful one, a defect-seeker.
If the coat be of silk, or if painted and embroidered,
Of necessity, its quilting (of cotton) is in the interior.
120 If thou dost not obtain the painted and embroidered silk,
fret not,
Do the work of Liberality, and cover my redundant words.
I boast not of the capital of my own excellence;
I have brought my hands in front, in beggary.
I (have) heard that in the day of hope and fear (the resur-
rection),
The Merciful One will pardon the bad for the sake of the
good.
If thou also dost see evil in my words,
Act, in imitation of the world-Creator.16a
When one couplet, out of a thousand, is pleasing to thee,
In the name of manliness! restrain thy hand from
criticism.
125 Assuredly, in Persia, my creation (the Bústán),
Is priceless, like musk in Khutn.17
Like the noise of the drum, the fear of me was afar.
In my absence, my defect was veiled.17a
Sa'dí brings the rose to the garden
With sauciness; and pepper to Hindústán.17b
Like the date, skin with sweetness encrusted;
When thou dost open it, a bone (a stone or difficulty) is
inside.
My disposition had no desire for this kind (of composition);
It had no wish for the praising of kings.17c
130 But, I threaded the pearls (of poetry) in the name of a
certain one;
Perhaps, the holy men may unfold,
That Sa'dí, who snatched the ball of eloquence,
Was (lived) in the days of Abú-Bakr, the son of Sa'd.
If in his time, I boast—it is fit;
Even as, the Lord (Muhammad) in the time of (King)
Naushírawán.17d
A world-guardian, and Faith-cherisher, and justice-distri-
buter—
Came not after (Khalífa) 'Umar, like (King) Abú-Bakr.18
Chief of the head-exalting ones, and crown of the great
ones!—
The world will boast, in the time of his justice.
135 If a person comes from tumult into shelter,
He has no shelter-place, save this country (Shíráz).
Happiness for the door (of Abú-Bakr), like the old house
(Ka'ba)!
From every broad road around it, men come.19
I saw not such a country, and treasure, and throne
Which is a bequest to the child, and to the young man, and
to the old.19a
The one sorrowful on account of a grief came not to him,
On whose heart he placed not a plaster.
He (Abú-Bakr) is a seeker of good, and hopeful (of good):
Oh God! fulfil the hope that he has.
140 A corner of his hat on the highest Heaven,—
Yet, from humility, his head on the ground.
If the beggar supplicates,—it is his nature;
Humility from the neck-exalting ones is good.
If an inferior falls (in humility) it is proper;
The superior prostrate (in humility) is a man of God.20
The recollection of his grace is not concealed;
Nay, the clamour of his liberality travels in the world.20a
A wise man of happy disposition like him,
The world, so long as it was a world, recollects not.
145 In his age, thou dost not see a sorrowing one,
Who complains of the injustice of the one of strong
grasp.
No one has seen this custom, and order, and regulation:
King Firídún, with the majesty that he had, saw not this.20b
On that account, his dignity before God is great;
Because by his might, the hand of the weak ones is
strong.
He so spreads his shadow over a world,
That an old man fears not a Rustam.
In every age, men of the violence of time,
And of the revolution of the skies,—groan.
150 Oh great monarch! in thy just age,
No one complains in respect to time.
In thy time, I behold the peace of the people;
After thee, I know not (what will be) the end of the
people.
It is also by reason of thy fortune of happy ending,
That the date of Sa'dí is in thy era.
So long as the moon and sun are in the sky,
In this book, remembrance of thee is eternal.
If kings have gathered a good name,
They have learned a good way of life from former kings.
155 Thou, in the administration of thy own kingdom,
Surpassed former kings.
Alexander, with a wall of brass and stone,
Confined the way of Ya,júj from the world.21
Thy barrier against Ya,júj-kufr is of gold;
It is not brass, like the wall of Alexander.21a
That eloquent one—who, in security and justice,
Utters not thy praise,—let him not have a tongue!
Well done! The sea of gift and mine of liberality!
Because the implorer for aid is existent from thy existence.
160 I consider the qualities of the King beyond computation;
Within this narrow plain of the book, they are not
contained.
If Sa'dí writes all thy good qualities,
He will assuredly make another book.
I desist from thanks for such liberality;
It is indeed better, that I should spread forth the hand of
prayer:—
May the world be to thy desire, and Heaven thy friend!
May the Creator of the World be thy guardian!
Thy lofty star has illumined a world;
The declination of thy star has burned the enemy.
165 Of the revolution of Time let there not be grief to thee!
And of reflection, let there not be dust (of grief) on thy
heart!
Because a single grief, on the heart of kings,
Disturbs the heart of a world.
May thy heart and territory be tranquil and prosperous!
May confusion be far from thy kingdom!
May thy body be always (sound) like thy true religion (of
Islám)!
May the heart of thy enemy be sluggish, like deliberation!
May thy inward parts, by the strengthening of God, be
joyful!
May thy heart, and religion, and territory be prosperous!
170 May the World-Creator have mercy on thee!
Whatever more I may say is empty talk and wind.
This indeed is enough from the Glorious Omnipotent One,
That the grace of thy welfare is on the increase.
(King) Sa'd, the son of Zangí, departed not with pain from
the world;
When he begot a renowned successor, like thee (Muham-
mad Sa'd).23
This branch, from that pure stock (Sa'd, son of Zangí), is
not wonderful;
Because his soul is on the summit (of paradise), and his
body in the dust (of the grave).
Oh God! On that renowned tomb (of Sa'd, son of Zangí),
By Thy grace, let the rain of mercy fall!
175 If of Sa'd, son of Zangí, an example and recollection
remain,—
May Heaven be the Protector of Sa'd, son of Abú-Bakr!23a
Atábak Muhammad, a king of good fortune,
Lord of crown, and Lord of throne.23b
A youth of fresh fortune, enlightened mind;
In fortune, young; in deliberation, old.
In wisdom, great; and in spirit, lofty;
In arm, strong; and in heart, sensible.
Oh happy fortune of the mother of Time!
Who cherishes such a son in her bosom.
180 With the hand of liberality, he took away the water (of
reputation) of the river:
In exaltation, he took the place of the Pleiades.24
Bravo! may the eye of Fortune be open (joyous) on thy
face,
Oh chief of monarchs, neck exalting!
The oyster, that thou dost see full of pearl-grains,
Has not that value that one pearl-grain has.24a
Thou art that hidden (rare) pearl of one grain;
Because, thou art the ornament of the house of the
kingdom.
Oh God! preserve him by Thy grace:
Keep him from injury and the evil eye.
185 Oh God! make him renowned in every horizon:
Make him precious, by the grace of devotion.
Keep him a dweller in justice and piety;
Fulfil his wish in this world and the next.
Let there not be grief to thee on account of the hateful
enemy!
Let there not be injury to thee, from the revolution of the
world!24b
The tree of paradise like thee brings forth fruit:
The son fame-seeking; the father fame-possessing.
Know that welfare is a stranger of that household
Who are evil speakers of this household.
190 Bravo! Religion and knowledge. Bravo! justice and
equity.
Bravo! country and government.— May it always be
lasting!
1 The beneficences of God are not contained in the imagina-
tion;
What service does the tongue of praise offer?26
Oh God do thou—this king (Abú-Bakr son of Sa'd), the
poor man's friend,
Since the case of the people is in his protection,—
Keep long established over the head of the people;
By the grace of devotion, keep his heart alive (fresh).
Keep his tree of hope fruitful;
His head green, and his face, with mercy, fair.
5 Oh Sa'dí! go not in the way of dissimulation (in regard to
the King's praise);
If thou hast honesty, bring and come.26a
Thou (Sa'dí) art a stage-recogniser, and the King a road-
traveller:
Thou art a speaker of truth; and the King, the bearer of
truths.27
What necessity that nine thrones of the sky,
Thou dost place below the foot of (the King) Kizil-Arsalán.27a
Say not:—place thy foot of honour on the Heavens.
Say:—place the face of sincerity in the dust.
Place, in devotion, the face on the threshold (of God);
Because this is the highway of the righteous.
10 If thou (Abú-Bakr) art a slave of God, place thy head on
this door (of God);
Place, from off thy head, the cap of lordship.
At the Court of the Order-giver possessed of Majesty,
Bewail, like a darwesh, before a rich and powerful man.
When thou dost perform thy devotions, put not on the
kingly raiment;
Like the poor darwesh, bring forth a cry,27b
Saying:—“Oh Omnipotent One! Thou art powerful;
“Thou art strong; Thou art the darwesh-cherisher.
“I (Abú-Bakr) am neither a monarch, nor an order-giver;
“I am one of the beggars of this Court.
15 “What springs forth from the power of my conduct,
“Unless the power of Thy grace is my friend?
“Give to me the means of liberality and goodness;
“And, if not,—what goodness can come from me to any-
one?
“Oh God! keep me on the work of goodness;
“Otherwise, no work can come from me.”
At night, like the beggars, pray with ardour,
If, by day, thou dost exercise sovereignty.
The obstinate ones (courtiers) are at thy door, loin girt;
Thou (shouldst be thus)—thy head on the threshold of
devotion.28
20 Oh, excellent!—for us slaves, the Lord-God;
For the lord a slave, duty-performing.
They relate a story of the great men of the faith,
Recognisers of the truth of the essence of truth,28a
As follows:—A pious man sate on a panther;
Snake in hand, he urged his long, pleasant paced steed.
One said to him:—“Oh man of the way of God!
Guide me to this road by which thou didst go.
“What didst thou, that the rending animal became obe-
dient to thee?
“That the seal-ring of good fortune went to thy name?”29
25 He said:—“If the panther and snake be submissive to me,
“And if (also) the elephant and vulture,—be not asto-
nished.29a
“Do thou also from the order of the Ruler (God) twist not
thy neck,
“So that no one, from thy order, may twist his neck.”
When the ruler is obedient to God,
God is his Protector and Friend.
It is impossible when He loves thee,
That He will leave thee in the power of an enemy.
This is the road, and turn not thy face from the way;
Place thy foot (on this road), and obtain the object which
thou dost desire.30
30 Advice of a person is profitable to a person,—to him,
To whom the saying of Sa'dí is agreeable.
I have heard that, at the time of the agony of the soul (the
last breath),
(King) Naushíraván (the Just) thus spoke to Hurmuz (his
son),
Saying:—“Be observant of the heart of the poor
“Be not in the desire of thy own ease.
“A person rests not within thy territory,
“When thou dost seek thy own ease, and no more.30a
“In the opinion of the wise, it is not approved—
“The shepherd asleep, and the wolf among the sheep.
35 “Go: protect the poor and needy one,
“Because, the king is the crown-holder for the sake of his
subjects.30b
“The subject is like the root, and the king the tree;
“Oh son! the tree is strong by reason of the root.
“So long as thou canst, wound not the heart of the
people;
“But, if thou dost,—thou dost pluck up thy own roots.
“If a straight road (of safety) is necessary for thee—
“The way of the pious is hope and fear.31
“The disposition of man is towards wisdom,
“In the hope of goodness, and fear of wickedness.”31a
40 If thou didst find these two doors (hope and fear) in the
King,
Thou didst obtain shelter in the territory of his kingdom.
(The King) brings a gift to the hopeful one,
In hope of the gift (of pardon) of the Creator of the World.
“The injury of persons is not pleasing to him (the king),
“Who fears lest injury should come to his kingdom.
“And if there is not this disposition, in his nature,
“There is not the perfume of ease in that territory.31b
“If thou art foot-bound (by wife and family), accept con-
tentment;
“But, if thou art a single horseman (solitary), take thy
own desire.31c
45 “Seek not plenteousness in that land and region,
“Where thou dost see the subjects of the king sorrowful.
“Fear not the proud haughty ones;
“Fear that one, who fears God.32
“In a dream, he sees the territory of another populous,
“Who keeps the heart of the people of his country dis-
tressed.
“From violence come ruin and ill-fame;
“The prudent man reaches to the profundity of this
speech.
“It is not proper with injustice to slay the peasants,
“Who are the shelter and support of the kingdom.
50 “For thy own sake preserve the villagers;
“Because, the labourer of happy heart executes more
work (for his master).
“It is not manliness to do ill to that one (the villager),
“From whom, thou mayst have experienced much benefit
(in tribute).”32a
I have heard that King Khusrau said to (his son) Shírwiya
At that time when his eyes slept (rested) from seeing (at
the time of death),—32b
“In that state be, so that whatever resolution thou mayst
make,
“Thou mayst consider the peace of the peasant.
“Be sure, so long as thou dost not turn thy head from
equity and judgment,
“That men will not turn aside their feet, from thy power.
55 “The peasant flies from the tyrant;
“He makes his bad repute, a stock story in the world.
“Much time passes not, that his own foundation,
“That one plucked up, who laid a bad foundation (of
tyranny).33
“The enemy, skilful with the sword, lays waste,
“Not so much as, the smoke (grief) of the heart of an old
woman.
“The lamp (of grief) that the widow-woman lighted up,—
“Thou mayst often have seen that it burned a city.
“Who, in the world, is more favoured than that one,
“Who with justice, in sovereignty, lived?
60 “When the time of his travelling from this world arrives,
“(The people of the world) send mercy to his tomb.
“Since bad and good men pass away (die),
“It is best indeed that they connect thy name with good-
ness (and bless thee).
“Appoint the God-fearing one over the peasant;
“Because, the abstinent one is the architect of the country.
“That liver-eater of the people is thy enemy,
“Who seeks thy profit, in the injury of the people.
“Government is a fault in the hand of those persons,
“From whose power, the hands (of the people) are (up-
lifted in prayer) before God.
65 “The cherisher of good sees not evil;
“When thou dost cherish evil, thou art the enemy of thy
own life.
“Exercise not retribution against the despoiler by (con-
fiscation of) his property;
“But, it is proper to bring forth (to destroy) his root from
the foundation.34
“Exercise not patience with the agent of the friend of
tyranny;
“Since, on account of his fatness (from extortion) it is
proper to flay his skin.34a
“It is also proper, at first, to cut off the wolf's head,
“Not at the time when he tore in pieces the sheep of men.”34b
How well said the captive merchant
When the robbers gathered around him with arrows!
70 “Inasmuch as courage comes from highwaymen,
“Whether the men of the army, or a troop of women, what
matter?”34c
The great king, who injured the merchants,
Shut the door of well being on the (people of the) city and
the army.
How may wise men again go there,
When they hear the rumour of bad custom?
Are a good name and favourable reception necessary to
thee?—
Hold in esteem merchants and envoys.
Merchants heartily cherish travellers;
Because, they carry their good name to the world.
75 That kingdom soon becomes ruined,
From which, the injured heart becomes a traveller.35
Be the acquaintance of the foreigner, and friend of the
traveller;
Because the traveller is one who hawks about a good
name.
Hold dear the guest, and precious the traveller;
But also be on guard from injury from them.
To beware of the stranger is good;
Because, possibly, he may be an enemy in the guise of a
friend.
Advance the rank of thy own old friends;
Because, treachery never comes from the cherished one.
80 When thy servant becomes old,
Forget not the right of his years.
If old age has bound the hand of his service;
Yet, thou hast power, in respect to liberality.
I heard that Sháhpúr heaved a sigh,
When Khusrau drew the pen on (cancelled) his pension.36
When, from want of food his state became distressed,
He wrote this tale to the king,
As follows:—“Oh king, clime-spreader, in justice!
“If I remain not (die still), thou dost remain in excellence.
85 “When I spent for thee my youth,
“Drive me not from before thee, in the time of old age.”
The foreigner, whose head is intent on strife,
Injure not; but, expel him from the country.
If thou dost not become angry with him, it is proper;
Because, his own bad nature is the enemy, in pursuit of
him.
And, if Persia be his native country,
Send him not to Sin'án, Slavonia, or Turkey.36a
Even there (in Persia) give him not respite, until the mid-
day meal (slay him);
It is not proper to establish a calamity on any one.36b
90 Because they say:—May that country be overturned,
Since such men come out of it!
If thou dost give service (place and rank) recognise the
beneficent man;
Because, the poor man has no fear of the king.
When the poor man lowers his neck to the shoulder (in
humility),
Only lamentation proceeds from him.37
When the inspector has not two hands of rectitude,
It is necessary to appoint an examiner over him.
And if he (the examiner) agrees with his heart,
Pluck away service from the inspector and his examiner.
95 The God-fearing man, fidelity-displaying, is necessary;
Hold him not faithful, who fears thee (and not God).37a
The faithful one is necessary, fearing the Ruler (God);
Not eminence of the minister, nor reproof, nor ruin.
Scatter (thy money), and reckon, and sit at leisure;
Because, thou dost not see one faithful out of a hundred.
Two persons of the same nature, old, of the same pen
education),
It is not proper to send together to one place.
How dost thou know that they may become mutual helper
and friend?
This one may be a thief, the other a confidant.37b
100 When thieves have fear and terror of one another,
A Kárawán goes safe, in the midst of them.
One whom thou didst dismiss from dignity,—
Forgive his crime, when some time elapses.
To accomplish the desire of the hopeful
Is better than to break (the bonds) of a thousand fettered
ones.38
If the pillar of the office of the scribe
Falls, he cuts not the rope of hope.38a
The just monarch, with his subjects,
Becomes angry like a father with a son.
105 Sometimes, he strikes him so that he becomes sorrowful;
Sometimes, he makes water (flow) from his pure eyes.
When thou dost exercise gentleness, the enemy becomes
bold;
But, if thou art an anvil, he becomes wearied of thee.
Severity and mildness together are best,
Like the vein-striker (bleeder), who is surgeon and plaster-
placer.
Be generous, and pleasant tempered, and forgiving;
Even as God scatters (favour) over thee, do thou scatter
over the people.38b
No one came into the world, who remained,
Save that one, whose good name remained.39
110 That one died not, after whom there remained—
Bridge, or masjid, or khán, or guest-house.39a
Every one, behind whom, a token remained not,—
The tree of his existence brought not forth fruit.
If he departed (from this world) and the marks of his well-
doing remained not,
It is not fit to chaunt, after his death,—“Al hamd!”39b
When thou dost wish that thy name may be eternal,
Conceal not the good name of the great ones.
After thy own time (death) call to mind that same descrip-
tive picture,
That, after the age of former kings, thou didst behold.39c
115 One took away a good name from the world;
The bad custom of the other remained behind him for
ever.
With the ear of approval, listen not to a person's injury;
But, if the speech comes probe its depth.
Accept the excuse of forgetfulness of the sinner;
When he asks for protection, give protection.
If a sinner comes to thy shelter;
It is not proper to slay him, at the first fault.
When once they uttered advice, and the sinner heard not;
Punish him, the second time, with imprisonment and
bonds.
120 And, if advice and bonds are of no advantage to him;
He is an impure tree; pluck up his roots.
When anger comes to thee, on account of a person's crime,
Reflect much on his punishment;
Because, it is easy to break the ruby of Badakhshán.
Broken,—it is not possible to fasten it together again.40
A certain one came from the sea of 'Ummán,
Much sea and plain travelled;
Arabia and Turkistan, and Majanderan, and Turkey seen;
Sciences of every class of men, in his pure spirit;
125 World travelled, and knowledge gathered;
Travelled and society-versed;
In form strong, like a large-bolled tree;
But very weak without leaf.
Two hundred rags, one on the other stitched;
He in the midst burnt from their heat.
By a river-bank, he entered a city;
A great one (was) king in that locality.
Who had a disposition reflecting on good name;
Who held the head of submission, at the foot of the dar-
wesh.
130 The servants of the king washed,
In a bath, his head and body from the dust of the road.
When he placed his head on the threshold of the king,
Lauding, he placed his hand in his bosom.
He entered the hall of the great king,
Saying:—“May thy fortune be young, and power thy
slave!”
The great king said:—“Whence didst thou come?
“What happened to thee that thou camest to me?
“In this territory, what sawest thou of good and bad?
“Oh one of good name and good disposition! Say!”
135 He replied:—“Oh lord of the face of the earth!
“May God be thy helper, and Fortune thy friend!
“In this country, I went not one stage,
“During which, I saw a single heart calamity-distressed.
“For the king, this very kingdom and ornament (of
justice) is sufficient,
“That—he is not pleased with injury done to a single
person.
“I saw not one, head heavy with wine;
“Indeed I also saw the wine taverns desolate.”
He spoke, and expanded his skirt of jewels of speech,
With such a grace, that the king extended his sleeve in
rapture (was astonied).42
140 The excellent speech of the man was pleasing to the king;
He called him near to himself and did him honour.
Gave to him gold and jewels and thanks for auspicious
arrival;
Inquired of him his original birthplace.
Whatever the king asked of past events, he told;
In propinquity to the king, he surpassed other persons.
The king was in talk with his own heart,
Saying:—“I may commit to him the chief dignity of
wazír-ship,
“But by degrees, so that the assembly of courtiers
“May not laugh at my judgment, on account of negligence.
145 “First it will be necessary to prove him in wisdom;
“To exalt his rank, according to his skill.”
From the power of grief, there may be burdens on the
heart of that one,
Who, untried, performs deeds.
When the Kází, with thought, writes the decree,
He becomes not ashamed of turban-wearers (nobles,
learned and pious men).42a
Glance (at the butt), when thou hast the arrow-notch in
the bowstring-seizer,
Not, at that time, when thou didst shoot the arrow from
the hand.43
Like Joseph in rectitude and discretion, (for) a person—
Many years are necessary (in order) that he may become
'azíz (king).43a
150 So long as much time passes not,
One cannot reach a person's profundity.
The king discovered his good qualities of every kind;
He was a man wise and of pure religion.
The king saw his good way of life, and illumined
judgment;
His considerate speech, and capability of man-appraising.
Considered him in judgment better and greater than the
great ones;
Placed him above the power of his own wazír.
He acquired such skill, and knowledge of work,
That he wounded not a heart by his order and prohibition.
155 He brought a kingdom beneath the (sway of his) pen;
Because, from him, sorrow came not to a single person.
He closed the tongue of all word-seizers;
Because an evil thing issued not from his hand.
The envious one, who beheld not (in this conduct) one grain
of deceit,
Trembled, on account of his work, like wheat on the frying-
pan.
From his illumined mind, the country acquired light;
Grief, on account of the new wazír, seized the old minister.
He, in respect to that wise one, saw not a single breach (of
observance)
On account of which, he could express reproach.
160 The faithful one is a basin, and the evil one an ant;
The ant cannot, by force, make a breach in the basin (when
within it).44
Two sun-shaped slaves of the king
Used to be always loin-girt (in service).
Two pure forms like “húr” and “parí”
Like the sun and moon, free from a third likeness.
Two forms, of which thou wouldst have said—one is not
greater (than the other),
Made themselves equal (in reflection) in the mirror.
The words of the wise one (the new wazír), sweet of
discourse,
Took the heart of those two (youths) box trees (in stature).
165 When they saw that the qualities of his disposition were
good,
They became, in inclination, his well-wishers and friends.
The inclination of humanity (love) also affected him;—
Not an inclination (lust) like that of short-sighted ones for
evil.
He used to possess news of (enjoy) ease at that time,
When he used to glance in their faces.
When thou dost wish that thy power may remain high,
Oh Sir! attach not thy heart to the smooth-faced ones.
And although desire (lust) itself be not present;
Exercise caution because there is fear of loss.
170 The old minister in respect to this obtained a little informa-
tion;
In villainy, he carried this story to the king,
Saying:—“I know not this new wazír, what they call
him, nor who he is,
“In this country, he will not live in chastity.45
“Those who have made journeys live without fear,
“Because they are not cherished by the country and
government.
“I heard that he has an affection for the slaves;
“He is a treachery-approver and lust worshipper.
“It is not fit that such a dissipated, black-faced one
“Should bring bad repute to the halls of the king.45a
175 “Perhaps, I forget the king's favour,
“Because, I see ruin and am silent.
“On suspicion, one cannot quickly speak;
“So long as I was uncertain, I spoke not.
“One of my followers observed
“That he had one of them in his bosom.
“I this have said; now, oh king of ripe judgment!
“As I tried, do thou also try.”
He explained the matter in the worst manner,
May there not be a happy day to the bad man!—46
180 When the evil one obtained power over a small matter,
He burned the vitals of the great ones in the fire.
One can light a fire with fragments;
After that, one can burn the large tree.
This speech made the king so wrath,
That his sigh came forth from the heart to the mouth.
Anger, in respect to the blood of the darwesh (new wazír),
held sway;
But, tranquillity held the hand in front (forbade)
Because to slay the cherished one is not manliness,
Tyranny after justice is coldness.
185 Injure not one cherished by thyself,
When he has thy arrow, strike him not with the arrow.46a
It was not proper to cherish him with wealth.
When, with injustice, thou dost desire to drink his blood.
So long as his skill was not certain to thee,
In the royal halls, he was not thy associate.
Now, so long as his crime is not certain to thee,
Seek not, at the suggestion of an enemy, his injury.
The king held concealed this secret in his heart;
Because, he preserved the saying of the sages.
190 “Oh wise man! the prison of the secret is the heart,
“When thou didst speak, it came not back to chains.”
In respect to the work of the man, he secretly looked;
In the way of the sensible man, he saw defect.
When he (the new wazír) suddenly glanced at one of the
slaves,
The fairy-cheeked one covertly laughed.47
Of two persons, who are soul and sense together,
The silent lips are telling a tale.
When, by looking (at them), he used to make the eye bold,
Like the dropsical one of (drinking) the Euphrates, he used
not to be satiated (of looking).47a
195 The king's suspicion of evil became confirmed.
From frenzy, he wished to be enraged with him;
But, from right deliberation and perfect judgment
He said to him, in a whisper:—“Oh, one of good name!
“I considered thee sensible;
“Held thee faithful to the secrets of the kingdom:
“Reckoned thee wise and intelligent;
“Regarded not thee shameless and unworthy.
“Such lofty station is not thy place.
“The sin is mine; it is not thy fault.
200 “When I cherish one of bad stock, assuredly,
“I permit treachery in my house.”
The man-much-knowing raised his head:
He thus spoke to King Khusrau, work-understanding:—48
“When my skirt is free from crime,
“Fear of the villainy of the evil-intent one comes not.
“This thought never passed in my heart:
“I know not who said what never chanced to me.”
The great king said:—“What I have said to thee,
“Enemies will say to thy face.
205 “Thus spoke the old wazír to me;
“What thou dost know, also say; and, do (what thou
canst).”
He laughed, and placed his finger on the lip,
Saying:—“What he uttered,—is no wonder.48a
“The envious one, who sees me in his own place,
“Brings on (utters with) his tongue—what, but evil of me?
“I considered him my enemy, that hour,
“When Khusrau placed him lower than me.
“When the Sultán places my worth above him,
“Knows he not that an enemy is behind me?
210 “Till the Judgment-day, he will not accept me as a friend,
“When he sees that, in my honour, is his degradation.
“On this point, I will thee a true tale,
“If first to (this) slave thou dost give an ear.
“I know not where in a book I have seen,
“That a person in a dream saw Iblís.49
“With the stature of a fir-tree, with the countenance of a
Húr,
“Light, sun-like, burned from his face.
“He went before him and said:—‘Oh wonderful! art thou
this Iblís?
“‘There is not an angel with this goodness (of appearance).
215 “‘Since thou hast this face with the beauty of the moon,
“‘Why art thou a stock-story as to ugliness in the world!
“‘They considered thee terrible of face;
“‘In the bath-room, they painted thee hideous.
“‘Why, in the halls of the king, have they painted thee,
“‘Dejected of face, distorted of hand, ugly, ruined?’
“Shaitán of overturned fortune heard this speech.
“In lament, he raised a shout and cry,
“Saying:—‘Oh, one of good fortune! that is not my form,
“‘But the pencil is in the hand of an enemy.
220 “‘I threw out their root (Ádam) from Paradise;
“‘Now, by reason of malice, they depict me ugly.’
“Just so I (the new wazír) have a good name; but,
“For reason, the evil-intent one speaks not good (of me).
“The wazír, whose reputation my rank spilled,—
“It is necessary to fly from his deceit to the distance of a
league.
“But, I think not of the anger of the king;
“One without sin is brave in speech.
“If the inspector of measures seizes,—there is sorrow to
that one,
“Whose weight of the standard balance-weight is deficient.50
225 “When a word comes happily from my pen,
“To me,—of word-seizers, what care?”
The king remained confounded at his speech:
He spread the tip of the hand of Order-Giving,—50a
—Because the malefactor, by fraud and eloquence,
Becomes not free from a crime which he has (committed)—
Saying:—“Assuredly from an enemy, I have not heard
this;
—“Have I not seen thee, in short, with my own eyes?—
“That, of this crowd of people in my court,
“Thou hast only a glance for these two slaves.”
230 The man of eloquence laughed, and said:—
“This speech is right; it is not proper to conceal the truth.
“In this matter there is a subtle point, if thou wilt listen.
—“May thy Order be current, and government strong!—
“Dost thou not see that the darwesh, without resources,
“Looks with regret at the rich?
“The resources of my youth have passed;
“Life in play and pastime passed.
“Of the appearance of these (two slaves) I have no
patience;
“Because, they are the possessors of the capital of beauty
and grace.
235 “I had even such a rose-coloured face;
“My limbs were crystal by reason of beauty.51
“In this extremity, it is proper to spin my shroud;
“Since my hair is like cotton, and my body like a spindle.
“I had even such night-coloured ringlets;
“My coat was tight on the body from delicacy (fatness).
“Two rows of pearls had a place in my mouth,
“Erect like a wall of silver bricks.
“Now, at the time of speech, glance—
“One by one, like an old city-wall, they have fallen.
240 “Why may I not look with envy at these (two slaves),
“When I bring to memory my ruined (mis-spent) life?
“Those precious days (of youth) departed from me;
“Suddenly, this day (of old age) also arrives at an end.”
When the wise man pierced this pearl of lustrous truth,
The king said:—“To speak better than this is impossible.”
The king glanced at the nobles,
Saying:—“Desire not words and truth more beautiful
than this.
“The glance towards a lovely one is lawful, to that one,
“Who knows how to utter excuse with such argument.
245 “If I had not in wisdom acted deliberately,
“I should have injured him by the speech of an enemy.”
With severity, to carry a light hand to the sword
Is to carry the back of the hand of regret to the teeth.
Beware that thou hearest not the speech of the designing
man;
Because, if thou dost set to work (on his speech), thou
wilt become regretful.
The dignity and honour, and property of the one of good
name
The king increased, and to the evil speaker (the old wazír)
he gave rebuke.
By the deliberation of his learned prime-minister,
His name, in the country, became renowned for goodness.
250 With justice and liberality, years he governed the country;
He departed (died), but his good name remained.
Such kings, who cherish religion,
With the arm of religion (of Islám), carry off the ball of
empire.
In this age, I see not one of those kings;
But if there be, it is Abú-Bakr, son of Sa'di, and no other!52
Oh King! Thou art the tree of paradise.
Because, thou hast flung thy shadow (of justice) to the dis-
tance of a year's journey.
From fortune of happy star, there was to me greed;
That it might cast the shadow of the Humá's wing over my
head.53
255 Wisdom said:—“The Humá gives power.”
(Nay!) if thou dost desire prosperity, come into this shadow
(of Abú-Bakr).
Oh God! in mercy Thou hast looked;
Since Thou hast diffused this shadow (of Abú-Bakr) on the
people.53a
Slave-like, I am a prayer-utterer for this kingdom:
Oh God! keep perpetually this shadow (of Abú-Bakr).
It is proper to imprison before slaying;
Because, one cannot join the head of the slain one.
The Lord of Command, and Judgment, and Dignity
Becomes not distressed, on account of the clamour of men.
260 Head full of pride, void of patience,—
To him, the kingly crown is forbidden.
I say not:—When thou dost fight, keep the foot (firm);
(But) when thou dost gather anger, keep reason in place.
Whosoever has reason endures;
Not a wise man is he, whom anger makes subject.
Like an army, anger rushed from ambush:
Justice remained not, nor piety, nor religion.
I saw not such a demon (as anger) beneath the sky,
From whom so many angels fly.53b
265 Is it not a crime to drink water, without the order of the
Law of Religion?
But, if by decree of the judge, thou dost shed blood, it is
lawful.54
Whomsoever the decree of the Law of Islám gives to
destruction,
Oh Sir! beware, that thou mayst not have fear of slaying
him.
And if thou hast (about thee) followers in his tribe,
Bestow gifts on them, and cause ease to arrive.
It was a crime on the part of the tyrannous man;
What is the crime of his wife and helpless children?
Thy body is powerful, and army great;
But, into the country of the enemy (of the kings of Islám)
urge it not.
270 When, the enemy flies to his lofty citadel,
Injury arrives to the innocent people of the country.
Look into the affairs of prisoners:
It is possible that a guiltless one may be among them.
When a (foreign) merchant died in thy country,
It is paltriness to carry thy hand to his property
Because, afterwards they will bitterly lament for that mer-
chant;
His relations and tribe will openly speak,
Saying:—“The wretched one died in a foreign country;
“The tyrant took away his property that remained.”
275 Think of that poor child, without father;
And be cautious of the sigh of his sorrowful heart.
(There is) many a good fame of fifty years,—
Which one disreputable act treads under foot.
Those of approved acts of everlasting fame
Exercised not tyranny over the property of the people.
If he is king over the whole world,
When he takes property from the rich man, he is a beggar.
The noble liberal man dies of poverty;
He fills not his belly from the side of the distressed one.
280 I heard that a just order-giver
Used to have a coat, both surfaces of lining (cheap) material.
One said to him: “Oh Khusrau of happy days!
“Sew a coat of brocade of China.”
He said:—“(Cloth of) this quality is covering and ease;
“And thou dost exceed this (rule), it is ornament and
decoration.
“I take not the land tax for the sake,
“That I may put embellishments on my own body, and
throne, and crown.
“If like women, I put ornaments on my body,
“How may with manliness I repulse the enemy?
285 “A hundred times, I have even greed and desire for it;
“But, the treasury is not only for me.
“The treasuries are full for the sake of the army;
“They are not for the sake of ornament and decoration.”
The soldier, who, on account of his king, is not happy at
heart,
Watches not the borders of the kingdom.
When the enemy carries off the villager's ass,
Why does the king enjoy tribute (levied from the people)
and the tenth part?
The enemy took away his ass, the king tribute;
In respect to that throne and crown, what fortune
remains?
290 Violence to the fallen one is not manliness:
The mean bird carries off the grain from before the (weak)
ant.56
The peasant is a tree; if thou dost cherish it, (Oh King-
Gardener of the kingdom!)
Thou mayst enjoy the fruit to the desire of the heart of
thy friends.
With mercilessness, pluck it not out with root and fruit;
Because, the fool does injury to his own body.
Those persons enjoy the fruit of youth and fortune,
Who act not severely to their inferiors.
If an inferior becomes distressed
Beware of his complaining to God.56a
295 When it is possible to take the country with gentleness,
In contest, bring not forth blood from a single pore of the
body.56b
In the name of manliness! because, the country of the
whole earth
Is not worth one drop of bood that trickles on the earth.
I heard that King Jamshíd of happy nature
Wrote on a stone, at a fountain head.57
“At this fountain, many like us took rest;
“They departed (in death), just as the eyes twinkled.57a
“With manliness and force, they took the world;
“But, they took it not with themselves to the tomb.
300 “They departed, and each one reaped what he sowed:
“There remained only good and bad fame.”
When thou hast power over an enemy,
Injure him not; because this (the power) is indeed sufficient
sorrow to him.
A living enemy, head-revolving (raging), about thee (in
desire of thy blood),
Is better than his (life-) blood revolving (circulating) about
thy neck.
I heard that Darius of august family,
Became separated, on a hunting day, from his retinue;57b
A herdsman came running towards him:
Darius of happy sect said to his heart:—
305 “Perhaps, this is an enemy who has come to battle:
“From a distance, I will pierce him with a white poplar
arrow.”
He adjusted the royal bow to the bow-string:
He desired in a moment to make his existence, non-
existence.
The herdsman said:—“Oh Lord of Írán and Túrán!
—“May the evil eye be far from thy time!—
“I am he who cherishes the king's horses:
“In this meadow, I am in thy service.”58
The heart of the king, (which had) gone (in fear), returned
to its place.
He laughed and said:—“Oh one of contemptible judg-
ment!
310 “The auspicious angel (Jibrá,il) assisted thee;
“Otherwise, I had brought the bow-string to the ear.”
The guardian of the land-pastured laughed and said:—
“It is not proper to conceal advice from a benefactor;
“It is not laudable deliberation, nor good judgment,
“That the king knows not an enemy from a friend.
“The condition of living in greatness is such,
“That thou shouldst know each humble person—who he is.
“Thou hast many times seen me in the presence:
“Thou hast asked me concerning the herd of horses and
the meadow.
315 “Now in love I returned before thee:
“Thou dost not again recognise me from an enemy.
“Oh renowned monarch! I am powerful;
“Because, I can bring a particular horse out of a hundred
thousand.
“By reason of wisdom and judgment, I have the guardian-
ship of the horses;
“Thou also shouldst keep thy own herd permanent (free
from loss).”
When Darius heard this counsel from the man,
He spoke fairly to him, and did him kindness.59
Darius kept going and saying in his shame,—
It will be proper to write this advice on the heart.
320 On account of anarchy, there may be sorrow in that throne
and country,
When the deliberation of the king may be less than that
of the shepherd.
How mayst thou hear the lament of one crying for
justice,—
The curtain of thy bed-place at Saturn?60
So sleep, that the lamentation may come to thy ear,
If the crier for justice brings forth a shout.60a
Who complains of the tyrant, who is in thy time,
When every violence that he commits is thy violence?
The dog tore not the skirt of one of a Kárawán,
But the ignorant villager, who cherished the dog.
325 Oh Sa'dí! thou camest boldly into speech:
When the sharp sword of (true) speech is at thy hand,
be victorious.
Say what thou dost know; because, truth spoken is well:
Thou art not a bribe-taker, nor a blandishment-giver
(hypocrite).
Bind avarice (to thyself) but (then) wash the book of philo-
sophy;—
Bid farewell to avarice, and say whatever thou dost desire.60b
A certain neck-exalting one (a king), in Media, came to
know
That a wretched one beneath an arch kept saying:—
“Thou even art hopeful at the door (of God):
“Then accomplish the hope of those, door-sitting.”
330 Thou dost not wish, that thy heart may be sorrowful—
Bring forth from fetters the heart of the sorrowing ones.
The distress of the heart of the one justice-seeking
Casts a king from his kingdom.
Thou hast slept cool half a day in the retired place (haram);
Say to the foreigner, burn in the heat outside.
God is the taker of justice for that person,
Who cannot ask for justice from a king.
One of the great ones, possessed of discretion,
Tells a story of the son of King 'Abdu-l-'Azíz.61
335 Saying:—He had a ring-stone set in a ring,
In respect to the value of which, the (Court) jeweller
was confounded.
At night, thou wouldst say it is the orb, world-
illuminating;
A glittering star it was, in light like the day.
By chance, a drought-year occurred,
When the full-moon of the face of men became the new-
moon.
When he saw not ease and strength in man,
He considered it not manliness to be himself at ease.
When a person sees poison in the jaws of men,
How will the sweet water pass to his throat?
340 He ordered: they sold the ring-stone for silver
Because pity came to him, on account of the poor and
orphan.
He gave its value, in spoil, in one week:
He gave to the poor, and needy, and necessitous.
Those reproach-making fell on him,
Saying:—“Such a ring will not again come to thy hand.”
I heard that he said, and the rain of tears
Ran down, like wax, on his cheeks—
As follows:—“Ugly is the ornament on a monarch,
“The heart of a citizen afflicted with powerlessness.
345 “A ring, without a stone, is fit for me:
“The heart of a sorrowful populace is not fit for me.”
Happy is that one, who, the ease of man and woman,
Prefers to his own ease.
The cherishers of skill displayed not desire
For their own pleasure (acquired) from the grief of others.
If the king on the throne sleep pleasantly,
I think not the poor man sleeps at ease.
But if he keeps at night a long time awake,
Men will sleep in ease and repose.
350 Praise be to God! this way of life and straight road,
Atábuk Abú-Bakr son of Sa'd has
In Persia, a trace of another calamity, a person
Sees not save the figures of the moon-like ones (lovely
women).
These five couplets came pleasantly to my ear,
Which they sang in an assembly last night:—
“Last night, I had ease of life;
“Because, that moon-faced one was in my embrace.
“When I,—head intoxicated with sleep—saw her,
“I said:—‘Oh lovely one! the cypress before thee is low
(in stature).
355 “‘One moment, wash the narcissus (the eye) from sweet
sleep;
“‘Laugh like the rose-bush; and sing like the nightingale.
“‘Oh calamity of the age! why art thou asleep?
“‘Come; and bring the luscious red wine.’
“Confused with sleep, she glanced and said:—
“‘Thou dost call me a calamity, and sayst,—sleep not.’”
In the time of the Sultán (Abú Bakr) of enlightened spirit,
A person sees not another calamity awake.63
In the annals of former kings, it is written,
That when Tukla sate on the throne of Zangí,63a
360 In his age, a person offended not another;
If this were indeed so, he surpassed (former kings) and
(for a king) enough.63b
He (Tukla) once thus spoke to a pious man,
Saying:—“My life in uselessness became accomplished.64
“When country and rank, and throne pass away,
“Only the fakír carries away empire from the world.64a
“I wish to sit in the corner of devotion,
“That I may obtain this period of five days that is (left
of my life).”
When that wise one of enlightened soul heard,
With anger, he arose, saying:—“Oh Tukla! this is
enough.
365 “Religion is only in the service of the people;
“It is not—in the rosary, and the prayer carpet, and
darwesh-garment.
“Be a king on thy own throne;
“Be a darwesh in pure morals.
“Keep loin-girt in truth and desire (of God);
“Keep tongue-bound from idle speech and pretension.”
In religion, the foot (of action) is necessary, not the breath
(of words);
Because, breath without action has no real essence.
The great ones, who possessed the ready money of purity,
Wore, beneath the outside coat, such a habit (of truth and
desire of God).64b
370 I heard that the Sultán of Turkey wept,
Before a good man, possessed of sciences,65
Saying:—“From the hand of the enemy, power remained
not to me,
“Save this fort and city nothing remained to me.
“Much I tried that my son,
“After me, might be chief of the assembly (i.e. army).
“Now the enemy of bad descent prevailed;
“He twisted the tip of my hand of manliness and exertion.
“What plan may I prepare, what remedy may I make?
“Because, the soul in my body is consumed from grief.”
375 The good man said:—“Oh brother! suffer sorrow for
thyself
“Since, the best and largest portion of thy life has gone.65a
“This extent (of country) is sufficient for thee, so long as
thou dost remain (in the world);
“When thou dost go, the world is the place of another.”
If he be wise; if he be foolish;—
Suffer not grief for him, because he will endure his own
grief.
The world is not worth the trouble of having;
Of seizing by the sword, and of abandoning.
Whom of the Kings of Persia knowest thou,
Of the age of Firídún, and Zahhák, and Jamshíd,
380 In respect to whose throne and country, did not declina-
tion come?
There only remained the country of God most High.
To whom remains the hope of remaining for ever in this
world,
When thou seest no one who remained for ever?66
If silver and gold and treasure and property remains,
It becomes trodden under foot, after a few days.
But of whomsoever a good act remains current,
—May mercy perpetually arrive on his soul!—
A great one, whose good name remained,—
One can say with the pious, as follows:—he remained.
385 Ho! take care that thou dost cherish the tree of liberality,
In order that thou mayst have hope that thou mayst enjoy
its fruit.
Practise liberality that to-morrow (the Judgment Day)
when they (the angels) place the account-book,
They may give thee dignities, according to the extent of
thy beneficences.
One, whose foot-struggle is greater,
(Has) greater dignity, at the Court of God.66a
One, a backslider, deceiver, shameless,
Greedily desires the wages for work not done.66b
Quit him, so that he may carry the back of his hand (in
regret) to the teeth:
An oven (of ability) so hot,—yet he baked not the bread
(of good deeds)!67
390 At the time of corn-gathering, thou wilt know,
That idleness is—not seed-sowing.
A wise man, in the boundaries of Syria,
Took a cave, for his dwelling away from the world.67a
By reason of his patience, in that dark corner of a place,
His foot descended to the treasure of contentment.
I heard that his name was—“Khudá-dost” (friend of
God);
He was of an angelic nature, man-in-form.
The great ones placed their heads at his door;
Because his head entered not at their doors (for petition-
ing).
395 The holy man of pure practice desires
The abandonment of lust, by the beggary of the body.
When every hour, his lust says:—“give,”
It makes him wander, in contempt, from village to village.
In that land, where this wise man was,
There was a lord of the marches,—a tyrant.
Such that every feeble one, whom he used to find,
He used to twist his hand (torment), with his strength of
grasp.
World-burner (a tyrant), and merciless, and malevolent-
slayer,
The face of a world became distressed by his bitterness.
400 A crowd of people went (from the country) on account of
that tyranny and shame,
They took his bad name into the districts.
A crowd of people (women), wretched and miserable, re-
mained:
Behind the spinning wheel, they uttered curses.68
In the place, where the hand of tyranny becomes long,
Thou dost not see the lip of man, open from laughing.
The tyrant used now and then to come, to see the shaikh;
“Khudá-dost” used not to look at him.
One time, the king (the tyrant) said to him:—“Oh one
of good fortune!
“Gather not together thy face severely, in abhorrence
of me.
405 “Thou dost know that I have the desire of friendship for
thee,
“For what, dost thou bear enmity to me?
“I grant that I am not the chief of the territory;
“(But) in honour I am not less than the darwesh.
“I say not—place my excellence above any one,
“So be with me, as (thou art) with every one.”
The wise 'ábid heard this speech:
He arose in perturbation, and said:—“Oh King! hold thy
ear (listen).68a
“The distress of the people is on account of thy existence:
“I love not the affliction of the people.
410 “Thou art an enemy to him, with whom I am a friend;
“I consider thee not a friend of mine.
“Why, in vain, should I hold thee my friend,
“When I know that God considers thee enemy?69
“Give not a kiss on my hand, like a friend:
“Go,—love my friends (the creatures of God).
“If they tear off the skin of ‘Khudá-dost,’
“He will not become the friend of the enemy of the friend.”
I wonder at the sleep of that stony-hearted one,
On account of whom, a whole nation sleeps straitened in
heart.
415 Oh great one! exercise not violence on the humble;
Because, the world remains not in one way.69a
Twist not the grip of the hand of the powerless,
For, if he prevail, thou wilt rise to nothing.69b
I said to thee:—take not the feet of men from their
place (distress them not);
Because, if thou dost fall into distress, thou wilt become
weak.69c
It is not proper to reckon the enemy at a low estimation;
Since I have seen a great mountain from a small stone.70
Dost thou not see that, when the (weak) ants assemble
together,
They bring trouble and torment to fighting lions?
420 The (slender) hair is not less than a thread of silk:
When it becomes manifold, it is stronger than a chain (of
iron).
The heart of friends collected (tranquil) is better than
the treasure collected:
The empty treasury, better than men in grief.
Throw not the work of any one at his feet;
Because it may often happen, that thou mayst fall at his
feet.70a
Oh feeble one! endure (the tyranny) of the strong;
Because, one day, thou mayst be stronger than he.
With resolution, bring forth a cry against the oppressor;
Since, the arm of resolution is better than the hand of
force.70b
425 Say to the withered lip of the oppressed one,—laugh!
Because they will dig out the teeth of the tyrant.
By the noise of the drum, the rich man became awake;
What knows he as to how the night of the watchman
passed?70c
The man of the Kárawán suffers grief on account of his
own load (of merchandise);
His heart burns not at the wounded back of the ass.
I have granted that thou art not of (the number of) the
fallen:
When thou dost see a fallen one, why dost thou stand (and
not give help)?71
On this point, I will tell thee a tale of past event;
Inasmuch as it would be slothfulness to pass by this speech.
430 Such a famine occurred in the city of Damascus,
That lovers forgot love.71a
The sky over the earth became such a miser,
That the crops and the date-trees wetted not their lips.
The spring of the ancient fountains dried up;
Water remained not, save the water of the eyes of
orphans.
Only the sigh of a widow-woman, it used to be,
If smoke went forth from a window.
I saw trees, leafless (poor), like a darwesh;
Those strong of arm, languid and greatly distressed (by
the severity of the famine).71b
435 Not in the mountain, verdure; not, in the garden, a
branch:
The locusts ate the garden; and men, the locusts.
In that state of things, a friend came to me:
To that extent broken down,—merely a skin on his bones.
Although, in dignity, he was of strong state;
Was lord of rank and gold and property.
I said to him:—“Oh friend of pure disposition!
“Say, what wretchedness has happened to thee?”
He angrily shouted at me, saying:—“Where is thy
reason?
“When thou dost know, and dost ask,—the question is a
fault.
440 “Dost thou not see that distress has reached to an exceed-
ing great degree,—
“Trouble arrived to an extreme limit?
“The rain from the sky descends not;
“The sigh of the complaining ones ascends not.”
At length, I said to him:—“For thee, there is not fear;
“The poison (only) slays where the antidote is not.
“Though another person should perish from destitution,
“Thou hast wealth. To the duck, what fear of the
storm?”
The lawyer, vexed, glanced at me:
The glancing of a learned man at a foolish one.
445 Saying:—“Oh friend! although a man is on the shore,
“He rests not,—his friends, drowning.
“I am not yellow of face, by reason of want of victuals;
“Grief for those food-less has made yellow my face.”
The wise man wishes not to see a wound
Neither on the limbs of a man, nor on his own limbs.
I am one of the first of those of sound body;
When I behold a wound, my body trembles.73
The pleasure of that sound-bodied one becomes disturbed,
When he is at the side of the languid sick.
450 When I see that the wretched darwesh eats not,
The morsel of food within my palate is poison and grief.
Thou dost take one of (his) friends to prison:—
Where is his pleasure in the garden?
One night, the sigh of the people lighted up a fire.
I heard that a half of the city of Baghdád was burned.73a
One, in that state, quickly uttered thanks,
Saying:—“Injury has not reached my shop.”
A world-experienced one said to him:—“Oh father of
lust!
“For thee the grief of thy self was sufficient.73b
455 “Thou dost approve that a whole city should burn by fire,
“If thy house is on one side, away from danger.”
Except the stony-hearted one, how may he make his
stomach tight (with food),
When he sees persons stone-bound on the belly?74
How does the rich man himself eat that morsel,
When he sees that the darwesh devours the blood (of his
heart from grief)?
Say not to the care-taker of the sick one:—“He is of
sound body,”
Because he writhes from grief, like a sick one.74a
The one of tender-heart, when friends arrive at a stage,
Sleeps not, when the wearied loiterers are in rear.
460 The heart of kings is a load carrier,
When they see the ass of the fire-wood drawer in the clay.
If a (worthy) person is in the house of happiness,
One word of the saying of Sa'dí is enough.74b
This also is sufficient for thee, if thou wilt hear,
To wit:—if thou sowest thorns, thou reapest not jasmine.74c
Thou hast knowledge of the Kings of Persia,
Who exercised tyranny over their subjects.
That dignity and sovereignty remained not;
That tyranny over the peasant remained not.
465 Behold the crime which issued from the hand of the
tyrant!
The world remained; he, with his acts of oppression,
departed (died).
The body of the justice-giver is happy on the day of the
place of assembling (resurrection);
Because, he has an abiding place in the shadow of the
throne of God.75
To a tribe, whose goodness He approves, God
Gives a king, just, of good judgment.
When He wishes to waste a world,
He places the country, in the grasp of a tyrant.
The pious ones think cautiously of the tyrant;
Because, the oppressor is (the personification of) the anger
of God.
470 Recognise greatness from Him, and understand the ob-
ligation;
Because, the prosperity of the ungrateful one becomes
frail.
If thou dost express thanks (to God) in respect to this
country and property,
Thou mayst reach to a property and country without
decline (Paradise).75a
But, if in sovereignty thou doest violence,
After sovereignty, thou mayst practise beggary.76
Sweet sleep is forbidden to a king,
When the weak one is the load-carrier of the strong.
To the extent of a mustard seed-grain, injure not a people;
Because, the Sultán is the shepherd, and the people the
flock.
475 When they experience strife and injustice from the king,
He is not a shepherd; he is a wolf. Cry out against him.
He went to a bad end, and thought ill-advisedly,
Who exercised tyranny over his inferiors.
By negligence and severity towards these inferiors, he
passes away;
A bad name will for years remain attached to him.
Thou dost not wish that, from behind, they should curse
thee?
Be good: so that a person may not utter evil of thee.
I have heard that, in a territory of the west,
There were two brothers (prince-sons), of one father (a
king),
480 Army-commanding, and neck-exalting (headstrong), and
stout,
Good of visage, and wise, and expert with the sword.
The father considered them both to be terrible men;
He found them seekers of warlike action and strife.76a
He went (and) divided the country into two parts;
He gave a portion of it to each of the sons.
God forbid! that on account of one another, they should
wrangle,—
Should draw forth, in contest, the sword of rancour.
After that, the father lived a short time;
(Then) he surrendered his precious soul to the Soul-
Creator.
485 Death caused his rope of hope to break;
Death tied down his hands from work.77
On two kings was established that kingdom,
In which were treasure and army, beyond limit and
computation.
According to their own view, in respect to their own
welfare,
Each one took a different way.77a
One (pursued the path of) justice, so that he might bear a
good name;
The other, tyranny, so that he might amass wealth.
One made benevolence, the way of his life;
He gave money, and provided for the darwesh.
490 Laid foundations (of buildings), and gave bread, and
cherished the army;
Made night-houses for the sake of the night of the darwesh.
Made empty the treasuries, but made full (numerous, or
satisfied) the army;
Even as people, the time of festivity.78
The noise of gladness, like thunder, kept rising,
Like Shíráz, in the time of (King) Abú-Bakr, son of Sa'd.
A wise monarch of happy disposition,—
May the branch of his hope be fruitful!78a
Hear the tale of the youth, fame-seeking;
He was of approved conduct, and happy temperament;
495 Assiduous in the consolation of high and low;
A praise-utterer of God, morning and evening.
In that country, Kárún used to go boldly (fearless of the
robber);
Because, the king was a giver-of-justice, and the darwesh,
satisfied.
In his time, there came not to a single heart (the injury of)
—I say not—a thorn, nay, a rose-leaf!
By the assistance of fortune, he became chief of chiefs:
The chiefs placed their heads (in submission) on the line of
his order.78b
The other (prince) desired to increase the power of his throne
and crown,
He augmented the tribute from the men of the villages.78c
500 Greedily thirsted for the property of the merchants;
Poured calamity on the lives of helpless ones.
Bestowed not and enjoyed not, in the hope of augmenting;
The wise man knows that he did not well.79
Because, while he collected that gold, by cheating,
The army became distressed and dispersed by reason of
weakness.
The merchants heard the news,
To the effect that,—in the land of that unskilled one, there
is tyranny.
They cut off (abandoned) buying and selling from (in) that
place:
Cultivation was not; the peasant burned in heart (on
account of scarcity).
505 When Fortune turned away her head from his friendship,
The enemy necessarily prevailed over him.79a
The anger of the sky plucked out his root and fruit;
The hoof of the horse of the enemy dug his country.
In whom may he seek faith, when he broke his promise?
From whom does he wish the land-tax, when the villagers
fled?
What goodness does that unfaithful one hope for,
When imprecation is in pursuit of him?
When, in the beginning of creation, his fortune was
reversed,
Whatever the good men said to him—do; he did not.80
510 What said the good men to that good (unjust) prince?—
Enjoy the fruit (of power; do justice); because the unjust
one enjoys not.
His imagination was a fault, and his policy languid;
Because, whatever he sought in oppression was (to be
found) in justice.
Of this one, a bad repute remained; of that one, a good
name:
The pinnacle of a good end is not for the bad.80a
A certain one (was sitting) at the end of a branch, and the
butt end kept cutting:
The Lord of the garden glanced, and saw.
He said:—If this man does evil,
He does it not to me, but to his own body.
515 Advice is in place (proper), if thou wilt hear;
With the strong shoulder cast not down the weak ones.
Because, to-morrow (the Judgment Day) to God, the king
brings
The beggar, who before thee is not worth a barley-grain.81
Since thou dost wish that, to-morrow, thou mayst be a
great one,
Make not an humble one thy enemy.
Because, when this kingdom passes from thee (in death),
That beggar will, in anger, seize thy skirt.
From the feeble, restrain thy hand; do not (such a deed);
Because, if they cast thee down, thou wilt become ashamed.
520 In the opinion of those free from worldly cares, there is
shame,
In falling by the hand of the fallen.
The great ones of enlightened mind and good fortune
Won, by learning, a crown and throne.
In rear of the upright, swerve not:
And, if thou dost desire truth, listen to Sa'dí.
Say not—there is no dignity, higher than sovereignty;
Because there is no empire safer than the empire of the
darwesh.
Men, the more lightly loaded, the more quickly go:
This is true; and the pious ones listen (and obey).
525 The empty-handed one suffers distress, on account of a loaf
of bread:
The king suffers grief, to the extent of a world.
In the case of the beggar, when the bread of the evening
is obtained,
He sleeps as pleasantly, as the Sultán of Syria.
Grief and joy proceed to an end;
By death, these two quit the head.
Whether this one, on whose head they placed the crown:
Or that one, on whose neck the (paying of) tribute came,
If the exalted one be in Saturn;
And, if the straitened one be in prison.
530 When the cavalcade of death hastes to the head of these two,
It is not possible to recognise one from the other.
The guardianship of country and empire is a calamity:
The beggar is king, but his name is beggar!
I once heard that, in a certain place,
A skull spoke to an 'ábid,
Saying:—“I possessed the pomp of order-giving;
“I had on my head the cap of greatness (a crown);
“Heaven and concordant fortune gave me aid;
“With the arm of empire, I seized Babylonia;
535 “I had greatly desired that I might enjoy Kirmania,
“When, suddenly, the worms ate my head.”82
Pluck out the cotton of carelessness from the ear of sense,
That the advice of dead men may come to thy ear.
The man of good work—evil is not to him:
No one practises evil, that good may come to himself.
The man mischief-stirring is also in the desire of wickedness,
Like the scorpion, that seldom goes as far as his own
house.83
If in thy disposition, there is not (the wish for) a person's
advantage,
A jewel and the hard stone are even so identical.
540 Oh friend of happy disposition! I uttered a mistake;
Since there is profit in iron, and stone, and brass.
Even so, for the sake of reputation, the dead is best, the
man
Over whom the stone has pre-excellence.
Not every man-born-one is better than a rapacious animal;
Since the rapacious animal is better than the bad man-
born-one.
Man, endowed with wisdom, is better than the beast of
prey,—
Not the man, who, like a beast of prey, falls upon men.
When a man understands only eating and sleeping,
What excellence has he over the reptiles?
545 The unfortunate horseman, going without a road,
The footman surpasses in travelling.
No one sowed the grain of generosity,
Who gathered not up the harvest of the desire of his
heart.
In our lives, we have never heard,
That goodness befell the bad man.
A man of war had fallen into a well
Such an one that the male-tiger became female, from fear
of him.84
The evil-intent one ever experiences only evil:—
He fell; and saw no one weaker than himself.84a
550 All night, from complaint and lamentation, he slept not;
One struck his head with a stone, and said:—84b
Didst thou ever come to a person's call (for help),
That to-day thou dost desire a grievance-redresser?
Thou didst sow every seed of unmanliness;
See assuredly what thou hast taken up.
Who places a plaster on thy soul-wound,
When hearts keep complaining of the wounds inflicted by
thee?84c
Thou usedst to dig a pit in our path,
In the end, without doubt, thou hast fallen into the pit.
555 Two persons, for the sake of high and low, dig a pit:
One of good walk of life; the other, of bad repute.
This one, that he may make the throat of the thirsty one
fresh;
The other, that people may fall into it, up to the neck.
If thou doest bad, expect not goodness:
Because the tamarisk never brings forth the grape-fruit.
Oh thou barley sown in autumn! I think not
That thou wilt obtain wheat, at reaping-time.85
If with soul, thou dost cherish the tree of hell,
Think not, that thou mayst ever eat its fruit.85a
560 The wood of the colocynth brings not the green date:
Whatever seed thou didst cast,—expect that very fruit.85b
They relate a story of a certain good man,
That he paid not respect to Hujjáj, the son of Joseph.85c
In frenzy, he cast on him such power (of argument)
That the power of altercation remained not to Hujjáj.85d
Hujjáj looked sharply at the officer of the court,
Saying:—“Cast down the decapitation-carpet, and spill his
blood.”
When argument remained not to the violence-seeking one,
He draws, in contest, his face together.
565 The man of God laughed and wept:
The stony-hearted one of obscure judgment wondered.
When he saw that he laughed, and again wept,
He inquired, saying:—“Why is this laughing and
weeping?”
The Man of God said:—“I keep weeping, on account (of
the violence) of time;
“Because, I have four helpless children.
“I keep laughing on account of the grace of the pure God;
“Because I, the oppressed one, go to the dust,—not the
oppressor.”
One said to Hujjáj:—“Oh good-hearted monarch!
“What dost thou desire of this old man? touch him not.
570 “Because a people look towards, and lean upon him:
“It is not lawful, to slay a crowd at one time.
“Practise greatness and forgiveness, and liberality:
“Think of his little children.
“Perhaps thou art the enemy of thy own household,
“Because thou dost approve of evil to households?
“Think not—hearts (being) torn by thy tyranny—
“That, on the last day, good may befall thee.”86
I heard that Hujjáj listened not; but shed his blood.
Who knows how to fly from the decree of God?
575 That night, a great one slept in that thought:
In sleep, he saw him, and asked (his state); the
slaughtered one said:
“Hujjáj urged not his punishment, in regard to me, more
than one moment;
“Punishment remained to him, till the Judgment Day.”87
The oppressed one slept not; fear his sigh:
In the morning time, fear the sigh of his heart.87a
Dost thou not fear, that, at night, the one of pure heart
May bring forth, from the burning of his heart,—Oh
Lord!
Iblís did evil, and experienced good?—No;
The pure fruit comes not from the filthy seed.87b
580 Shout not against rough lion-like men,
When with boys, in boxing, thou dost not prevail.
One gave advice to a son
—Preserve the counsel of the wise—87c
“Oh son! exercise not violence on small folk,
“Because one day, a great one may attack thy head.”
Oh wolf of deficient understanding, dost thou not fear,
That, one day, a panther may rend thee in pieces?
In youth, I had strength of grasp;
The heart of inferiors was distressed on account of me.
585 I suffered one blow of the fist of the strong;
I exercised not force, again, against the weak.
Take care thou sleepst not in carelessness; because sleep
Is improper for the eyes of the leader of a tribe.
Beware; sympathise with the grief of inferiors;
Fear the violence of time.
The advice, that is free from design,
Is like bitter medicine,—the repelling of disease.
They relate a story of one of the kings,
Whom the disease of guinea-worm made like a spindle.
590 Weakness of body to such a degree overthrew him,
That he envied his subjects.
Although, the king on the chess-board is famous,
When weakness comes, he is less than a pawn.
A courtier kissed the ground before the king,
Saying:—“May the country of the Lord be eternal!
“In this city, is a man of happy spirit,
“Like whom, in abstinence, a man is rare.
“They brought not before him the important affairs of any
one,—
“Whose object was not obtained, in a breath.
595 “An improper act has never issued in regard to him,
“(He is) one of illumined heart, and one whose prayers are
answered.
“Call (him), so that he may utter a prayer, on account of
this disease
“That mercy from heaven may arrive on earth.”
The king ordered, so that the chiefs of the servants
Summoned the old man of happy footstep.
They went and uttered the message. The fakír came—
Body powerful in contemptible dress.
The king said:—“Oh wise man! utter a prayer;
“Because, in respect to the guinea-worm, I am foot-bound,
like a needle.”89
600 The old man, bent as to his back, heard this speech:
With severity, he brought forth a harsh shout,
Saying:—“God is compassionate to the just ruler:
“Forgive; and behold the gift of God.
“How may my prayer be profitable to thee—
“The oppressed captives, in pit and fetters?
“Thou hast not made presents to the people,
“Whence mayst thou experience the empire of easiness?
“It is necessary to ask pardon (from God) for thy fault,
“Then, beseech a blessing from the holy shaikh.
605 “How may his (the shaikh's) prayer aid thee,
“The prayers of oppressed ones behind thee?”
The monarch of Persia heard this speech;
From anger and shame, he frowned.
He grieved and then said to his heart:—
“Why do I grieve? this, that the darwesh said, is right.”
He ordered: so that whoever was in fetters,
Him, by order, they quickly freed.
The world-experienced one (the shaikh), after two in-
clinations of the head in prayer,
Lifted up the hand of supplication to God,
610 Saying:—“Oh uplifter of the sky!
“In battle (against thee) thou didst seize him; in peace
invite him.”90
The saint thus held up his hands in prayer,
When the king raised his head (from the pillow) and
leaped on his feet.
Thou wouldst say:—“From joy, he will fly,
“Like a peacock, when he saw no longer the thread (of
captivity) on his foot.”
The king ordered:—the treasury of his jewels,
They scattered on his (the shaikh's) feet, and gold on his
head.
The shaikh shook his skirt from all that (treasure) and
said:—
“For the sake of the false, it is not proper to conceal the
truth.90a
615 “Go not again to the end of the tether (of injustice),
“Lest that again the guinea-worm should raise its head.”91
When once thou hast fallen, take care of thy foot,
That once more it slips not from its place.
Listen to Sa'dí, for this speech is true,—
“Not every time, has the fallen one risen.”91a
Oh Son! the world is not an everlasting country;
There is no hope of the sincerity from the world.91b
Morning and evening, on the wind, used not to go,
The throne of Sulaimán?—on him be peace!
620 In the end, didst thou not see that it went to the wind
(became non-existent),
Happy is that king, who went (from the world) possessed
of learning and justice!
That person seized from the midst (of the world) the ball
of empire,
Who was in consideration of the ease of the people.
Those things which they took up (to the future world)
came of use;
Not those things which they amassed and abandoned
(in this world).91c
I have heard that, in respect to the glorious chief of Egypt,
Death hastened an army on his life.91d
The beauty went from his cheek, heart-exalting:
When the sun becomes yellow, much of the day remains
not.
625 The wise men (in sorrow) bit the hand of annihilation;
Because, in the medical books, they saw no remedy for
death.92
Every throne and country declines—
Save the country of the Eternal Order-Giver.
When the day of his life came near to the night (of non-
existence),
They heard him say beneath his lip,92a
As follows:—“A king like me, in Egypt, there was not:
“When this is the fruit, sovereignty is worthless.
“I gathered the world; I enjoyed not its fruit:
“Like the helpless ones, I passed from its desire.”92b
630 The one of approved judgment who gave and enjoyed;
Gathered the world, for the sake of his own body.
Strive in this work, so that wealth may be a dweller with
thee;
Because, whatever remains behind thee is regret and fear.
The rich man, on the couch, soul-fleeting, makes
One hand short;—and the other, long.
At that moment, he shows thee by the hand,
—Because, fear has bound his tongue from speaking,—
To this effect:—extend one hand in generosity and
liberality;
Contract the other hand from tyranny and avarice.93
635 Now, that thou hast the power, take action;
How again (in the grave) mayst thou bring forth the hand
from the shroud?93a
Often the moon and pleiades and sun will shine;
But thou wilt not raise thy head from the pillow of the
grave.
King Kizil Arslán had a strong fort
That exalted its neck above the mountain Alwand.93b
There was not fear of any one; nor need of anything:
Like the ringlets of brides, its road fold within fold.93c
It had fallen strangely in a garden, in such a way,
As a white egg on a green tray.
640 I heard that a man of favourable mien
Came, from a long journey, to King Kizil-Arslán.
A truths-recogniser; world-experienced;
A skilled one; world-travelled;
A great one; an eloquent one, work-knowing;
A wise one; speech-weighing; much-knowing.
Kizil said:—“So much as thou hast travelled,
“Hast thou seen another place, strong like this?”
He laughed, saying:—“This fort is joyous;
“But, I do not think it is strong.94
645 “Did not the obstinate ones (kings) possess it before thee!
“A few moments, they were; and they abandoned it.
“May not other kings take it, after thee,
“(And) enjoy the fruit of thy tree of hope?94a
“Remember the revolution of the country of thy father;
“Set free the heart from the knot of reflection.94b
“Fortune placed him, in a corner (of the grave) in such
a way,
“That power remained not to him, over a particle.
“When hope remained not as to any thing, or person,
“Hope remained to him of the excellence of God only.”
650 To the wise man, the world is straw;
For, every moment, it is the place of another.94c
A frantic one, in Persia, thus spoke,
To Naushíraván, saying:—“Oh heir of the country of
Jamshíd!
“If country and fortune had remained to Jamshíd,
“When would crown and throne have become attainable
by thee?”
If thou bring the treasure of Kárún within thy grasp,
There only remains—what thou dost give (to the indigent)
thou mayst take away.
When Alap-Arslán gave his soul to the Soul-giver,
The son placed the royal crown on his head.
655 From the crown-place, they consigned him to the tomb,
The target-place was not a spot for sitting.95
Thus spoke a distraught wise one,
—When he saw his son, the next day, on horse-back,—95a
“Oh excellent government and country! When head
down-cast,
“The father departs (in death), the son's foot is in the
stirrup.”95b
Thus is the revolution of time
A gad-about, and bad-of-faith, and inconstant.95c
When the One of ancient days brings his life to an end,
One, whose fortune is young, raises his head from the
cradle.
660 Place not the heart on the world, for it is a stranger,
Like the musician, who is, every day, in a different house.
Pleasure is not proper with such a heart-ravishing one,
Who has, every morning, a fresh mate.
This year, when the village (of the world) is thine, do
good:
Because, next year, another will be village-chief.
A sage prayed for King Kaykubád,
Saying:—“In thy sovereignty, may there be no decline!”95d
A great one, upon this, reproached him,
Saying:—“The wise man utters not the impossible,—oh
wonder!
665 “Of the kings of Persia, whom dost thou know,
“Of the time of Fírídún and Zahhák and Jamshíd,
“In respect to whose throne and country, decline hap-
pened not?
“(To utter) the impossible is not decorous, on the part of
a wise man.
“To whom remains the hope of existing always,
“When thou seest no one, who remains for ever?”
The learned sensible man thus replied,
Saying:—“The wise man utters not unsuitable speech.
“I sought not perpetual life for him;
“I sought for aid, by the grace of his liberality.
670 “For, if he be devout, and pure in conduct,
“Religion-understanding, advice-hearing,—
“The day, on which he plucks up his heart from this
country (of the world),
“He pitches his royal tent in the other country (of
Paradise).
“Then, there is no decline to this empire;
“There is translation from the (transient) world to the
(everlasting) world.
“If he be devout, what harm in his death?
“For he is a king even in the future world.”
Whosoever has treasure, and command, and army;
Government, and dignity, and desire, and pleasure,—
675 If his disposition be good,—
Ease, at all times, is prepared for him.
But, if he exercises violence against the poor,
This same command and dominion are his for five days.
When Far'ún abandoned not wickedness,
He exercised sway only up to the brink of the grave.
I have heard that of the monarchs of Ghúr,
A certain king used to seize asses by force.97
The asses, beneath heavy loads, fodderless,
Wretched, perished in the space of two days.
680 When Time makes the mean one rich,
He places a load on the straitened heart of the darvesh.
When his roof is lofty, the self-worshipper
Pollutes, and casts rubbish on the humble roof (of his
neighbour).
I heard that, one day, with the intention of hunting,
The tyrannous monarch went out.
He urged his steed in rear of the game,
Night overtook him; he remained far from his retinue.
Knew, in solitude, neither the turning nor the path;
Cast at length his head (himself) into a village.97a
685 A certain old man was residing in that village,
Old-of old men, men-recognising.
He kept saying to his son:—“Oh happy portion!
“Take not thy ass, in the morning, to the city.
“For this one, ungenerous and of reversed fortune
“—Would that I might, instead of his throne, behold his
bier!—
“Has his loins girt in a demon's service,
“A cry, on account of the hand of his violence, goes to
the sphere.
“In this territory, ease and cheerfulness
“The eye of man saw not and sees not.
690 “Perhaps this one whose book of sins is full, void of
purity,
“Will go to hell,—curses in his rear.”
The son said:—“Long is the way and difficult;
“Oh one of good fortune! I cannot go on foot.
“Consider a way, and express an opinion;
“For thy judgment is more luminous than mine.”
The father said:—“If thou wilt listen to my judgment,
“It is proper to take up a large stone;
“To strike the ass, the load-carrier, several times with it;
“To wound his head, and his leg, and his flank.
695 “Perhaps, that base one of ugly religion
“An ass,—lame, wounded—may be, for his work, useless.
“Like Khizr, the prophet, who shattered the ship,
“And, thus, stayed the hand of the powerful tyrant.98
“In the year, in which the tyrant seized the ship at sea,
“He won many years of bad-repute.”
When the boy heard this tale from his father,
He took not his head beyond the writing of the order.
He struck down the helpless ass with a stone;
The ass became feeble of leg, lame of foot.
700 The father said to him:—“Now, take thy own way;
“Take that road even which is desirable to thee.”
The son fell in with a káraván;
As much abuse as he knew, he gave (to the tyrant).
And, on this side, the father—face towards the sky,
Saying:—“Oh Lord! by the prayer-carpet of the true,
“Give me, from Time, as much tranquillity,
“As ruin springs from this oppressing tyrant.
“If I witness not his destruction,
“My eyes, in the night of the grave, will not sleep in the
dust.
705 “A woman,—much better than an injurious man;
“A dog,—better than the man, man-injuring.
“The hemaphrodite, who shows injustice towards himself.
“Better than that one, who shows evil towards man.”
The tyrant-king heard this speech, but said nothing;
He tethered his horse; and, head on saddle-cloth, laid
himself down to sleep.
All night, in wakefulness, he counted the stars;
Through frenzy and reflection, sleep took him not.
When he heard the voice of the morning-bird,
He forgot the night's distress.
710 The (king's) horsemen, all night, galloped (in search);
Recognised, in the morning, the track of his horse:
Beheld, on horseback,—in that plain, the king,
On foot; the whole of the troop went (towards him):
Placed the head, in service, on the earth,
—From the wave of the multitude, the earth became like
the sea.—
The great ones sate down, and asked for food;
They ate, and set the assembly in array.
One of his old friends said:—
—Who was his chamberlain, at night; and courtier, by
day.—100
715 “Last night, what victuals did the peasants place before
thee?
“As for us, neither eye nor ear reposed.”
The monarch could not relate the adventure,
Which, from bad repute, occurred to him.
He brought his head, very slowly, before the courtier's
head;
(And) whispered, secretly, to his ear:—
“No one brought before me the leg of a bird,
“But the leg of an ass,—dislocated beyond measure.”100a
When the tumult of joy came into the king's nature,
Memory of the villager of the previous night came to him.
720 He ordered:—they searched, and firmly bound him;
Cast him, with ignominy, at the foot of the throne.
The black-hearted one drew forth the sharp sword;
The helpless one knew not the way of flight:
Reckoned that moment the last of his life;
Said whatever revolved in his heart.
Seest thou not that when the knife is at the head
Of the pen—its tongue (nib) is swifter?
When the villager knew that flight from the enemy was
impossible,
Fearless of him, he poured forth the arrows of his quiver
(of speech).
725 He raised the head of despair, and spoke:—
“On the night of the grave, it is not possible to sleep in
the house.
“Oh monarch! not alone, said I to thee,
“That thou art of reversed fortune and unfortunate.
“I (alone) cursed not the power of thy oppression,
“But a people; suppose—one slain, out of a people:
(what then?)
“From the mercilessness that exists in thy time,
“The whole world is the proclaimer of thy violence.
“Why getst thou angry with me only?
“I spoke before thee; but, all the World behind (thy
back).
730 “It is strange that cursing on my part comes harshly to
thee,
“Slay; if thou canst slay the whole world.
“But if rebuke, on my part, appears severe
“Pluck up, in justice, the root of reproach (of injustice).
“When thou doest injustice, expect not,
“That thy name for goodness will go into the country.
“And, if—oh mean one!—it be that my speech is hard
to thee,
“Do not to another,—what is hard to thee.
“For thee, the remedy is to turn away from tyranny;
“It is not an innocent matter, to slay the helpless.
735 “Suppose—for thee, five days more are remaining;—
“Suppose—two days more of enjoying pleasant ease.
(What then?)
“The tyrant of bad walk of life remains not (in the world),
“(But) everlasting curses will remain on him.
“I know not how thine eyes sleep,
“The oppressed, through thy hand of oppression, sleepless.
“For thee, there is good advice, if thou wilt listen;
“But if thou wilt not hearken, thou thyself wilt become
sorrowful.
“Know,—how praised becomes a king
“Whom the people praise in the Court.
740 “What profit—the applause, at the head of the assembly,
“The old woman,—cursing behind the spinning wheel.”
The villager thus spoke,—the sword above his head;
The soul surrendered to the arrow of Fate.102
The king, from the intoxication of carelessness, came to
reason;
The auspicious angel Surosh (Gabriel) whispered to his ear,
Saying:—“Restrain the hand of torture from this old
man;
“Suppose,—one slain, out of thousands of thousands
(what then?)”
His head remained sometime in the collar (of reflection);
After that, he filled his sleeve with pardon.103
745 Took off his fetters, with his own hands;
Kissed his head, and took him into his bosom.
Gave him greatness and lordship;
His welfare sprang forth from the branch of hope.
This story became related in the world;
Good fortune goes behind the upright.
Thou wilt learn an adorned walk of life,—from wise men;
(But) not to the same degree as from the ignorant (the
enemy), fault-finding.
Hear thy own character from the enemy; because,
In the friend's eye, whatever comes from thee is good.
750 Those singing praises are not thy friends;
Those reproaching are thy friends.
It is a crime to give sugar to the sick one;
When the bitter medicine is fit for him.
The one of sour face rebukes better,
Than friends of pleasant disposition, of sweet temperament.
No one utters to thee better advice than this:
If thou art wise, a hint is enough.
When the turn of the Khiláfat came to Mámún
He purchased a damsel with a face as the moon.103a
755 In face, a sun; in body, a rose;
In wisdom, wise,—a wanton one.
In the blood of lovers, her hand deeply imbrued;
Her finger-tips, jujube-stained.
Saffron—on the eye-brow, devotee-enchanting,—
Was like the rainbow on the sun.104
On the night of the rites of Venus, that enchanting toy,
Húr-born,
Perhaps gave not her body to Mámún's embrace.
The fire of anger fiercely seized him;
He wished to make her head two portions, like the Gemíni.
760 She said:—“Lo! my head, with the sharp sword,
“Cast down; but, exercise not sleeping and rising with
me.”
Mámún said:—“From whom, has injury reached thy heart;
“What feature of mine was disagreeable to thee?”
She replied:—“If thou slayst me, or if thou cleavest my
head
“(I must say)—from the smell of thy mouth, I am in
distress.
“The sword of contest, and the arrow of oppression slay,
“At once; the smell of thy mouth, gradually.”
Sarwar (Mámún) of happy fortune heard this speech;
He was greatly astonied, and sorely grieved.
765 Was, all night, in this thought, and slept not;
Spoke, the next day, to the wise ones.
Those of every clime, constitution—understanding,—
With every one of them, he spoke on every matter.
Although, at that time, his heart was vexed with her,
He took medicine; and, became fragrant of smell, rose-like.
He made the parí-faced one, companion and friend;
Saying:—“This one uttered my defect; she is my friend.”
In my opinion, that one is thy well-wisher,
Who says:—“A thorn is in thy path.”
770 To say to the road-lost—“Thou goest well,”
Is a great cruelty and atrocious crime.
At that time, when they utter not before thee thy defect,
Thou, from ignorance, considerst thy defect, skill.
Say not:—“The sweet honey is the superior sugar”
To that one, for whom scammony is necessary.105
How well did the druggist, one day, say:—
“Is convalescence necessary to thee? drink bitter
medicine.”
If sharbat is good for thee,
Take, from Sa'dí, the bitter medicine of advice.
775 With the sieve of knowledge, sifted;
With the honey of devotion, mixed.
I have heard that, on account of a good man, a fakír,
The heart of a proud king became troubled.
Perhaps, on his tongue, a truth had passed;
He became, through pride, enraged with him.
He sent him from the Court to the prison;
For, the arm of a king is strong proved.
One of his friends said secretly to him (the fakír);—
“It was not well to utter this speech.” He replied:—
780 “To cause God's order to be accomplished is obedience to
God;
“I fear not the prison, which is for a moment.”
That very moment, when this secret, in private, went forth
(from his tongue),
The tale also went to the ear of the king.
He laughed, saying:—“He entertains a foolish idea,
“He knows not that he will die in this confinement.”
A slave brought that speech to the poor man;
He said:—“Oh slave! say to Khusrau,
“I have not the load of grief on a wounded heart;
“For the world, this very moment, is no more.106
785 “If thou helpst me not, I am joyful;
“If thou cutst off my head, grief comes not into my
heart.
“If thou art prosperous in command and treasure,
“Another is dejected, in fear or grief.
“When we enter at the gate of death,
“We become, in one week, together equal.
“Place not the heart on this empire of five days,
“Consume not thyself, with the sighs of the people's heart.
“Did not the kings before thee collect together more than
thou?
“In exercising injustice, they consumed the world.
790 “Live even so, that they may commemorate thee with
praise;
“May not recite curses, over thy grave, when thou
diest.
“In regard to a bad custom, it is unnecessary to lay laws;
“For they say:—May a curse be on him, who laid this evil
custom!
“But, if the Lord of Force raises his head,
“Does not the dust of the grave in the end make his head
low?”
The narrow-hearted one, by way of oppression, ordered—
That they should dig out his tongue, from the back (of the
neck).
The man, truths-knowing thus spoke
Saying:—“I have no fear of this even that thou hast said.
795 “I have no grief of tonguelessness;
“For, I know that God understands the unspoken word.
“And if, through tyranny, I suffer foodlessness,
—“If, in the end it be well with me, what grief?
“The sound of mourning (for thy death) may be nuptial,
“If thy end be good.”
A certain boxer had neither fortune nor victuals;
The means ready—neither for his evening nor for his
morning repast.
On account of the cravings of his belly, he used to carry clay
on his back;
For it is impossible to enjoy (gain) victuals, by means of
the fist.
800 Through distress of fortune, always—
His heart, grief-stricken; his body, spindle-like.
For him, sometimes, battle with a malevolent world;
Sometimes, his face bitter, from distressed fortune.
Sometimes, from beholding the sweet pleasure of the (rich)
people,
The bitter water (tears) used to descend to his neck.
Sometimes, he used to weep on account of perplexed work,
Saying:—“No one experienced a more bitter life than
this!”
The people eat honey, and bird, and lamb;
The surface of my bread sees not herbs.
805 If thou desirest justice,—this is not good,
I naked; but, to the cat, a coat (of fur).
How well would it have been, if my foot, in this clay-work,
Had descended to the treasure of my heart's desire.
Perhaps, for a time I would have urged the desire (of
lust);
Would have scattered from myself the dust of affliction.
I heard that he was, one day, breaking up the earth;
He found a rotten chin-bone.
Within the dust, its joints dissevered;
The jewels of teeth scattered.
810 The tongueless mouth mysteriously uttered advice,
Saying:—“Oh sir! be content with want of sustenance.
“Is not this the state of the mouth, beneath the clay?
“Suppose—sugar eaten; or blood of the heart (grief)
suffered (what then?)
“Have not grief of time's revolution;
“For much time will revolve without us.”
That very moment, when this idea appeared to him,
Grief placed aside its burden from his heart.109
Saying:—“Oh spirit! void of judgment, deliberation and
sense,
“Endure the load of grief, and slay not thyself.”
815 If a slave carries a load on his head;
Or if he rears his head to the summit of the sky,
At that moment, when his state becomes changed,
In death, both ideas leave his head.
Grief and joy remain not; but,
Requital for work and good name (work) remains.
Liberality, not diadem and throne, has permanence;
Oh one of good fortune!—give that this may remain after
thee (in the world).
Rely not on country, and rank and pomp:
For, they were before thee, and will be after thee.
820 Thou wishst not that thy country should come to con-
fusion?
It is necessary to suffer sorrow for both country and religion.
Scatter gold, since thou wishst not to leave the world,
As Sa'dí scattered pearls (of counsel), when he had not
gold.
They relate a story of a certain violence—scatterer,
Who held sway over a country.110
The day of man was, in his time, like the evening;
At night, the hands of the pure were, through fear of him,
in prayer.
All day, the good, through him, in calamity;
At night, the hands of the pure, against him, in prayer.
825 Before the Shaikh of that time, a crowd of men
Wept bitterly, on account of the tyrant's power,
Saying:—“Oh wise man of happy disposition!
“Say to this young man,—Fear God!”
The Shaikh replied:—“I am loath (to utter) the name of
God;
“For, every one is not worthy of His message.”
Whomsoever thou seest apart from God,
Oh Sir! reveal not to him the name of God.
It is sorrowful to speak of the knowledge (of God) with
the mean;
For, seed in salt soil is wasted.
830 When it affects him not, he considers thee an enemy;
Grieves heartily, and vexes thee.
Oh King! thou hast the custom of a right walk of life;
The heart of the man, truth-speaking, is, on this account,
firm.111
Oh one of happy fortune! the seal-ring has a quality,—
Such that, it takes an impression in wax, not in the hard
stone.
It is not wonderful, if this tyrant, of me, heartily
Grieves; for, he is a thief; and I, a watchman.
Thou art also guardian as to justice and equity;
May the protection of God be thy guardian!111a
835 In the way of reason, thanks (of the people) are not for
thee;
Grace, and obligation, and praise—for God.
When God holds thee, in service, in the work of goodness,
He left thee, not abandoned, like others.
All are in the plain of struggle;
But, not every one wins the ball of empire.
Thou didst not, by endeavour, gain Paradise;
God created within thee, a disposition Paradise-like.
May thy heart be illumined, and time tranquil!
May thy foot be firm, and dignity exalted!
840 Thy life, pleasant; and, thy conduct, (bent) on rectitude!
Thy devotion, agreeable (to God); and, prayer, accepted!
So long as thy work prospers by deliberation,
Courtesy to an enemy (is) better than contest.
When one cannot, by force, defeat the enemy;
With cajolery it is proper to close the door of strife.
If there be fear of the injury of the enemy,
Fasten his tongue with the charm of beneficence.
Scatter gold for the enemy, in place of crow's feet;
For, kindness makes blunt the sharp teeth.
845 When it is impossible to bite the hand, kiss it;
For, with superiors, the remedy is deceit and flattery,
Even as the friend, pay observance to the enemy,
Whose skin, at the time of opportunity, one can flay;
By right judgment, there came to bonds Rustam,
From whose noose, Isfandiyár escaped not.
Exercise caution as to contest with the meanest person;
For, I have seen many a torrent, from a drop.
Express not—so long as thou canst,—a knot (frown) on
thy eyebrow;
For, the enemy though weak (is) better a friend.
850 His enemy may be fresh; and, friend, wounded,—
That one, whose enemies are (in number) more than
friends.
Strive not with an army more powerful than thy own;
For, one cannot strike the fist on a lancet.
And, if thou art stronger, in contest, than he,
It is not manly to exercise force against the feeble.
If thou art of elephant-strength, or of lion-claw,
Peace is, in my opinion, better than strife.
When the hand is broken as to every artifice,
It is lawful to carry the hand to the sharp sword.
855 If the enemy seeks peace, turn not aside the head;
And, if he seeks battle, turn not aside the rein.
For, if he shuts the door of conflict
Thou hast the power and awe of ten thousand.
And, if he bring the foot of battle into the stirrup,
The Ruler (God) will not desire from thee an account at
the rising (Judgment Day).
Be thou his battle-opponent, when he seeks strife;
For with the malicious kindness is a mistake,
When thou speakst, with kindness and pleasantness, to
the mean,
His pride and obstinacy become greater.
860 With Arab-steeds and manly men,
Bring forth the dust (of destruction) from the nature of
the enemy.
But, if he returns, with gentleness and understanding,
Speak not to him, with severity and anger and harshness.
When the enemy enters at thy door, with submission,
Put out malice from thy heart; and, anger from thy head.
When safety demands, practice the trade of liberality;
Pardon; but, reflect on his (possible) deceit.
Turn not away from the deliberations of old men;
For, one years-endured is work-experienced.
865 They pluck up the brazen foundations from its root,—
Young men with the sword; and, old men with judgment.
Consider a place of retreat, in the heart of battle;
Of that, what knowst thou,—that he may be conqueror?
When thou beholdst the enemy in discord,
Give not, alone, thy sweet life to the wind.
And, if thou art on one side of the army, strive to go
(from the slaughter);
But, if in the midst (of the enemy), put on the guise of
the enemy.
And, if thou art a thousand, and the enemy (only) two
hundred,
Stand not in the enemy's territory, when it becomes night.
870 In the dark night, fifty horsemen, from ambuscade,
Will, with terror, rend the earth like five hundred.
When thou wishst to travel the road at night,
Be cautious first of ambuscade.
When one day's march between two armies
Remains,—pitch thy tent in some place.
If he displays aggression, have no fear;
And if he be Afrásiyáb, pluck forth his brains.
Knowst thou not, that when the enemy pursues one's day
march,
His grasp of force remains not.
875 Thou tranquil,—strike at the wearied army;
For, the ignorant one practised oppression against his own
body.
When thou hast defeated the enemy, cast down the
standard,
That his wound may not come together again (heal).
Urge not far, in rear of the routed army;
It is not fit that thou shouldst go far from thy companions.
Thou mayst behold, the air cloud-like, from the dust of
conflict;
With javelin and sword they will gather around thee.
Let not the army urge in pursuit of plunder,
Lest that (the place) behind the king's back be void.
880 For the army, the guardianship of the monarch
Is better than battle, in the circle of contest.
The warrior, who has once showed ardour (in battle),
It is proper to increase (his dignity), according to his
worth.
That, the next time, he may place his heart on destruction;
May have no fear of contest with the (tribe of) Ya,júj.
Keep the soldier happy, in peace;
That he may be of use in the time of distress.
Kiss the hand of fighting men, now,
Not, at the time when the enemy beats the war-drum.
885 The soldier, whose duty is (lies) not in (getting) victuals,—
Why should he, on the day of battle, place his heart on
death?
From the enemy's hand, the quarters of the country,
Keep by the army; and, the army, by wealth.
Of the king, the hand is bold against an enemy,
When the army is tranquil of heart, and satisfied.
They enjoy the price of their own heads;
It is not right, that they should endure severity.
When they keep pay from the soldier;
He is loth to carry his hand to the sharp sword.
890 What manliness may he exhibit, in the battle-ranks,
When his hand is empty, and work despised?
Send warriors to the contest with the enemy;
Send lions to the conflict with lions.115
Execute work, according to the judgment of those world-
experienced;
For, the old wolf is experienced in hunting.
Fear not the young men, sword-striking;
Be cautious of the old men of much science.
The young men, elephant-overthrowing, lion-seizing,
Know not the artifices of the old fox.
895 The man, world-experienced, is wise;
For, he has experienced much the hot and cold (vicissi-
tudes) of life.
Young men, worthy of good fortune,
Turn not aside their heads from the saying of old men.
If further, a well ordered kingdom be necessary,
Give not a great work to an aspirant.
Make none leader of the army, save that one,
Who may have been, in many battles.
Entrust not a difficult matter to the young;
For, one cannot break the anvil with the fist.
900 Peasant-cherishing and being chief of an army,
Are not work of sport and folly.
Thou wishst not that time should be lost?
Entrust not work to one, work-unseen.
The hunting-dog turns not his face from the panther;
The tiger, inexperienced in battle, fears the fox.
When the son is brought up to hunting,
He fears not, when contest meets him.
In wrestling, and hunting, and shooting at a mark, and
ball-play,
A man becomes a warrior, and contest-seeker.
905 One reared in the hot bath, and pleasure, and luxury,
Will fear, when he sees the door of conflict open.
Two men place him in the saddle;
It may be a boy strikes him to the earth.117
The one, whose back thou seest in the day of battle,
Slay,—if the enemy slay him not in the ranks.
An impotent one is better than the swordsman,
Who, in the battle-day, turns away his head, woman-like.
How well said the hero Gurgín to his own son,
When he (the son) shut up the bow-case, and quiver of
battle:—
910 “If, women-like, thou wilt seek flight,
“Go not (to the battle-field); spill not the honour of
fighting men.”
The single horseman, who, in battle, showed his back,
Slew not himself, but those of renown.
Bravery comes not,—save from those two friends,
Who fell, in the circle of conquest.
Two of the same quality, of the same table, of the same
speech,
Will strive mightily in the heart of conflict.
For shame comes to him of fleeing from before the
arrow,—
The brother, a captive in the enemy's grasp.
915 When thou seest that friends are not friends (in contest),
Consider flight from the battle-field,—gain.
Oh king, territory-conquering! cherish two persons—
One a man of arm (strong); the other, a man of judgment.
Those carry of the ball of empire from those renowned,
Who cherish the wise man and sword-man.
Whoever exercised not the pen and the sword,
If he dies,—say not over him:—“Alas!”
Take care of the pen-striker (pen-man) and sword-striker
(sword-man);
Not the musician; for manliness comes not from the striker.118
920 This is not manliness,—the enemy in the affairs of war;
Thou,—confused with the wine-cup, and sound of the
harp.
Possessed of sovereignty, sate down to play, many a one
Whose wealth went in play from the hand.
I say not—fear battle with the enemy;
Fear rather him, who is in the state of peace.
Many a one recited, in the day, the verse of peace;
(And) urged, when it became night, his army at the
sleeper's head.
Warriors sleep mail-clad;
Since, the couch is the sleeping-place of women.
Within the tent, one, sword-striking,
925 Sleeps not naked (unarmed), like women in the house.
It is necessary to prepare secretly for war;
So that one can secretly assault the enemy.
Caution is the business of men acquainted with work;
The advanced guard is the brazen fence of the army-place.
Between two ill-wishers of short hand (weak),
It is not wisdom, to sit secure.
Because, if both, together secretly, deliberate,—
Their short hand becomes long (powerful).
930 Keep one engaged with deceit;
Bring forth the destruction of the other's existence.
If an enemy chooses war,
Spill his blood, with the sword of deliberation.
Go; accept friendship with his enemy;
That the shirt on his body may be a prison.
When discord occurs in the enemy's army,
Place thou thy own sword, in the scabbard.
When wolves approve of each other's injury,
The sheep repose in the midst.
935 When the enemy becomes engaged with enemy,
Sit down, in ease of heart, with thy friend.
When thou liftst up the sword of contest,
Look out, secretly, for the path of peace.
Because army-leaders, helmet-cleaving,
Seek secretly peace; and, openly, the battle-ranks.
Seek secretly (in friendship) the heart of the man of the
battle-field;
For, it may be, that he may fall (in friendship) at thy
feet.
When an officer of rank of the enemy falls to thy grasp,
It is proper to exercise delay in slaying him.
940 For, it may happen that a chief of this half (thy own army)
May remain a captive, in bonds.
If thou slayst this wounded captive,
Thou wilt not again behold thy own captive.
Fears he not that Heaven's revolution may make captive
him,
Who exercises violence towards captives?
That one is hand-seizer (helper) of captives,
Who himself may have been a captive in bondage.
If a chief places his head on thy writing (of command),—
When thou keepst him well, another chief places his head.
945 If thou, secretly, bringst to thy hand ten hearts,
It is better than that thou shouldst execute a hundred
assaults.
If a relation of the enemy be friendly to thee,
Beware; be not secure of craftiness.
Because, his heart becomes torn for vengeance against thee.
When, memory of the love of his own relation comes to
him.
Consider not the sweet words of an enemy;
For, it is possible, there is poison in the honey.
That one took his life safe from the trouble of the enemy,
Who reckoned friends as enemies.
950 That knave preserves the pearl in his purse,
Who considers all people purse-cuts.
The soldier, who is an offender against the Amír,
So long as thou canst,—take not into service.
He knew not gratitude towards his own chief;
He knows not thee also: be afraid of his deceit.
Hold (consider) him not strong as to oath and covenant;
Appoint a secret watchman over him.
Make long the tether of the aspirant;
Break it not, lest thou shouldst not see him again.121
955 When, in battle and siege, the enemy's country,
Thou seizst,—consign it to the prisoners.
Because, when a captive plunges his teeth in blood,
He drinks blood from the tyrant's throat.
When thou pluckst away a territory from the enemy's
clutch,
Keep the peasantry in more order than he.
For, if he beats open the door of conflict,
The people will pluck out the essence of his brain.
But, if thou causest injury to the citizens,
Shut not (vainly) the city-gate in the enemy's face.
960 Say not:—“The enemy, sword-striking, is at the gate!”
When the enemy's partner is within the city.
Essay with deliberation battle with the enemy;
Reflect on counsel; and, conceal thy resolution.
Reveal not the secret to every one;
For, I have seen many a cup-sharer, a spy.
Sikandar, who waged war with the Easterns,
Kept, they say, his tent-door towards the west.
When Bahman wished to go to Záwulistán,
He cast a rumour of (his going to the) left, and went to
the right.
965 If one, besides thee, knows what thy resolve is,—
It is fit to weep over that judgment, and knowledge, and
resolution.
Exercise liberality;—neither conflict, nor rancour,—
That thou mayst bring a world beneath thy signet-ring.
When a work prospers through courtesy and pleasantness,
What need of severity and arrogance?
Thou wishest not, that thy heart should be sorrowful?
Bring forth from bondage the hearts of those sorrowful.
The army is not powerful by the arm;
Go; ask a blessing from the feeble.
970 The prayer of the hopeful weak ones
Is of more avail than the manly arm.
Whosoever takes to the darwesh, his request for aid,
If he strikes at Firídún, he would overcome him.122
1 IF thou art wise, incline to truth;
For truth, not the semblance, remains in its place.123
To whomsoever, there was neither knowledge, nor liberality,
nor piety,—
In his form, there was no reality.
Beneath the clay, sleeps at ease that one,
By whom, men sleep tranquil at heart.
Suffer thy own grief in life; for the relation,
Through his own avarice, busies not himself with one dead.
5 Give now gold and silver, which is thine;
For, after thy (death), it is out of thy command.
Thou wishest not, that thou shouldst be distressed in
heart?
Put not out of thy heart those distressed.
Scatter treasure in alms, to-day, without delay;
For, to-morrow, the key is not in thy hand.
Take away with thy self, thy own road-provisions;
For compassion (after death) comes from neither son, nor
wife.
That one takes away the ball of empire from this world,
Who took, with himself, a portion to the future world.
10 With sympathy, like my finger-tip,
No one in the world scratches my back.
Place now, on the palm of the hand, whatever there is;
Lest that, to-morrow (the Judgment Day) thou shouldst
with the teeth bite the back of the hand.
Strive as to covering the shame of the darwesh,
That the veil of God may be thy secret (defect) -concealer.
Turn not the foreigner portionless from thy door,
Lest that thou shouldst become a wanderer (in beggary) at
doors.
The great one causes alms to reach the indigent;
For he fears that he may become necessitous (as to the
need of others).
15 Look into the state of the heart of those wearied;
For thy heart may, perhaps, one day be broken.
Make the hearts of those dejected happy;
Remember the day of helplessness (the Judgment Day).
Thou art not a beggar at the doors of others;
Drive not, in thanks to God, a beggar from thy door.
Cast protection over the head of the one father-dead;
Scatter his dust (of affliction), and pluck out his thorn.
Knowst thou not, how very dejected his state was?
May a rootless tree be ever green?125
20 When thou seest an orphan, head lowered in front (from
grief),
Give not a kiss to the face of thy own son.
If the orphan weeps, who buys for his consolation?
And, if he becomes angry, who leads him back (to
quietude)?
Beware! that he weep not; for, the great throne of God
Keeps trembling, when the orphan weeps.
Pluck out, with kindness, the tear from his pure eye;
Scatter, with compassion, the dust (of affliction) from his
face.
If his (the father's) protection departed from over his
head,
Do thou cherish him, with thy own protection.
25 I esteemed my head crown-worthy, at that time,
When, I held my head in my father's bosom.
If a fly had sate on my body,
The heart of some would have become distressed.
If now, enemies should bear me away captive,
None of my friends is a helper.
For me, is acquaintance with the sorrows of orphans,
For, in childhood, my father departed (in death), from my
head.
A certain one plucked out a thorn from an orphan's
foot;
The Khujand Chief, saw him, in a dream:—125a
30 He was talking and sauntering in the gardens of Paradise,
Saying:—“How many roses blossomed from that thron!”
So long as thou canst, be not free from mercy;
For they bear pity to thee, when thou bearst pity.
When thou hast done a favour, be not self-worshipping,
Saying:—“I am a superior; and, that other an inferior.”
Say not:—“The sword of Time has cast him!”
For, the sword of Time is yet drawn.
When thou seest a thousand persons, prayer-uttering for
the empire,
Give thanks to God for favours.
35 For the reason that many men have expectation from thee,
Thou hast expectation at the hand of none.
I have said that liberality is the character of chiefs;
I uttered a mistake;—it is the quality of prophets!
I have heard that, one week, a son of the road (a traveller)
Came not to the guest-house of (Ibráhím) the friend of
God.
Through his happy disposition, he used not to eat in the
morning,
Unless one, foodless, came from the path (of travel).
He went out, and looked in every direction;
Glanced in the quarters of the valley; and saw:—
40 One, willow-like, in solitude, in the desert;
His head and hair white with the snow of old age.
For consolation, he said to him:—“Marhabá!”
Uttered, according to the custom of the liberal, the invi-
tation,127
Saying:—“Oh pupil of my eyes!
“Do me a favour, as to bread and salt.”
He said, “Yes”; and sprang up and lifted his feet;
For, he knew his temperament:—on him be peace!
The guards of the guest-house of Ibráhím
Placed the abject old man, with respect.
45 He ordered; and, they arranged the table;
All sate around.
When the company began:—“Bismi-llah!”
A word from the old man reached not his ear.
He spoke to him, thus:—“Oh old man of ancient days!
“I behold not thy truth and heart-burning, like old men.
“When thou eatst food, is it not the custom
“That thou shouldst take the name of the Lord of
Victuals?”
He said:—“I accept not a religion,
“Which I have not heard from the old men, fire-wor-
shipping.”
50 The prophet of good omen knew
That the old man, of state-become ruined, was a Gabr.
He drove him away, with contempt, when he saw him a
stranger (to Islám);
For to the pure, the filthy is forbidden.
The angel Surosh came from the glorious Omnipotent,
With majesty, reproaching, saying:—“Oh friend of God!
“I had for a hundred years given him victuals and life;
“Abhorrence of him comes to thee, in a moment.
“If he takes his adoration to the fire,
“Why withdrawst thou thy hand of magnanimity?”
55 Make not a knot at the head of the ligature of beneficence,
Saying:—“This one is of fraud and deceit: and, that one
of treachery and guile.”128
The man, Kurán-knowing, does injury,
When he sells, for bread, the Kurán and sound doctrine.
Where do wisdom and law give the decision,
That one of wisdom should give religion for the world?
But, do thou take; because the wise man
Buys gladly from those cheap-selling.
One, tongue-knowing, came to a pious man,
Saying:—“I have stuck firmly in the mire.
60 “Ten dirams of a mean one are (weighing) on me,
“In such a way that a fourth part of them is ten mans on
my heart.128a
“Through him, all night, my state distracted;
“All day, (he is) shadow-like, behind me.
“From words, heart-confounding, he has made
“A wound, like a house-door, within my heart.
“Perhaps since he was born of his mother, God
“Gave not (to him) anything save these ten dirams.128b
“Of the book of Religion, Alif unknown;
“Unread, save the chapter:—Spend not.
65 “The sun raised not its head a single day above the
mountain
“That that scoundrel knocked not at my door.
“I am in reflection,—What liberal one
“May take my hand (help me) with silver, from that one
of stone heart.”
The old man of happy disposition heard this speech,
He placed two gold coins in his sleeve.
The gold fell into the hand of the tale-teller;
He went out, thence,—a face fresh like gold.
One said:—“Oh Shaikh! knowst thou not, who this is?
“It is not proper to weep over him, if he dies
70 “A beggar, who (by deceit) places a saddle on the male
lion;
“Who places (on one side) the knight and queen of Abú-
Zaid (the chess-player).”129
The 'ábid was confounded, saying:—“Be silent!
“Thou art not a man of tongue; listen!
“If what I thought (regarding him) was right
“I preserved his honour from the people.
“If he practised impudence and hypocrisy,
“Thou knowst not that he beguiled me.
“For, I preserved my own honour;
“From the hand of such a deceiver, foolishness-uttering.”
75 Spend silver and gold on the bad and the good;
For, this is the trade of liberality; and, that the repelling
of evil.130
Happy he who, in the society of the wise,
Learns the qualities of the pious.
Wisdom, and judgment, and deliberation, and sense are
thine;
Listen, with reverence, to Sa'dí's advice.
Because, Sa'dí, for the most part, has words (of counsel)
in this fashion;
Not—as to eye, and ringlet, and lobe of the ear, and mole
(of lovely ones).
One departed (from the world), and a hundred thousand
dínars of his,
The heir, a sensible pious man, took.
80 He clutched not his hand on the gold, like the misers;
He took off the fastening from it, like the nobles.
The darvesh used not to be empty at his door;
Nor, the traveller, within his guest-house.
He made the heart of stranger and relation happy;
Tied not up the gold, like his father.
One, reproach-making, said to him:—“Oh one of wind-
hand!
“Make not altogether scattered what treasure there is.
“Gold, and consequential airs, and favour, remain not
long.
“Perhaps, no one has told thee this tale?
85 “In these days, a certain Záhid, to his son,
“I heard—kept saying—‘Oh soul of father!
“‘Go alone; and be house-emptying;
“‘Be liberal, and wealth-dispersing.’131
“The son was fore-seeing and work-experienced,
“He praised his father, saying:—‘Oh one of good judg-
ment!
“‘In one year, one can gather together the harvest;
“‘To burn it in a moment, is not manliness.’
“When thou hast no patience, as to straitened circum-
stances,
“Consider the account, in the plenteous season.
90 “How well spoke the lady of the village to her daughter,
“Saying:—‘Put aside, in the time of plenty, means for
adversity.
“‘Keep full, at all times, the water-bag and pitcher;
“‘For, the rivulet in the village is not always running.’
“By this world, one can obtain the next;
“By gold, one can turn aside a lion-grasp.
“If thou art straitened, go not before a friend;
“But, if thou hast silver, come and bring (that silver).
“If thou placest thy face, on the dust of his feet,
“He utters no reply to thee, with empty hands.
95 “The lord of gold plucks out the demon's eye;
“He brings the jinn Sahar, by craft, to his net.131a
“Associate not, empty-handed, with lovely ones;
“For without anything, a man is not worth anything.
“The hope of the empty-handed one prospers not;
“With gold thou mayst pluck out the eye of the white
demon.132
“Scatter not gold, all at once, on friends;
“Be in contemplation of the trouble of the enemy.
“And if, on the palm of the hand, thou placest whatever
thou hast,
“In the time of need, thou wilt remain empty (handed).
100 “By thy effort, the beggars—ever strong,
“Become not; I fear, thou dost become lean.”
When the forbidder of liberality uttered this tale,
The young man's vein, through anger, slept not.
He became perplexed in heart as to that censorious one;
Was confounded, and said:—“Oh foolish talker!
“The power that is around me,
“My father said—was the heritage of my grandfather.
“Did they not first preserve it?
“They died, in regret; and, left it.
105 “To my hand, did not my father's property fall,
“That it might fall after me to my son's hand?”
It is best indeed that men should to-day enjoy;
For, to-morrow, after me, they will take it away in rapine.
Eat, and clothe thyself, and bestow, and cause ease to
arrive;
Why keepst thou (money) for the sake of the people?
The lords of judgment, (by alms) take away with them-
selves from the world;
The base one remains, in regret, in his place.
With this world, thou canst buy the future world;
Oh my soul! purchase; and, if not, suffer regret.
Gold and wealth are of use to that one,
110 Who makes the wall of the future world, gold decorated.
He (the heir) enjoyed and gave away, so that those endowed
with vision
Beheld the marks of that money-loss in him.
A person, out of nobleness, praised him,
Saying:—“In the path of God, thou enduredst much
grief.”
Head in the collar of shame, he kept saying:—
“What (good deed) did I, to which one can attach the
heart?
“The hope that I have is in the grace of God;
“For, to exercise reliance on my own effort is a crime.”
Religion is this indeed,—that people of truth
115 Are good-doers, and (their own) fault-perceivers.
The Shaikhs have, all night, uttered prayers;
Have, in the morning, spread the prayer-carpet.
In the name of manliness! listen to the words of men;
Not Sa'dí; but, of Sahrwadí, hear.133
For me the shaikh of knowledge, the spiritual guide,
Shaháb,
Uttered two maxims of counsel,—boat on the water:—
“One,—be not in the assembly of those evil-viewing;
“The other,—be not in the lust of self-beholding.”
120 One night, I know, that, from fear of hell, Shaháb slept
not;
In the morning, it came to my ear,—that he said:—
“How well would it have been, if hell had been full of me;
“Perhaps, for others, there might have been escape!”
Once upon a time, a wife lamented to her husband,
Saying:—“Purchase not again bread from the general
vendor of the street.
“Go to the market of the wheat-sellers.
“For, this is a barley-seller, wheat-exhibiting.
“Not on account of purchasers, but from a swarm of flies,
“No one has seen his face for a week.”
125 With heartiness, that indigent man,
To his wife, said:—“Oh light (of my eyes)! be content.
“In hope of us, the vendor took here a shop;
“It is not manliness, to take back from him profit.”
Take the path of good, noble men;
When thou art erect, seize the hand of the fallen.
Bestow; for, those who are men of God
Are the purchasers (at) of the shop without splendour.
If thou desirest truth,—the saint ('Alí) is the generous man;
Liberality is the profession of 'Alí, king of men.
130 I have heard that an old man, on the road to Hijáz,
Used to make two prayer-motions, at every step.
So impetuous in the path of God,
That he used not to pluck the ghílán thorn from his foot.
At length from temptation, heart-disturbing,
His work seemed good in his sight.
By the craft of Iblís, he fell into the pit (of pride),
Saying:—“One cannot go on a road, better than this.”
If the mercy of God had not found him,
Pride would have turned his head from the path (of reli-
gion).
135 An angelic messenger gave voice, from the invisible,
Saying:—“Oh one of happy fortune! of good disposition!
“If thou hast performed devotion, think not,
“That thou hast brought a rarity to this court.
“By beneficence a heart tranquil making,
“Is better than a thousand sacred inclinations of the head
at every stage.”
A wife thus spoke (to her husband) an officer of the Sultán,
Saying;—“Oh fortunate one! arise; knock at the door of
food.
“Go; so that they may give thee a portion from the
(Sultán's) tray;
“For, the children are looking to thee for food.
140 He said:—“To-day, the kitchen is cold;
“For, the Sultán made the resolve of fast, at night.”
The wife, through helplessness, cast down her head;
Heart torn with hunger, she kept saying to herself:—
“What did the Sultán wish from this fast-talking,
“The breaking of which is the festival of my children?”
The devourer, from whose hand liberality issues,
Is better than one, who, world-worshipping, perpetually
fasts.
Fast-keeping is reserved for him,
Who gives, to the wearied one, the bread of the morning
meal.
145 Otherwise, what need that thou shouldst endure the trouble
(of fasting);
Shouldst keep back from thyself (food in the day); and
shouldst eat it (at night)?
The imaginings of the ignorant one, sitting in solitude!
He confounds, at length, infidelity and religion.
Purity is in water; and, also, in the mirror;
But, discretion is necessary for purity.
To a certain one, liberality was; but power was not;
Means of subsistence, to the extent of his generosity, were
not.
Let not the mean one be lord of wealth!
Let not straitened means be to the generous man!
150 To him, to whom lofty spirit chances,
The object of his desire seldom falls within the noose.
Like the pouring torrent, which, in a mountainous country,
Takes not ease in the midst of the heights.
He exercised not liberality, according to his means;
On this account, assuredly, he used to be of small worth.137
One straitened wrote to him two words,
Saying:—“Oh one of happy end, of auspicious tempera-
ment!
“Take my hand (help me) once with some dirams;
“For, it is some time that I have been in prison.”
155 The request was, in his eye, of no value;
But, in his hand, there was not the smallest coin.
He sent a man to the enemies of the captive,
Saying:—“Oh men of good name, and noble!
“Restrain, for a little, your hands from his skirt;
“And if he flies, security for him (is) on me.”
And, thence, he came to the prison, saying:—“Arise!
“Flee from this city, so long as thou hast feet.”
When the sparrow beheld the cage-door open,
Repose within it remained not to it, a moment.
160 Like the zephyr-wind, from that land he travelled;
Such travelling, that the wind would not have reached the
dust of his feet.
They, at once, seized the generous man,
Saying:—“Thou mayst obtain the silver, or the man.”
He took, in helplessness, the path to the prison;
For, one cannot take the bird, gone from the cage.
I heard that he remained some time in prison;
He neither wrote to any one a complaint; nor, uttered a
lament.
Times, he reposed not; nights, slept not;
A devotee passed by him, and said:—
165 “I think not thou devourest the property of man;
“What chanced to thee, that thou art in prison?”
He said:—“Oh comrade of happy spirit!
“I enjoyed, by fraud, the property of no one.
“I beheld one, powerless, torn by captivity;
“I beheld no release for him, save by my own confinement.
“It seemed, in my opinion, not proper,
“I, at ease; another, in the noose (of torment).”
At length, he died; and, took away a good name;
How excellent, the life of him, whose name died not!
170 Beneath the clay,—a body dead, a heart alive;
Is better than a world alive, heart dead.
The living heart never becomes destroyed;
If, the body of the living heart dies,—what matter?138
A certain one found, in the desert, a thirsty dog;
He found not beyond a spark of life in him.
He of approved religion made a cap-bucket;
Bound to it his own turban, rope-like.
Bound his loins in service; and stretched forth his arm;
Gave a little water to the powerless dog.
175 The Prophet gave intelligence of the man's state,
Saying:—“The Ruler (God) pardoned his sins.”
Ho! if thou art a tyrant, reflect;
Choose fidelity; exercise liberality.
How does liberality become lost to the good man,
Since he lost not goodness done to a dog?
Pactise liberality so far as it may (suitably) come from thy
hand,
The world-keeper closes the door of beneficence on none.
To bestow from the treasury, to the extent of an ox's skin
of gold,
Is not like half a dang from the hand of toil.
180 Every one carries a load suitable to his strength;
The locust's foot is heavy to the ant.
Oh one of happy fortune! do good to the people,
That to-morrow, (the Judgment Day) God may not take
hard (measures) with thee.
If he come from his feet (fall), he remains not captive,
Who was hand-seizer (helper) of the fallen.
Give not, with rebuke, an order to the slave;
For, it may be that he may fall (come) to order-giving.
When thy majesty and rank are lasting
Exercise not violence on the weakness of the common dar-
wesh;
185 For, it may happen that he becomes possessed of rank and
majesty;
Like the pawn, that suddenly becomes a queen (at chess).
Listen to the counsel of men, far-seeing;
They scatter not the seed of rancour, in any heart.
The lord of the harvest suffers loss,
When he displays arrogance towards the corn-gleaners.
Fears he not that they (the angels) may give wealth to the
wretched one;
And from that one place the load of grief on the heart of
this one?140
Many strong ones,—who fell suddenly;
Many a fallen one,—Fortune assisted.
190 It is not proper to break the hearts of inferiors;
Lest that, one day, thou shouldst become an inferior.
A certain darvesh complained of weakness of state,
To one of stern face, lord of wealth.
The one of black heart gave him neither dínárs, nor dángs;
(And) shouted at him, moreover, in anger.140a
The beggar's heart, from his violence, bled.
He raised his head, with grief, and said:—“Oh wonder!
“Why, indeed is the rich man of severe visage?
“Perhaps, he fears not the bitterness of begging.”
195 The one of short sight ordered,—so that his slave
Drove him away, with contempt, and utter scorn.
By not offering thanks to the Omnipotent,
I heard that Fortune turned from him.
His greatness placed its head towards ruin;
Mercury put his pen in the ink (in record against him).
Wretchedness made him sit naked, like garlic;
It left him neither chattels nor baggage-taker (the ass).
God's decree made him, through poverty, sit, dust on the
head;
Juggler-like, purse and hand empty.
200 His state, head to foot, became of another kind;
Some time passed on (after) this occurrence.
His slave fell to the hand of a liberal one.
Generous of heart, and hand; and luminous of tempera-
ment.
By the sight of the wretch of overturned state,
He used to be as much pleased, as the poor one with wealth.
A certain one sought, at night-time, a morsel at his door;
From hardship-enduring, his steps were slow.
The lord of gift ordered the slave,
Saying:—“Make the dejected one happy.”
205 When he carried to him a portion from the table;
He involuntarily raised a cry.
He returned, heart-broken, to his master,
Tears on his face, mystery revealing.
The chief of happy temperament inquired,
Saying:—“From whose violence, came these tears on thy
face?”
He said:—“My heart sorely grieved,
“At the state of this old man of distracted fortune.
“For, in former times, I was his slave;
“He,—the lord of goods and property, and silver.
210 “When his hand, from honour and luxury, became short,
“He makes long the hand of begging at doors.”
He laughed and said:—“Oh son! it is no violence;
“For the revolution of Time, there is oppression against
none.
“Is he not that merchant of stern countenance,
“Who used, from pride, to bear his head against the sky?
“I am that one, whom he drove, that day, from his door;
“The world's revolution has placed him in my day (state).142
“The sky looked, again, towards me;
“It scattered the dust of grief from my face.”
215 If God closes one door, in wisdom,
He opens another, in grace and liberality.
Many a poor one, foodless, became satiated;
Many a work of the rich one became overturned.
Hear a trait of good men,
If thou art a good man, and of manly gait.
When Shiblí, from the shop of the wheat-seller,
Carried a wallet of wheat, on his back, to the village,
He glanced; he beheld, in that wheat, an ant,
That ran, head-revolving, in every corner.142a
220 He could not sleep, at night, for pity of that ant;
He brought it back to its own dwelling, and said:—
“It is not manliness that this wounded ant,
“I should cause to be separated from its dwelling.”
Keep tranquil the hearts of those distressed,
That tranquillity, from time, may be thine.
How well said Firdausí of pure birth,
—May mercy be on that pure tomb!—143
“Wound not the ant, that is the grain-carrier;
“For, it also has life; and, life is pleasant.”
225 He is of black vitals, and of stone-heart,
Who wishes that an ant may be of straitened-heart.
Strike not the hand of force on the head of the powerless,
Lest that thou shouldst, one day, fall ant-like beneath his
foot.
The candle bestowed no pity on the moth's state;
Behold how it (the candle) burned in the assembly!
I have assumed,—many are less powerful than thou;
Also there is a certain one, in the end, more powerful than
thou.
Oh son! bestow; for, the one man-born, a prey,
One can make by benefits; and, the wild beast, by re-
straint.143a
230 Bind the enemy, by showing kindness;
For, one cannot sever this noose, with the sword.
When the enemy experiences liberality, and courtesy, and
generosity,
Villainy from him comes not, again, into existence.
Do not evil, lest thou experience evil from the good friend;
The good fruit comes not from the seed-stone of wicked-
ness.
When with a friend, thou art difficult and hard to please,
He desires not to see thy painting and colour (of face).
But, if a man desires good to his enemies,
Much time passes not, but they become friendly.
235 A young man came before me, on the road,
A sheep, running in bounds, behind him.
I said to him:—“This is a cord and ligature,
“Which draws the sheep behind thee.”
He quickly undid the collar and chain from it;
Left and right, it began to bound.
Yet, from behind him, gambolling, it proceeded;
For, it had eaten barley and green-corn from the man's
hand.
When it returned to its place from pleasure and sport,
He regarded me, and said:—“Oh man of sense!
240 “This cord draws it not to me;
“But kindness is the noose about its neck.”
From the kindness, which the raging elephant has expe-
rienced,
He attacks not the elephant-keeper.145
Oh good man! cherish the bad;
For, the dog keeps watch, when he devours thy bread.
The leopard's teeth are blunt against that man,
On whose cheek, he rubs, for two days, his tongue.
A certain one saw a fox, legless and footless,
He was astonied at the grace and creation of God,145a
245 Saying:—“How does he pass his life?
“With this leg and foot, how does he eat?”
The darvesh of disturbed complexion was in this thought,
When a lion came forth, a jackal in his claws.
The lion devoured the jackal of reversed fortune;
Whatever remained,—of it, the fox ate to satiety.
Again, the next day, the event happened,
That the Victual-sender (God) gave to him the day's food.
Truth made the man's eye capable of vision;
He went; and relied on the Creator,
250 Saying:—“I may, after this, sit, ant-like, in a corner;
“Since, elephants eat not their daily food by force.”
He lowered, for some time, his chin to the collar (of reflec-
tion),
Saying:—“The Giver of daily food sends from the un-
seen.”
Neither stranger nor friend suffered toil for him;
Harp-like, his veins, and bones, and skin remained.
When, from weakness, his patience and sense remained not,
From the wall of the prayer-place, there came to his ear:—
“Oh impostor! go; be the rending lion;
“Cast not thyself, like the crippled fox.”
255 Strive so that, lion-like, there may remain (something)
from thy (trade)
Why art thou, fox-like, depending upon the lion's leavings.
Whose neck is stout, like lions,
If he falls (into idleness) fox-like, a dog is better than he.
Bring to thy grasp; and, drink with others;
Pay no attention to others' leavings.
Eat, so long as thou canst,—by means of thy own arm;
That thy strength may be in thy own balance.146
Endure toil, like men; and cause ease to arrive (to others);
The impotent enjoys the gain of others' toil.
260 Oh young man! Take the hand of the old darvesh;
Cast not thyself down, saying:—“Take my hand!”
The gift of God is on that slave,
By whose existence, the people are at ease.
That head, in which is a brain, exercises liberality;
For, those of mean spirit are skin,—brainless.
That one experiences good, in both habitations,
Who causes good to reach the people of God.146a
Didst thou not see (hear), on the foot-binding (difficult)
road to Kesh,
What that camel-driver said to his own son?147
265 “Enjoy food, with good men;
“For, they will not eat in solitude.”
I have heard that there was a man of pure birth-place,
A recogniser, and road-traveller (in the way of God), in the
confines of Rúm.
I and some other travellers, desert-wandering,
Went a-travelling for the sake of seeing the man.
He kissed the head, and eyes, and hands of each one;
Caused us to sit, with reverence and respect; and sate
down.
I beheld his gold, and sown fields, and attendants and
goods;
But, without generosity, like a fruitless tree.
270 As to manner and grace, he was attentive;
But, his cooking-pot-place was very cold.
All night, there was neither rest, nor sleep,—for him,
As to praising God and reciting—“There is no God, but
God”; and, for us, from hunger.147a
In the morning, he bound his loins and opened the door;
Began the very same courtesy and hand-kissing.
There was one, who was of sweet and pleasant temper,
Who, was, in that inn, a traveller with us.
He said:—“Give me the kiss, by letter-translating,
“Because, for the darvesh, food (tosha) is better than
a kiss (bosa).148
275 “Place not the hand in service, on my shoes;
“Give me bread; and, strike them on my head.”
Men have, by gifts, excelled;
Not those night-alive-keeping, heart dead.
This indeed I experienced from the Tatár watchman,
Heart dead, but night-alive-keeping.148a
Liberality is—generosity and bread-giving;
Foolish speech is the empty drum.
At the Resurrection, thou seest, in Paradise, that one,
Who sought truth, and let go pretension.
280 By truth, one can make a proper claim;
Breath, without action, is a slothful resting-place.148b
I have heard that, in the time of Hátim, there was,
Among his horses, one swift footed, like smoke.148c
A black steed of zephyr swiftness, thunder noise,
That used to surpass the lightning:
Used, in the gallop, to scatter hail over mountain and
plain;
Thou wouldst have said:—“Perhaps, an April-cloud has
passed?”
Such an one, torrent-moving, desert-travelling,
That the wind, from the front, used to lag, like dust.
285 Of Hátim's qualities, in every land and clime,
They mentioned a little to the Sultán of Rúm,
Saying:—“A man, there is not, like him in liberality;
“A horse, there is not, like his in moving and journeying.
“Such a desert-traveller, like a boat on the water,
“That the crow flies not above his journeying!”
The Sultán of Rúm spoke to his learned Vazír, thus,
Saying:—“The claim without evidence is shame.
“Of Hátim, that steed of Arab descent, I
“Will ask; if he should exercise liberality, and give,
290 “I shall know that, in him is the pomp of greatness;
“But, if he refuses, (his pretension) is the noise of the
empty drum!”
An envoy, skilful in the world, to (the tribe of) Tai,
He despatched; and, ten men along with him.
The ground dead; but, the cloud weeping over it,
The zephyr again placed life in it.
At the halting (dwelling) place of Hátim, the envoy
alighted;
(And) became tranquil, like the thirsty one, by the Zinda
river.149
He (Hátim) spread a table, victual-covered; and, killed a
horse;
Gave them sugar in his skirt; gold in his fist.
295 There, they passed the night; and, the next day,
The man of information (the envoy) uttered what he knew.150
The envoy kept talking; and, Hátim distracted, like one
intoxicated,
Kept gnawing his hand with the teeth of regret,
Saying:—“Oh partner, learned, of good name!
“Why didst thou not utter before this thy message?
“That wind-moving, fast, Duldul,—I
“Made roast-meat, last night, for your sake.150a
“For, through the dread of rain and torrents, I knew
“It was impossible to go into the pasture place of the herd
(of cattle).
300 “For me, there was, in no other way, either turning or
path;
“There was only that horse at the door of my court.
“I considered it not generosity, in respect to my usage,
“That a guest should sleep, heart torn with hunger.
“For me,—a name conspicuous in the climes (of the world)
is necessary;
“Say:—let there not be (for me) another famous steed.”
He gave to the individuals of the envoy's retinue dirams,
dresses of honour, and horses.
—The good quality is natural, not an acquisition.—
News of the young man of Tai went to Rúm;
The Sultán uttered a thousand benedictions on his disposi-
tion.
305 Be not content with this incident of Hátim;
Listen to this more beautiful circumstance.
I know not, who told me this tale,
That there had been, in the country of Yaman, an order-
giver.
He snatched the ball of empire from those renowned;
For in treasure-bestowing, there was no equal to him.
One could call him—“the Cloud of Liberality,”
For, his hand used to scatter money like rain.
No one used to take to him the name of (mention) Hátim,
At which (mentioning), phrenzy used not to go to his head,
310 Saying:—“How much—of the words of that wind-weigher,
“Who has neither country, nor command, nor treasure?”
I heard that he prepared a royal feast,
(And) harp-like entertained the people, in the midst of the
banquet.
One opened the door of mention of Hátim;
Another began to utter his praise.
Envy held the man to the desire of revenge;
He appointed one for his blood-devouring,
Saying:—“So long as Hátim is in my time,
“My name will not go (into the world) for goodness.”
315 The calamity-seeking one took the path to the tribe of Tai,
He set out for the slaying of the young man.152
There came before him, on the road, a young man,
From whom, the perfume of affection came up to him:
Good of visage, and wise, and sweet of tongue;
He brought him a guest, that night, to his own abode:
Exercised liberality, and sympathised, and made excuses;
Snatched the enemy's heart, by kindness:
Placed the morning-kiss on his hands and feet,
Saying:—“Stay at ease, a few days, with us.”
320 He said:—“I cannot here become a resident;
“For I have before me an important matter.”
He replied:—“If thou wilt reveal the matter to me,
“I will with soul exert myself, like friends of one heart.”
He replied:—“Oh young man! listen to me;
“For, I know the generous one is a secret-concealer.
“Thou knowest, perhaps, in this land, Hátim,
“Who is of happy judgment, and good manners?
“The King of Yaman has desired his head;
“I know not, what hatred has arisen between them.
325 “Show me the short path to where he is;
“Oh friend! this indeed, I look for from thy courtesy.”
The youth laughed, saying:—“I am Hátim:
“Behold! separate, with the sword, the head from my
body.
“When the morning becomes white, it is not proper that,
“Injury should reach thee; or, that thou shouldst become
disappointed.”153
When Hátim placed, with nobleness, his head (for
slaughter),
A cry issued from the young man (the guest).
He fell upon the dust; and, leaped to his feet;
Kissed now the dust; now, his feet and hands:
330 Threw down the sword; and placed the quiver (on the
ground);
Put, like the helpless, his hands on his breast,153a
Saying:—“If I strike a rose on thy body,
“I am, in men's sight, a woman, not a man.”
He kissed both his eyes; and, embraced him;
And, took his way, thence, to Yaman.
Between the two eyebrows of the man, the king
Knew, immediately, that he had not performed the duty.
He said:—“Come; what news hast thou?
“Why didst thou not bind his head to thy saddle-strap?
335 “Perhaps a renowned one made an assault against thee;
“Thou, through weakness, sustainedst not the fury of
the contest?”
The clever youth gave the ground-kiss;
Praised the king; and, the majesty of his nature,
Saying:—“I discovered Hátim, fame-seeking,
“Skilful, and of pleasant appearance, and of good visage:
“Considered him generous, and endowed with wisdom;
“Regarded him, in manliness, my superior:
“The load of his favour made my back bent;
“He slew me, with the sword of kindness and grace.”
340 Whatever he experienced, from his liberality,—he uttered;
The monarch recited praises on the offspring of Tai:
Gave the envoy gold-money,
Saying:—“Liberality is the seal on Hátim's name.”
It (the evidence) reaches (touches) him, if they give evi-
dence;
Since, truth and fame are his fellow-travellers.154
I have heard that, in the time of the Prophet, the tribe of
Tai
Made not acceptance of the faith (of the Kurán).154a
The Messenger of good news and the Observer (Muham-
mad) sent an army;
They took captive a multitude of them.
345 The Prophet ordered them to slay them with the sword of
hate,
Saying:—“They are unclean, and of impure religion.”
A woman said:—“I am Hátim's daughter,
“Ask (pardon for me) from this renowned Ruler (Mu-
hammad):
“Oh revered sir! exercise generosity as to my state;
“For my lord (Hátim) was endowed with liberality.”
By the command of the Prophet of pure judgment,
They loosed the fetters from her hands and feet:
Drew the sword upon the rest of that tribe,
So that they caused, mercilessly, a torrent of blood to flow.
350 With weeping, the woman said to the swordsman:—
“Strike my neck also with all the rest:
“I consider, not release from fetters, generosity;
“I—alone; and, my friends in the noose (of calamity).”
She kept uttering lamentations, over the brothers of Tai;
Her voice came to the Prophet's ear.
The rest of that tribe, he gave to her,
Saying:—“One of true origin never erred!”
From Hátim's store-house, an old man
Demanded ten diram's weight of sugar candy.155
355 From the historian, I remember news such,
That he sent him a sack of sugar.
The wife said, from the tent:—“What is this?
“The old man's need was exactly ten dirams.”
The fame-cherisher of Tai heard this speech;
He laughed, and said:—“Oh heart's ease of Hai!
“If he demanded (what was) suitable to his own need,
(and got it),
“Where is the liberality of the offspring of Hátim?”
Another in generosity, like Hátim,
Comes not, perhaps, from the world's revolution,
360 That Abú Bakr, son of Sa'd,—the hand of munificence,
Whose magnanimity places on the mouths of beggars.156
Oh peasant-refuge! May thy heart be glad!
May Islám, by thy endeavour, flourish!
This dust of happy soil raises its head (ascends),
By thy justice over the climes of Greece and Rúm!
Like Hátim, if his name had not been,
No one, in the world, would have taken the name of (men-
tioned) Tai.
In books, the praise of that renowned one (Hátim) remains;
For thee, both praise and also reward remain.
365 Whereas, Hátim sought for that reputation and renown (in
the world);
Thy struggle and endeavour are for the sake of God!
There is no ceremony for the darvesh;
Save this one word,—there is no other counsel:—
“As much as may be in thy power, do good;”
Good remains, after thee (Oh Abú Bakr!); and, speech
after Sa'dí.
Of a certain one, an ass had fallen into the mire;
The blood, through phrenzy, had gathered to his heart.
Desert and rain, and cold, and torrent;—
Darkness let down its skirt on the horizon.
370 He was in this grief, all night, till the morning;
Spoke passionately; and gave curse and abuse.
Neither enemy, nor friend, escaped his tongue (of reproach);
Nor the Sultán, whose land and produce it was.
By chance, the lord of that wide plain
Passed by him in that reprehensible state.
He heard these words,—far from rectitude;—
Neither patience of hearing; nor, way of answer.
He looked at him, with the eye of punishment,
Saying:—“For what is this person's anger against me?”
375 One said:—“Oh king! strike him with the sword;
“Pluck up his life's root, from the earth's surface.”
The Sultán of high rank glanced;
He himself saw him, in calamity; and, his ass in the mire:
Forgave the man, on account of his ruined state:
Swallowed the anger of his cold words:
Gave him gold, and a horse, and a coat of fur;
—How good is love, at the time of hate!—
One said to him:—“Oh old man, void of reason and sense!
“Thou didst escape wonderfully from slaughter.” He
said:—“Be silent:
380 “If I complained on account of my own grief,
“He gave me presents suitable to himself.”
For evil, the return of evil is easy;
If thou art a man, do good to him who did evil to thee.
I have heard that a proud man, from pride-intoxication,
Shut the door of his house in a beggar's face.
The man, helpless, sate down in a corner;
His liver hot (with rage); and, sigh cold, from the heat (of
despair) of his chest.
A certain one, covered as to the eyes (blind), entered;
He asked him, the cause of his hate and rage.
385 He related—and wept, on the dust of the street—
The violence, that chanced to him, from that person.
He said:—“Oh certain one! abandon grief,
“Break fast, only to-night, with me.”
He drew his collar, with politeness and kindness;
Brought him to his lodging; and, spread the victual-table.158
The darwesh of luminous disposition became comforted;
He said:—“May God give thee luminosity (as to thy
eyes)!”
At night, from his eyes some drops trickled;
In the morning, he opened his eyes; and, beheld the world!
390 Within the city, the story went; and tumult occurred—
For, last night, an eyeless one opened his eye.
He heard this report,—the rich man of stone heart,
From whom, the darwesh turned away straitened in heart.
He said:—“Oh fortunate one! relate this tale,
“How this difficult deed became easy to thee.
“Who turned back to thee this candle, world-illumi-
nating?”
He replied:—“Oh tyrant of troubled days!
“Thou wast of short vision, and of sluggish judgment,
“For, instead of the humá (an auspicious bird), thou wast
engaged with the owl (a filthy bird).
395 “That one opened this door (of vision) on my face;
“On whose face, thou didst shut the door.
“If thou dost express a kiss on the dust of men,
“In the name of manliness! luminosity comes to thee.159
“Those, who are covered as to the eye of the heart,
“Are, indeed, careless of this antimony.”
When the one of overturned fortune heard this rebuke,
He bit the finger-tip of regret, with his teeth,
Saying:—“My falcon became the prey of thy net;
“I had fortune; to thy name, it went.”
400 How may he bring the male falcon to his grasp,—that one,
Like a mouse, teeth plunged in avarice.159a
Verily, if thou art a seeker of the pious one,
Exercise not carelessness, a moment, as to his service.
Give food to the sparrow, and partridge and dove,
That the humá may, one day, fall to thy net.
When thou castst the arrow of supplication, in every corner,
There is hope that thou mayst, suddenly, make a prey.
From many oysters, a single pearl comes forth;
Out of a hundred arrows, one comes to the butt.
405 The son of a certain one was lost from a camel-litter;
The father wandered about, in the night-time, in the
káfila:
Inquired at every tent; and, hastened in every direction;
Found that light (his son), in the darkness.
When he came to the men of the káraván,
I heard, that he said to the camel-driver:—
“Knowst thou not how I found the path to the friend (my
son)?
“Whosoever came before me, I said:—it is he!”160
The pious ones are at the heels of every one, on that
account,
That they may, perchance, one day, reach a sage, holy man:
410 Bear burdens, for the sake of the pious;
Endure the thorn (of affliction) for the sake of a single rose.
From the crown of one king-born, in a camel-stable,
A ruby fell, one night, in a stony place.160a
The father, to his son, said:—“In this night, of dark
colour,
“How knowst thou,—which is the jewel or stone?
“Oh son! take care of all the stones,
“That the ruby may not be out of their midst.”
The pure ones of distraught visage, among the rogues,
Are, indeed—the ruby and (precious) stone, in a dark place.
415 Endure, with pleasure the burden (of violence) of every
ignorant one,
That, in the end of time, a pious one may fall (to thee).
The person, who is merry of head (enamoured) with a
friend,—
Seest thou not how he is the enemy's (rival's) load-carrier?161
He rends not his garment, rose-like, on account of the
power of the thorn,
Who, pomegranate-like, laughs, blood gathered in the heart.161a
Endure the grief of a crowd, for the love of one,
Pay observance to a hundred, for the sake of one.
If those of foot-dust, distraught of head,
Are, in thy sight, contemptible and miserable,
420 Ever look not at them, with the eye of approval;
For, they are approved of God, and that is enough.161b
The one, who, in thy opinion, is bad,
How knowst thou but that he himself is the possessor of
saintship?
The door of the knowledge of God is open to those,
In whose face, the doors of men are shut.
Many of better life, and bitterness-tasting,
May be, in the quarter (Judgment Day), skirt-displaying (in
majesty).162
If thou hast reason and deliberation, thou wilt kiss
The hand of the king-born one (the Man of God) in the
prison (of this world).
425 For, the day he comes from prison,
He may, when he becomes lofty, give to thee loftiness.
Cause not the rose-tree to burn, in the autumn;
For, it appears to thee excellent, in the fresh spring.162a
A certain one possessed not the power of spending;
Gold, he had; the power of enjoying, he had not.
He used not to eat, that his heart might rest;
Used not to give (in alms), that it might be of use to him
to-morrow (Judgment Day).
Night and day,—in the entanglement of gold and silver:
—The fetter of the mean one, (is) in gold and silver.—
430 One day, the son, in ambush, knew
Where the miser had placed the gold, in the earth.
He brought it forth from the dust, and gave it to the wind;
I heard, that he deposited a stone in that spot.
For the young man, the gold remained not;
It came to one hand; he enjoyed it with the other.
For this reason that he was one of unclean face (conduct)
and a low thrower of dice;
His hat in the bázár; and, trousers pawned.
The father,—clutch placed (in grief) on his own neck;
The son,—a harp and flute (in enjoyment) brought to the
front.
435 The father, weeping and lamenting, slept not all night;
The son, in the morning, laughed; and said:—
“Oh father! gold is for the sake of enjoying;
“For depositing, whether stone or gold,—what matter?”
They bring forth gold from the hard stone;
That they may enjoy it with friends and beloved ones.
Gold, in the palm of the man's hand, world-worshipping,
Oh brother! is yet within the stone.
When, thou art, in life, bad to thy family,
Complain not of them, if they wish thy death.
440 Thy family enjoy thy (wealth) to satiety, at that time,
When thou fallst from the roof of fifty yards to the bottom.
The miser, rich with dínars and silver,
Is a tilism dwelling over the treasure.163
His gold remained years, for the reason,
That such a tilism trembles at its head!
With the stone of Fate (death), they suddenly shatter it;
They make, at ease, division of the treasure.
After carrying and collecting, like the ant,
Enjoy,—before that the grave-worm devours thee.
445 The words of Sa'dí are precept and counsel;
If thou becomest work-performing, they are of use to thee.
It is folly to turn away the face from this;
Since one can, in this way, obtain empire.
A young man had exercised liberality to the extent of a
dáng;
He had accomplished an old man's desire.
The sky suddenly caught him, in a crime;
The Sultán sent him to the slaughtering-place:
The hurrying of soldiers, and uproar of the people;
Sightseers about the door, and street, and roof.
450 When, within the tumult, the old darvesh beheld
The young man, a captive in the people's hands.
His heart was wounded, on account of the wretched youth,
Who had, once, taken his heart.
He raised a cry, saying:—“The Sultán is dead!
“The world remained; but, he took away his good dispo-
sition.”
He kept rubbing together the hands of sorrow;
The soldiers, swords drawn (for slaying) heard.164
At the cry, a shout issued from them,—
Palm-striking on head, and face, and shoulder!
455 On foot, up to the door of the court, with haste,
They ran; they saw the king on the throne.
The youth went forth from the midst; they took the old
man,
By the neck, a captive, to the Sultán's throne.
He, with awe-inspiring manner inquired; and, displayed
majesty,
Saying:—“To thee,—wherefore was the desiring of my
death?
“Since my disposition and rectitude are good,
“Why, in the end, desirest thou ill (by my death) to
men?”165
The resolute old man brought forth a tongue,
Saying:—“Oh (king)! the world is a ring in the ear (a
slave) of thy order!
460 “By a false word—‘the king is dead!’
“Thou didst not die; and, a helpless one carried off his
life.”
The king wondered at this tale to such a degree,
That he gave him something, and said nothing.
And, on this side, the youth, falling and rising,
Kept proceeding, running in every direction, helplessly.
One said to him:—“From the four directions of retribution,
“What didst thou, that liberation came to thy soul?”165a
He whispered to his ear—“Oh wise man!
“I escaped from bonds, through a brave soul and a dáng.”
465 He places a seed in the dust for the reason,
That it may, in the day of distress, give fruit.
A barley-grain keeps back a great calamity;
Thou hast heard of the staff, that killed 'Új (King of
Bashan)?166
The true account came from the Chosen One (Muhammad),
That—the giving of arms is the repelling of calamity.166a
Thou seest not an enemy's foot, in this habitation;
For, Abú Bakr, son of Sa'd, is master of the kingdom.
A world joyful by thy face,—Oh (Abú Bakr)! seize
The world, that joy may be on thy face.166b
470 In thy time, no one endures distress from another;
The rose in the parterre suffers not the violence of the
thorn.
Thou art the shadow of the grace of God on the earth;
Prophet-like—the mercy of both worlds!
If a person knows not thy worth,—what matter?
They also know not the—“Shab-i-kadr.”167
In a dream, a person beheld the plain of the place of
assembling:
The earth's surface, from sun,—molten copper.
From men, complaint kept ascending to heaven;
The brain, through heat, came to boiling.
475 (Beheld) a certain one of this multitude,—in the shade;
An ornament of Paradise, about his neck.
He inquired, saying:—“Oh man, assembly-adorning!
“Who was thy helper, in this assembly?”
He said:—“I had a vine at my house-door;
“A holy man slept in its shade.
“At this time of despair, that true man
“Asked pardon for my sins from the Ruler of rulers,
“Saying:—‘Oh Lord! forgive this slave;
“‘For once I experienced, through him, ease.’”
480 What said I, when I unloosed this mystery (of the title)?
—“May glad tidings be to the Lord of Shíráz (Abú-
Bakr)!”167a
For, the grandees, in the shadow of his spirit,
Are resident; and, at the table of his bounty.
The man of liberality is a tree, fruit-possessing;
When thou passest beyond it,—fuel of the mountain.168
If they strike the axe, at the foot of the tree, fit for fuel,—
When strike they at the fruitful tree?
Oh tree of skill (Abú-Bakr)! Long keep thy foot!
For, thou art fruit-possessing; and, also shady.
485 As to beneficence, I said much;
But, it is not proper for every one.
Enjoy the blood and wealth of the one, man-injuring;
For, of the bad bird,—the feather and wing plucked out is
best.
One, who is in strife with thy master,
Why givest thou to his hand, the stick and stone?
Cast away the root, that bears the thorn;
Cherish the tree, that produces fruit.
Give the dignity of the great, to that one,
Who to inferiors holds himself, not proudly.168a
490 Wherever, there is a tyrant,—pardon him not;
For, mercy to him is tyranny to the world.
The lamp of the world-consumer (tyrant) extinguished—is
best;
One in the fire is better than a people with the stain (of
tyranny).
Whosoever shows mercy to a thief,
Attacks the káraván, with his own arm.
Give to the wind (of destruction) the heads of those
tyranny-practising:
Oppression, on one oppression-practising, is justice and
equity.
I have heard that a man experienced house-vexation;
For, a wasp made a nest in his roof.
495 His wife said:—“What thou desirest in respect to them,
do not;
“Lest that they should become scattered from their native
country.”
The wise man went to his own work;
The wasps began, one day, to sting his wife.
About the door, and roof, and street,—the foolish wife
Kept making lamentation. But, the husband said:—
“Oh woman! make not thy face bitter towards men;
“Thou didst say:—‘Slay not the poor wasps!’”
How may one do good to the bad!
Forbearance to ill-doers increases ill.
500 When thou beholdst a people's injury in a chief,
Cut his throat, with a sharp sword.
What dog, in short, is there—for whom they place a victual-
tray?
Order, that they give him a bone.
How well has the old man of the village (Firdausí) ex-
pressed this proverb:—
“The baggage-animal, leg-striking (kicking), is best under
a heavy load.”
If the watchman shows mercy,
No one is able to sleep at night, for thieves.
In the circle of contest, the spear-reed
Is more precious than a hundred thousand sugar-reeds
(canes).
505 Not every one is worthy of property;
This one requires property; that one, rebuke.
When thou cherishst the cat, it takes away the pigeon;
When thou makest the wolf fat, it rends Joseph.170
The edifice, that has not firm foundations,—
Make it not lofty; and, if thou dost, tremble for it.
How well said Bahrám, desert-dwelling,
When his thorough-bred, restive, steed threw him to the
earth,170a
“It is proper to take from the herd another horse,
“Which it is possible to restrain, if he becomes restive.”
510 Oh son! bind the Euphrates, at low-water;
For, when the torrent is risen, it is of no use.
When the filthy wolf comes to thy snare,
Slay; if not, pluck up thy heart from (love for) the sheep.
From Iblís, adoration never comes;
Nor from the bad jewel,—goodness into existence.
Give neither place nor opportunity to the malignant one;
The enemy in the pit, and the demon in the glass bottle—
is best.
Say not:—“It is proper, to kill this snake with a stick”;
Strike, when he has his head beneath thy stone.
515 The pen striker (pen-man), who did ill to his inferiors,
To make, with the sword, his hand a pen (to sever it)—is
best.
The deliberator, who introduces bad regulations,
Takes thee, that he may give thee to hell-fire.
Say not:—“For the country, this deliberator is enough”;
Call him not deliberator, who is unfortunate.
The fortunate one acts upon Sa'dí's speech,
Because, it is the (cause of) increase of country, and deli-
beration, and judgment.
1 OH happy the time of those distraught in love of Him,
Whether they experience the wound (of separation); or,
the plaster (of propinquity to Him)!172
Beggars from royalty fleeing;
In the hope of union with Him, in beggary, long-suffering.172a
Time to time, they drink the wine of pain (of love for Him);
And, if they consider it bitter, they draw breath (are
patient).
In the pleasure of wine, there is the evil of head-sickness;
The thorn is the armour-bearer of the rose-branch.173
5 Patience, which is in remembrance of Him, is not bitter;
For bitterness from a friend's hand is sugar.
His captive descries not release from bonds;
His prey seeks not freedom from the snare.
Sultáns of retirement, beggars of Hai!
Stages of God recognisers, foot-trace lost.173a
Intoxicated with (the love of) the friend (God), reproach-
enduring;
The camel, intoxicated, more easily bears the load.
How, may people find the path to their state?
For, like the water of life, they are in darkness.173b
10 Like the holy house (Jerusalem), within—full of towers
(pomp);
Without,—the wall left desolate.174
Moth-like, they set fire to themselves;
Silk-worm-like, they spin not on themselves (a protection).
Mistress in embrace,—mistress-seeking;
On the stream-bank, lip dry with thirst.174a
I say not that, as to water, they are powerless;
But they are, on the Nile, dropsical.
The love of one, like thyself—of water and clay,
Ravishes patience and heart-ease.174b
15 In wakefulness,—enamoured of her cheek and mole;
In sleep,—foot-bound, in thought of her.
In truth, thou placest thy head (life) at her feet, in such a
way,
That, thou considerst the world, in comparison with her
existence, non-existent.
When thy gold comes not to the eye (of approval) of thy
mistress,
Gold and dust appear to thee the same.
To thee,—desire for another appears not;
For, with her,—place for another remains not.
Thou sayst:—“Her lodging is within my eye”;
And, if thou closest together the eye—“It is in my heart.”
20 Neither, thought of any one, lest thou shouldst become
disgraced,
Nor, power that thou shouldst, for a moment, become
patient.
If she desires thy life, thou placest it on the palm of her
hand;
And, if she puts the sharp sword on thy head, thou placest
thy head (in submission).
When love, whose foundation is on desire,
Is, to such a degree, tumult-exciting and command-issuing,
Hast thou wonder at the travellers of the path of God,
That they should be immersed in the sea of truth?
In passion for the Beloved, with soul engaged;
In remembrance of the Friend (God), careless of the world.175
25 In memory of God, they have fled from the world;
So intoxicated with (the splendour of) the Cup-bearer
(God) that they have spilled the wine!175a
It is impossible to effect their cure with medicine;
For, none is acquainted with their pain (of love).
From eternity without beginning, to their ear comes:—
“Am I not your God?”
With clamour, in a shout, they utter:—“Yes!”176
A crowd,—office-holding, corner-sitting;
Feet, clayey; breath fiery,—176a
Pluck up, with a shout, a mountain from its place;
Heap together, with a cry, a city:
30 Are, wind-like, invisible, and swift-moving;
Are, stone-like, silent, but praise-uttering.
In the morning, they weep to such a degree that the water
Washes down from their eyes the collyrium of sleep.
Steed (of the body) slain, with the great (austerity), with
which they have urged the night;
In the morning, shouting, saying:—“They are wearied!”176b
Night and day, in the sea of phrenzy and burning;
From perturbation, they know not night from day.
So enamoured of the splendour of the figure-painter (God),
That they have no occupation with the beauty of the out-
ward form.
35 The pious ones gave not their hearts to the covering (ex-
ternal beauty);
And, if a fool gave,—he is brainless, and fleshless.
That one drank the pure wine of the Unity (of God),
Who forgot this world and the next.
I have heard that, once upon a time, one, beggar-born,
Had affection for one, king-born.177
He went, and cherished a vain desire;
Imagination plunged its teeth in desire.
Mile-stone like, he used not to be free (absent) from his (the
prince's) plain;
Bishop-like, at all times, at the side of his horse.177a
40 His heart became blood, and the secret remained in his
heart;
But, his feet, through weeping, remained in the mire (of
desire).
The guards obtained intelligence of his grief;
They said to him:—“Wander not again here!”
A moment, he went; recollection of the friend's face
came to him;
Again, he pitched his tent, at the head of his friend's
street.
A slave broke his head, and hand, and foot,
Saying:—“Said we not once to thee,—come not here?”
Again, to him,—patience and rest remained not;
On account of his friend's face, patience remained not.
45 Like flies from off the sugar, with violence, him,
They used to drive away; but, with speed, he used to
return.
One said to him:—“Oh impudent one of insane appear-
ance!
“Thou hast wonderful patience as to (blows of) stick and
stone.”
He said:—“This violence, against me, is through his
tyranny;
“It is not proper to complain of a friend's hand.
“Behold, I express the breath of friendship;
“If he holds me friend; or, if enemy.
“Expect not, without him, patience from me;
“Nay—even with him, repose has no possibility.
50 “Neither the power of patience, nor room for anger;
“Neither the possibility of being (stopping), nor the foot
of flight.
“Say not,—turn aside the head from this door of the
Court;
“Though he place my head, like a tent-peg in the tent-
rope.
“Nay,—the moth, life given at its friend's foot,
“Is better than alive in its dark corner.”
He said:—“If thou shouldst suffer the wound of his club?”
He replied:—“I will fall, at his feet, ball-like.”
He said:—“If, with the sword, he cuts off thy head?”
He replied:—“This much even, I grudge not.
55 “To me,—indeed, there is not so much knowledge,—
“Whether, the crown, or the axe, be at my head.
“Display not reproof with me impatient;
“For, patience appears not, in love.
“If my eye becomes white (diseased) like Yakúb,
“I abandon not hope of seeing Yusúf.179
“One who is happy (in love) with another,
“Is not vexed with him, for every little thing.”179a
On day, the youth kissed his (the prince's) stirrup;
He became angry; and turned the rein from him.
60 He laughed, and said:—“Turn not the rein;
“For, the Sultán turns not away the rein (face) from any.
“To me—by thy existence, existence remains not;
“To me,—in memory of thee, self-worshipping remains
not.
“If thou observst a crime, reproach me not:
“Thou art head brought forth (produced) from my collar
(of existence).179b
“I fixed my hand in thy stirrup with that boldness;
“For, I brought not myself in the account.
“I drew the pen on (effaced) my own name;
“Placed my foot on the head of my own desire.
65 “The arrow of that intoxicated eye slays me indeed;
“What need that thou shouldst bring thy hand to the
sword.
“Set fire to the reed, and pass;
“So that in the forest neither dry, nor green, thing may
remain.”180
I have heard, that at the chanting of a singer,
One of Parí face began to dance.
From the fire of the distracted hearts around her,
A candle-flame caught in her skirt.
She became troubled in heart and vexed;
One of her lovers said:—“What fear?
70 “Oh love! as to thee,—the fire burned the skirt;
“As to me,—it burned, all at once, the harvest (of
existence).”
If thou art a lover, express not a breath about thy self;
For, it is infidelity (to speak of) lover and one's self.180a
I recollect hearing from a knowing old man, in this way,
That one, distraught with love, turned his head to the
desert.
The father, through separation from him, neither ate nor
slept;
They reproached the son; he said:—
“From that time, when the Friend called me one of his
own,
“Further love for any one remained not to me.
75 “By God! when He showed me His beauty,
“Whatever else I beheld appeared to me fancy.”
He, who turned away from the people became not lost;
For he found again his own lost one (God).
There are, beneath the sky, shunners of men,
Whom one can call, at once, wild beast and also angel.
Like the angel, they rest not from remembering the King
(God);
Like the wild beast, they, night and day, shun men.
Strong of arm (by spirituality); but short of hand (by
materiality);
Wise,—(outwardly) mad; sensible—(outwardly) intoxi-
cated.181
80 Sometimes, tranquil in a corner, religious habit-stitching;
Sometimes, perplexed in society, religious habit-burning.
Neither passion as to themselves; nor, solicitude for any
one;
Nor place for any one, in the cell of their unitarianism.
Perturbed of reason, confused of sense;
Ear-stuffed to the word of the adviser.181a
The duck will not become drowned in the river (of lust);
The samundar! what knows he of the torment of burning?182
Empty of hand, men of full stomach (proud);
Desert wanderers, without a Káfila:
85 They have no expectation of the people's approbation;
For, they are approved of God;—and that is enough.
Dear ones (of God) concealed from the people's eye;
Not those waist-cord-possessing, clothed in the habit of the
darwesh.
They are full of fruit, and shady, vine-like;
Are not like us,—of black deeds, and blue garment-dyers.182a
Head plunged in themselves (in reflection), oyster-like;
Not, foam (on mouth) gathered, river-like.
If wisdom be thy friend, be afraid of them, (those foam-
gathered);
For, they are demons in the garb of men.182b
90 They are not men indeed of bone and skin;
A true soul is not in every form.
The Sultán (God) is not the purchaser of every slave;
Not, beneath every religious garment is there a living man.
If every drop of hail had become a pearl,
The bázár would have become full of them like small shells.
They fasten not the (wooden) clog to themselves, juggler-
like;
For, the wooden clog moves hardly from its place.183
Companions of the house of retirement—“Am I your
God?”
They are, with a draught, intoxicated until the blast of
the trumpet (of Saráfíl).183a
95 For the sword, they take not off their grasp from desire
(of God);
For abstinence and love are as the mirror and the stone.183b
A certain one had a mistress in Samarkand;
Thou wouldst say:—“She possessed sugar, in place of
speech.”183c
A beauty,—pledge taken from the sun!
Piety's foundation became ruined by her coquetry.183d
God Most High!—of beauty, to such a degree,
That thou wouldst think it a sign of the mercy (of God)!
She used to walk;—and, eyes were behind her;
Lover's hearts, life placed in exchange for her.183e
100 That lover used, covertly, to glance at her;
She once, with severity, looked; and, said:—
“Oh perverse one! so much, thou runst after me;
“Knowst thou not, that I am not the bird of thy net?
“If, again, I see thee (at my heels), with the sword,
“Like an enemy, pitiless, I will cut off thy head.”
One said to him:—“Now take thy resolve;
“Choose a more easy object than this one.
“I think not thou mayst acquire this desire;
“God forbid! that thou shouldst place thy life in the
heart's desire.”
105 When he,—mad with love, heart-lost,—heard this reproach,
He drew forth with sorrow a cry from his heart,
Saying:—“Allow,—that the wound of the sword of de-
struction
“May cause my corpse to roll in blood and sweat.
“Perhaps, before friend and enemy, they will speak,
“Saying:—‘This is one slain by her hand and sword!’
“I see not the (way of) flight, from the dust of street;
“Say:—in tyranny, spill not my honour!
“Oh self-worshipper! For me,—thou dictatest repen-
tance;
“For thee,—repentance of this speech is better.
110 “Pardon me; for, whatever she does,
“She does well—even if there be desire for my blood.
“Every night, her fire (of love) causes me to burn;
“In the morning, I become alive by her pleasant perfume.
“If, to-day, I die, in the street of my beloved,
“In the Resurrection, I will pitch my tent by my beloved.”
Yield not, so long as thou canst, in this battle (of love);
For Sa'dí is alive, whom love slew.185
A certain one thirsty was saying, while he surrendered his
soul:—
“Happy is that fortunate one, who in water died!”
115 One of deficient understanding said to him,—“Oh wonder!
“When thou art dead,—whether moist or dry of lip, what
matter?”
He said:—“In the end, do I not make my mouth moist,
“Until, I lay down even my precious life?”
The thirsty one falls into the deep basin;
For, he knows that the one drowned dies water-satiated.
If thou art a lover, seize her skirt;
And, if she says:—“Surrender thy life!” say:—“Take
it.”185a
Thou mayst enjoy ease of life, at that time,
When thou passest over the hill of non-existence.
120 The heart of seed-sowers may be afflicted;
(But), when the harvest is accomplished, they sleep plea-
santly.
In this assembly (of love to God), those arrive at their
desire,
Who, in the last circulation, attain the cup (of love).185b
I have a tale of this sort—of the men of the way of God,
Rich mendicants; king beggars;186
—That an old man went, in the morning, for the purpose
of begging;
He beheld the door of a masjid; and, gave the mendicant's
cry.
One said to him:—“This is not the people's house;
“Where they give thee anything; stand not here, in im-
pudence.”
125 He said to him:—“Then, whose is this house,
“In which, there is no bestowing (of alms) to any one?”
He said:—“Be silent; what faulty word is this?
“The lord of this house is our Lord God!”
The old man glanced within; he beheld candle and
prayer-arch,
He drew forth, with burning, a lament from his liver.
Saying:—“It is a pity, to go farther hence;
“It is a pity, to go disappointed from this door.
“In disappointment, I went not forth from any street;
“Why should I go, yellow-of-face, from God's door?186a
130 “Even here, I may make the hand of entreaty long;
“For, I know that I may not return empty of hand.”
I have heard that, for a year, he sate, a sojourner,
Like those redress-seeking, hand-uplifted.
One night, the foot of his life descended into the clay (of
death).
Through weakness, his heart began to palpitate.
In the morning, a person brought a lamp near to his head;
He beheld a spark of life in him, like the morning-lamp.
From gladness, clamour-making, he kept saying:—
“Whosoever beats (knocks at) the door of the Merciful
One, that door becomes opened.
135 The seeker of God must be patient and submissive;
I have not heard that the alchymist is (ever) dejected.
How much gold do they put in the obscure dust,
That they may, possibly, one day, make a piece of copper
gold!
Gold, for the sake of purchasing a thing, is good;
What wilt thou buy better than friend and lover?
If through one, heart-ravishing,—thy heart is straitened,
Another consoler may come to thy grasp.
For one of bitter face, endure not life-bitterness;
With the water (of beauty) of another, draw out the fire
(of love) for her.
140 But if she have, in beauty, no equal;
Abandon her not, for a little heart-annoyance.
It is possible to disengage the heart from that one,
Without whom, thou knowst it is possible to be content.
I heard that an old man kept awake the night;
In the morning, he raised the hand of need to God.
A voice from heaven cast into the old man's ear:—
—“Thou art profitless; go; take thy own way.”187
“At this door (of God), thy prayer is unacceptable;
“Go, in contempt; or stand, in lamentation.”
145 The next night, from recitation of the name of God and
devotion, he slept not;
A disciple obtained news of his state, and said:—
“When thou sawst that the door on that side was closed,
“Endure not uselessly such a struggle.”
On his cheek, tears of ruby-colour
Rained, in regret; and, he said:—“Oh youth!
“I would, in hopelessness, have turned away,
“From this door, at the time when I could have found
another way.
“Think not, if the friend broke the reins,
“That I would take off the hand from his saddle-strap.
150 “When the asker becomes disappointed at a door,
“What grief, if he recognises another door?188
“I have heard that my way is not in this street;
“But, there is not the semblance of another path.”
He was in this talk,—head on the ground of devotion,
When, in the ear of his soul, they uttered this sound:—
“The prayer is accepted, though to him is no goodness;
“For save us, to him is no other shelter.”
A new young bride complains,
To an old man (her father), of her unkind husband,188a
155 Saying:—“Approve not so much that, by this son (my
husband),
“My time should pass in bitterness.
“Those (man and wife) who are with us in this lodging
“—I see not that they are, like me, disturbed in heart.
“The woman and man are together such friends,
“That thou mayst say—they are two kernels, and one
husk.
“During this time, on my husband's part, I have not seen,
“That, he once smiled in my face.”
The old man of happy omen heard this speech;
The man of ancient years was speech-knowing.
160 He gave to her an answer, sweet and pleasant,
Saying:—“Endure the burden of his violence, if he be
beautiful of face.”
It is a pity to turn away from one,
Like whom, it is not possible to find another.
Why art thou arrogant with one who, if he be arrogant,
Draws the pen on the letter of (effaces) thy existence?
Acquiesce, slave-like, to the order of God;
For, thou seest not a master like Him.
One day, my heart burned (in pity) on account of a slave;
Who, while his master was selling him, was saying:—
165 “To thee,—many a slave, better than I, may chance;
“To me,—a master, like thee, no one may be.
In Marv, there was a physician of Parí cheek,
Whose stature, in the garden of the heart, was a cypress.190
To him,—no knowledge of the grief of torn hearts;
To him,—no knowledge of his own sick eye.190a
A sorrowful wanderer relates a tale,
Saying:—“Some time, I had love for the physician.190b
“I desired not my own health;
“Lest that the physician should not, again, come to me.”
170 There is much strong, brave, wisdom,
Which the passion of love subdues.
When the passion of love rubs wisdom's ear,
Sense is unable, again, to raise its head.
A certain one established (by training) an iron grasp,
Who wished to grapple with the lion.
When the lion drew him within his own grasp,
He found not, again, any force in his own grasp.
One, at length, said to him:—“Why sleepst thou, woman-
like?
“Strike him (the lion) with the iron fist.”
175 I heard that the wretch, beneath that (lion), said:—
“It is not possible with this grasp to battle with the lion.”191
When love becomes audacious, as to the wisdom of the
sage,
This, indeed, is an iron grasp and a lion.
Thou art a woman, in the grasp of lion-men,
What advantage may the iron grasp render thee?191a
When love comes, speak not again of reason;
For the ball (of reason) is captive in the power of the
Chaugán (of love).
Between two uncle-born ones, marriage occurred:
Two of sun-face, of high descent.191b
180 To one (the wife)—it (the marriage) had chanced very
agreeably;
The other had become shunning and avoiding.191c
One possessed courtesy and Parí-like grace;
The other kept his face towards the wall.
One used to adorn her own body;
The other used to ask for his own death from God.
The old men of the village caused the husband to sit (before
them),
Saying:—“To thee, is no love for her; to her, give the
dowry.”
He laughed and said:—“With a hundred sheep,
“Deliverance from bonds is not loss!”
185 The one of Parí-face, with her own nail, flayed her skin,
Saying:—“With this number of sheep, how can I ever be
patient, as to my friend?192
“Not a hundred sheep, but six hundred thousand,
“Are unnecessary,—without seeing the face of my lover!”
Whatever keeps thee engaged with a friend,
—If thou desirest truth,—it is thy heart-ease (mistress).
A certain one to one of distraught state, wrote,
Saying:—“Desirest thou hell, or heaven?”
He said:—“Ask not of me, this matter;
“I approve what He approves for me.”
190 A certain one spoke to Majnún, saying:—“Oh one of
auspicious foot!
“What happened to thee, that thou comest not again to
Hayy?
“Perhaps, the passion for Laila, in thy brain, remains not;
“Thy fancy turns; and desire remains not?”
When the helpless one heard, he wept bitterly,
Saying:—“Oh sir! Keep thy hand from my skirt.
“I have, indeed, a heart,—sorrowful and torn;
“Pour not thy salt on my wound.
“Separation is not a proof of patience;
“For, separation is often a necessity.”
195 He said:—“Oh one fidelity-possessing, of happy disposi-
tion!
“Utter the message, which thou hast for Laila.”
He replied:—“Take not my name before the beloved;
“For (to mention) my name, where she is, is violence.”
A certain one took up reproach against Mahmúd of Ghaznín,
Saying:—“Áyáz has no (great) beauty. Oh wonder!
“The rose, which has neither colour nor perfume,—
“The nightingale's passion for it is wonderful.”
One uttered this matter to Mahmúd;
He writhed much on himself, in reflection,
200 Saying:—“Oh sir! my love is for his disposition,
“Not, for his stature, and good height.”
I heard that, in a defile, a camel
Fell; and, a chest of pearls broke.
The king expanded his sleeve for plunder;
And, thence urged his horse with speed.
The horsemen (of the retinue) went after the pearls and
coral;
They became, in search of plunder, separated from the king.
Of the attendants, neck-exalting, there remained
None, behind the king, save Áyáz.
205 He glanced, saying:—“Oh one heart-enchanting, fold in
fold!
“What hast thou brought from the plunder?” He
replied:—“Nothing.194
“I galloped in rear of thee;
“I quitted not service for wealth.”
If thou hast propinquity, in the Court (of God),
Be not careless of the King, for wealth.
It is contrary to religion, that the friends of God;
Should ask for anything, save God, from God.194a
If, as to a friend, thy eye is intent upon his beneficence,
Thou art in the desire of thyself, not in the desire of thy
friend.
210 So long as thy mouth is open, through avarice;
The secret (of God) from the hidden comes not to the ear
of the heart.
Truths are a decorated house;
Lust and concupiscence are dust up-raised.194b
Seest thou not, that wherever the dust has risen,
The sight beholds not, though man be possessed of vision.
By chance I and an old man from Faryáb
Arrived at a water (of a river) in the soil of the West.194c
I had one diram; they took
Me, in a boat; and, left the darvesh.
215 The Ethiopians (boatmen) urged the vessel, like smoke;
For the commander of that vessel was one, God-not
fearing.195
From thought of my companion, to me weeping came;
He laughed a horse-laugh, at my weeping, and said:—
“Oh one full of wisdom! suffer not grief for my sake;
“That One, who takes the boat, brings me.”
He spread the prayer-carpet on the surface of the water;
—I thought, is it fancy; or (do I behold it) in a dream?—
From amazement, my eye, that night, slept not;
In the morning, the old man glanced at me, and said:—
220 “Oh friend of happy judgment! remainst thou astonied?
“A boat brought thee! and, God me!”
Why do not the people of prayer believe to this extent,
That certain pious men may go in water and fire?195a
The child, who has no knowledge of fire,
The loving mother protects.
Then those, who are immersed in religious fervour,
Are, night and day, in the eye of the protection of God.
God preserves (Ibráhím) the friend of God from the heat
of the fire;
As the wooden-cradle of Musa (the speaker of God) from
the whirl-pool of the Nile.
225 When a boy is in the hand of a swimmer,
He fears not, though the Euphrates be broad.196
How mayst thou walk on the surface of the sea,
Like men (of God), when, on dry land, thou art wet of
skirt (sin-stained)?
Wisdom's path is not, save turning on turning;
Before holy men there is nothing, save God.
One can say this to the one truths-knowing;
But, the people of argument cavil,196a
Saying:—“Then the sky and earth—what are they?
“The son of Ádam, and rapacious and non-rapacious
beasts what are they?”
230 Oh wise man! thou didst ask an approved matter;
If the answer be agreeable to thee, I will speak,
Saying:—“The plain, and sea, and mountain, and sky,
“Parí and Ádam-born, and demon, and angel—
“All, whatever they are,—are less than He;
“For, they took the name of existence by His existence.196b
“Before thee, the sea, in wave-motion, is mighty;
“The shining sun, in the zenith, is lofty.
“But, how do people of external form find the trace,
“To the country, where the lords of truth are?197
235 “Saying:—‘If it be a sun, it is not even an atom;
“And, if it be seven rivers, it is not even a drop of water.’”197a
When the Sultán of Honour (God) draws forth His
standard (appears),
The world draws its head into the collar of non-existence.
The Ra,is of a village, with his son, on a certain road,
Passed by the centre of a monarch's army.
The son beheld the heralds, and sword, and battle-axe;
Coats of satin, waist-belts of gold.
Warriors, bow-possessing, and prey-striking;
Slaves, quiver-bearing, and arrow-casting.
240 This one,—a garment of painted silk on his body;
That one,—a royal cap on his head.
The son, when he beheld all that pomp and splendour,
Saw the exceeding meanness of his father,
Whose state changed, and whose colour went;
From fear, he fled to a cave.
The son said, at length, to him:—“Thou art the Ra,is of
a village;
“Thou art, in chieftainship, of the great ones.198
“What chanced to thee, that thou didst sever the hope of
life;
“Didst tremble, willow-like, with the blast of terror?”
245 He replied:—“Yes; I am chief, and order-giver;
“But, my honour is (only) so long as I am in the village.”
The great ones (holy men) are terror-struck, on that
account,
That they have been in the Court of the King (God).
Oh simpleton! thou art, in the village, inasmuch
As thou attributest such importance to thy own person.
The eloquent uttered no word,
On which, Sa'dí utters not a parable.
Perhaps, thou mayst have seen, in the garden or meadow,
how
The fire-fly gleams at night, lamp-like?198a
250 One said to it:—“Oh fire-fly, night-illuminating!
“What is the matter with thee, that thou comest not forth
by day?”
Behold—the fiery fire-fly, earth-born,
What answer it gave from its head of luminosity.
“Day and night, save in the desert, I am not;
“But, in the sun's presence, I am not manifest.”
In a city of Syria, tumult occurred;
They seized an old man of happy nature.
Within my ear, still is that speech,
—When they placed fetters on his feet and hands,—
255 Which he uttered:—“If the Sultán (God) makes not the
signal,
“To whom, is there the boldness to plunder?”
It is proper to hold such an enemy (the plunderer), a friend;
For, I know the Friend (God) appointed him over me.
If there be respect and rank; or, if contempt and bonds,—
I know that they come from God, not from 'Umar and Zayd.199
Oh wise man! have no fear of disease;
For, the Physician (God) sends bitter medicine.
Enjoy whatever comes from the hand of the friend;
The sick one is not wiser than the physician.
260 A certain one uttered praise as to Sa'd (son) of Zangí;
Saying:—“May there be much mercy on his tomb!”199a
He gave money, and a dress of honour; and cherished him;
Prepared for him, a dignity conformable to his skill.
When he saw—“Alláh va bas,”—on a picture of gold,
He was agitated; and plucked off the robe from his body.200
From perturbation, such a flame caught his soul,
That he arose, and took the path to the desert.
One of those desert-sitting said to him:—
“What sawst thou, that thy state became changed?
265 “Thou didst, first, kiss the ground in three places;
“Thou shouldst not, in the end, strike the back of the
foot (on the gold).”200a
He laughed, saying:—“First, from fear and hope,
“A trembling, willow-like, fell on my limbs.
“Finally, from the majesty of—‘Alláh va bas”
“Neither thing, nor person, appeared (worthy) in my
eye.”
Of a certain one like me, the heart to the power of a
person
Was pledged; and, he endured much contempt.200b
After (regarding him for) learning and wisdom,
They proclaimed him by (beat of) drum for madness.
270 For the friend, he used to bear the violence of the enemy;
For the poison (even) of a friend is a great antidote.201
He used to suffer pushing on the back of the head, from
the hands of his friends;
Forehead brought forward (to the blows) nail-like.201a
Fancy made tumult as to his head, in such a way,
That, it made the roof of his brain kick-suffering.
Of his friends' reproaching, to him was no knowledge,
As one drowning has no knowledge of rain.
He, whose heart's foot has come against the stone (of love)
Reflects not regarding the gloss of name and fame.
275 One night the demon (Shaitán) made himself like one of
Parí-face;
He hastened into that young man's embrace.201b
In the morning, to him, was no power of prayer;
Of his friends none was acquainted with his secret.
He plunged into a piece of water, near the roof (building),—
A marble-door, on it ice fixed.201c
An adviser began to reproach,
Saying:—“Thou wilt kill thyself, in this cold water.”
From the just youth, a cry issued,
Exclaiming:—“Oh friend! be silent as to so much
reproach.
280 “Five days, this boy fascinated my heart;
“For love of him, I am in such a state that I cannot be
patient.202
“He asked not once, with sweet throat, (as to my con-
dition),
“Behold,—how long I endure, with soul, the burden of
his tyranny.
“Then as to Him,—who created my body from the dust;
“Created within it, by His power, the pure soul,—
“Hast thou wonder, if I bear the burden of His order,
“When I am perpetually immersed in His beneficence and
grace?”
If thou art a man of love, lose thyself;
And, if not,—take the path of ease.202a
285 Fear not that God may, through love, make thee clay;
For thou remainst, if God destroys thee.202b
From true grains, vegetation springs not,
Unless, first, dust gathers about them.202c
That gives thee acquaintance with God,
Which gives thee deliverance from thy own hand.202d
For, so long as thou art self-possessing, the path to thyself
is not;
And, with this subtlety, the self-less one only is acquainted.203
Not the musician,—but the sound of the animal's hoof,
Is song (samá'), if thou hast love (to God) and passion
(for Him).
290 The fly beats not its wings, before the one heart-dis-
traught,
Who strikes not, fly-like, his hands on his head.203a
The one distraught in affairs (the lover of God) knows
neither the bass nor the treble note;
The fakír weeps at the voice of the fowl.203b
The Singer (God) Himself becomes not silent;
But, not every time, is the ear open.203c
When those distraught practise wine-adoration,
They express intoxication, at the sound of the water-wheel.203d
Like a water-wheel, they begin gyrating;
Like a water-wheel, they weep bitterly on themselves.
295 With resignation, they carry their head into the collar (of
reflection);
When power (of patience) remains not, they rend the
collar (in perturbation).204
Reproach not the darvesh, bewildered and intoxicated
(with love),
Who is immersed in the sea of God; for that reason, he
strikes hand and foot.204a
Oh brother! I say not samá', what it is (lawful, or not);
Perhaps, I know not the hearer, who he is (a lover of
God, or not)?
If from the tower of truth (of God), his bird (soul) flies,
The angel remains below his journeying.
If he be a man of sport and pastime and mirth,
The demon (of lust) becomes stronger within his brain.205
300 How is the lust-worshipper a man of samá'?
At the pleasant sound, the one sleeping rises, not the one
intoxicated.205a
By the moving wind, the rose becomes disturbed;
Not, the fire-wood, which one can split only with an axe.205b
The world is full of samá', and intoxication, and distraction,
But, what does the blind man behold in the mirror?205c
Seest thou not—the camel at the rousing of the Arab's
(recitation),
How joy brings him to dancing?206
What! the camel has, in his head, tumult and joy;
If a man has not—he is an ass.
305 A young man of sugar-lip used to blow the flute;
In such a way, that he used to burn hearts in the fire,
reed-like.206a
The father, oftentimes, hurled shouts at him,
With severity; and, used to set fire to the flute.
One night, he listened to his son's performance;
The hearing of it made him confused and senseless.
The father spoke—sweat cast up on his face,
Saying:—“This time, the reed (flute) set fire to me.”
Knowst thou not—the intoxicated phrenzied ones
Why they spread forth the hands in dancing?
310 Through events, a door opens on his heart,
He scatters his hand as to (abandons) the universe.206b
In memory of his Friend (God), dancing was lawful to him,
In whose every sleeve is a soul.206c
I allow—that thou art vigorous in swimming;
Naked,—thou canst better strike the hand and foot.207
Pluck off the ragged garments of name and reputation,
and hypocrisy;
For a man, powerless by his garment, may be drowned.
Worldly connection is a veil, and profitless;
When thou breakst the ligature, thou art one joined (to
God).207a
315 A person said to a moth:—“Oh contemptible one!
“Go; take a friend suitable to thyself,
“Go on such a path, that thou mayst see the way of hope;
“Thou, and the love of the candle is from where to where?207b
“Thou art not the samundar; circle not around the fire;
“For, manliness is (first) necessary (for man), then con-
flict.
“The blind mouse (bat) goes hidden from the sun;
“For, force is foolish against an iron grasp.
“The person, whom thou knowst to be thy enemy;
“To take for a friend is not (the part) of wisdom.”208
320 No one says to thee:—“Thou dost do good
“When thou placest thy life in the desire of his love.208a
“The beggar who, of a king, asked (in marriage) for his
daughter,
“Suffered pushing on the back of his head, and nurtured
a vain passion.
“How may she bring into reckoning a lover like thee,
“For, the faces of kings and sultáns are towards her?208b
“Think not that, in such an assembly, she
“Will exercise courtesy to a poor one like thee.
“Or if she practise gentleness towards the whole creation,
“—Thou art a helpless one;—she will exercise severity
to thee.”
325 Behold! the ardent moth
What it said:—“Oh wonder displayer! if I burn, what
fear?208c
“Like Ibráhím, a fire (of love) is in my heart,
“That, thou mayst consider this (candle-) flame is to me
a rose.208d
“My heart draws not the skirt of the ravishing one (the
candle);
“But its love draws the collar of my soul.209
“Voluntarily, I take not myself to the fire;
“But, the chain of love is about my neck.
“Even so, I was far, when it burned me;
“Not this moment, when the fire of love kindled in me.
330 “A beloved one, in regard to loveliness, does not do that,
“That one can speak to her of continence.
“Who reproaches me for love of the friend,
“When, slain at the friend's foot, I am content?
“Knowst thou, why I have a lust for destruction,
“When it (the candle) is, if I am not,—it is proper.
“I will burn because it is the approved beloved,
“In whom, the burning of the friend (the moth) makes
circulation.
“How long speakst thou to me, saying:—‘Suitable to
thyself
“‘Get a companion, compassionate to thyself?’
335 “Admonition to that one of distraught state is as if
“Thou shouldst say to one scorpion-bitten—lament not!
“Oh astonished one! utter not advice to that person,
“In whom, thou knowst that it will take no effect.209a
“To the helpless one, rein-gone from the hand,
“They say not:—‘Oh boy! urge slowly.’”209b
How pleasantly occurred this witticism in the book—Sind-
bád:—
—“Oh son! love is fire; advice, wind.”210
The fierce fire, by the wind, becomes more lofty;
The panther, by striking, becomes more angry.
340 When I saw, thoroughly, thou doest evil,
That thou placest my face opposite to one like thyself.210a
Seek one better than thyself, and reckon it gain;
For, with one like thyself, thou losest time.
The self-worshippers go in pursuit of such as themselves;
Those intoxicated of God go in a dangerous street (of love).
When I first possessed desire for this work,
I took up, at once, my heart from desire (of life).210b
One head-casting is true as a lover;
For, one of white-liver is the lover of himself.210c
345 Death, in ambush, suddenly, slays me;
It is better, indeed, that the delicate one should slay me.
When, doubtless, destruction is written on my head,
Destruction (is) most pleasant, by the hand of the beloved.
Dost thou not, one day, in helplessness, yield the soul?
Then, it is best thou surrender it, at the feet of the beloved.
One night, I recollect that my eyes slept not;
I heard that a moth spoke to a candle,
Saying:—“I am a lover; if I burn, it is lawful,
“Wherefore is thy weeping and burning?”
350 It replied:—“Oh my poor lover!
“Honey (wax), my sweet friend, has departed from me.
“When sweetness (wax) goes away from me,
“Like (the statuary) Farhad, fire goes to my head.”
The candle kept speaking,—and, every moment, a torrent
of grief
Ran down, on its yellow cheeks,—
Saying:—“Oh claimant! love is not thy business;
“For, thou hast neither patience, nor the power of
standing.
“Thou dost fly from before a naked flame;
“I am standing, until I completely burn.
355 “If the fire of love burns thy feathers,
“Behold me, whom it burns from head to foot.
“Observe not my splendour, assembly-illuminating;
“Consider the heat and torrent of my heart-burning.
“Like Sa'dí, whose outward form is illuminated;
“But, if thou lookst,—his vitals are burned.”211
A portion of the night, even so, had not passed,
When one of Parí-face, suddenly, extinguished it.211a
While its smoke rose to its head, it kept saying:—
“Oh son! this is indeed the end of love!”211b
360 This is the way (of God), if thou wilt learn;
By being slain, thou wilt obtain ease from the burning (of
love).212
Make not lamentation over the grave of one slain by the
friend;
Say:—“Praise be to God! that he is accepted by Him.”
If thou art a lover, wash not the hand of sickness (of love).
Wash the hand, like Sa'dí, of (worldly) design.212a
The one who sacrifices his life keeps not his hand from his
object,
Though they rain arrow and stone on his head.212b
I said to thee “Beware; go not to the ocean;
“But, if thou goest, entrust thy body to the storm.”
1 THE pure Lord created thee from dust,
Then, oh slave, practise humility like dust.
Be not avaricious, and world-consuming, and head-strong;
Of dust, He created thee; be not like fire.213
When the horrent fire exalted its neck,
The dust cast down its body in abjectness.
When that (the fire) showed head-exaltation; this, abase-
ment;
They made—of that, a demon; of this, a man.213a
5 A rain-drop dropped from a cloud;
It became ashamed, when it beheld the amplitude of the
ocean.
Saying:—“Where the ocean is, what am I?
“If it be; by God! then, I am not.”
When it regarded itself with the eye of contempt,
A shell cherished it with fervour in its bosom.
The sky caused its work to reach to the place (of honour),
Where, it became the famous royal pearl.
It obtained loftiness, in that it became low;
It beat the door of non-existence, until it became existent.
10 A wise youth of pure disposition
Came forth from the sea, at the barrier of Rúm.
They observed in him,—excellence, and austerity, and dis-
cretion;
They placed his chattels in a precious place (a masjid).
One day, the chief of the 'Ábids (the shaikh) spoke to the
man,
Saying:—“Sweep up the chips and dust of the masjid.”214
As soon as the man, road-travelling (to God) heard this
speech,
He went forth; and, none saw again a trace of him.214a
The religious brethren (the Súfís), and the shaikh con-
jectured,
Saying:—“The fakír has no solicitude for service.”
15 The next day, a servant (of the monastery) seized him on
the road,
Saying:—“Through faulty judgment, thou didst not well.
“Oh boy, self-approving! knowst thou not,
“That by service, men attain to rank?
From the power of truth and ardour, he began to weep,
Saying:—“Oh friend, life-cherishing, heart-illuminating!
“In that abode (the masjid), I beheld neither dust, nor
refuse;
“In that pure place, I (only) was polluted.
“I consequently took the retreating step,
“Saying:—‘The masjid pure of dust and chips (myself)
is well.’”
20 For the darvesh, there is only this path;
That he hold his own body subjected.
Is exaltation necessary to thee? Choose humility;
For there is only this ladder to that roof (of exaltation).
I have heard that, once upon a time, on the morning of
an 'íd,
Báyizid came out of the hot bath.215
A certain one, unknowingly, a basin of ashes,
Cast down, from a house, on his head.
He spoke,—turban and hair polluted,
Rubbing the palm of his hand thankfully on his face,—
25 Saying:—“Oh lust of mine! I am worthy of the fire (of
hell);
“Why draw I together my face for a single ash?”
The great showed not regard to themselves;
Desire not God-beholding from one self-beholding.
Greatness is not in reputation and speech;
Exaltation is not in pretension and conceit.
Humility exalts the head of thy sublimity;
Arrogance casts thee to the dust.
One, head-extending, of fierce temper falls to the neck (in
a pit);
Is exaltation necessary to thee?—seek not exaltation.
30 Seek not for the way of Islám from one world-proud;
Seek not God-beholding from one self-beholding.216
If rank be necessary to thee,—like the mean,
Look not at persons, with the eye of contempt.
How may the sensible man entertain the idea,
That high worth is in head-mightiness?
Seek not rank more renowned than this,
That the people should call thee:—“One of approved dis-
position.”
No;—when one like thyself uses haughtiness to thee,
Thou, with wisdom's eye, considerst him not great.
35 If thou displayst arrogance,—thou also, even so,
Appearst, as those haughtiness-displaying appear to thee.
When thou art standing on the lofty house,
—If thou art wise—laugh not at the fallen.
There came down off his feet, many a standing one,
Whose place, the fallen took.
I allow that thou art thyself free from defect;
Exercise not reproaching on the faulty.
This one has, in his hand, the door-ring of the Ka'ba;
That one is fallen, intoxicated, in the tavern.
40 If God calls this one,—who may not permit him?
And, if He drives away that one,—who may bring him
back?
Neither is that one strength-finder by his own (good)
deeds!
Nor for this one is the door of repentance shut in the face.
A compiler of the traditions, thus related, in talk,—
That, in the time of 'Ísa (on Him be peace!)217
A certain one had squandered his life;
Had passed it in ignorance and error.
One bold, of black deeds, of hard heart;
Through his uncleanness, Iblís was ashamed of him.
45 His time, uselessly accomplished;
Through him, not a single soul rested, so long as he lived.
His head void of wisdom, but full of grandeur;
His belly fat with forbidden morsels.
With non-uprightness, one, garment-stained,
With shamelessness, one, house-plastered.
Neither one of foot straight-travelling, like those seeing;
Nor one of ear, like the man, advice-hearing.
The people fleeing from him, like the bad year;
Pointing him out, together from afar, like the new moon.218
50 His harvest (of life) lust and concupiscence burned;
A grain of good repute ungathered.
He of black deeds urged his pleasure in such a way,
That, in the Book, no place for writing (his deeds) re-
mained.
A sinner, and one self-opiniated, and lust-worshipper,
Night and day, in carelessness, drunk and intoxicated.
I heard that 'Ísa entered from the desert;
He passed by the cell of a certain 'Ábid.
The recluse came down from a window;
He fell, head on the earth, at His feet.
55 From afar, the ill-starred sinner,
Moth-like, astonied at them, by (their) splendour.
Reflecting, with regret, ashamed;
Darvesh-like before one wealth-possessing.
Ashamed, beneath his lip excuse-asking, with heart-
burning,
On account of whole nights passed in carelessness.
Tears of grief raining, cloud-like, from his eye,
Saying:—“Alas! my life in carelessness passed.
“I threw away the ready money of dear life;
“A particle of goodness unacquired.
60 “Let there never be one, like me, living;
“For, his death (is) much better than his living.
“That one escaped, who died in childhood!
“For, he bore not the aged head of shame (to the grave).
“Oh World-Creator! pardon my sin;
“For, if it come with me (to the Resurrection) it will be
a bad companion.”
In this corner, the old sinner weeping,
Saying:—“Oh hand-seizer! come to the complaint of my
state.”
His head, in shame lowered,
The water of remorse, with lamentation and desire running.
65 And, on that side,—the 'Ábid, head full of pride,
His eye-brows gathered together, on the sinner from afar.
Saying:—“Why is this wretch behind us?
“The ignorant unfortunate one! what! is he of the same
sort as we?
“One steeped to the neck in fire;
“One life-given to the wind of lust.
“What good came from his soul, wet of skirt,
“That he is society for Masíh (the Messiah) and me?
“Well would it have been, if he had taken the trouble (of
his person) from before me;
“(If) he had gone to hell, after his own deeds.
70 “I am constantly vexed by his unpleasant countenance;
“Lest that the fire of his sins should fall on me.
“At the place of assembling, when the assembly becomes
present,
“Oh God! make not Thou my assembling with him.”
In this, he was; and, from the One of glorious qualities, a
revelation
Came to 'Ísa,—on Him be blessing!—
Saying:—“If this one be learned, and that one ignorant,
“The prayers of both have come to My acceptance.
“The one of wasted time, and inverted days,
“Bewailed before Me, with weeping and heart-burning.
75 “Whosoever comes to Me, in helplessness,
“Him, I cast not down from the threshold of mercy.
“I pass over his ugly (sinful) deeds;
“I bring him, by My own grace, into Paradise.
“But, if the devotion-zealot has shame,
“That he should be fellow-sitting with him in Paradise,
“Say—Have no shame of him, on the Resurrection Day;
“For, they will carry that one (the sinner) to heaven;
and, this one to hell.
“If the liver of that became blood, through heart-burning
and sorrow;
“And, if this one relied on his own devotion,
80 “Knew he not that in the Court of the Independent One
(God),
“Helplessness is better than pride and presumption?
“Whose garment is pure, but walk of life impure,—
“For him, no key to hell's door is necessary.221
“At this threshold of God, thy weakness and wretchedness
“Are better than thy devotion, and self-beholding.”
When thou reckonedst thyself among the good, thou art
bad;
Self-sufficiency is not contained in godship.
If thou art a man, speak not of thy own manliness,
Not every jockey carries off the ball (of victory).
85 He is an onion, all husk,—that one skill-less,
Who thought there was, within him, a brain pistachio-nut-
like.
Devotion of this sort is of no use;
Go; bring excuse for the fault of thy devotion.
That ignorant one enjoys not the fruit of devotion,
Who to himself is good; and, to the people bad.
Whether a vagabond of confused distracted fortune;
Or, a devotee, who, on his body, practises severity—what
difference?
Strive with abstinence and fear of God, and truth, and
purity;
But add not to the merit of the Chosen One (Muhammad).222
90 Desire not whiteness (purity) beyond limit,
Saying:—It is disgusting; what room for blackness?222a
Of wise men speech remains a token;
Of Sa'dí, remember this one word:—
“The sinner, God-fearing
“Is better than the saint, devotion-displaying.”
A certain lawyer of tattered garment, of straitened hand,
Sate down in the foremost ranks, in the hall of the Kází.
The Kází very sharply glanced at him;
The officer of the court seized his sleeve, saying:—“Rise!
95 “Knowst thou not, that thy place is not the highest!
“Sit lower, or go, or stand.
“Not every one is worthy of the chief-place;
“Munificence is in grace; and rank, in worth.
“What need to thee of anyone's advice?
“This very shame is to thee sufficient torture.
“Every one, who sate, with honour, lower down,
“Falls not with contempt from above to below.
“Exercise not boldness, in the place of the great;
“Display not lionishness, when thou hast not the power of
grasp.”
100 When that wise one of darvesh complexion saw
That his fortune sate down and rose up to battle,
A sigh, like fire, came forth from the helpless one;
Than the place where he was, he sate lower down.
The lawyers prepared the path of strife;
They hurled—the “not,” and “I do not agree.”
They opened together the door of contest;
Neck made long with—“not; and—“yes.”
Thou wouldst have said—the courageous cocks are in
battle;
Entangled, they fell on each other with beak and claw.
105 This one, from anger beside himself, like one intoxicated;
That one, beating both his hands on the ground.
They fell into a difficulty, exceedingly intricate;
In the solution of which, they could find no path.
The one of tattered garment, in the lowest ranks,
Entered the contest, with force, like a roaring lion.
He said:—“Oh chiefs of the law of the Prophet!
“With the traditions, and revelations (of the Kurán), and
law, and the principles of Islám,
“Proofs, strong and real, are necessary;
“Not, the veins of the neck (swelling) in hot altercation.
110 “To me, also are the chaugán (bat) of sport and ball.”
They said:—“If thou knowst well, speak.”
Then he, who sate at the knee of respect,
Opened his tongue, and closed their mouths.
With the reed of eloquence of description, which he pos-
sessed,
He pourtrayed on their hearts, like the picture of a ring-
stone:
Drew his head from the street of simile to reality;
Drew the pen upon the head of the letter of (effaced) the
claim.
On every side, they shouted;—“Afrín! Afrín!”
Saying:—“On thy wisdom and genius, a thousand
praises!”
115 The dun horse of speech, he urged so far,
That the Kází, ass-like, remained behind in the mire.
He came forth from his robe and turban;
He sent them, with reverence and courtesy, to the one,
garment-tattered.
Saying:—“Alas! I recognised not thy worth;
“I was not engaged in thanks for thy auspicious arrival.
“With so great a capital of eloquence, I grieve,
“That I behold thee, in such a rank (the lowest).”
The officer of the court came, with cordiality, to him,
That he might place the turban of the Kází, on his head.
120 “With hand and tongue, he forbade him saying:—“Be it
far from me!
“Place not, on my head, the foot-link of pride.
“For, to-morrow, towards those wearing old garments
(the poor),
“Heavy will my head become with the turban of fifty
yards.225
“When they call me Maula and chief magistrate,
“Men will appear contemptible in my eyes.
“Is drinking-water ever different,
“If its vessel be golden, or earthen?225a
“Wisdom and brain, within man's head, are necessary;
“For me, like thee, a beautiful turban is unnecessary.
125 “A person is not of worth, through head-greatness;
“The gourd of great head is even without a kernel.
“Exalt not the neck with turban and beard:
“For, the turban is cotton; and, the moustache, dry
herbage.
“Those who, in form (only) are man-like,
“Best indeed it is, that they be silent, picture-like.
“To the extent of one's skill, it is proper to seek dignity:
“Make not, Saturn-like, loftiness and misfortune.
“Great is the greatness of the mat-reed,
“In which, indeed, is the intrinsic quality of the sugar-
reed.
130 “With this (deficient) wisdom, and spirit,—I call thee no
one,
“Even if a hundred slaves go behind thee.
“How well said the small shell in the clay,
“When an ignorant one, full of avarice, took it up,—
“No one will purchase me for any thing;
“Wind me not, in foolishness, in silk (like a jewel).
“A beetle has that very worth which is its,
“Even if it sate amidst tulips.226
“The rich man is not, by property, better than a person;
“If the ass puts on satin-housings,—he is an ass.”
135 In this way, the sensible man (the lawyer), speech-uttering,
Washed malice, with the water of speech, from the heart.226a
The speech of one heart-troubled is hard;
When thy enemy falls, display not sluggishness.
When power reaches thee, pluck out the enemy's brain;
For, the opportunity washes down the dust (of grief) from
the heart.
The Kází remained captive to his own violence, in such a
way
That he said:—“This is indeed a disastrous day!”
Through astonishment, he bit his hands, with his teeth;
His eyes, like the two stars near the pole, remained fixed
on him.
140 And thence, the young man turned the face of resolution;
He went out, and no one again found his trace.
Clamour arose from the chiefs of the assembly,
“Say, whence is one of such a bold eye?”
A herald went from the front, and ran in every direction,
Saying:—“Who saw a man of this description and ap-
pearance?”
One said;—“Of this kind of sweet speech,
“We know, in this city, Sa'dí; and him only.
“On him be a hundred thousand blessings that he thus
spoke;
“The bitter truth—behold! how sweetly he uttered it.”227
145 There was in the town of Ganja,—one king-born,
Who was unclean and tyrannical—may it be far from
thee!—
Singing and intoxicated, he entered a masjid,
Wine in his head, and bumper-glass in hand.
In a cell, a devotee was dwelling,
One, tongue-entangling (in truth); and, heart-pure (as to
malice).
Some persons for his talking, assembled.
—When thou art not learned, be not less than the
hearer.—
When that refractory steed (the prince) exercised disre-
spectfulness,
Those dear ones (the assembly) became desolate of heart.
150 When the foot of the prince is wicked,
Who is able to express a breath concerning the well-known
order?227a
Garlic overpowers the rose-perfume;
The sound of the harp becomes weak, through the drum.228
If the prohibiting of forbidden things comes from thy
hand,
It is not proper to sit like one, handless and footless.
And if thou hast not the hand of power, speak;
For, the disposition becomes pure by admonition.
When as to both hand and tongue, power is not,
Men show manliness by prayer.
155 One (of the hearers) before the sage, sitting in solitude,
Lamented and wept, head on the earth,228a
Saying:—“On this intoxicated rascal (the prince) once,
“Pray; for we are tongueless and handless.
“A single ardent breath (sigh) from a thoughtful heart,
“Is stronger than seventy swords and axes.”
The one, world-experienced, stretched forth his hand;
What said he? “Oh Lord of high and low!
“Through fortune, this youth,—his time is happy;
“Oh God! keep all his time happy.”
160 A person said to him:—“Oh exemplar of rectitude!
“Why desirest thou for goodness for this wretch?
“When thou desirest good for the faithless,
“What ill desirest thou on the citizens?”
The one beholding with quick intelligence thus spoke:—
“When thou findst not the secret of my speech, agitate
not:
“We adorned not the assembly with raving nonsense;
“We desired his repentance from the justice of the Creator.
“For every one, who returns from bad ways,
“Reaches eternal ease in Paradise.
165 “This pleasure of wine is indeed for five days;
“In abandoning it,—perpetual pleasures.”
This matter, which the man, speech-making (the recluse),
uttered,
One out of that assembly unfolded to the prince.
From rapture, water, cloud-like, came to his eyes;
A torrent of sorrow rained on his face.
His heart burned with the fires of desire;
Shame sewed his eyes to the back of his feet.
To the one of good appearance (the recluse) he sent a person,
Knocking at the door of repentance, saying:—“Oh griev-
ance-redresser!
170 “Be pleased to come, that I may lay down my head (at
thy feet);
“That I may put aside ignorance and non-rectitude.”
The adviser (the recluse) came to the prince's court;
He glanced into the hall of the court.
He saw sugar, and jujube, and candle, and wine;
The assembly prosperous with wealth; but, the men in-
toxicated.229
This one unconscious of himself; that one half-drunk;
Another poetry-spouting, wine-flagon in hand.
On one side, the minstrel's cry raised;
On the other, the cup-bearer's voice saying:—“Drink!”
175 The companions, with wine of red colour intoxicated,
Through sleep, the head of the harper on his bosom, harp-
like.
Of the boon-companions, neck-exalting, there was not
An eye of any open there, save the narcissus.
The drum and harp consonant with each other;
The flute, from the midst, brought forth a lament.
He (the recluse) ordered: they shattered (the drum and
harp) into small pieces;
That pure pleasure became changed to dregs.
They broke the harp and snapped the string;
The speaker put singing out of his head.
180 They struck a stone on the wine-vessel, in the wine-house,
They placed the wine-vessel (before them), and struck off
its neck.
The wine of red colour from the flagon, head-lowered,
Ran as blood from a slain duck.
The jar was pregnant nine months with wine:
In that calamity (of birth), it quickly cast out the daughter
(of grapes).
They rent the belly of the leathern (wine) bag to its navel,
The blood eyes of the cup, over it, full of tears.230
He ordered:—the stone of the court-yard of the building,
They plucked up, and put anew in its place.
185 For, the rosy colour of the wine of ruby hue
Departed not, by washing, from the marble surface.
It is not wonderful if the sink become intoxicated,
When, it drank, on that day, so much wine.
Whosoever used again to take the harp in his hand,
Used to endure pushing (beating) of his head, drum-like,
at men's hands.
And, if a worthless fellow had taken a harp on his neck,
He would have rubbed his ear, guitar-like.
The young man (the prince), head-intoxicated with pride
and conceit,
Sate, like old men, in the corner of devotion.
190 The father had, many times, spoken vehemently to him,
Saying:—“Be of decent gait, and of pure speech.”
He endured his father's violence, and prison, and restraint,
It was not so useful to him, as counsel.
If the gentle-speaker (the recluse) had spoken severely to
him,
Saying:—“Put youthfulness, and ignorance out of thy
head.”
Imagination and pride would have prevailed over him,
That he would not have left the darvesh (the speaker) alive.
The roaring lion, through fighting, casts not away the
shield (surrenders not);
The panther thinks not of the cutting sword.
195 One can, with gentleness, flay the enemy's skin;
When thou exercisest severity towards a friend, he is an
enemy.
No one made a hard face, anvil-like,
Who suffered not the chastising hammer on his head.
Exercise not vehemence, in speaking to an amír;
Pursue gentleness, when thou seest that he practises
severity.
Make thyself, by manners, concordant, with whomsoever
thou mayst see,
Whether he be inferior, or superior.
For this one (the superior) may draw back his neck from
pride;
And, that one may, by thy pleasant speech, draw his head
within thy noose.
200 One can, by sweet speech, carry away the ball (of power);
But one of bad disposition, constantly, endures bitterness.
Take thou, from Sa'dí, the pleasant speech;
To the one of bitter visage, say:—“Die of bitterness!”
One of sugar-laughter sold honey,
From whose sweetness, hearts become consumed.
A sweet one, waist-girt, sugar-cane like,
The purchasers about her more (numerous) than the flies.
If, for instance, she should have taken up poison,
They would have devoured it like honey from her hand.
205 One of hard life glanced at her work;
He bore envy, in respect to her market-day.
He went, the next day, running around the world;
Honey in his hand; vinegar (ill-temper) on his eye-brow.
Wandered much, before and behind, clamour-making,
But, not a fly sate on his honey.
At night-time, when money came not to his hand,
He sate, with straitened heart, face to the corner.
Like a sinner, face embittered with (God's) threatening;
Like the eyebrows of prisoners on a day of festival.
210 A woman sportively said to her husband:—
“The honey of one of bitter visage is bitter.”
A bad temper takes a man to hell;
Those of good temper only see Paradise,
Go; drink warm water from the brink of the rivulet;
Drink not the cool draught of one of bitter face.
It was forbidden thee to taste the bread of that one,
Who drew together his eye-brows table-cloth-like.
Sir! put not on thyself difficult work;
For the one of bad temper is of reversed fortune.
215 I assume—that to thee, there is neither silver, nor gold;
To thee, the tongue also is not sweet, like Sa'dí's.
I have heard that of a learned man, God-worshipping,—
His collar, a drunken knave seized.
From that one of black heart, the man of pure heart
Suffered head-pushing, but raised not his head from
tranquillity.
At length, one said to him:—“Art thou not also a man?
“Endurance, in respect to this indiscreet one, is a pity.”
The man of pure disposition heard this speech;
He said to him:—“Speak not again to me in this way.
220 “The ignorant drunken one rends a man's collar:—
“Who meditates (practises) conflict with a lion-claw?234
“It befits not the learned one, that his hand,
“He should fix in the collar of the drunken, ignorant one.
“The skilful one possesses life in this way:—
“He suffers violence; and exercises kindness.”
The foot of one desert-sitting, a certain dog bit
With such anger, that poison dropped from his teeth.
At night, through pain, helpless, sleep took him not;
There was, in his party, a little daughter.
225 She used violence to her father, and displayed severity,
Saying:—“Hast thou, also, indeed no teeth?”
After weeping, the man of distressed days
Laughed, saying:—“Oh little mother, heart-illuminating!
“Although, to me—are power and poison,
“I am loth (to use) my jaws and teeth.
“It is impossible, even if I endure a sword blow on my
head,
“That I should plunge my teeth within the leg of a dog.
“As to dogs, the nature is evil;
“But, doggishness comes not from man.”
230 There was a certain great one, skilful in the world;
His slave was of depraved qualities.
Through this filthy one, hair dishevelled,
He used to be as one vinegar-rubbed on the face.235
Like a large male serpent, his teeth stained with poison;
From the ugly ones of the city, pledge taken.235a
Continually on his face, the water of a diseased eye
Used to run, as the smell of onion (issued) from his armpit.
At cooking-time, he used to express a frown on his eye-
brow;
When they had cooked, he used to strike knee (in sitting)
with his master.235b
235 Time to time, for bread-eating, his fellow-sitter;
But if he (the master) had died, he would not have given
water to his hand.
Neither speaking nor the blows of a stick used to exercise
effect on him;
Night and day, the house was in a state of being mined
(ruined) by him.235c
Sometimes, he used to throw thorns and chips on the road;
Sometimes, he used to fling the hens into the well.
From his aspect, great terror used to arise;
He used not to go to a work, from which he used to return.
A person said:—“Of this slave of bad qualities,
“What desirest thou,—manners, or skill, or beauty?
240 “A person, with this unpleasantness, is not worth (so
much),
“That thou shouldst approve of his violence, and endure
his torment.
“A slave,—good and of correct walk of life, I
“Will bring to thy hand; take away this to the captive-
seller.
“And, if he brings thee the smallest coin, turn not away
thy head;
“He is dear at any price,—if thou wishest the truth.”
The man of good disposition heard this speech;
He laughed, saying:—“Oh friend of auspicious family!
“As to this boy—his nature and disposition are bad; but,
“By him, my nature becomes good nature.
245 “When I shall have endured much from him,
“I may be able to endure the violence of everyone.”
Endurance appears, at first, to thee, like poison;
But when it grows in the disposition, it becomes honey.
No one sought the road to the ancient shaikh Ma'rúf of
Karkh,
Who placed not, first, his own renown, out of his head.236
I heard that a certain one came a guest to him;
From his sickness to death little remained.
Head cast as to its hair; and face, as to its purity (of
complexion);
The soul clinging, by a single hair, to his body.
250 At night, he cast himself down there, and put his pillow;
Forthwith, he placed his hands—in clamour, and lament.
Nights, one moment, neither used sleep to seize him;
Nor (was there) sleep to anyone, by reason of his lament.
A disturbed nature, and rough disposition;
He died not; but slew a people by his altercation.
From his clamour, and lamenting, and sleeping, and
rising,—
People took the path of flight from him.
Of the men-inmates of that abode, a person (was not);
There remained—the powerless one, and Ma'rúf only.
255 I have heard that, many nights, on account of service,
Ma'rúf slept not;
Like men, he bound his waist; and did whatever he said.
One night, sleep brought an army to his (Ma'rúf's) head;
—How much power may the non-sleeping man exercise?—
In a moment, when his eyes began to sleep,
The distressed traveller began to speak,
Saying:—“May there be a curse on this impure race (of
darveshes),
“Who are (seekers of) name and fame; but, are fraud
and wind:
“Filthy believers, purity-wearing;
“Deceivers, piety-selling.
260 “How knows the glutton, sleep-intoxicated,
“That a helpless one closed not his eyes?”237
He uttered unlawful words to Ma'rúf,
Saying:—“Why slept he careless of him, one moment?”
The shaikh, from generosity, endured this matter;
The concealed ones of the haram (the women) heard.
One spoke secretly to Ma'rúf.
Saying:—“Heardst thou what the lamenting darvesh
said?
“Oh shaikh! go; after this, say:—take thy own way;
“Take away reproach; die in another place.
265 “Goodness and mercy are in their own places;
“But, generosity to the bad is evil.
“Place not a round pillow for the head of the mean;
“The head of the man-injurer (is) best against a stone.238
“Oh one of good fortune! exercise not goodness to the
bad;
“For, (only) the fool places the tree in the salt soil.
“I say not—Take no care of a man,
“But waste not generosity on such as are not men.
“Act not, with qualities of softness towards the rough;
“For, they rub not the dog's back, like the cat.
270 “If thou desirest justice, the dog, right-recognising,
“Is better, in character, than the man ungrateful.238a
“Use not mercy, with ice-water, towards the mean;
“When thou dost,—write the compensation for it on ice.
“I beheld not such a crafty person;
“Show not mercy to this worthless one.”
When the lady of the palace (Ma'rúf's wife) uttered this
reproach,
A cry issued from the good man's heart,
Saying:—“Return, and sleep tranquil of heart;
“Be not distressed, as to this distressed one, because he
thus spoke.
275 “If, from indisposition, he shouted at me,
“The unpleasant speech from him came pleasantly to my ear.
“It is proper to listen to the tale of violence of such a
one,
“Who, from restlessness, cannot slumber.”
When thou seest thyself of strong state and happy,
Endure, thankfully, the burden of the feeble.
If thou art, indeed, a mere semblance, tilism-like,
Thou wilt die; and, thy name, like thy body, will die;
But if thou causest thyself to cherish the tree of liberality,
Thou mayst, assuredly, enjoy the fruit of good name.
280 Seest thou not that, in Karkh, the tombs are many?
The tomb of Ma'rúf only is known.
The man pomp-worshipping displays pride;
He knows not that grandeur is in gentleness.
An impudent one preferred his desire (in beggary) to a
pious one,
There was not, at that time, a single acquired thing
(money) in his girdle.
His girdle and hands were void and clean (empty);
Otherwise, he would have scattered gold on his face, dust-
like.
The beggar, malignant of face, hastened out;
In the street, he began to reproach him,
285 Saying:—“Beware of these silent scorpions;
“Panther-renders, wool-clad.
“For, they place the knee against the heart, cat-like;
“But, if a prey chances, they leap up, dog-like.
“The shop of fraud to the masjid brought,
“For, one can seldom find game in a house.
“Lion-men attack the káraván;
“But, these (Súfís) pluck off the garment of men.
“White and black pieces (of cloth) stitched together;
“Capital put together; gold gathered.
290 “Oh excellent! barley-sellers, wheat-exhibiting;
“World-wanderers, night-mendicants, harvest-beggars.
“Look not at their devotion, saying:—“They are old and
lazy;
“For, in dancing (rapture) and ecstacy, they are young
and vigorous.240
“Why is it necessary to make prayers from a state of
posture,
“When they can leap up to dance?
“They are the staff of Músa, much-devouring;
“Outwardly—so yellow of face, and emaciated.240a
“They are neither abstinent, nor learned;
“This, indeed, is enough—that they purchase the world
with religion.
295 “On their body, they put a coarse cloak like that of
Bilál;
“With the produce of Abyssinia, they make garments
for women.241
“Of the precepts of Muhammad, thou seest in them no
sign,
“Save the former sleep (in the afternoon), and the morn-
ing bread.241a
“The belly up to the head, they have filled tight with
morsels;
“Like the palm-leaf basket of beggary of seventy colours.
“Beyond this, I will not speak on this matter;
“For, it is a sin to speak of one's own walk of life.”
The impudent speaker spoke of this habit (of the Súfís);
The eye, fault-finding, sees not skill.
300 One who has made many dishonoured,
What care has he of anyone's reputation?
A disciple related this speech to the shaikh;
—If thou wishst the truth, he did not wisely.241b
An evil one behind me spoke of my defect, and slept;
Worse than he,—the friend, who brought (the tale) and
uttered it.
A certain one cast an arrow, and it fell on the road;
It injured not my existence, and gave me no wound.
Thou didst take it up and come to me;
Didst strike it violently into my loins.—
305 The pious one of good disposition laughed,
Saying:—“This is easy, say—utter a more difficult matter
than this.
“Yet what he said ill of me is little;
“It is one, out of a hundred of those bad deeds I know.
“These that he, through suspicion, attributed to me;
“I, on my part, truly know that they are so.242
“He joined his society with us this year;
“What knows he of the defects of my seventy years?
“In the world, better than I, a person, my own defect,
“Knows not,—save the Knower of my secret (God).
310 “I have not seen one of such good intention,
“Who considered my defect was this, and no more.
“At the place of assembling, if he be the evidence of my
sin,
“I fear not hell; for, my work is good.
“If my enemy speaks ill of me,
“Come and say:—‘Take away the draft (of my defect)
from before me.’”
Those have been men of the path of God,
Who have been the butt of the arrow of calamity.
They threw off (from the head) the hat of pride;
They exalted the head with the crown of eminence.
315 Be submissive, while they rend thy skin;
For the pious endure the burden of the impudent.
If, of the dust of men, they make a pitcher;
Those reproach-making will break it with a stone.
King Sálih of the kings of Syria
Used to come out early in the morning with his slave.
He used to wander in the quarters of the bázár and streets,
After the manner of an Arab,—a veil bound about his face.
For, he was possessed of discernment, and was the poor
man's friend;
Whosoever has these two qualities,—he is King Sálih.
320 He discovered two darveshes sleeping in a masjid;
He found them distressed of heart, and heart disturbed.
In the night, through cold, sleep had not taken their eyes;
Thinking of the sun, lizard-like.
One of those two was speaking to the other,
Saying:—“Even, on the day of the place of assembling,
there is justice.243
“If these kings, neck-exalting,
“Who are in sport and pastime, and possessed of desire
and consequential airs,
“Enter Paradise with those distressed,
“I will not raise my head from the brick of the grave.
325 “Lofty Paradise is our country and abode;
“For, to-day, the fetter of grief is about our feet.
“During thy whole life-time, what pleasure didst thou
experience from them,
“That thou shouldst, in the next world, also endure their
trouble?
“If Sálih there, by the garden-wall,
“Enters, I will rend his brain with my shoe.”
When the man uttered this speech, and Sálih heard it,
He considered it not wisdom to be (standing) longer there.
A moment passed, when the fountain of the sun,
Washed down sleep from the eyes of the people.
330 Running, he sent for the two men, and called them;
In pomp, he sate; and, in dignity, caused them to sit.244
He rained on them the rain of liberality;
He washed down, from their bodies, the dust of contempt.
After distress through cold, and rain, and torrent,
They sate with those renowned of the tribe:
Two beggars, night made day, garmentless,
Perfuming their garments over the aloe-burner.
One of them spoke privately to the king,
Saying:—“Oh king! the world a ring in the ear (a slave)
to thy order,
335 Those approved of God attain greatness;
In us two slaves, what appeared pleasing to thee?
The monarch expanded from joy, rose-like;
He laughed, in the face of the darvesh, and said:—
“I am not such a one that, from pride of retinue,
“I contract my face, at those helpless.
“Put thou also as to me the malignant disposition, out of
thy head:
“Lest thou shouldst, in Paradise, display discordance.
“I opened, to-day, the door of peace;
“Shut not, to-morrow, the door on my face.
340 “If thou art an accepter of the true path, choose a path
like this;
“When power reaches thee, take the hand of the darvesh.
“That one took not away the fruit (of pardon) of the
Túba tree,
“Who sowed not, to-day, the seed of desire (of good
deeds).
“Thou hast not desire,—seek not happiness;
“With the chaugán of service, one can carry off the ball
(of empire).”
To thee, how is there effulgence (of love) lamp-like,
Since, thou art full of thyself, as a lamp with water.245
That existence gives light to the assembly,
Whose burning in the bosom is candle-like.
345 A certain one had a little skill in astronomy;
But, he possessed a head, intoxicated with pride.
From the far road, he came to Koshyár,
—A heart full of desire; a head, full of pride.—245a
The sage used to sew up (close) his eyes from him,
He used not to teach him a single letter.
When portionless, he resolved to return,
The sage, neck-exalting, said to him:—
“Thou hast imagined thyself full of wisdom;
“A vase that is full—how may it take more.
350 “Thou art full of pretension; on that account, thou goest
empty from me:
“Come empty; so that thou mayst become full of truth.”
Sa'dí-like, in the world,—of self-consciousness,
Become void, and return full of the knowledge of God.
In anger, a slave turned his head from a king (fled);
He ordered a person to seek; no one found him.246
When he (the slave) returned, in anger and rancour,
He said to the swordsman:—“Spill his blood!”
Thirsty for blood, the unkind executioner
Drew forth a sword like a thirsty tongue.
355 I heard that, from his straitened heart, he said:—
“Oh God! I pardon him my blood,
“Because, always in favour, and pleasure, and fame,
“I have, in his fortune, been a friend.246a
“God forbid! that, to-morrow (the Judgment Day), for
my blood,
“They should seize him, and his enemy become joyful (by
his punishment).”
When his speech came to the king's ear,
The cauldron of his wrath boiled no further.
He gave (him) many kisses on his head and eyes;
He became lord of the standard, and tambourine, and drum.
360 From such a frightful place, by softness,
He caused his fortune to attain that dignity.247
The design of this tale is—that soft speech
Is like water on the fire of a fiery man.
Oh friend! exercise humility to a stern enemy;
For, gentleness makes blunt the cutting sword.
Seest thou not that, in the place of meeting of sword and
arrow,
They put on the garment of silk, a hundred-fold?
From the desolate place of a holy man, ragged garment-
clad,
The baying of a dog came to a certain one's ear.
365 To his heart, he said:—“How is the baying of a dog
here?”
He entered, saying:—“Where is the holy darvesh?”
From before and behind, he saw not the trace of a dog;
Save the pious man, he saw none other there.
Ashamed, he began to return;
For, shame came to him to argue about the mystery.
From within, the holy man heard the foot-sound;
He said:—“Ho! why standst thou at the door? Enter.
“Oh my resplendent eye! thoughtst thou not,
“That, from here, a dog gave tongue? I am the dog.
370 “When I saw that He purchases helplessness,
“I put out of my head—pride, and judgment, and wisdom.
“I made much noise, dog-like, at His door;
“For, I beheld not many meaner than a dog.”
When thou desirest that thou mayst attain sublime rank,
Thou wilt attain to loftiness from the low place of
humility.
Those took the chief seat in this presence,
Who placed their own worth low.
When the torrent came with fear and haste,
It fell headlong, from height to depth.
375 When the dew fell—humble and feeble,
The sky carried it, with love, to the (lofty) red star
(Pleiades-following).
A number of the eloquent are of opinion,
That Hátim was deaf; believe it not.248
In the morning, there issued the buzzing of a fly,
Which fell into a spider's net.
All the spider's weakness and silence was deceit;
The fly thought it sugar; it was imprisonment.
From the desire of counsel, the shaikh glanced at the fly,
Saying:—“Oh foot-bound in avarice! be still.
380 “Sugar and honey, and candy everywhere, are not;
“But nets and fetters, in the corners, are open.”
One of that clique of people of judgment said:—
“Oh man of the way of God! I hold it wonderful,
“How thou didst perceive the fly's noise,
“When it came, to our ears, with difficulty!
“Since thou art acquainted with the fly's sound,
“It is not proper, after this, to call thee deaf.”
Hátim, smiling, said to him:—“Oh one of quick under-
standing!
“To be deaf is better than to be listening to foolish talk.
385 “Those, who are with me in privacy,
“Are defect-concealers and praise-scatterers.
“When I hold concealed mean qualities,
“Existence makes me weak; (and) lust, vile.
“I show myself as though I heard not,
“Perhaps I may be free from the trouble (of bad qualities).
“When fellow-sitters consider me deaf,
“They utter whatever is good and bad of me.
“If to hear evil is unpleasant to me,
“I withdraw my skirt from bad conduct.”
390 Be not at the well (of egotism), with the cord of
praise;
Be deaf, like Hátim, and hear thy own defects.
He sought not happiness, and found not safety,
Who turned aside the neck from Sa'dí's sayings.
Is a better adviser than this Sa'dí necessary to thee?
I know not what may chance to thee after him.
There was, in the limits of Tabríz, one dear to God,
Who was always wakeful and night-rising (in devotion).
One night, he saw a place where a thief, a noose,
Twisted and cast upon the side of a roof.
395 He informed the people, and raised a cry;
Men, from every side, arose with sticks.
When the unmanly thief heard the voice of men,
He saw no place of existing, in the midst of the danger.
Through that tumult, fear came upon him;
Flight, in season, became his choice.
From pity, the devotee's heart became wax;
For, the helpless night-thief was disappointed.
In the darkness, he, from behind came to his front;
By another road, he returned in front of him,
400 Saying:—“Oh friend! go not; for I am a friend of thine;
“I am, in manliness, the dust of thy foot.
“I have seen no one, like thee, in manliness;
“Since battle-action lies in two ways only.
“One way is to come manfully before the enemy;
“The second to carry one's life out of the contest (by
flight).
“By these two qualities of thine, I am thy slave;
“How art thou named; for I am the slave of thy name?
“If, by way of liberality, it be thy opinion;
“I may guide thee to a place which I know.
405 “It is a house, small; and the door fast shut;
“I think not the lord of the chattels is there.
“We may place two clods, one on the other;
“We may put one foot on the shoulder of the other (to
reach the roof).
“Be satisfied with as much as falls to thy hand;
“It is better, than that thou shouldst return empty of
hand.”
With cordiality, and flattery, and art,
He drew him (the thief) towards his own house.
The young night-traveller (the thief) held lowered his
back;
The lord of sense (the devotee) entered (the house), by his
shoulder.
410 Horse-housings, and turbans, and chattels which he had;
He put, from above, into his (the thief's) skirt.
And, thence he raised a shout, saying:—“Thief!
“Oh young men! (there are) recompense, and aid, and
hire.”251
The deceitful thief leaped out from the tumult,
Running, the garment of the devotee under his arm.
The man of good faith became comforted,
Saying:—“The desire of the one head distracted became
accomplished.”
The filthy one, who pitied no one,—
The heart of a good man forgave.
415 From the mode of life of the intelligent, it is not won-
derful,
That they should, from magnanimity, do good to the bad.
In the prosperity of the good, the bad live;
Although, the bad are not people of goodness.
There was a pure heart, Sa'dí-like, to a certain one,
Who had fallen in love with one of smooth face.252
He used to endure violence from the enemy, harsh-speaking,
Used to leap, ball-like, from the chaugán of hardship.
Used not to cast a frown, at any, on his eyebrows,
Used not to relinquish gentleness for harshness.252a
420 One, at length, said to him:—“To thee is there no shame?
“Of all this slap-giving and stone-throwing,—is there no
knowledge?
“The mean make their own body fat;
“The feeble make endurance of the enemy.
“It is not proper to pass over the fault of an enemy,
“Lest they say:—‘He possessed neither power, nor man-
liness.’”
The distraught one, distracted of head, gave to him
An answer, which it is fit to write in gold:—
“My heart is the house of the love of my friend only;
“For that reason, malice to no one is contained in it.”
425 How well said Bahlúl of happy temperament,
When he passed by a holy man, battle-seeking,—252b
“If this claimant had recognised the Friend (God),
“He would not have engaged, in contest with the enemy.”253
If he had possessed knowledge of the existence of God,
He would have considered all people non-existent.
I have heard that Lukmán was of black colour;
Was neither tender, as to body; nor, delicate, as to limb.253a
A certain one considered him his own slave;
He was vile; he kept him (engaged) on clay-work.
430 He experienced violence, and endured his tyranny and
anger;
He prepared, in one year, a house for his sake.
When the runaway slave came back to him,
Of Lukmán, a great fear came over him.
He fell at his feet, and made apology;
Lukmán laughed, saying:—“What is the use of apology?
“In a year, by thy violence, I make my liver blood;
“In a moment, how may I put grief out of my heart?
“But indeed I forgive thee, oh good man!
“For, thy gain (by my service) made not my loss.253b
435 “Thou didst make thy sleeping-chamber prosperous;
“For me,—skill and knowledge of God became greater.
“Oh one of good fortune! there is, among my followers, a
slave,
“Whom I oftentimes order difficult work.
“Again I will not sorely vex his heart;
“When recollection comes to me of the severity of the
clay-work.”
Whosoever endured not the violence of the great,
His heart burned not for the poor weak folk.
If the word of rulers be hard to thee,
Exercise not harshness towards thy inferiors.
440 I have heard that, in the desert of San'á, Juníd
Saw a dog (by old age) the hunting-teeth dug out.254
From the power of the grasp, lion-seizing,
He had become weak, like an old fox.
After seizing, on foot, mountain-sheep and antelope,
He used to suffer kicks from the sheep of the tribe of
Hayy.
When he beheld it weak, powerless and wounded,
He gave to it a half of his own provisions.
I heard that he said, while he wept blood:—
“Who knows, which of us two is the better?
445 “To-day, in outward appearance, I am better than this
dog;
“In the future, what (decree) may Fate urge against me?
“If the foot of my faith slips not from its place,
“I may place the crown of God's pardon on my head.
“But if, on my body, the garment of holiness
“Remain not, I am less by much than this dog.
“For when the dog, with all its ill-repute, dies
“They will not carry it to hell.”
Oh Sa'dí! this is the way—that men of the path of God
Looked not on themselves with honour.
450 They possessed honour above the angels, on that account,
That they regarded not themselves better than a dog.
A certain drunken one had a harp under his arm;
He broke it, at night, on a devotee's head.
When day came, that good gentle man
Carried a handful of silver to that one of stone-heart.
Saying:—“Last night, thou wast proud and intoxicated;
“For thee and me, harp and head are broken.
“As to me, that wound has become well, and fear has
risen (and departed);
“As to thee, save by silver, the harp will not be sound.”
455 The friends of God are over heads (in power), on that
account,
That they endure much on their heads.
I heard that, in the dust of Wakhsh, of the great,
There was one hidden, in the corner of retirement.255
Naked in truth; not, by the religious garment, a holy one,
Who puts out the hand of need (in beggary) to the
people.256
As to happiness,—the door opened towards him;
The doors of others shut in his face.
An eloquent one, void of wisdom, endeavoured,
Through impudence, to speak ill of that good man,
460 Saying:—“Beware of this deceit, and artifice, and fraud;
“Of sitting, demon-like, in the place of Sulaimán.256a
“From time to time, they (the Súfís) wash the face, cat-
like,
“Lusting for the prey of the mice of the street.
“Austerity-enduring, for the sake of name and pride;
“For, far goes the sound of the empty drum.”
He kept talking, and the crowd about him a multitude,
Man and woman, making fun of them (the devotee and the
orator).
I heard that the sage of Wakhsh wept,
Saying:—“Oh Lord! forgive this Thy slave.
465 “Oh pure Lord! if he spoke truth,
“Give to me repentance, that I may not be destroyed.
“My fault-seeker was agreeable to me;
“For, he made known to me my bad disposition.”
If thou art that which an enemy says, grieve not;
And, if thou art not, say:—“Go, wind-weigher!”
If a fool called the musk fetid,
Be thou tranquil; for, he uttered nonsense.
And, if this speech, as to the onion passes,
Say it is so; display not a fetid (proud) brain.257
470 The wise one of enlightened mind takes not
The mouth-stopper of the enemy (defect-revealing) from
the juggler.257a
It is not wisdom, and judgment, and understanding,
That a wise man should purchase deceit from a juggler.
Then the wise man sate behind his own work,
He shut against himself the enemy's tongue.
Be thou of good conduct, that the malevolent one
May not obtain the power of speaking to thy injury.
When from the enemy's speech, it comes hard to thee.
See! what defect he takes up, that do not.
475 That person only knows good of me,
Who reveals to me my faults.
A certain one brought a difficult matter before 'Alí;—
Peradventure, he may make apparent to him the difficulty.258
The chief, enemy-binding, territory-conquering,
Gave to him an answer from the fountain of knowledge
and judgment.
I heard that, in this assembly, a person
Said:—“Oh Bú-l-Hasan! it is not so.”
Haydar, name-seeking, on account of him, grieved not;
He said:—“If thou knowst better than this, speak.”
480 Whatever he knew, he spoke; and suitably spoke;
It is improper to conceal the sun's fountain with clay.
The king of men approved of his answer,
Saying:—“I was in error; and he, in truth.
“He spoke better than I; the Wise One is one only
(God);
“For, knowledge is not higher than His knowledge.”
If, to-day, there had been a lord of rank,
He would not, through his pride, have looked at him.
The chamberlain would have placed him out of court;
They would, without reason, have beaten him.
485 Saying:—“Hereafter, make not one void of reputation;
“Speech is improper before the great.”
One, in whose head, is conceit,—
Think not, that he will ever listen to truth.
From his knowledge, comes sorrow; from admonition, dis-
grace;
The red tulips grow from rain, not from stone.
If thou hast the pearl of the river of excellence, rise;
Scatter, in admonition, (pearls) at the feet of the darvesh.
Seest thou not that,—in the dust, fallen, wretched,—
The rose grows, and the fresh spring blossoms?
490 In the eye of (wise) people, no one is of account,
Who shows, in himself, much haughtiness.
Oh sage! scatter not sleeves of pearls (of eloquence),
When thou beholdst a rich man, full of himself.
Speak not,—so that a thousand persons may utter thy
praises;
When thou speakst of thyself, expect not (praise) from
any.
I heard that, in a narrow street, as regards a beggar,
'Umar placed his own foot on the back of his foot.259
The helpless poor man knew not who he was;
For one aggrieved knows not enemy from friend.
495 He was enraged at him, saying:—“Perhaps, thou art
blind?”
'Umar, the just chief, said to him:—
“I am not blind; the deed passed by mistake;
“I observed not; pass over my fault.”260
How just have been the great ones of religion.
Who have, with inferiors, been even so.
One sense-choosing is humble;
The branch full of fruit places its head on the earth.
Those humility-practising will, to-morrow, boast;
The head of those neck-exalting will, in shame, be lowered.
500 If thou fearst the day of reckoning,
Forgive the fault of that one, who fears thee.
Exercise not malignant tyranny towards thy inferiors;
For, there is a power even above thy power.
Of good conduct and good disposition, there was a certain
one,
Who was well-speaking of the bad.
When he passed (in death), a person beheld him in a dream
(and asked),
Saying:—“Tell me of past events.”
He opened a mouth, rose-like, with laughter,
He gave utterance, nightingale-like, with a sweet sound,
505 Saying:—“They used not much severity towards me;
“For I practised oppression against no one.”
I have recollection of this sort, that the water-carrier of
the Nile
Prepared not, one year, water for Egypt.
A crowd went towards the mountains;
Became, with supplication, suppliants for rain.261
They wept; but, from their weeping, a running rivulet
Came not, save the water of the eyes of women.
One from among them carried news to the Saint Zú-n-Nún,
Saying:—“On the people there is much grief and suffer-
ing.261a
510 “Pray for those distressed;
“For the word of those God-accepted is not rejected.”
I heard that Zú-n-Nún fled to Madín;
Much time passed not before rain fell.261b
After the lapse of twenty days, the news went to Madín,
That the cloud of black heart had wept over them.
The old man made an immediate resolution of returning;
For, by the spring-torrents, the water-pools became full.
A holy man secretly inquired of him,
“What philosophy was there in this thy going away?”
He replied:—
515 “I heard that for fowl, and ant, and rapacious beast,
“There was scarcity of food, on account of the deeds of
the wicked.
“In this country, I reflected much;
“I considered no one worse than myself.
“I went, lest that, through my wickedness,
“God should fasten the door of liberality on the people
(of Egypt).”
Is greatness necessary to thee? exercise courtesy; for those
great ones
Beheld not men worse than themselves, in the world.
Thou becomest precious before men, at that time,
When thou reckonst thyself for nothing.
520 The great one, who reckoned himself among the small folk,
Carried away greatness in this and in the future world.
From this dust-holder (the world), that slave went pure,
Who, at the feet of the meanest person, became dust.
Ho! thou who passest over our dust,
By the dust of dear ones! (let it be) that thou rememberst
(me).262
For if Sa'dí (after death) became dust—to him what
sorrow?
Since he was, in life also, dust (humble).
In humbleness, he gave his body to the dust;
Although he went, wind-like, around the world.262a
525 Much time passes not before that the dust (of the grave)
consumes him,
The wind carries him, again, through the world.
Behold! since the rose-garden of truth blossomed,
No nightingale spoke in it, sweetly, like Sa'dí.
If a nightingale should die in such a way, wonderful,—
That a rose should not grow on its bones!
1 ONE night, I kept burning the olive-oil of reflection;
I lighted up the lamp of eloquence.
A foolish talker heard my speech,
Save to say—To thee be praise!—he saw no way.
From villainy of nature, he also folded within it (the
following),
—For, from pain of envy a cry involuntarily arises,—
Saying:—“His thought is sublime, and his judgment
lofty,
“In this matter of the habit of abstinence, and regula-
tions, and counsel:
5 “Not, in regard to lance and mace and heavy club;
“For, the conclusion of this matter is for others.”
Knows he not that to us there is no desire for battle;
Otherwise the power of speech is not scanty?
I am able to draw forth the sword of the tongue;
To draw forth his existence, in a moment.
Come; so that, in this matter, we may wage war;
(And) may make a stone-pillow for the enemy's head.
Happiness is in the gift of the Ruler (God);
It is not in the grasp and arm of the strong.
10 When the lofty sky gives not wealth,
It comes not, by manliness, into the snare.
Neither, through weakness, did distress come to the ant;
Nor, by grasp of strength, did lions eat.
Since one cannot draw forth the hand against the sky,
It is necessary to be content with its revolution.
If God has written for thee long life,
Neither the snake, nor the sword, nor the arrow may
injure thee.265
And, if, as to thy life, a portion remains not,
The electuary kills thee just as poison.
15 No; when Rustam experienced the end of his days,
Shughdad brought forth the dust (of destruction) from
his body.265a
In Sipahán, I had a certain friend,
Who was warlike and fearless and shrewd.
Continually, his hand and dagger coloured with blood;
The enemy's heart was, through him, like roast meat on
the fire.
I beheld not the day, on which, he bound not (to his waist)
the quiver;
And fire leaped not from his steel arrow.
Courageous; strong, with the gripe of an ox,—
Through fear of him, confusion fell upon lions.266
20 He used to cast his arrow, with such precision,
That he used to cast down an enemy with every arrow.266a
The thorn in the rose,—I saw not that it passed in such a
way,
As his arrow passed not into the shields.
He struck not the helmet of the one contest-seeking,
Whose helmet and head, he shattered not completely.
In battle (enraged) like a sparrow on the locust day,
In slaying,—whether a sparrow, or a man, to him what
difference?266b
If it were to him, to attack Firídún,
He would not have given him respite for sword-drawing.
25 Panthers, by the force of his gripe, beneath him;
His fingers plunged in the brain of the lion.
He used to seize the girdle of one strength-tried,
And if he had been a mountain, he would have plucked
him from his place.
When he used to strike his battle-axe on the one mail-
clad,
It used to pass through the man, and strike his saddle.
Neither as to manliness, nor as to magnanimity,—to him,
A second, no one saw a man in this world.
He used not to allow me to go a moment from his hand
(side);
For, he used to have an inclination for those of true dis-
position.
30 Suddenly, a journey snatched me from that soil;
For, in that abode, there was no food for me.
Fate transported me from Media to Syria;
In that pure dust, my abode was happy.267
In short, some time, I became resident;
In sorrow and in ease; in hope, and in fear.
Of Syria, my cup again became full;
The desire of my house drew me.
By chance it so fell,
That my path again fell by Media.267a
35 One night, my head became lowered in thought;
That skilled one (of Ispahán) passed to my heart.
The salt (of desire) made fresh my ancient wound;
For, I was one who had eaten salt from the man's hand.267b
For seeing him, I went towards Sipáhán;
In love of him, I became a seeker and inquirer.
I beheld the young man old from time's revolution;
His poplar arrow (of stature) a bow; his deep red colour
(complexion) yellow.267c
His head, from snow-hair, like a white mountain;
Water, from the snow of old age, running on his face.
40 Heaven obtained the hand of power over him;
It twisted the tip of his manly hand.
The world put pride out of his head;
The head of powerlessness on his knees.
I said to him:—“Oh chief, lion-seizing!
“What made thee withered like an old fox?”
He laughed, saying:—“From the day of battle with the
Tátárs,
“I put out of my head that battle-seeking.
“I beheld the ground, with spears, like a cane-brake,
“The (coloured) standards, fir-like, set in it.
45 “I raised the dust of battle, like smoke;
“When there is not the power,—of what use is ardour?
“I am that one who when I used to attack,
“Used to carry off, with a spear, a ring from the hand.
“But, when my star displayed not assistance;
“They gat themselves about me like a ring.
“I reckoned the way of flight gain;
“For (only) the fool makes a sharp tussle with Fate.268
“How may helmet and cuirass render me aid,
“When my bright star displayed not assistance?
50 “When victory's key is not in the hand,
“One cannot break victory's door, by the arm.
“A crowd, panther-overthrowing, and of elephant-strength,
“Man's head (the rider) and horse's hoof (the ridden)—
in iron.
“That very moment, when we saw the dust of the army,
“We put on the mail-garment, and the helmet head-
piece:
“Urged our Arab steeds, cloud-like;
“Showered down our gleaming arrows, rain-like.
“From ambush, the two armies dashed together;
“Thou wouldst have said:—On the earth, they dashed
the sky.269
55 “From the raining of arrows, hail-like,
“Death's storm arose on every side.
“For the chase of lions, conflict-making,
“The dragon-noose, mouth opened.
“With blue dust, the earth became the sky;
“The flash of sword and helmet in it star-like.
“When we overtook the enemy's horsemen,
“On foot, we wove shield within shield.269a
“With arrow and spear, we split the hair;
“When power was not,—we turned away.
60 “What force does the grasp of man's exertion bring,
“When the arm of God's grace assists not?
“The sword of those malice-bearing was not blunt;
“But there was malice, on the part of the angry star.
“A person of our army, forth from the conflict,
“Came not—save with a khaftán bedabbled with blood.
“Within the silken vest, went not the arrow of those
“Of whom, I said:—They may sew (pierce) the anvil
with an arrow.
“Like a hundred grains, clustered in an ear of corn,
“We fell,—each grain in a corner.
65 “With unmanliness, we became dispersed;
“Like the fish, which, cuirass-clad, falls to the fish-hook.270
“When Fortune, from towards us, was face on the turn;
“The shield before the arrow of destiny was—nothing.”
In Ardabíl, a certain one of iron grasp
Caused, continually, the double-headed arrow to pass
through a spade.270a
One felt-clad came before him in battle,
A young man, world-consuming, battle-making,
Contest-seeking, like Bahram-Gor,
On his shoulder, a noose of the raw hide of the wild ass.271
70 When he of Ardabíl saw the one felt-wearing,
He brought the string to the bow, and the string to the
ear.
He struck him with fifty poplar arrows;
But; not a single arrow passed beyond the felt.
The warrior came like the hero Dastán,
He brought him (of Ardabíl) within the curl (of his noose),
and took him away.
In the camp, at the tent-door, his hand,
He bound to his neck—like bloody thieves.
In the night, from anger and shame, he slept not;
In the morning, a slave-girl, from the tent said:—
75 “Since thou piercest iron with the arrow and dart,
“How didst thou fall a captive to one felt-wearing?”
I heard that he said, while he wept blood:—
“Knowst thou not that no one lives on the day of death?
“I am that one, who,—in the act of spear-piercing and
sword-striking,
“Teach Rustam the manner of battle.
“When the arm of my fortune was of strong state,
“The thickness of the spade appeared to me as felt.
“Now, that fortune is not in my grasp,
“The felt is not less than the spade, before my arrow.
80 “On the day of death, the spear rends the cuirass;
“It passes not beyond the shirt of one deathless.
“He, in whose rear is the sword of the wrath of death,
“Is naked,—if his cuirass be manifold.
“But, if Fortune be his friend; and, Time supporter—
“It is impossible to slay him naked—(even) with a large
knife.
“Neither did the sage, carry away (save) his life, by
effort;
“Nor, did the fool die, by improper eating.”
One night, a hero slept not on account of a side-pain;
There was a physician, in that quarter; he said:—
85 “Since, he eats the vine-leaf in this fashion,
“I have wonder if he will finish the night (alive).
“For, the blade of the Tátár arrow in the chest,
“Is better than wine-sweetmeats of improper food.
“If by a single morsel, griping occurs in the bowels,
“All the life of the ignorant one comes to naught.”
By chance, the physician died that night;
Forty years have passed since this time; but the hero is
alive.
As to a certain villager,—his ass fell (and died);
On a vine-tendril, he placed its head flag-fashion.272
90 An old man, world-experienced, passed by it;
To the vineyard-keeper, laughing, he thus spoke:—
“Oh soul of father! think not that this ass
“Repels the evil eye, from the sown field.
“For, from its own head and buttocks,—this ass, the re-
pelling (of blows)
“Effected not, so that, feeble and wounded, it died.”
What knows the physician of trouble-removing from a
person,
When helpless, he himself will die of trouble!
I have heard that, from an indigent person, a dínár
Fell; and that the wretched one sought for it much.
95 At length, he turned away the head of despair;
Another, without searching, found it.
For bad and good fortune, the pen,
The Fates urge;—we, yet, in the womb.
By strength of grasp, they enjoy not their daily food;
For those of strong grip are more straitened in circum-
stance.
An old man struck his son with a stick;
He said:—“Oh father! I am guiltless; strike not.
“For men's violence against thee, it is possible to weep;
“But, when thou displayst violence, to me what remedy is
there?”273
100 Oh lord of sense! cry to the Ruler (God),
Raise not a cry, on account of the Ruler.
One of lofty star,—his name Bakht-yár,—
Was of great power, and possessed of capital.
In that place, to him were both gold and property;
Others poor of reversed fortune.
His house was in the street of the beggars;
His gold was like wheat in the measure.
When the darvesh beholds the rich one in affluence,
His heart burns the more by the stain of indigence.274
105 A woman joined battle with her husband,
When, in the night-time, he went to her empty-handed,
Saying:—“There is no one, unfortunate, poor, like thee;
“Thou hast only this sting, like the red wasp.274a
“Learn manliness from the neighbours;
“For I am not, in short, a harlot picked up on the road.
“Persons have gold, and silver, and territory, and house-
hold goods,
“Why art thou not of good fortune, like them?”
The one of pure heart, wool-clad, raised
A shout from the heart, drum-like,
110 Saying:—“I possess not the hand of power, as to any-
thing;
“Writhe not in the grasp of the hand of Fate.
“In my hand they placed not power,
“That I might make myself fortunate.”
In the dust of Kísh, a certain poor man,—
How well he said to his ugly partner (wife);—275
“When the hand of Fate created thee ugly of face,
“Plaster not the rose-colour (rouge) on thy ugly face.”
Who acquires good fortune, by force?
Who makes the blind man's eye seeing, by antimony?
115 A good deed comes not from those of bad stock;
Needle-work is impossible to dogs.275a
All the philosophers of Greece and Rúm
Know not how to make honey from the thorny tree.
It happens not that, from a wild beast, a man becomes;
Education, (even) with exertion, is lost on it.
One can make clean the mirror from blight;
But, the mirror comes not from a stone.
The flower grows not from the willow-bough, by effort;
The Ethiopian becomes not white, by the hot bath.
120 When the poplar-arrow of destiny is not repelled,
For the slave,—there is no shield, save resignation.
A vulture to a kite thus spoke,
Saying:—“There is no one more far-seeing than myself.”275b
The kite replied:—“It is not proper to pass by this
matter;
“Come; so that thou mayst look at the quarters of the
desert.”276
I heard that, to the extent of one day's march,
The vulture viewed from height to depth.
Thus, he spoke:—“I saw, if belief be to thee,
“Where a grain of wheat is on the plain.”
125 From astonishment, patience remained not to the kite,
From sublimity, they turned to profundity.
When the vulture came close to the grain,
A long foot-tether became knotted on him.
From his devouring that grain, the vulture knew not
That adverse fortune would cast a snare about his neck.
Not every oyster is pregnant with the pearl;
Not every time does the expert archer hit the butt.
The kite said:—“From seeing this grain, what profit,
“When to thee, there was not the beholding of the
enemy's snare?”
130 I heard that, he, neck in the noose, said:—
“Caution, as to destiny, is unprofitable.”
When death brought forth the hand for his blood,
Fate bound his eyes, finely-discerning.
In that water (of eternity), whose shore is unknown,
The swimmer's pride is of no avail.
How well said the apprentice of the embroidery-weaver,
When he pourtrayed 'Anká, and elephant, and giraffe:—
“From my hand, there came not a form,
“The plan of which, the Teacher from above pourtrayed
not.”
135 If the form of thy state be bad, or good,
The hand of Fate is its painter.
There is a kind of concealed hypocrisy in this,
Namely—“Zaid injured me, or 'Umar wounded me.”277
If the Lord of Command gives thee the eye,
Thou seest not again the form of Zaid and 'Umar.
I think not—if a slave rests (from seeking food),
That God draws his pen on (stops) his daily food.
May the World-Creator give thee the means of opening
(the door)!
For, if He shuts, none can open.
140 A young camel, to its mother, said:—
“After travelling, at last, sleep awhile.”
She said:—“If the rein had been in my hand
“No one would have seen me a load-carrier in the camel-
string.”
There, where it wishes, Fate takes the vessel,
Although, the captain rends the garment on his body.
Oh Sa'dí! place not thy eye (of expectation) on anyone's
power;
For Omnipotence only is the Giver.
If thou worshipst God, of (people's) doors, sufficient for
thee;
But if He drives thee away, no one desires thee.278
145 If God makes thee a crown-possessor,—raise thy head;
But, if not, scratch the head of despair.
Worship, with sincerity of intention, is good;
Otherwise, what comes from the husk, without kernel?
What,—the idolater's cord on thy waist? what, the re-
ligious garment?
If thou putst them on for the opinion of the people.
I said to thee:—Display not thy own manliness;
When thou displayst manliness, be not an hermaphrodite.278a
It is proper to display (religious qualities) to the extent of
thy capacity;
Shame overpowered not him, who had not displayed.
150 For, when they draw the borrowed garment from off thy
head,
The old robe will remain on thy body.
If thou art small, fasten not on wooden feet,
That thou mayst, in children's eyes, appear tall.
And, if copper be silver-plated,
One can expend it on the ignorant.
Oh my life! place not the gold-water on the valueless coin;
For the wise banker takes it as nothing.
They take the things gold washed to the fire;
Then, it appears which are copper, and which gold.
155 Knowst thou not what the old man of the mountain said,
To the man, who, for reputation, slept not at night?
“Oh soul of father! go; strive for sincerity;
“For, from the people, thou canst not establish any
(proof).”279
Those persons, who have approved of thy acts,
Have yet only seen thy outward form.
What price, does the Khurdís slave fetch,
Who has leprous limbs beneath the over-coat?
It is impossible to enter Paradise, with imposture,
For, the shroud goes back (on the Judgment Day) from
thy ugly face.
160 I have heard that a certain one of immature age kept a
fast,
With a hundred difficulties, he accomplished one day up to
the mid-day meal.279a
The tutor took him not that day to school;
Devotion, on the part of a little boy, appeared to him
great.
The father kissed his eyes; and, the mother his head;
They scattered almonds and gold on his head.
When a half of the day passed over him,
From his stomach's fire, the burning (of hunger) fell upon
him.
To his heart, he said:—“If I eat a few morsels,
“How may my father and mother know of the secret
(deed)?”
165 When the boy's face was towards his father and family,
He secretly ate; but openly carried on the fast.
Who knows, whether thou art in the bonds of God;
If thou standst unwashed, in prayer?280
Then, this old man is more ignorant than that child,
Who, for the sake of men, is in devotion.
The key of hell's door is that prayer,
Which thou, in men's eyes, makest long.280a
If, except to God, thy way goes,—
They spread thy prayer-carpet in hell.280b
170 One of black deeds fell from a ladder;
I heard that, even in a breath, he gave his soul (to God).
For some days, the son took to weeping;
Took, again, to sitting with his companions:
Beheld, in a dream, his father; and inquired after his
state,
Saying:—“How escapedst thou from the assembling, and
reviving, and questioning?”
He said:—“Oh son! desire not news concerning me;
“From the ladder, I fell into hell.”
One of good walk of life, outwardly unceremonious,
(Is) better than one of good fame, inwardly evil.
175 In my opinion, the night-going highway-man
Is better than the adulterer of chaste skirt.
One trouble-enduring at the people's door,—
What reward will God give him on the Resurrection Day?
Oh son! expect not reward from 'Umar,
When thou art, at work, in the house of Zaid.
I say not:—he can reach his Friend (God),
In this path; save that one, whose face is turned towards
Him.
Go the right way, that thou mayst reach the stage,
(Oh hypocrite!) thou art not on the path; for this reason,
thou art lagging.281
180 Like the ox, whose eyes the oil-presser binds up,
Though running till the night,—at night, even there where
it is.281a
The person, who turns away his face from the altar,
The people of eloquence give evidence as to his infidelity.
Thou also art, in prayer, back to the Kibla,
If thy face of supplication be not towards God.
That tree, whose root is firm,
Cherish—that one day it may give thee the fruit of fruit.
If the root of sincerity be not in thy soil,
No one is disappointed like thee, at this door (of God).
185 Whosoever casts seed on the rock-surface,
At the time of in-come, not a grain comes to his grasp.
Put not honour upon the reputation of (acquired by)
hypocrisy;
For, this (hypocrisy) has mire beneath the (lustrous) water.
When thou art, in secret, bad and dust-like,
What profit,—the water of hypocrisy on the surface of the
work?282
On the surface of hypocrisy, it is easy to stitch the reli-
gious garment,
If thou canst sell it to God.
How may men know who is in the religious habit?
The writer knows what is in the register (of deeds).
190 What weight may the leathern bag, full of wind, show in
the place
Where there is the scale of justice, and the book of equity?282a
The hypocrite, who showed so much austerity,
They see there is nothing in his leathern bag.
They make the outside of the coat cleaner than the lining;
For, this is behind a veil, and that before the sight.
The great possessed indifference as to men's eyes,
For that reason, they possessed a painted silk lining.282b
If thou wishst renown spread abroad in the country,
Place the cloak outside; say:—Fill the interior with cotton.282c
195 Báyizíd uttered not, in sport, this speech:—
“I am safer from the disbeliever, than from the disciple.”283
Those, who are sultáns and monarchs,
Are altogether beggars at this Court (of God).
The man of truth fixes not his desire (of help) upon the
beggar;
It is improper to take the hand of the fallen.283a
This indeed is best,—if thou be pregnant with a jewel,
That thou shouldst take thy head within thyself,—oyster-
like.
When the face of thy adoring is towards God,
If Jibrá,il see thee not,—it is proper.
200 Oh son! Sa'dí's counsel is enough for thee,
If thou hearst it, like a father's counsel.
If, to-day, thou hearst not my word,
God forbid! that, to-morrow, thou shouldst be abashed.
Than this (Sa'dí) is a better adviser necessary to thee?
I know not what may chance to thee, after me.283b
1 HE knew not God and worshipped not,
Who displayed not contentment with his fortune and daily
food.
Contentment makes a man rich;
—Inform the greedy one, world-travelling.—
Oh one without permanence! bring tranquillity to thy
hand.
For, vegetation grows not on the rolling stone.
If thou art a man of judgment and sense, cherish not thy
body;
For, when thou cherishst it,—thou slayst it.
5 Wise men are skill-cherishers;
But body-cherishers are feeble in skill.
Eating and sleeping is the way of beasts alone;
To be in this way is the habit of the unwise.
That one attended to a manly life,
Who silenced first the dog of lust.
Happy that fortunate one, who, in a corner,
Gathers to his hand road-provisions of the knowledge of
God.
Those, to whom God's mystery became revealed,
Preferred not the false to it.
10 But, when he knows not darkness from light,
Whether the sight of a demon, or the cheek of a húrí—to
him what difference?285
Thou didst cast thyself into a well, on that account,
That thou didst not recognise the well from the road.
How may the young hawk fly to the zenith of the sky,
When, in its long feathers, the stone of desire is bound?
If from lust's claw, thy skirt free,
Thou shouldst make, thou wouldst go to the lotus-tree
(in Paradise).
By eating less food than one's custom,
One can make the body of angelic temperament.
15 How may the brutal lion reach the angel state?
It cannot fly from earth to sky.
Practise first the human temperament;
Think after that of the angelic temperament.
Thou art on the flanks of a refractory colt;
Take care that it twist not its head from thy order.
For, if it should tear the halter from thy hand,—
It would slay thy body, and spill thy blood.
If thou art a man, eat food within limit;
Such a fully belly!—art thou a man, or a jar?
20 Within the body, is a place for food, and reflection on God,
and breath;
Thou thinkst it is for bread only.
In the wallet of lust, where is remembrance of God con-
tained?
With difficulty, he breathes,—leg extended.
The body-cherishers have no knowledge,
That—the full stomach is void of wisdom.
The two eyes and stomach became not filled with any-
thing;
These bowels, coil on coil, are best empty.
Like hell which they fill with fuel,
Again, there is a shout, saying:—“Is there any more?”286
25 Thy 'Ísa (the soul) continually dies of weakness;
Thou art in that desire, that thou mayst cherish thy ass
(the body).
Oh one of little worth! buy not the world, in exchange
for religion;
Purchase not thou the ass with the gospel of 'Ísa.
Perhaps, thou seest not that as to rapacious and non-
rapacious animals,
Only the greed of eating casts into the snare.
The panther, which stretches its neck (in pride) among
the beasts.
Falls, mouse-like, into the snare, through the greed of
eating.
Mouse-like, whose bread and cheese thou eatst,
Into his snare, thou fallst and sufferst his arrow.
30 * * * * * *287
If food be delicious, or if it be simple,
When delay occurs to thy hand, thou eatst pleasantly.
35 The sage places his head on the pillow at that time when,
Sleep takes him, with violence, into its net.
So long as thou obtainst not the power of speech,—speak
not;
When thou seest not the plain (of power), beware of the
ball (of speech).
Speak not; and, so long as thou canst, plant not thy foot
Outside of limit, or inside of limit.
Go; acquire a pure heart;
The belly will not become full, save with the dust of the
grave.
A Hájí gave me an ivory comb,
Saying:—“May the mercy of God be on the good quali-
ties of pilgrims!”
40 I heard that once upon a time he had called me a dog,
For his heart was, in some way, dejected about me.
I threw away the comb, saying:—“This bone,
“Is unnecessary for me; another time, call me not a dog.
“Think not, if I swallow my own vinegar,
“That I will endure the violence of the lord of sweet-
meats.”
Oh soul! be content with a little
That thou mayst consider the sultán and darvesh as one.
Why goest thou before the king, with entreaty?
When thou placest avarice aside, thou art a king.
45 And, if thou art a self-worshipper, make the belly a
drum;
Make the door of this and that (man)—a Kibla.
And, if every moment, thy lust says:—give,
It causes thee to wander, village to village, in beggary.
Oh man of sense; contentment exalts the head;
The head full of avarice comes not forth from the shoulder.288
A certain one, possessed of avarice, before King Khwárazm,
—I heard—went early in the morning.
When he saw Khwárazm, he became doubled and straight;
He rubbed his face, moreover, on the earth; and arose.
50 His son said:—“Oh little father, name-seeking!
“I ask of thee a difficulty; explain it.
“Didst thou not say, that the dust of Hijáz was thy
Kibla?
“Why didst thou, to-day, pray in this direction (towards
the king)?”
Display not devotion to the lust of the lust-worshipper;
Since, it has, every hour, another Kibla.
Avarice spilled the reputation of honour;
It poured out a skirt (full) of pearls for two barley-grains.
When thou wishst to become satiated with the rivulet-
water,
Why spillst thou face-water (honour) for the sake of ice?
55 Perhaps, thou art a patient one as to happiness;
But if not, thou art, of necessity, (begging) at doors.289
Sir! go; make short the hand of avarice;
What need to thee of the long sleeve (of beggary)?
Of him, who folded up the casket of avarice,
It is unnecessary to write—“Slave or servant to any one.”
Expectation will drive thee from every assembly,
Drive it from thyself, so that no one may drive thee.
To one of the holy men, a fever came,
A person said:—“Ask for sugar from such a one.”
60 He said:—“Oh son! the bitterness of my dying
“Is better than my bearing the oppression of one of
bitter face.”
The wise man ate not sugar from the hand of that one,
Who, through arrogance, made his face vinegar (bitter)
towards him.
Go not, in pursuit of whatever thy heart desires
For the strengthening of the body diminishes the soul's
light.
Imperious lust makes a man contemptible;
If thou art wise, hold it not dear.
If thou enjoyst whatever may be thy wish,
Thou wilt endure much disappointment from the revolu-
tion of time.
65 To heat constantly the oven of the belly
May, in the day of want, be a misfortune.
In straitened circumstances, thy face causes not its com-
plexion to be shed
If, in the time of plenteousness, thou makst the belly
tight.
The man, full-devourer, endures the belly-load;
And, if he obtain not food, he endures the grief-load.
Thou mayst often see the belly-slave greatly ashamed,
In my opinion, the belly straitened is better than the heart
(straitened).290
Alas! thou art one man-born, full of dignity,
Who is like the beasts—“Nay; they are lost!”290a
70 Show not pity to the ox of great weight;
For, it is a great sleeper, and great devourer.
If fatness, ox-like, be necessary to thee,
Submit thy body, ass-like, to the tyranny of persons.
Knowst thou what wonderful thing I brought from Basra?
—A tale, which is sweeter than the green date.290b
We—a few individuals in the religious garb of the true
(Súfís)—
Passed by the side of a date-garden.
One amongst us was a stomach-barn (a glutton);
He was, through this narrow-eyedness, a belly-enjoyer.
75 The wretched one bound his loins, and ascended the (date)
tree;
And, thence fell heavily headlong.
The Ra,is of the village came, saying:—“Who slew this
man?”
I said:—“Express not against us a harsh word.
“The belly drew his skirt down from the branch.”
—The one of narrow heart is of capacious bowels.—291
Not every time, can one eat the date and carry it away;
The stomach-barn (the glutton) suffered a bad end, and
died.291a
The belly is the hand-fetter, and foot-chain;
A belly-slave rarely worships God.
80 The locust is assuredly altogether belly;
The ant of small belly drags the locust by the foot.291b
A certain one had sugar-cane, on a small plate,—
A wanderer, left and right, for a purchaser.
In a corner of the village, to a pious man, he spoke,
Saying:—“Take; and pay, when thou hast the means.”
That wise man of adorned disposition uttered
An answer, that should be written on the eye.
“Perhaps, to thee, patience (as to payment) may not be
(exercised) towards me;
“But, to me, (patience) is, as to the sugar-cane.”
85 Sugar, in its reed, has no sweetness,
When, behind it, is the bitter demand (for its price).
To one of the men of illumined mind,
The Amír of Khután gave a piece of silk cloth.292
He expanded, through gladness, like the laughing rose-
leaf;
Kissed his hands; clothed himself; and said:—
“How good is the garment of honour of the King of
Khután!
“But, my own religious garment is more beautiful than it.”
If thou art noble, sleep on the earth; for, it is enough:
Perform no one's ground-kiss (in obeisance) for a costly
carpet.
90 A certain one had no bread-food, save an onion;
He had no resources and means, like others.292a
One said to him:—“Oh one of foolish time!
“Go; bring something cooked from the tray of plunder
(the king's table).
“Oh sir! ask, and have fear of none;
“For the one ashamed is cut as to his victuals.”
He bound about him his over-coat, and quickly folded his
hand (sleeve);
They rent his coat, and broke his hand.
I have heard that he said, while he wept blood:—
“What is the remedy for the deed done by one's self!
95 “The captive of avarice is one calamity-seeking,
“After this—I and my house; bread and onion (are
enough).”293
The barley-loaf, which I eat by the power of my arm,
Is better than flour (twice sifted) on the tray of people of
liberality.
Last night, how heart-straitened slept that worthless one,
Who kept the ear (of expectation) upon the Kibla of
others!
In an old woman's house, there was a certain cat,
Which was of reversed fortune, and of bad state.
It went running to the amír's guest-house,
The slaves of the sultán struck it with arrows.
100 It ran, blood dropping from its bones (wounds),
While from fear of life it ran, it kept saying:—
“If I escape from the hand of this arrow-caster,
“I and the mouse, and the old woman's desolate abode
(are enough).”
Oh my soul! honey is not worth the sting's wound;
Contentment with one's own syrup of dates is best.
The Lord God is not satisfied with that slave,
Who is not content with his Lord's portion.
A certain child had cut its teeth,
The father was head-lowered in reflection,
105 Saying:—“Whence may I bring bread food for him?
“It is not manliness to abandon him.”
When helpless, he uttered this speech to his partner (his
wife),
Behold how like a man she spoke to him!
“Suffer not fear of Iblís, until he surrenders life (to God).
“That same Person, who gives teeth, gives bread.”294
The Lord of Days (God) is, in short, able
To cause daily food to arrive; vex not thyself so much.
He is the Pourtrayer of the boy within the womb;
He is also the Writer (Computer) of its age, and daily
food.294a
110 That lord, who bought a slave,
Maintains him. How much more God, who created the
slave!
To thee, there is not that reliance on the Omnipotent,—
As to the slave, on his lord.
I heard that, in ancient times,
A stone used, in the hands of the pious, to become silver.294b
Thou thinkst not this speech is unreasonable?—
When thou becomest content, silver and stone are alike to
thee.
When the child has a heart free from avarice,
In its mind, whether a handful of gold, or dust, what
difference?
115 Give news to the darvesh, sultán-worshipping,
Saying:—“The sultán is more wretched than the darvesh.”
A diram of silver makes the beggar satiated;
Firídún, with the kingdom of Persia,—half satiated.
The guardianship of the country and of the empire is a
calamity;
The beggar is king, but his name is beggar.
The beggar, on whose heart is no desire,
Is better than a king, who is unhappy (through dis-
content).
The villager and his partner (wife) sleep pleasantly,
With a pleasure, with which the sultán, in the palace,
sleeps not.
120 If he be king; or, if garment-stitcher,—
When they sleep, the night of both becomes day.295
And, if the torrent of death comes and takes both,
Whether the sultán on the throne; or the wanderer in the
desert—what difference?
When thou seest the rich man, head intoxicated with pride,
Oh one of straitened hand! go; give thanks to God.
Praise be to God! thou hast not those resources,
That, by thy power, any one's injury may arise.
I have heard that a pious one, a good man,
Made a house conformable to his stature.
125 One said:—“I know thy means (are such),
“That thou mayst construct a better house than this.”
He replied:—“Enough.
“Why should I desire to raise a house above my head?
“This indeed is enough, for the sake of leaving, (after
death).”
Oh slave! make not a house in the path of the torrent (of
this world);
Because, for none did this edifice become complete.
Through knowledge of God, and wisdom, and judgment,—
it is not
That one of a káraván constructs a house on the road (of
this world).
As to a certain one, empire-ruling, possessed of pomp,—
His sun (life) desired to descend to the mountain (in
death).
130 He left his territory to the shaikh of that place;
For he had, in his house, no successor.
When the recluse heard the drum of empire,
He experienced not again pleasure in the corner of retire-
ment;
He began to lead his army, left and right;
Began to strengthen the heart of those hearty:
Became so strong of arm, and sharp of grip,
That he sought contest with those battle-seeking.
He killed a number of a scattered tribe;
The rest assembled together, confederates and allies.
135 They drew him within a fence so tightly,
That he became distressed with the arrow and stone-
raining.
He sent a person to a good man,
Saying:—“I am much distressed; come to my call for
help.
“Assist by blessing; for, the sword and arrow
“Are not a help in every battle.”
When the 'ábid heard, he laughed and said:—
“Why ate he not half a loaf, and slept?”
Kárún, wealth-worshipping, knew not,
That the treasure of safety was in retirement.
140 The perfection (of existence) is the breath (spirit) of a
gentle man,
If he have not gold,—what loss or fear?
Think not,—if a mean one becomes rich,
That his base disposition becomes changed.
But if the one liberality practising gets not bread,
His nature may still be rich (generous).
Generosity is the soil; capital, the sown-field;
Give,—that the root may not be destitute of a branch.
That God, who makes man from dust,—
I have wonder if He makes lost humanity,297
145 Seek not greatness, by gathering wealth;
For, stagnant water makes an unpleasant smell.
Strive for liberality; for, the running water,
Aid from heaven reaches with the flood.
If a mean one fall from rank and fortune (or, be dis-
missed),
He rarely again becomes erect (reinstated).
But, if thou art a precious jewel, have no care;
For, time causes thee not to be destroyed.
A clod—although it be fallen on the road,—
Thou seest not that any one looks at it.
150 But, if a fragment of gold from the teeth (blade) of the
scissors,
Falls,—they will search again (and again) for it, with a
candle.
They extract glass-ware from stone;
Where remains the mirror, beneath the blight?298
Skill, and religion, and excellence, and perfection,—are
necessary;
For rank and wealth sometimes come; sometimes depart.
From men of sweet discourse, I have heard,
That, there was within the city (of Shíráz) a certain ancient
old man;298a
Much experienced as to kings, and the period of command;
A lifetime brought to an end from the era of 'Umar.
155 The ancient tree had fresh fruit (a son),
Who kept, by his goodness (of beauty), the city full of
noise.
Wonder,—as to the (apple-like) chin of that one, heart-
fascinating;
For, there was never an apple on the cypress (of stature).299
On account of his sauciness and lacerating of men,
The old man found pleasure in shaving his head.
With an old razor, the age of small hope (the old man)
Made his (the son's) head white, like the hand of Moses.299a
That one of iron heart (the old man), from the impetuosity
which he had,
Opened (his own) tongue, as to the defect of the one of
Parí-cheek.
160 As to the razor, which made diminution of his beauty,
Men placed, at once, its head in its belly.299b
The head of the one of beautiful countenance, from shame,
harp-like,
Lowered; and, his hair fallen, in front, (on the ground).
As to a certain one,—in whom the heart had gone,—
He was infatuated like his (the boy's) eyes, heart-binding.
A person said:—“Thou didst experience violence and
pain;
“Wander not again in regard to a vain fancy.
“Turn away, moth-like, from love for the boy;
“For the scissors have extinguished the candle of his
beauty.”
165 A cry arose from that true lover:—
“The covenant of those of wet skirt (sin-stained) is
sluggish.300
“A son of pleasant temperament and handsome face—is
necessary;
“To his father, say:—In ignorance, cast away his hair.
“My soul has mingled with his love;
“My heart is not attached to his hair.”
When thou hast a handsome countenance, suffer not grief;
For, if the hair falls, it will again grow.
The vine gives not always a green cluster;
It sometimes sheds its leaves; sometimes gives fruit.
170 Sun-like, the great fall under a veil (of eclipse);
Spark-like, the envious fall into the water.
The sun comes forth from beneath the cloud,
Gradually; but, the spark perishes in the water.
Oh approved friend! fear not the darkness,
In which it is possible there is the water of life.300a
Did not the world find rest, after motion?
Did not Sa'dí travel, until he found his desire?
Consume not thy heart, from failure of desire;
Oh brother! the night is pregnant with the day.
1 THE language (of this chapter) is on integrity, and delibe-
ration, and disposition;
Not on the steed, and the battle-field, and the ball-game.301
Thou art fellow-lodger with the enemy,—lust;
Why art thou a stranger in the art of conflict?301a
Those turning back the rein of lust, from forbidden things,
Surpassed Rustam and Sám in manliness.
Chastise thyself, with a stick, boy-like;
Beat not men's brains with the heavy mace.
5 No one has concern for an enemy like thee,
Who prevailst not against thy own body.
Thy body is a city full of good and bad;
Thou art sultán; and wisdom (is) the prime-minister.
Know for sure, that the mean, neck-exalting,
In this city are—pride, and passion, and avarice.
Resignation and the fear of God are the free of good report;
Lust and concupiscence are highway-men and cut-purses.
When the sultán displays favour to the bad,
How may ease remain for the wise?
10 Lust, and avarice, and pride, and envy
Are like blood in thy veins; and, like the soul in thy body.
If these enemies should obtain nurture,
They would turn aside their heads from thy order and
judgment.
On the part of lust and concupiscence, opposition remains
not,
When they experience the grasp of sharp wisdom.
The Ra,is, who punished not the enemy,
Ruled not also,—by reason of the enemy's power.
What need to say much in this chapter,
When a word is enough, if a person acts upon it?
15 If thou bringst thy feet, mountain-like, (firmly) beneath
thy skirt,
Thy head will pass beyond the sky in grandeur.
Oh man, much-knowing! draw within the tongue;
For, at the Resurrection, there is no register, as to the
tongueless.302
Those scattering the jewel of secrets, oyster-like,
Opened not their mouths, save for pearls (of lustrous
words).
The one great in speech (loquacious) is stuffed as to his
ears (deaf);
He takes not advice, save in silence.
When thou wishst to speak incessantly,
Thou findst not pleasure from the speech of any.
20 It is improper to utter unprepared speech;
It is unfit, to cut (to stop a person's speech) not cast out
(delivered).
Those reflecting on falsehood and truth,
Are better than triflers, ready of answer.303
In man's soul, speech is perfection;
Make not thyself of less account, by speech.
Thou seest not the little talker ashamed;
A grain of musk is better than a heap of clay.
Exercise caution as to the fool having the speech of ten
men;
Utter, like a wise man, one prepared speech.303a
25 Thou didst cast a hundred arrows, and each of the hun-
dred is a miss;
If thou art wise, cast one straight.
Why does a man utter in secret that thing,
When, if it becomes known, his face becomes yellow?
Detract not, in front of a wall,
Behind which, it often happens some one has his ear.
The interior of thy heart is the rampart of a secret,
Take care that it may not see the city-door open.
The wise man has sewn up his mouth, for that reason,
That he sees the candle is consumed by its tongue (wick).
30 Takash uttered a secret to his slaves,
Saying:—“It is improper to unfold this secret to any
one.”
In one year, it came from the heart to his lip;
In one day, it became published in the world.
He ordered the merciless executioner,
Saying:—“Take off the heads of these, with the sword.”
One, from amongst the slaves, while he asked for pro-
tection, said:—
“Slay not the slaves; for, this crime arose from thee.
“At first, when it was a mere fountain, thou didst not
bind it;
“When it became a torrent, of what use is binding?”
35 Reveal thou not the heart's secret to any one,
Who will, indeed, utter it to every one.
Entrust the jewel to the treasury-guards;
But, keep guard over the secret thyself.
So long as thou utterst not speech, to thee, there is power
over it;
When it becomes uttered, it obtains mastery over thee.
Thou knowst that when the demon has departed from
bonds,
He returns not again at the—Lá haul—of any one.305
Speech is a confined demon in the heart's well;
Let it not go to the height of palate and tongue.
40 One can give way to the ugly demon;
But, one cannot seize him again by fraud.
A child may take off the tether from (the steed) Rakhsh;
It comes not within the noose, with a hundred Rustams.305a
Utter not that which, if it falls on an assembly (becomes
revealed),
A person, on its account, falls into calamity.
How well said the woman to the ignorant villager,—
“Utter speech, with wisdom; or, express not a breath.”
Utter not what thou hast not the power to hear;
For, having sown barley, thou wilt not reap wheat.
45 How well, (the Indian sage) Barhaman expressed this
proverb:—
“Every one's dignity is of himself.”
It is unnecessary that thou shouldst play much,
In order that thou mayst shatter thy own value.
A certain one was of good disposition, but ragged garment
clad,
Who was silent for some time, in Egypt.
The wise men, from near and far,
Around him, moth-like, light-seeking.
One night, within his own heart, he reflected,
Saying:—“A man is hidden under his own tongue.306
50 “Even so, if I lower my head to myself;
“How many men know whether I am wise?”306a
He spoke; and enemy and friend knew
That he was indeed, in Egypt, more ignorant than himself.
Those who used to be in his presence became dispersed;
and his work ruined;
He made a journey; and, on the arch of a masjid, wrote:—
“If I had, in a mirror, beheld myself,
“I would not, in foolishness, have rent the curtain.
“So ugly,—I lifted the screen from it;
“For, I thought myself of good visage.”
55 For the one little speaking, there is great fame;
When thou spakest, and splendour remained not to thee,—
fly.
Oh lord of sense! for thee, silence
Is dignity; and, for the worthless one, a curtain.
If thou art a sage, take not away fear of thyself (as to
uttering speech);
And, if thou art a fool, rend not thy own screen.
Display not quickly the idea of thy own mind;
For, whenever thou wishst, thou canst reveal it.
But, when a man's secret is discovered,
One cannot, by endeavour, make it again secret.
60 How well the pen concealed the sultán's secret,
At the head of which, so long as the knife was not, it
spoke not.
The wild beasts are silent,—mankind speakers;
The foolish speaker is worse than the wild beast.
It is proper to utter speech with sense, like a man;
Or, otherwise, to be silent like a wild-beast.
By articulation and sense, one man-born is known;
Be not loquacious and foolish, parrot-like.
A certain foolish one spoke at the time of quarrelling;
With the hand, they rent his collar.
65 He suffered blows on the back of his head; and sate naked
and weeping;
One, world-experienced, said to him:—“Oh self-wor-
shipper!
“If thou hadst, rose-bud-like, been mouth-closed,
“Thou wouldst not have seen thy shirt rent, rose-like.”
The confounded one utters speech full of folly;
Like a brainless (hollow) drum, much-boasting.
Seest thou not, that the tongue is only a fire?
One can extinguish it, in a moment, with water.
If a man be possessed of skill,
Skill itself will speak, not the possessor of skill.
70 If thou hast pure musk, speak not;
For, if it be (existent),—it becomes known by its smell.
To say, with an oath,—“the gold is of the West,”
What need? the touch-stone, indeed, will say what it is.
A thousand calumniators will speak, for this reason,
Saying:—“Sa'dí is neither skilful nor sociable.”
It is allowable if they rend my fur-coat (slander me);
For, I have not the power (of endurance) that they should
take my brain (by much talking).
The son of King 'Azúd was very ill;
Patience was far from his father's nature.
75 A certain pious one spoke to 'Azúd, by way of advice,
Saying:—“Let go the wild fowls from confinement.”
He broke the cages of the birds, morning-singing;
—Who remains in confinement, when the prison is
broken?
The king kept on the arch of the garden-house,
One famous nightingale, a sweet singer.
The son, in the early morn, hastened towards the garden;
He found only that bird, on the arch of the hall.
He laughed, saying:—“Oh nightingale of pleasant voice!
“Thou art left in a cage, on account of thy sweet speech.”
80 No one has business with thee, speechless;
But, when thou spakest, bring its proof.
Like Sa'dí, who, for some time, closed his tongue;
(And) escaped from the calumny of calumniators.308
That one takes ease of heart into his bosom,
Who, from people's society, takes the edge (of the road).
Oh wise man! make not evident the people's defect;
Be occupied with thy own defect, not with that of the
people.309
When they speak falsely, apply not the ear (listen not);
When thou seest one uncovered, cover thy eyes.
85 I have heard that, at a banquet of intoxicated slaves,
A disciple broke the minstrel's tambourine and harp.
They drew him, at once, by the hair, harp-like,
The slaves struck him on the face, drum-like.
At night, from pain of stick and slap, he slept not;
The next day, an old man said to him, by way of admoni-
tion:—
“Thou wishst not to be face-wounded drum-like;
“Oh brother! cast down thy head, in front, harp-like.”
Two persons beheld dust, and tumult, and conflict;
Shoes scattered; stones flying.
90 This one saw the commotion; he turned away from its
direction;
The other went into the midst, and broke his head.
No one is happier than one lord of himself;
For, he has no concern with the good and bad.
They placed thy eye and ear in the head;
The mouth, the place of speech; and, the heart the place
of sense.
Perhaps, thou mayst again know descent from ascent;
Thou mayst not say:—“This is short, that long.”310
Thus spoke an old man of approved sense,
—The words of old men are pleasing to the ear.—310a
95 Saying:—In India, I went down to a corner;
What saw I? A black man, long, like the longest winter-
night.
In his embrace, a girl, moon-like,
His teeth lowered to her lips.
In his embrace, so tightly gathered,
That thou wouldst say:—the night covers the day.
The well known command of God seized my skirt;
Presumption became a fire and seized me.310b
From before and behind, I sought for a stick or stone,
Saying:—“Oh one fearing not God! nameless and shame-
less.”
100 With reproach, and abuse, and outcry, and force,
I separated the white (girl) from the black (man) as the
dawn.
From above the garden, that horrible cloud departed;
From beneath the crow, that egg appeared.
From the reciting of—Lá haul—that demon-form leaped
forth;
The hand of the one of Parí-form clung to me.
Saying:—“Oh thou of the prayer-carpet of hypocrisy,
blue-clad;
“Of black deeds, world-purchaser, religion-seller!
“A long time, my heart had gone from the hand
“To this person; and, my soul was desirous of him.
105 “Now became cooked my raw morsel,
“Which hot thou didst put out of my mouth.”
She brought an accusation of tyranny, and uttered com-
plaint,
Saying:—“Compassion fell down, and mercy remained
not.
“None of the young men remained a helper,
“Who might take justice from me, from this old man,
“To whom shame of his old age comes not,
“To fix his hand in the veil of a woman, unlawful to him.”
My skirt in her grasp, she kept complaining;
From shame, my head remained in the collar.
110 Like garlic, I immediately went out of my garment;
For, I feared the rebuke of young and old.
Naked, I went running from before the woman;
For, my garment in her hand was better than myself.
After a time, she passed by me,
Saying:—“Knowst thou me?” I replied:—“Beware!
“On account of thy hand, I have repented,
“Saying,—I wander not again about a matter of inter-
ference.”
Such a matter comes not before that one,
Who wisely sits behind his own work.
115 Through this disgrace, I took up this counsel,
I regarded, in future, the thing seen, un-seen.
If thou hast sense and wisdom, draw within the tongue;
Like Sa'dí, utter speech; if not, be silent.
A certain one sate before Dá'ud of the tribe of Tai,
Saying:—“I saw a certain Súfí fallen drunk.312
“His turban and shirt, vomit-stained;
“A crowd of dogs, a ring around him.”
When the one of happy disposition heard this tale,
He gathered together his eyebrows at the speaker.
120 For a time, he was amazed, and said:—“Oh companion!
“A kind friend is of use to-day.
“Go; bring him from that shameful place;
“For it is forbidden in the law; and, a disgrace as to the
religious garb.
“Bring him on thy back, like men, for the intoxicated one
“Has not the rein of safety in his hand.”
Through this speech, the hearer became straitened in
heart;
He descended into thought, like an ass in the mire.
Neither the boldness, that he might refuse the order;
Nor the power, that he might bring the drunken one on
his shoulder.
125 He contorted himself, for a while; but, saw no remedy;
He saw no way of drawing his head out of the order.
He bound his loins, and without choice, on his back,
Brought him; and, a city about him, in ferment.
One reviled him, saying:—“Behold the darvesh (Súfí)!
“Oh wonderful devotees of pure religion!
“See thou these Súfís, who have drunk wine;
“(Who) have pawned the patched garment for aromatic
wine.”
Pointing with the hand to this one and the other,
Saying:—“This one is altogether drunk; and, that one,
half drunk.”
130 The sword of the enemy's violence on the neck
Is better than the disgrace of a city, and the clamour of
the people.313
He suffered calamity; and, with trouble, passed one day;
He carried him, without desire, to a place that he had.
During the night, from shame and thought, he slept not;
The next day Tai laughed, and said:—
“Spill not a brother's reputation in the street,
“That adverse fortune may not spill thy reputation, in a
city.”
In respect to the man, good or bad,—ill
Utter not. Oh young man endowed with understanding!
135 For, thou makest the bad man thy enemy;
And, if he be a good man, thou doest ill.
Whosoever says to thee, a certain one is bad;
Know this much, that he is censuring himself.314
For, the proof of (the bad) act of a person is necessary;
And, his (the calumniator's) bad act appears clear.
In ill-speaking, when thou expressest breath,
If thou speakst the truth even, thou art bad.
A person made long his tongue, in slander;
A sagacious one, head-exalting spoke to him,
140 Saying:—“Render not bad the memory of persons, before
me;
“Make me not evilly suspicious, as to thyself.
“I admit—there may be diminution of his dignity;
“There will be no increase to thy rank.”
A person said—I thought it was a jest—
“Thieving is more upright than slandering.”
I said to him:—“Oh friend of distracted sense!
“That tale came strangely to my ear.
“What goodness, seest thou in dishonesty,
“That thou preferst it to slander?”
145 He replied,—“Yes; thieves display ardour;
“By the manly arm, they fill the belly.
“From slander, what does that simpleton desire,
“Who blackened his record-book (with God) and enjoyed
not anything?”
In the Nizámiya, I had a pension;
Night and day, there was instruction and repetition.315
I said to my teacher:—“Oh one full of wisdom!
“A certain friend bears me envy.
“When I give the gift of signification, as to the traditions,
“His polluted heart becomes disturbed.”
150 When the leader of morals heard this speech,
He was greatly enraged, and said:—“How wonderful!
“Thy friend's enviousness is disagreeable to thee;
“Who informed thee that detraction is good?
“If he, through baseness, took hell's path,
“Thou, by this other path, reachst it.”
A certain one said:—“Hujjáj is a blood-devourer,
“His heart is like a piece of black stone.315a
“He fears neither the sigh, nor the complaint of the
people;
“Oh God! Take from him the justice due to the people.”
155 One, world-experienced, an old man of ancient birth,
Gave to a young man, a piece of counsel, worthy of an old
man,
Saying:—“The justice, of (due to) his wretched oppressed
ones,
“They will demand (on the Judgment Day); and, from
the others (his slanderers) revenge.
“Restrain thy hand (of criticism) from his and his time;
“For, time itself makes him powerless.
“Neither does injustice on his part appear to me happy;
“Nor, slander even, on thy part, appear to me pleasant.”
Sin carries to hell the ill-fated one,
Who made full his measure; and black (with entries) his
record-book.
160 The other person, by slander, runs behind him,
Lest that he should go alone to hell.
I have heard that one of the pious
Laughed, jestingly, at a boy.
The other devotees, sitting in retirement,
Fell, in slander, on his fur-garment.316
At length, this story remained not concealed;
They unfolded it to that one of clear sight. He said:—
“Rend not the curtain over the friend of perturbed state;
“Neither is pleasantry unlawful; nor, slander lawful.”316a
165 In my childhood, the desire of fast-keeping arose;
I used not to know, which was left, and which right.
A certain 'ábid of the pious of the street
Used constantly to teach me the washing of hand and foot,
Saying:—“First, according to tradition, say:—In the
name of God!
“Secondly, summon resolution; thirdly, wash the palms
of the hands.317
“Wash, after that, the mouth and nose three times,
“Scratch the nostrils, with the little finger.
“Rub the front teeth, with the fore-finger;
“For, after the declining (of the sun the tooth-brush) is
forbidden during a fast.317a
170 “And throw, after that, three handfuls of water on the
face;
“From the growing-place of the hair, down to the chin.
“Wash again the hands up to the elbow;
“Utter whatever thou knowst of praise and recitation of
the names of God.
“Again, stroking of the head; after that, washing of the
feet;
“This is indeed (ablution); and its conclusion,—‘in the
name of God.’
“As to this custom (of ablution), no one knows better
than I,
“Seest thou not that the old man of the village has become
doting?”
The ancient village-holder heard this speech;
He was confounded, and said:—“Oh execrable filthy one!
175 “Saidst thou not that, the tooth-brush during a fast is a
crime?
“To eat the dead sons of Ádam is lawful.
“Say—first, the mouth from things unfit to be uttered,
“Wash—to that one who has washed as to things fit to be
eaten.”
The person, whose name is mentioned in public,
Recite his name and praises, in the sweetest way.
When always thou sayst that men are asses
Entertain not the idea, that they, like men, will mention
thy name.
Speak of my mode of life, within the street, even as
Thou canst speak of it to my face.
180 And, if thou hast shame of the one present
Oh sightless one! is not the Secret-Knower (God)
present?
Shame comes not to thee of thyself
That thou hast freedom as to Him, and shame as to me?
Those path-recognising of firm foot
Sate, some time, together in privacy.
One from amongst them began to slander,
He opened the door of remembrance of a helpless one.
A person said to him:—“Oh friend of perturbed com-
plexion!
“Hast thou ever made war against the infidels in Europe?”
185 The slanderer said:—“From behind my four walls,
“I have not, during my whole life, placed my foot in front
(of them).”
The darvesh of pure breath thus spoke:—
“I have not beheld a person, to such a degree greatly dis-
traught,
“That the infidel sits secure from contest with him;
“(But) a Muslim escapes not from the violence of his
tongue.”
How well a distraught one of Margház uttered
A saying, from the subtlety of which thou mayst bite the
lip with the teeth:—
“If I defame the name of men,
“I only utter the slander of my mother.
190 “For the wise educated ones know,
“That that devotion is indeed best which the mother
takes.”319
Oh one of good name! a friend, who is absent,—
As to him, two things are unlawful.
One is that they should wrongfully enjoy his property;
The second that they should defame him.
Whosoever defames men,
Expect not thou thy own thanks from him.
For, he utters that very thing in thy absence,
Which he utters before thee, behind men.
195 In my opinion, that person is world-wise,
Who is engaged about himself, and careless of the world.
As to three persons, I have heard that slander is lawful;
When thou exceedst this, the fourth is a sin.
First, the king, reproach-approving,—
From whom, thou mayst observe injury as to the people's
heart,—
It is lawful to carry information regarding him;
Perhaps, the people may be cautious of him.
Secondly,—draw not the screen on the shameless one;
For, he himself rends the screen of his own body.
200 Oh brother! guard not, from the (shallow) pool, him,
Who falls, up to the neck, in a well.
Thirdly—the one of crooked balance, of dishonest disposi-
tion,
Utter whatsoever thou knowst of his bad deeds.320
I have heard that a thief entered from the desert,
He passed by the gate of Sístán.320a
The green-grocer robbed him of half a dáng,
The thief of black deeds raised a cry:—
“Oh God! burn not Thou in the fire the night-traveller
(robber);
“For, an inhabitant of Sístán road travels (robs) by day.”
205 A certain one said to a Súfí, possessed of purity;—
“Knowst thou not what a certain person said behind thy
back?”
He replied:—“Oh brother! be silent; go to sleep:
“What the enemy said,—best unknown.”
Those persons, who bear the enemy's message,
Are, assuredly, more an enemy than the enemy.
Bears the enemy's word to a friend, no one,
Save that one, who is, in enmity, the enemy's friend.
The enemy is unable to express violence to me,
To such a degree that my body should tremble at hearing
(his words).
210 Thou art the greater enemy, who bringst to the mouth
(openly),
What the enemy said, in secret.
The word-plucker makes fresh the ancient feud;
He brings the good, meek, man to anger.
So long as thou canst, fly from that fellow-sitter,
Who said to the dormant trouble—“Arise!”
(To be) a man of black condition (in distress),—in it, foot-
bound,
Is better than to carry strife from place to place.
Contest, between two persons, is like fire;
The unfortunate tale-bearer is the fire-wood cutter.
215 Fírídún had an approved vazír,
Who possessed an illumined heart, and far-seeing eye.
First, he used to preserve resignation to God;
Next, he used to keep observance of the king's command.
The mean functionary places trouble upon the people,
Saying:—“It is the administration of the country and the
augmentation of the treasury.”
If thou keepst not God's side,
God causes injury to reach thee from the king.
A certain one went, in the morning, to the king,
Saying:—“May ease and desire every day be thine!
220 “Consider it not design; accept counsel from me;
“This vazír is, in secret, thy enemy.
“Of the high and low of the army—none have remained,
“Who have not loans of silver and gold from him.
“On the condition that,—when the king, neck-exalting,
“Dies,—they give back that gold and silver.
“That self-worshipper wishes not thee, alive;
“Lest that he should not regain his money.”
Often, towards the vazír, the asylum of the kingdom,
The king, with the eye of punishment, used to glance,
225 Saying:—“In the semblance of friends, before me,
“Why art thou, in heart, my enemy?”
The vazír kissed the ground before his throne and said:
“Since thou askst, it is now improper to conceal.
“Oh renowned king! I this wish,
“That the world, like me, may be thy well-wisher.
“When thy death is the stated period for (the return of)
my silver,
“They will, from fear of me, wish thee greater perma-
nency.
“Desirest thou not that men, with sincerity and supplica-
tion,
“Should wish thy head green, and thy life long.
230 “Men reckon prayer—a gain;
“For, it is the cuirass against the arrow of calamity.”
The monarch approved of what he said:
The rose of his face, from freshness, expanded.
Of the rank and station, which the prime-minister
possessed,
He increased its dignity, and exalted its rank.
Than a calumniator, I have seen no one more afflicted;
Of more reversed fortune, and overturned state.
Through the ignorance and obscurity of judgment, which
is his,
He casts altercation between two friends.
235 Another time, this and that (the two friends) make glad
their hearts;
He, between them, unfortunate and ashamed,
To kindle a fire between two persons;
To consume oneself in the midst—is not wisdom.
Like Sa'dí, that one tasted the delight of retirement,
Who, from both worlds, withdrew his tongue.
Whatever thou knowst of profitable speech—utter;
Though it be acceptable to no one.
For, to-morrow (the Judgment Day), he penitent may raise
a cry,
Saying:—“Alas! why did I not listen to the truth?”
240 A good, order-bearing, chaste wife
Makes a poor man, a king.
Go; strike five times (in joy) at thy door,
That a concordant mistress is in thy bosom.
If, all day, thou endurest grief,—have no care,
When, at night, the dear companion is in thy embrace.
Whose house is prosperous, and bed-fellow, a companion—
God's glance is, in mercy, towards him.
When the wife of beautiful face is chaste,
The husband, by beholding her, is in Paradise.
245 That person took up, from the world, his heart's desire,
Whose mistress was concordant with him.
If she be chaste, and pleasant of speech,
Look not at her beauty, or deformity.
From the one of Parí-face, of bad disposition,—takes
away (the ball of empire),
The woman of demon-face of pleasant disposition.
From her husband's hand, she takes vinegar, like sugar;
Face vinegar plastered, she eats not sweetmeats.
250 The woman, well-wishing is the heart's-ease;
But, from the bad woman,—oh God! protect me.
As a parrot, for whom a crow was companion,
Considers freedom from the cage,—gain,—
Place thy head in wandering, in the world;
Place, otherwise, thy heart on helplessness.
To go bare-foot,—better than the tight shoe;
The toil of travel,—better than contention in the house.
A captive in the kází's dungeon,—better
Than, in the house, to see contraction on the eyebrow (of
the wife).
255 Travel is a festival to that house-master,
In whose house is a wife of bad disposition.
Shut the door of joyfulness on that house,
From which, the wife's clamour issues loudly.
When the wife takes the path to the bázár, strike;
Otherwise, sit, in the house, wife-like.
If the wife has no ear for her husband,
Clothe the man in her black garment.
The wife, who is ignorant and dishonourable,
Thou didst ask for a calamity on thy head,—not a woman.
260 When, in the barley-measure, she breaks faith,
Wash thy hand of the wheat-store.325
God has desired good to that slave,
For whom, the heart and hand of the wife are true.
When the wife laughs in the stranger's face,
To the husband, say:—“Boast not further of manliness.”
May the woman's eyes be blind, as to strangers!
When she goes out of the house, may it be to her grave!
When the wanton wife places her hand in the fried meat,
Say:—“Go; put thy hand in a man's face.”
265 When thou seest that the woman's foot is not in one place.
Silence is not the part of wisdom and judgment.
Fly from her hand, into the crocodile's mouth;
For dying is better than life, in distress.
Cause her face to be covered from the strange man;
And, if she hear not,—then whether wife, or husband,—
what difference?
The beautiful wife of pleasant disposition is fortune and
companion;
Release (divorce) the wife, ugly, discordant.
How well came this single speech from those two persons,
Who were bewildered by a woman's hand.
270 This one said:—“Let there not be a bad wife for any
one!”
The other said:—“Let there not be a woman, in the world
itself!”
Oh friend! every fresh spring, take a new wife;
For, last year's almanac is of no use.326
Whomsoever, thou seest captive to a woman;
Do not—oh Sa'dí! reproach him not.
Thou also mayst suffer violence, and endure her burden,—
If, one night, thou drawst her into thy embrace.
A young man, from want of concordance with his wife,
Bewailed to an old man, and said:—
275 “A heavy load, from the hand of this bold enemy,
“I endure, even as the nether mill-stone.”
He said to him:—“Oh sir! place thy heart on distress;
“No one, by patience exercising, becomes ashamed.327
“Oh one house-burning! at night, thou art the upper
mill-stone;
“In the day, why art thou the nether stone?”327a
When thou mayst have experienced pleasure from a rose-
bush,
If thou endurest the burden of its thorn, it is proper.
The tree, whose fruit thou constantly enjoyst,
At that time,—when thou sufferst its thorn,—be patient.
280 When a boy has passed ten years of age,
Say:—“Sit apart from those not unlawful (to him in
marriage).”
It is not right to kindle a fire on cotton;
For, while thou winkst the eye, the house is burned.
When thou wishst that thy name may remain in place
(of honour),
Teach the son wisdom, and judgment.
When his skill and judgment are insufficient,
Thou wilt die; and, none of thy family will remain.
He endures severity for much time,
The son,—whom the father tenderly cherishes.
285 Keep him wise and abstinent;
If thou lovest him, keep him not by endearing expressions.
Rebuke and instruct him, in childhood;
Exercise promise and fear, as to his good and bad deeds.
For the young student,—commendation, and praise, and
reward
(Are) better than the master's reprimand, and threatening.
Teach the one matured, hand-toil;
Even if, Kárún-like, thou hast command as to wealth.
How knowst thou—the revolution of time
May cause him to wander, in exile, in the country?
290 Rely not on that resource which is;
For, it may be, that wealth may not remain in thy hand.
When, for him—there are the resources of trade,
How may he bear the hand of beggary before any one?
The purse of silver and gold reaches its limit;
The purse of the trader becomes not empty.
Knowst thou not how Sa'dí obtained his object?
He neither traversed the desert, nor ploughed the sea.
In childhood, he suffered slaps from the great;
In matureness, God gave him purity.
295 Whosoever places his neck (in submission) to order,
Not much time passes, but he gives orders.
Every child, who the violence of the teacher,
Experiences not,—will suffer the violence of time.
Keep the son good and cause ease to reach him,
That his eyes (of expectation) may not remain on the
hands of others.
Whosoever endured not grief for his son,
Another suffered grief and abused him.
Preserve him from the bad teacher;
For, the unfortunate and road-lost one makes him, like
himself.
300 Desire not one of more black deeds than that herma-
phrodite,
Whose face becomes black (with sin) before the sprouting
of the beard.
From that one, void of honour, it is proper to fly;
For, his unmanliness spilled the water (of honour) of men.
The boy who sate among Kalandars,
To his father, say:—“Wash thy hands of his welfare.”329
Suffer not regret as to his destruction and ruin,
For, the degenerate son, dead before his father, (is) best.
One night, in my street, there was a convivial meeting;—
Men of every class, in that assembly.
305 When the musician's voice entered from the street,
The há,e hú,e of lovers went to the firmament.
One of fairy face was my beloved;
I said to him:—“Oh my beautiful toy!
“Why comest thou not, with thy companions, to the
assembly,
“That thou mayst illumine our assembly, candle-like?”
I heard that he went, and by himself,
Kept saying to me:—“Oh my lover!
“When thou hast not a beard, like men;
“It is not manliness to sit before men.”
310 The beardless boy, house-mining, ruins thee;
Go; make the house prosperous with a pleasant woman.330
It is improper to play at love, with a rose,
Which has, every morning, a fresh nightingale.
Since, in every assembly, he made himself a candle,
Wander not again, about him, moth-like.
A woman, good, and of pleasant disposition and adorned,—
How does she resemble the ignorant youth?330a
Blow a breath of fidelity upon her, rose-bud-like,
Who follows thee, with laughing, rose-like.
315 Not like a beloved boy, impudent,
Whom one cannot break with a stone.331
Consider him (the boy) not charming, like the húrí of
Paradise,
For whom, the face of another is ugly, demon-like.
If thou dost kiss his feet, he has no thanks (to give);
And, if thou art the dust (in humility), he has no fear.
Make void thy head of brain, and hand of money,
When thou givest thy heart to the son of man.
Exercise not the evil glance, towards the son of man;
Lest evil should arise to thy own son.
320 Once upon a time, it reached my ear in this city (of
Shíráz),
That a certain merchant purchased a slave.
The one of fairy-face, whatever fell to his hand,
Broke, in malice, the head and brain of the foolish mer-
chant.331a
He summoned God and His Prophet to himself, as witness,
Saying:—“I will not again wander about folly.”
325 In this week, journeying chanced to him,
Heart-wounded, and head-bound, and face-torn.
When he went one or two miles out of Kazrún
A dangerous, stony place appeared before him.332
He inquired, saying:—“What is the name of this
castle?”
Saying:—“Whosoever lives sees many wonderful things.”332a
An intimate companion of the káraván thus spoke to
him:—
“Thou knowst not, perhaps, the place called—tang-i-
turkán?”332b
The merchant grieved when he heard the name—tang-i-
turkán;
Thou wouldst have said, that he had beheld the sight of
an enemy.
330 He raised a great shout at the black,
Saying:—“Why urgest thou farther? Throw away the
goods.
“To me, there is not a barley-grain of wisdom, nor know-
ledge,
“If I again go to the—tang-i-turkán.”
Shut the door of lust of the ungrateful soul;
Or, if thou art a lover,—suffer the kick, and bind the
head.
When thou cherishst a slave,
Bring him up in awe, so that thou mayst enjoy advantage
from him.
And, if the lord bite with the teeth (kisses) his slave's lip,
He (the slave) matures the fancy of lordship.
335 The slave should be water-drawer, and brick-maker;
The cherished slave is a fist-striker.333
A crowd sate with a pleasant youth,
Saying:—“We are honourable lovers, and possessed of
discernment.”
Ask (their state) of me, time-wearied;
For the fast-keeper suffers regret at the table-cloth.333a
The sheep eats the date-seed, for that reason,
That there is a lock and fastening on the dates.
The head of the oil-presser's ox is towards the grass, for
that reason,
That, its tether is short of the rape-seed.
340 A certain (chaste) one saw a form possessed of beauty;
Through phrensy of love and ecstacy for her, he changed.
Helpless, he cast forth perspiration, to the same degree,
As the dew on the leaf of the April-tree.
The sage Bukrát, riding, passed by him;
He inquired, saying:—“What matter befell this one?”333b
A person said to him:—“This is a chaste 'ábid,
“From whose hand sin never sprang.
“Day and night, he goes into the plain and mountain;
“From society, fleeing; and, with men, disgusted.
345 “One, heart-ravishing, has snatched his heart;
“The foot of his vision has descended into the clay (of
love).
“When the reproach of the people comes to his ear,
“He says:—Of so much reproach, be silent.
“Say not, if I complain, that he is not excusable;
“For, my complaint is not far from cause.
“This picture snatches not the heart from my hand;
“He (God) takes the heart, who pourtrayed this picture.”
The man, work-tried, heard this speech;
Old in years, one cherished, of ripe judgment.
350 He said:—“Although, the soul of goodness goes forth (in
these words),
“With whatever thou mayst utter, every one goes not.
“Of the Painter (God) indeed is this picture;
“Which snatched, in rapine, the heart of the distraught.
“Why does not the child of one day (in age) ravish his sense,
“For, in beholding the creating of God, whether of ripe
age, or tender,—what difference?”334
The asserter of God's truth looks at the camel, in the
same way,
As, at the beauties of Chín and Chigál.334a
Every line of mine of this book (the Bustán) is a woman's
veil
Lowered on the cheek of the one, heart-alluring.335
355 There are meanings (clear) beneath the black letters,
Like the beloved one behind the curtain; or the moon
behind the cloud.
In the times of Sa'dí sorrow is not comprehended;
For, there is so much beauty of thought behind the screen
(of black letters).
For me,—there are words, assembly adorning,
In them, fire-like, illumination (for the seeker) and burning
(for the envious).335a
I grieve not of enemies, if (through envy) they tremble;
For, through this Persian fire, they are in burning.
If he has escaped in the world, from the (people of the)
world,
It is he, who has closed the door on himself, against the
people.
360 No one escaped from the violence of tongues,
Whether he be self-displaying, or truth-worshipping.
If, angel-like, thou dost fly from the sky,
Ill-thought will cling to thy skirt.
One can, with effort, bind the Tigris;
One cannot bind the enemy's tongue.
Those wet of skirt (sin-stained) sit together,
Saying:—“This is dry devotion; and that a trap for
gaining bread.”
Turn not thy face from worshipping God,
Abandon;—so that people may reckon thee as nothing.
365 When the pure God becomes satisfied with the slave,
If these (people) be not contented,—what matter?
The enemy of the people is not acquainted with God;
Through the tumult of the people, there is no way for him
to God.
They have not found the path to the place (of their desire)
for that reason,
That, they have missed their foot, at the first step.
Two persons apply their ears (listen) to a tradition:
From this one, to that—as far as from Ahrimán (Satan) to
Surosh (Gabriel).
One accepts advice; the other, odious,
Through word-seizing (slandering), is not occupied with
the advice.
370 Dejected, in the dark corner of a place,
What may he find from the cup, world-displaying?
If thou art a lion, or a fox, think not
That thou mayst escape from these (slanderers) by man-
liness, or stratagem.
If a person chooses the corner of retirement;
Because he has not much solicitude for society,—
They make him contemptible, saying:—“(This one's work)
is fraud and deceit;
“He flies from man, as from the demon.”
If he be of laughing face and sociable,
They consider him not chaste and abstinent.
375 With slander, they rend the rich man's skin,
Saying:—“If, in the world, there be a Far'ún, it is he.”
If one, foodless, weeps, with heart-burning,
They call him:—“Unfortunate and unhappy.”
If a poor man be in distress,
They will say it is—from calamity and misfortune.337
And, if a prosperous one comes down from his footing,
They regard it (his fall) as gain, and God's grace.
Saying:—“How long this dignity and arrogance?
“In the rear of happiness, is unhappiness.”
380 If as to a straitened one of narrow means,—
Fortune makes his rank high,
In malice towards him, they gnash their teeth with poison,
Saying:—“This base time is the cherisher of the mean.”
When they behold a work perfect in thy hand,
They reckon thee covetous, and world-worshipping.
And if thou holdst the hand of resolution from the work
(of the world),
They consider thee of the beggar-trade, and cooked food-
devourer.337a
And, if thou art an orator,—thou art a drum full of
nonsense;
If thou art silent,—thou art a picture (lifeless) of the
bath-room.
385 They call not those, patience-exercising, men,
Saying:—“The helpless one, through fear, raised not his
head.”
And, if in his head (nature) there be awe and manliness,
They fly from him, saying:—“What madness is this?”
If he be a little eater, they slander him,
Saying:—“His property is perhaps the fortune of another.”
And, if his food be excellent and pure,
They call him:—“Belly-slave, and body-cherisher.”
And, if the wealth-possessor lives without pomp,
Saying:—“Decoration is a reproach to people of discern-
ment.”
390 They apply the tongue (of reproach) to his torture, sword-
like,
Saying:—“The unfortunate one withholds gold from his
own body!”
If he constructs a palace and painted hall;
Makes a splendid dress for his own body.
He is ready to die, from the power of cavillers,
Saying:—“He adorned himself woman-like.”
If a devotee travelled not,
Those, who have made journies call him not a man,
Saying:—“For him, not advanced beyond his wife's
embrace,
“What is his skill, or judgment, or knowledge?”
395 They even rend the skin of one, world-experienced,
Saying:—“He is one, head-revolving, of overturned
fortune.
“If of fortune, there were for him, a portion and share,
“Time would not drive him from city to city.”
The one viewing critically contemns the bachelor,
Saying:—“The earth is vexed with his sleeping and
rising.”
And, if he marries, he says:—“From the power of the
heart,
“He has fallen headlong, in the mire, ass-like.”
The one of ugly face escapes not from man's oppression;
Nor the lovely one, from the unmanly one of ugly speech.
400 If, one day, anger plucks (a man) from his place,
They call him:—“Insane, and of obscure judgment.”339
And, if he exercises patience with any,
They will say:—“He has not sufficient spirit.”
They say, by way of counsel, to the generous one,—
“Enough!
“For, to-morrow, both thy hands may be (in beggary)
before a person.”
And if he becomes contented and self-possessing,
He becomes captive to the reproaching of a crowd,
Saying:—“This mean man wishes to die like his father.
“Who gave up wealth, and took away regret.”
405 Who is able to sit in the corner of safety,
When the Prophet escaped not from the villainy of the
enemy?339a
Of God,—who resemblance, and partner and co-equal,
Has not,—heardst thou what the Christian said!
No one escapes from a person's hand,
The remedy for the captive is patience only.
There was a young man, skilful and learned,
Who was, as regards admonishing, vigilant and manly.
Of good repute, and pious, and God-worshipping,
The beard of his face more beautiful than his hand-
writing.
410 Strong in eloquence, and clever in grammar;
But, he used not to utter truly the letters of the Abjad.
Perhaps, he had stammering in the tongue,
For, he used not to explain the truth of the Mu'jam.
I spoke to one of the pious,
Saying:—“A certain one has no front teeth.”
At my folly, he became red of face,
Saying:—“Speak not again, in this foolish way.
“Thou didst see in him that very defect, which is existent;
“From how much skill, thy wisdom's eye was shut!
415 “Listen truly to me; for, in the day of certainty (Re-
surrection),
“The man, good-seeing, will not experience evil.340
“One, who has grace, and science, and judgment,
“—If the foot of his integrity slips from its place.—
“Approve not violence against him, for one small matter.
“What have the sages said:—Take what is clean.”
Oh wise man! the thorn and the rose are together:
Why art thou in the fetter of the thorn? fasten thou the
rose-bouquet.
He—in whose nature, is the ugly disposition,
Sees not the peacock,—only his ugly foot.
420 Oh one of malevolent face! acquire purity (of heart);
For, the dark mirror displays not the face.
Seek a path by which, thou mayst escape from punishment
(of hell);
Not a word (of man), on which thou mayst lay the finger
(of criticism).
Oh wise one! place not in front (expose not) the people's
defects;
For it sews up thy eyes from thy own defects.
Why do I inflict punishment on the one of stained skirt,
When I know, within myself, that I am of wet (stained)
skirt?
It is improper that thou shouldst exercise violence against
a person,
When thou dost aid thyself by artifice of speech.
425 When evil is unpleasant to thee, do not do it thyself;
Say, after that, to thy neighbour:—“Do not evil.”
If I am God-worshipping; or if self-displaying;
I preserve my exterior for thee, my interior for God.
When I adorned my exterior with chastity,
Interfere not with my crookedness, or uprightness.
If my way of life be good; or if bad,
God is more acquainted than thou, with my secret.
Punish for bad conduct that person,
Who hopes from thee the reward of goodness.
430 If I am good or bad, be thou silent;
For, I am myself the porter of profit and loss.
For a good deed by a man of good judgment,—
For one, God writes ten.342
Oh son! of whomsoever, thou also a single talent
Mayst observe,—pass by his ten defects.
Count not upon the finger one defect of his;
Bring forth a world of excellence for nothing.
Like the enemy, who, on the poetry of Sa'dí,
Glances with scorn, heart ruined.
435 He has no ear for the hundred beautiful subtleties;
When he beholds a defect, he raises a shout.
That one, bad-approving,—to whom, there is only this
reason,—
Envy plucked out his eyes, good-discerning.
Did not God's creating create the people?
Black, and white, and beautiful, and ugly—came.
Not every eye nor eyebrow, that thou seest, is good;
Eat the kernel of the pistachio nut; cast away its husk.
1 I CANNOT express a breath for thanks to my Friend (God);
For, I know not a word of praise that is worthy of Him.
Every hair on my body is a gift from Him;
How may I perform thanks for every hair?
Praise to the Lord-Giver,
Who, from nonentity, made the slave existing.
To whom, is there the power of description of His benefi-
cence?
For, His praises are immersed in His dignity.343
5 That inventor, who creates a person from clay,
Gives soul, and wisdom, and sense, and heart.
From the father's back-bone to the limit of old age,
Behold to what extent, He, from the unseen, gave thee
honour!
When God created thee pure, be sensible and pure;
For, it is a shame to go unclean to the dust (of the grave).
Shake off continually the dust (of mean qualities) from the
mirror (of the heart);
For, it takes not polish, when the blight eats it.
In the beginning, wast thou not water of man's seed?
If thou art a man, put presumption out of thy head.
10 When, thou bringst, with effort, victuals to thyself,
Rely not on the strength of thy own arm.
Oh self-worshipper! why dost thou not see God
Who brings into revolution the arm of the hand?
When by thy striving, a thing happens,
Know by God's grace (it is); not, by thy own effort.
By violence no one has carried off the ball;
Utter praise to the Lord of Grace.
Of thyself, thou art not erect one step;
From the hidden, aid arrives momently.
15 Wast thou not a child, tongue-bound as to boast (of
speech)?
Food, from the navel, kept coming within thee.
When they severed the umbilical cord, thy daily food was
broken off;
Thy hand clung to thy mother's breast.
A traveller, before whom adverse time brings sickness,
They give to him water from his own city, as medicine.344
Then he obtained nourishment in the belly;
He obtained food from the store of the bowels.
The two breasts,—that, to-day, are heart-pleasing to him,—
Are also two fountains of his nurturing-place.
20 The bosom and breast of the mother, heart-pleasing,
Are paradise; and, the breast is for him, a stream of milk.
Her stature, life-nourishing, is a tree;
The offspring, on her bosom,—a delicate fruit.
Are not the veins of the breast, within the heart?
Then, if thou wilt consider, milk is the heart's blood.
Teeth, sting-like, plunged in her blood;
Love for her own blood-devourer created within her.
When God made the arm strong; and, the teeth, dense—
The nurse anoints her breast with aloes.
25 The aloe makes it (the offspring) silent (forgetful) of milk, so
That it forgets the breast and its milk.
Oh sir! thou also art, as to repentance, a child of the path
of God;
By bitterness, sin becomes forgotten by thee.
A young man turned his head from his mother's judgment,
Her sorrowful heart burned like fire.
When she became helpless, she brought a cradle before
him,
Saying:—“Oh one languid of love and forgetful of the
time (of infancy)!
“Wast thou not weeping, and tired and small,
“When nights, from thy power, sleep overpowered me
not?
30 “No; to thee, in the cradle there was not the strength of
thy (present) state;
“To thee, there was not the power to drive away a fly
from thyself.
“Thou art that one, who used to be vexed with a single
fly,
“Who, to day, art chief and powerful.”
Thou mayst again be in that state, at the bottom of the
grave,
When thou canst not repel an ant from thy body.
Again how may the eye light up its lamp,
When the worm of the grave devours the fat of the brain?
Like one clothed as to the eye (blind), seest thou not that
the road
He knows not, at the time of going, from the well?
35 Thou who art possessed of vision, if thou didst perform
thanks (knowst the path from the well);
If not, thou also art one clothed as to the eye (blind).
The instructor taught thee not understanding and judg-
ment;
God created these qualities in thy existence.
If He had refused thee a heart, truth-hearing,
Truth would have appeared to thy eye the essence of false-
hood.
Behold one finger, with how many joints,
God, by creating, cast together.
Then, it is madness and foolishness,
That thou shouldst place thy finger (of cavilling) on the
word of His creating.
40 Far the sake of man's motion, consider
Him, who fixed the sinews and placed the articulations of
so many bones.347
For, without the revolution of the ancle, and the knee, and
the foot,
It is impossible to raise the foot from its place.
Prostration (on the ground) is not difficult for a man, on
that account,
That, the joint in his back-bone is not of one piece.
God has arranged two hundred joints within one another,
Who has finished like thee (oh God!) a clay-joint?
Oh one of agreeable disposition! the veins in thy body
Are a land,—in it, are three hundred and sixty streams.
45 In the head,—vision, and thought, and judgment, and dis-
cretion;
The limb of the body for the dear heart; (and) the heart
for dear wisdom.
The wild beasts, with the countenance downcast, are con-
temptible;
Thou, Alif-like, art a rider on thy feet.347a
They, head-lowered, for the sake of eating;
Thou, with dignity, bringst thy food to the head.
It beseems thee not, with so much chieftainship,
That thou shouldst lower thy head, save in devotion (to
God).
By His own beauty, God gave thee knowledge; behold!
He made thee not, like the animals, head in the grass.
50 But, with this form, heart-enchanting,
Be not fascinated; take a good walk of life.
A straight path is necessary, not erect stature;
For, the infidel is also like us, in outward form.
He, who gave thee eye and mouth, and ear;
If thou art wise,—strive not in opposition to Him.
I grant, that thou mayst beat the enemy with a stone,
Wage not war, at least from ignorance, with the Friend
(God).
Those of wise disposition, obligation-recognising,
Sew up the favour (of God), with the nail of thanks.
55 One king-born fell from a black horse;
A joint in his neck became dislocated.
The neck, elephant-like, descended to his body;
His head used not to turn, so long as his body moved not.
The physicians were astonied at this;
But, a philosopher, from the Greek-land,
Twisted back his head, and the vein became right,
And, if he had not been present, he would have become
paralytic.
Again, he came near to the king;
That mean one looked not at him.
60 The sage's head became plunged in shame;
I heard that he went, and gently said:—
“If, yesterday, I had not twisted his neck,
“He would not, to-day, have turned his face from me.”
He sent a seed, by the hand of a slave,
Saying:—“It is proper that thou shouldst place it on the
censer, aloe-burning.”
To the one, king-born, through the smoke, sneezing came,
His head and neck became even as they were.
With apology, they hastened after the philosopher;
They sought much, but found little.
65 Turn not thy head from thanks to a benefactor,
Lest that thou shouldst, in after days, raise thy head for
nothing.
A certain one severely rubbed a boy's ears (chastised him),
Saying:—“Oh father of wonderful judgment, of overturned
fortune!
“I gave thee an axe, saying:—Split fire-wood;
“I said not:—Undermine the masjid-wall.”
The tongue came (from God) for thanks and praise;
The grateful one moves it not in slander.
The ear is the thoroughfare for the Kurán and counsel;
Strive not to listen to calumny and falsehood.
70 Two eyes, for the sake of (beholding) the creating of God,
are good;
Lower the eyes from the defect of brother and friend.
For the sake of thy ease, the night and day are;
The resplendent moon and the sun, world-illuminating.
For thy sake, the west wind, chamberlain-like,
Causes constantly to be spread the carpet of spring.
If wind, and snow, and rain, and hail are,
And if the Chaugán expresses thunder, and the sword
lightning,—
All are work-performers, and order-bearers (of God)
Who cherish thy seed in the dust.
75 And, if thou remainst thirsty, rage not through affliction;
For, the Water-carrier brings thee a cloud of water on His
back.
From the dust, He brings colour, and perfume, and food;
Amusement for the eye, and brain, and palate.
He gave thee honey from the bees; and manna, from the
sky;
He gave thee the green date, from the date-tree; and the
date-tree from the seed-stone.350
All the gardeners gnaw the hand
In astonishment, saying:—“No one planted such a date-
tree!”
The sun and moon and Pleiades all are for thee;
They are the candles of the roof of thy house.
80 He brings thee a rose from the thorn; musk, from the
(animal's) navel:
Gold, from the mine; and the green leaf, from the dry
wood.
He pourtrayed thy eye and eye-brow, with His own hand;
For, one cannot leave the intimate friend to strangers.351
The powerful One, who cherishes the delicate,
Cherishes thee, with various favours.
Breath by breath, with soul, it is proper to utter (praise);
For, thanks to Him is not a work of the tongue only.
Oh God! my heart became blood, and eye wounded,
When I see thy reward is greater than my speech (of
thanksgiving).
85 I speak not of the rapacious and non-rapacious beast, and
ant, and fish,
But, of the army of angels above heaven's summit.
Yet, they have uttered a little Thy praise;
They have uttered one out of so many thousands (which
they should have uttered).
Oh Sa'dí! go; wash thy hand, and the book;
Hasten not on the path, that has no end.
A person knows not the value of a day of pleasure,
Save on that day when he falls to hardship-enduring.
The winter-season of the darvesh, in the narrow year,—
How easy is it to the lord of wealth?
90 One healthy,—who, once complaining, slept not,—
Uttered not thanks to God for sound health.
When thou art a manly mover, and swift of foot,
Stand, with thanks (to God) by those slow of foot.
The young man bestows to the ancient old man,
The powerful one displays pity for the powerless.
What do the people of the Jíhún know of the value of
water?
Ask those wearied utterly in the sun.
To the Arab, who is sitting by the Tigris
What care is there as to the thirsty ones of the (desert of)
Zarúd?
95 That one recognised the value of healthiness,
Who, once, helpless sweltered in fever.
How may the dark night appear long to thee,
Who rollst, from side to side, in comfort?
Think of one falling and rising in fever;
For, the sick one knows the lengthiness of the night.
At the sound of the drum, the rich man becomes awake;
What knows he, how the watchman passed the night?
I have heard that Tughril, one night, in the autumn,
Passed a Hindú watchman,
100 From the pouring of snow, and rain, and torrent,
Fallen to trembling, like the star Canopus.
His heart, from pity for him, suffered agitation;
He said:—“Behold! put on my fur garment.
“Wait a moment, by the terrace-side;
“For, I will send it out by the hand of a slave.”
He was in this (speech); and, the morning-breeze blew.
The monarch entered the royal hall.
He had, in his retinue, a slave of Parí-form,
For whom, his disposition had a little inclination.
105 The sight of the beloved chanced so agreeably to him,
That the wretched Hindú passed from his memory.
The (word) fur-coat passed to his (the watchman's) ear,
It came not, through misfortune, to his shoulders.
Perhaps the torment of toil was not enough for him,
Since, the sky's revolution added to it expectation.
When the sultán slept in carelessness, behold,
What the watchman said to him, in the morning!
“Perhaps (the watchman) “Nek-Bakht” was forgotten
by thee,
“When thy hand went to the bosom of (the slave-girl)
“Aghosh.”
110 “For thee, the night passes in ease and joy;
“As to us, what knowst thou how the night passes?”
One of a káraván, head-lowered to the caldron,—
To him, what care of those sunk in sand?
Oh Lord of the Zaurak! keep on the water;
For the water has passed over the head of those helpless.
Oh vigorous young men! stay;
For, in the káraván, are sluggish old men.
Thou hast slept well in the haudaj of the káraván,—
The camel-rein, in the camel-driver's hand.
115 Whether plain or mountain; whether stone or sand,—to
thee what matter?
Ask the state (of the road) from those lagging behind.
The camel of burden, mountain-form, carries thee;
What knowst thou of the foot-man, who devours the blood
(of grief)?
Those sleeping, in comfort of heart, in the house,
What know they of the state of the hungry belly.
The night-guard had bound a certain one's hand;
He was, all night, afflicted, and heart-broken.
In the night of dark colour, there came to his ear,—
A person kept complaining of his straitened hand
(poverty).
120 The thief had, neck-fastened, heard this speech, and
said:—
“How long lamentst thou of helplessness? Sleep.
“Oh one of straitened hand (poor)! go; give thanks to
God,
That the night-guard bound not straitly thy hand.”
Make not much lamentation, as to foodlessness,
When thou seest one more foodless than thyself.
One of naked body made loan of one diram;
He made for his body a garment of raw hide.
He complained, saying:—“Oh perverse fortune!
“I am cooked with heat, within this raw hide.”
125 When the uncooked (foolish) one, with fierceness, began to
boil,—
One from the prison-pit said to him:—“Silence!
“Oh raw one! offer thanks to God,
“That thou art not like me—raw-hide (bound) on hand
and foot.”
A certain one passed by a holy man,
He came to his sight, in the form of a Jew.
He struck him a blow, on his neck;
The darvesh gave him his shirt.
He became ashamed saying:—“What passed from me was
a fault.
“Pardon me; what room (need) is there for giving (a
shirt)?”
130 He said:—On this (shirt-giving), I am firm, in thanks (to
God),
“That that one whom thou didst think me, I am not.”
One left behind on the road was weeping,
Saying:—“Than I in this desert, who is more wretched?”
An ass, load-carrier, said to him:—“Oh one without dis-
cretion!
“How long bewailst thou also of the tyranny of the
heavens?
“Go; thank God although thou art not on an ass,
“That thou art, in short, a son of Adam, not an ass.”
A lawyer passed by one fallen drunk;
He became proud of his own abstinence.
135 Through haughtiness, he looked not at him,
The young man raised his head, saying:—“Oh old man!
“Go; thank God, when thou art in prosperity,
“For disappointment comes from pride.
“Laugh not at one, whom thou seest in bonds;
“Lest that, suddenly, thou shouldst fall into confinement.
“In short, is it not, in the possibility of fate,
“That thou mayst be to-morrow fallen drunk like me?”
Heaven wrote for thee the inscription on the Masjid (of
Islám),
Express not reproach on others in the fire-temple.
140 Oh Musalmán! join the hands, in thanks,
That He bound not the idolater's cord about thy waist.
Whosoever is a seeker of Him, goes not by himself;
The favour of the friend (God) drawing takes him by force.
Behold, whence destiny travelled!
For it is blindness to place reliance on another (God).
God has created the power of convalescence in honey,
Not to such an extent that it exercises power over death.
Honey makes pleasant (benefits) the constitution of those
alive;
But, the pain of dying has no remedy.
145 For the one, in whom a spark of life remained,—when life
from his body
Issues, what use (is) honey in the mouth?
A certain one suffered (a blow of) a steel mace on his head
One said:—“Rub sandal wood on his wound.”
Fly, so long as thou canst, from danger;
But strive not sharply with destiny.
So long as the interior is capable of drinking and eating,
The body is fresh of face, and pure of form.
This house (of the body) becomes altogether bad, at that
time,
When the constitution and food agree not.
150 Thy temperament is moist and dry; and hot, and cold;
Man's constitution is compounded of these.
When one of these obtains the mastery over the others,
It breaks the balance of the equilibrium of thy temper-
ament.
If the wind of a cold sigh passes,
The stomach's heat brings the soul into agitation.
And if the caldron of the stomach agitates the food,
The work of the delicate body becomes immature.
The one possessed of knowledge binds not his heart to
these (four elements),
Which will not always agree with each other.
155 Consider not powerfulness of body, from food;
But, God's grace gives thee sustenance.
By God! if, on sword and knife,—the eye,
Thou placest, thou wilt not perform thanks to Him.
When thou placest thy face on the ground, in service,
Utter praise to God; and regard not thyself.
Praising God, and repeating the name of God, and having
the heart towards Him—are acts of beggary;
For the beggar, it is improper that he should be proud.
I admit, that thou thyself hast done a service to God;
Hast thou not constantly enjoyed His portion on feudal
tenure?
160 First, He placed in thy heart desire of worship,
Then His slave placed his head (in devotion) at His thres-
hold.
If the grace of a good act arrives not from God,
How may a good act arrive to a stranger from a slave?
Why observest thou the tongue which gave confession?
Behold Him, who gave speech to the tongue.
The door of the knowledge of God is man's eye,
Which He has opened on sky and earth.
To thee, how could there have been understanding of
ascent and descent,
If He had not opened this door (of the eye) on thy face?
165 He brought the head and hand from nonentity to existence,
He placed in this, liberality; in that, adoration.
And, if not, how would liberality have come from thy
hand?
It is impossible that adoration would have come from thy
head.
He gave thee a tongue endowed with wisdom; and, created
the ear,—
Which are the keys of the heart's chest.
If the tongue had not possessed (the power of) narration,
When would a person have possessed knowledge of the
heart's secret?
And, if there were not effort on the part of the news-
gatherer of the ear,
When would news have reached the sultán of sense (the
mind)?
170 He gave to me the sweet word of the narrator;
He gave to thee the ear and perception of the understander.
These two are perpetually, like chamberlains, at the door;
They carry news from sultán to sultán.
Why reflectst thou of thyself, saying:—“My action is
good!”
Glance at that door; because, it is His grace.
The gardener carries to the king's hall,
As first-fruit, even the rose from the king's garden.
I beheld an idol of ivory in the (idol-temple) Somnáth,
Gemmed like the (idol) Manát, in (the days of) ignorance.359
175 The painter had so pourtrayed its form,
That one more beautiful than it may not be imagined.
From all countries, káraváns going,
For the seeing of that soul-less form.
The chiefs of Chín and Chigal greedily desired
Fidelity, like Sa'dí, from that idol of stone-heart.
The eloquent ones, set out from every abode,
Supplication-making before that tongueless form.
I was exhausted as to the revealing of this matter,
Saying:—“Why does the living one worship a mineral?”
180 Of an idolater, who was partner with me,
One speaking well of me, and of the same cell, and friend,
I inquired, with gentleness,—“Oh Barhaman!
“I have wonder at the proceedings of this house.359a
“For, they are distracted about this powerless form;
“They are imprisoned in the pit of error.
“In it, neither power of hand, nor motion of foot;
“And, if thou cast it down, it rises not from its place.
“Seest thou not, that its eyes are of amber!
“To seek fidelity from stone-eyes (lovely ones) is a mis-
take.”
185 At this speech, that friend became angry;
He became, with anger, fire-like, and caught me.
He informed the idolaters and the old men of the temple;
I saw not, in that assembly, a face of goodness.
The idolaters, Zand-reading, fell
Dog-like upon me, for the sake of that bone (the idol).360
When that crooked way was, in their opinion, straight,
The straight road appeared, in their eyes, crooked.
For, although a man be wise and pious,
He is, in the opinion of the ignorant, foolish.
190 Like a drowning person, I was destitute of remedy;
Beyond courtesy, I saw no path (of escape).
When thou seest the ignorant ones bent on malice,
Safety is in surrender; and, in being gentle.
I loudly praised the chief of the Barhamans,
Saying:—“Oh explaining old man, and Zand-teacher!
“To me, also, the painting of this idol is agreeable;
“For, it is a beautiful form, and a heart-alluring shape.
“In my sight, its form appears rare;
“But, I have no information as to its meaning.
195 “Because, lately, I am the traveller of this place;
“The foreigner seldom recognises bad from good.
“Thou knowst; because thou art the learned man (queen)
of this chess-board;
“Thou art the adviser of the king of this abode.
“What is the meaning in the form of this idol;
“For, I am the first (chief) among its worshippers?
“Worship, in imitation, is seduction;
“He who is acquainted is pleasing to the wayfarer.”
The Barhaman's face kindled with joy;
He approved and said:—“Oh one of approved counte-
nance!
200 “Thy question is right, and thy deed excellent;
“Whoever desires proof arrives at the stage (of his
desire).
“Much, like thee, I wandered in travel;
“I beheld idols, void of knowledge of themselves.
“Except this idol, which, in the morning from this place
where it is,
“Raises its hand to God, the Ruler!
“And if thou wishst, stay even here to-night;
“So that, to-morrow, this idol's mystery may be revealed
to thee.”
By the old man's order, I remained there the night,
Like Bezhan, a captive, in the pit of calamity.361
205 That night, long like the Judgment Day;
The idolaters, unwashed, in prayer around me.
The priests, ever water untroubled,
Their arm-pits,—like a corpse in the sun.
Perhaps, I had committed a great sin;
For, I endured much torment, during that night.
All night afflicted in this bondage of grief;
One hand on my breast; the other, in prayer.
When, suddenly the drum-striker beat the drum;
The Barhaman, cock-like, suddenly called out.
210 Night,—preacher, black-clad—without opposition,
Drew forth the sword of day from the scabbard.
The fire of the morning fell upon tinder;
A world became, in a moment, illumined.362
Thou wouldst have said that, in the country of Zangbár,
A Tátár had suddenly issued from a corner.362a
The idolaters, of ruined judgment, of unwashed face,
Appeared from door, and plain and street.
Of man or woman, none remained in the city;
For a needle, there remained no room in that idol-temple.
215 I—through anguish, afflicted; and through sleep, intoxi-
cated;
When, suddenly, the image raised its hand!
A shout immediately issued from them;
Thou wouldst have said, that a sea had come into agita-
tion.
When the idol-temple became void of the assembly,
The Barhaman, laughing, glanced at me,
Saying:—“I know, a difficulty remains not to thee;
“Truth became evident; and falsehood remained not.”
When I saw that ignorance was strong within him;
(And that) an absurd fancy was concealed within him.
220 I again prepared not any speech of truth;
For, it is proper to conceal the truth from the false.
When thou seest the superior powerful of arm,
It is unmanliness to break one's fist.
In hypocrisy, I wept for a while,
Saying:—“I am become penitent, as to what I said.”
By weeping, the hearts of the infidels inclined towards
me;
By a torrent, if a stone rolls,—it is not wonderful.
Those service-performing ran towards me;
They seized, with respect, my arm.
225 Excuse-uttering, I went to the person of ivory (the idol),
On a chair of beaten gold, on a throne of ebony,
I gave a kiss on the hand of that worthless idol,
Saying:—“May a curse be on it; and, on the idol-wor-
shipper!”
Hypocritically, I became an infidel for a few days;
I became, in the sayings of Zand, a Barhaman.
When I saw that I was safe in the temple,
Through joy, I contained not myself in the earth.
One night, I firmly fastened the temple-door;
Ran, left and right, scorpion-like:
230 Looked beneath and above the throne;
Saw a screen, gold-bordered:
Behind the screen, an arch-priest, a fire-worshipper,
Sitting, the end of a cord in his hand.
Immediately, the state as to that (idol) became known to
me,
Like David, when the iron became (soft as) wax to him.364
That when he pulls the cord, of necessity,
The idol raises its hand, redress-seeking.
The Barhaman from before my face went ashamed;
For, the quilting, on the face of the work was a disgrace.364a
235 He ran, and I hastened after him;
I threw him headlong into a well.
For I knew if that Barhaman, alive,
Remained, he would strive for my blood:
Would desire, that he might bring forth my destruction,
Lest I should make display of his secret.
When thou obtainst information of the work of a perni-
cious one,
Bring him forth from his power, when thou findst him.
For, if thou leavest him alive, that unskilful one
Will not wish thee further life.
240 And if he places his head in service at thy door,
If he prevail, he will cut off thy head.
Plant not thy foot on the deceiver's foot;
When thou goest and seest him, give him not respite.
I slew him, that impure one, outright with a stone;
For, from a corpse, the tale issues not.
When I saw that I excited tumult,
I escaped from that land and fled.
When thou setst fire to the cane-brake,
If thou art wise, shun the tigers.
245 Slay not the young of the snake, man-biting;
If thou slayst, stand no longer in that dwelling.
When thou disturbst the house of the wasp,
Fly quickly, from that quarter,—lest thou fall.
Cast not thy arrow at one more expert than thyself;
When it falls, seize thy skirt with the teeth (and fly).
In the leaves of Sa'dí, there is only this advice:—
“When thou minest the foundation of a wall,—stand not
there.”
After that resurrection day, I came to Hind;
And, thence, by way of Yaman, to Hijáz.
250 From that amount of bitterness, which passed over me,
To-day only, my mouth became sweet.
In the fortune, and strengthening of Abú Bakr (son) of
Sa'd;
Like whom, neither before nor after, a mother produces.
I came, justice-seeking, from heaven's violence;
I came to this shelter of the shelter-spreader (Abú Bakr).
I am, slave-like, a prayer-utterer for this kingdom;
Oh God! keep perpetually, this shadow,
Which placed not on me a plaster, worthy of the wound;
But, worthy of his own favours and honours.
255 How may I perform thanks for this favour,
Though my head become foot in his service?
After those bonds (of trouble) I obtained joy;
Yet, of those counsels, at my ear, is
One that, at that time, when the hand of supplication,
I raise to the Court of the Knower of Secrets (God),
That Chinese puppet comes to my hand,
It puts dust in the eye of my self-conceit.
I know that the hand, I raised,
I exalted not through my own power.
260 The pious draw not up (of themselves) their hands;
For, they draw the end of the cord through the One unseen
(God).
The door of goodness and devotion is open; but,
Every one is not powerful as to good deeds.
This, indeed, is the hinderer that—into the Court,
Save by the King's order, it is improper to go.
The key of destiny is in no one's hand;
God is absolutely powerful, and that is enough.
Then, oh man running on the straight path!
Thanks are not for thee; they are for God.
265 When He, in the hidden, created thy disposition good,
Bad conduct issues not from thy disposition.
This sweetness from the bee, made appear,
That very Person, who created poison in the snake.
When He wishes to lay waste a country,
He first makes a people afflicted by thee.
And if His bounty be over thee,
He causes ease to reach the people from thee.
Display not pride on the path of truth;
For, they (angels) seized thy hand, and thou didst rise.
270 Speech is profitable, if thou wilt listen;
Thou mayst attain to the (stage of the) men of God, if
thou travel the path of religion,
If they guide thee, thou wilt obtain an abode,
Where, they place thy table-cloth (victual-spread), on the
tray of respect.
But, it is improper that thou shouldst eat alone;
Thou shouldst remember the distressed darvesh (Sa'dí).
Thou didst, perhaps, send mercy upon me;
For, I am not confiding to my own work.
1 OH, thou whose age has passed to seventy years! Come;
Thou wast, perhaps, asleep that thy life went to the wind.
Thou didst prepare every requisite of being (in this
world);
Didst not engage thyself in the thought of going (to the
next world).
On the Resurrection Day, when they lay out the market of
heaven,
They give dignities for good deeds.
Stock in trade, as much as thou bringst, thou takest
away;
And, if thou art poor, thou takest away shame.
5 For, the more full the market, just so much,
The more distressed (is) the heart of the one of empty hand.
If out of fifty dirams, five become wanting,
Thy heart, with the grasp of grief, becomes torn.
When fifty years have gone forth from thy hand,
Consider it gain that there is a space of five days.
If the wretched corpse had possessed a tongue,
He would have raised a shout, in lament and cry,
Saying:—“Oh living one! when there is the power of
speech,
“Let not the lip sleep (cease), corpse-like, from uttering
the name of God.
10 “Since our time, in carelessness passed,
“Do thou, at least, reckon a few moments,—opportunity.”369
One night, in youth and the pleasure of affluence (of
youth),
We, young men, sate sometime together.
Nightingale-like, singing; rose-like, fresh of face;
From hilarity, clamour cast into the street.
An old man, world-experienced, apart from us,
The blackness of his hair white, through the violence of
Time,
Was tongue-bound, as to speech, nut-like;
Was unlike us, lip from laughter, pistachio-nut-like.
15 A youth went before him, saying:—“Oh old man!
“Why sittest thou, with sorrow, in the corner of regret?
“Raise once thy head from the collar of grief;
“Move jauntily, with ease of heart, with the young men.”
He year-stricken raised his head from concealment,
Behold his answer! how like an old man, he spoke:—
“When the morning breeze blows over the garden,
“It befits the young tree to move to and fro.
“The green corn, so long as it is young and the head
green,—waves;
“When it reaches mellowness, it becomes broken.
20 “In the spring-time, when the wind brings (the fragrance
of) the musk-willow,
“The ancient tree sheds its dry leaves.
“It does not beseem me to move jauntily with young men,
“When the morning of old age has blossomed on my
cheek.
“The male falcon (of my soul), which was within my
bonds,
“Wishes, from time to time, to snatch the end of the
thread (of life).
“Yours is the time to sit at this tray (of enjoyment);
“For, we have washed our hands of luxurious enjoyment.
“When the dust of venerability sits on the head,
“Look not again for the pleasure of youth.
25 “Snow rained on my raven feathers (hair),
“The spectacle of the garden, nightingale-like, is not suit-
able to me.
“The peacock, possessed of beauty, makes display;
“What desirest thou of the hawk, feather-stripped?
“For me, the reaping of the corn is near;
“For you, now the fresh verdure (of the beard) grows.
“The freshness of our rose-garden has passed;
“Who binds the rose-bouquet, when it has become
withered?
“Oh soul of father! my reliance is on a staff;
“Further reliance on life is a mistake.
30 “For the young man, it is reserved to leap on his feet;
“For old men prefer a request for aid to the hands (of
others).
“Behold the red rose of my face,—pure yellow;
“When the sun becomes yellow, it descends.
“To entertain lust, on the part of an immature youth,
“Is not so odious, as on the part of an old man.
“It is proper for me to weep, like children,
“For shame of my sins; not to live, child-like (in sport).”
Lukmân spoke well saying:—“Not to live
“Is better, than to live years in sin.”
35 Even, to shut the shop-door in the morning
Is better than to give from the hand (to squander) the
profit and capital of life.
While the young man causes the blackness (of hair) to
attain to light (whiteness),
The wretched old man takes his whiteness to the grave.
One of ancient years came to a physician,
From his weeping, near to dying,
Saying:—“Oh one of good judgment! place thy hand on
my vein;
“For my foot rises not from its place.
“This my bent stature resembles that,
“That thou mayst say,—I have descended into the clay (of
the grave).”
40 He said to him:—“Part asunder from the world,
“That thy foot may, in the Resurrection, issue from the
clay.”
Seek not the joy of youth from old men;
For the running stream returns not to the rivulet.
If, in the time of youth, thou didst exercise hand and foot
(in lust);
In the season of old age, be sensible and reasonable.
When the revolution of age exceeds forty (years),
Exercise not hand and foot in lust; for the water (of life)
has passed over thy head.
Joy began to be afraid of me, at that time,
When my evening (black hair) began to blossom as the
down (white hair).
45 It is necessary to put lust out of the head,
When the season of lustfulness comes to an end.
How may my heart with freshness become green,
When verdure will spring from my clay?
Sporting in lust and concupiscence,
We passed over the dust of many.
Those who are yet invisible (unborn)
Will come, and pass over our dust.
Alas! that the season of youth has departed;
Life, in sport and pastime, has departed.
50 Alas! time, soul-cherishing, in such a way,
Passed over us as the lightning of Yaman.
From the passion for this I wear, and that I eat,
I became not free, that I might suffer care for religion.
Alas! we became engaged in falsehood;
We remained far from God, and became careless.
How well spoke the teacher to the boy,
Saying:—“We did not a single work; but, time passed.”
Oh young man; to-day (in youth), take the path of salva-
tion;
For, to-morrow, youth comes not from old age.
55 Thou hast leisure of mind, and strength of body;
When the plain is spacious, strike the ball (of life).
I understood not the value of that day (of youth);
Now I know it, when I have played it away.
Fate snatched for me such a time,
Every day of which was a night of power.373
What effort may the old ass (of the body) beneath the
load (of devotion) make?
Do thou go; who art a rider on a wind-footed steed.
If they cleverly piece together the broken goblet,
It will not fetch the price of the perfect one.373a
60 Since the cup fell, in negligence, from thy hand,—now,
There is no way save to fasten anew.
Who said to thee:—“Throw thy body into the Jihún?
“When thou hast fallen, strike (in swimming) hand and
foot.”
Thou didst, in carelessness, give pure water (honour) from
thy hand,
What remedy now, except purifying with dust?
When, from those expert in running,—the wager,
Thou didst not carry off, go (on the path of religion) even
falling and rising (as a cripple).
If those wind-footed steeds (pious men) went quickly,
Do thou, footless and handless, arise from sitting.
65 One night, in the desert of Faid, sleep
Bound down my foot of running with fetters.
A camel-driver came, with fear-inspiring and rancour,
He struck the camel-rein on my head, saying:—“Arise!
“Perhaps, thou hast fixed thy heart on dying in rear (of the
káfila),
“Since thou risest not, at the sound of the bell (of de-
parture)?
“To me as to thee, sweet sleep is in the head;
“But, the desert is in front.
“When, from sweet sleep, at the sound of—Al rahíl! Al
rahíl! thou
“Risest not, when wilt thou again reach the track (of the
káfila)?”
70 The camel-driver (death) beat the camel-drum (of de-
parture),
The first of the káraván reached the stage.
Happy, those sensible of auspicious fortune,
Who, before the drummer, bound up their chattels.
When those sleeping on the road raise their heads,
They see not a trace of those who have travelled the road.
That wayfarer excelled, who arose quickly;
To be awake, after translation (to the next world),—what
profit?
A certain one scatters barley, in the spring;
How may he take wheat, at reaping-time?
75 Oh sleeping one! how it is necessary to be awake;
When death fetches thee from sleep,—what advantage?
When on the face of youth, white hair comes forth,
The night (black hair) becomes day (white hair),—pluck up
the eye from sleep (of carelessness).
That day, I plucked up hope of life,
When, within my blackness (black hair), white occurred.
Alas! precious life has passed;
These few moments will also pass.
Whatever passed; in non-rectitude, passed;
And, if thou takest not advantage of this, it will also pass.
80 If thou art solicitous, now is the seed-time;
If thou hast hope, that thou mayst take the harvest.
Go not empty of hand to the city of Resurrection;
For, there is no reason to sit in regret.
If to thee be an eye to wisdom, and deliberation as to the
grave,—
Act now, when the ant (of the grave) has not devoured
thine eye.
Oh son! one can make profit, with capital;
What profit comes to that one, who enjoyed his capital?
Strive now, when the water possesses (only) thy waist;
Not, when the torrent passes over thy head.
85 Now, when thou hast an eye,—rain a tear;
The tongue is in thy mouth,—bring forth excuse (for sin).
The soul is not always in the body;
The tongue turns not always in the mouth.
Now, it is necessary to utter excuse for sin;
Not when the spirit of articulation sleeps (rests) from
speaking.
To-day, from the learned, hear the word (of Nakír and
Munkir);
For, to-morrow, Nakír may question thee with terror.
Reckon this precious soul,—gain;
For the cage, birdless, has no value.
90 Waste not thy life, in regret and sorrow;
For opportunity is precious; and, time, a sword.
Fate cut the vein of Life of one living;
Another, through grief, rent his collar.
A beholder, with sharp sense, thus spoke,
When complaint and lament reached his ear:—
“With your hand, the corpse, on its own body,
“Would have rent the shroud,—if there had been to it a
hand,
“Saying:—‘Writhe not so much, through care and sorrow
for me,
“‘That I prepared (for the next world), a day or two,
before thee.
95 “‘Thou didst, perhaps, forget regarding thy own death,
“‘Since my death has made thee powerless and wounded?’”
When the teacher of truth lets fall clay on the corpse,
His heart will burn, not for it,—but for himself.
In separation from that child, who went into the dust (of
the grave),
Why lamentst thou? for he came pure, and departed pure.
Thou camest pure (into this world); be firm as to caution
and purity;
For, it is a shame to go unclean to the dust (of the grave).
Now, it is necessary to bind the foot of this bird (of the
soul);
Not, at the time when it takes the end of the string from
thy hand.
100 Thou didst sit much in another's place;
Another one will sit in thy place.
If thou art a warrior; or, if a swordsman,
Thou wilt only carry the shroud (out of the world).
If the wild ass causes the noose to snap,
He becomes foot-bound, when he sticks in the sand.
Thou also hast such arm-power,
For, thy foot has not gone into the sand of the grave.
Place not thy heart on this year-stricken house (of the
world);
For, a walnut rests not a dome.
105 When yesterday passed; and, to-morrow comes not to the
hand,
Make reckoning of this one moment that is.
A certain delicate one (a son) of (King) Jamshíd descended
(to the grave),
A shroud of silk, he made him, like the silk-worm.
After a few days, he came to the tomb,
That he might, with lament and heart-burning, weep over
him.
When he beheld the silken shroud, rotten,
He thus, in thought, spoke to himself:—
“I had plucked it (the silk), with force, from the silk-
worm;
“The grave-worms plucked it again from him.”
110 One day, two couplets made my liver (as it were) roast meat;
When the minstrel, with the stringed instrument, kept
saying:—
“Alas! without us, many a time,
“The rose will grow; and, the fresh spring blossom.
“Many a fourth, tenth and second month
“Will appear,—when we are dust and brick.”378
As to one of devotee-disposition, God-worshipping,—
A golden brick fell to his hand.
His wise head became as stupid
As his illumined heart became obscure through phrensy.
115 All night, in thought, saying:—“This treasure and pro-
perty,
“To it, so long as I live, the way of decline will come not.
“Again, for begging, my weak stature
“It is unnecessary to make bent and straight (in bowing)
to any.
“I may make a house,—its foundation, marble;
“The timber of its roof,—all native aloe.
“A special room for friends;
“The chamber-door in the garden-mansion.
“I am wearied of stitching rag on rag;
“The effulgence of others has burned (with envy) my eyes
and brain.
120 “In future, inferiors may cook my food;
“In ease, I may give sustenance to my soul.
“This woollen bed has slain me with its hardness;
“I go after this, and spread a gorgeous bed.”
Imagination made him a dotard and crazy-like,—
A crab's claw plunged in his brain.
For him,—leisure for prayers and secrets (with God) re-
mained not;
For him,—eating and sleeping, and reciting the name of
God, and prayers remained not.
Head intoxicated with consequential airs he came to a
desert,
For, he had no place for sitting at ease.
125 A certain one, at the head of a grave, kneaded clay,
That he might get bricks from that clay of the grave.
The old man descended, for a while, in thought,
Saying:—“Oh soul of little vision! take advice (from the
brick-maker's action).
“Why attachest thou thy heart to this golden brick,
“When one day he will make a brick out of thy clay?
“Of avarice, the mouth is not open to such a degree,
“That avarice causes it to sit (tranquil) with one morsel.
“Oh mean one! restrain thy hand from this (gold) brick;
“For, it is impossible to dam the Jíhún (of avarice) with a
single brick.”
130 Thou art careless as to thought of profit and wealth,
While the capital of life becomes trodden under foot.
The morning breeze will pass over this dust, in such a way,
As will carry every atom of us to some place, or other.
The dust of lust stitched up wisdom's eye;
The simúm (hot wind) of desire consumed the sown field
of thy life.
Make clean from the eye, the antimony of carelessness;
For, to-morrow, thou wilt become collyrium, in the eye of
the dust.
Between two persons, there was enmity and strife,
Through pride, head above the other, panther-like.
135 Flying from the sight of each other, to such a degree,
That the sky used to appear narrow for both.
Death brought his army to the head of this one;
Days of ease arrived at an end for him.
The heart of his enemy became joyful;
He passed, after a while, by his grave.
He saw the bed-chamber of his grave, clay-plastered;
But, he once saw (in life) his house gold-plastered.
He came, proudly-walking opposite to his pillow;
Kept saying to himself, lip open with laughter;—
140 “Oh happy is the tranquil time of that one, who is
“After an enemy's death, in the friend's embrace.
“It is unnecessary to weep for the death of that one,
“Who lived a single day, after his enemy's death.”
By way of enmity, with a powerful arm,
He plucked up a plank, from the surface of his grave.
He beheld—his crowned head, in the pit;
His two eyes, world-seeing, dust-stuffed;
His existence, a captive in the prison of the grave;
His body, the food of worms, and the plunder of ants;
145 His bones tightly stuffed with dust, just as
The collyrium-casket of ivory, full of collyrium:
From the sky's revolution, the full moon of his face,—the
new moon;
From Time's violence, his cypress stature,—a tooth-pick:
The palm of the hand of powerful grasp;
Time-separated, joint from joint.
From his heart, pity for him came to him, in such a way,
That he made clay, with weeping on his dust.
He became penitent, as to his deeds and bad disposition;
He ordered them to write on his tomb-stone;—
150 “Rejoice not at any one's death;
“For, after him, thy time remains not long.”
A holy wise man heard this speech.
He bewailed, saying:—“Oh powerful Omnipotence!
“Wonderful!—if thou awardst not mercy to him,
“Over whom, the enemy, with lamentation, wept.
“May our body also, one day, become so
“That the heart of enemies may grieve over it.
“Perhaps, in the heart of my Friend (God) pity may come,
“When He sees that my enemy forgave me.
155 “The head, slowly or quickly, reaches that state,
“In which—thou mayst say—there never was an eye.”
One day, I struck a mattock on a dust-heap;
A sorrowful lament came to my ear,
Saying:—“If thou art a man, take care (to strike) more
gently;
“For the eye, and lobe of the ear, and face, and head—are
here.”
One night, I had slept with the intention of making a
journey;
In the morning, I followed a káraván.
A frightful wind and dust arose,
Which made the world dark to the eyes of men.
160 The guide had a house-daughter
With the mi'jar, she wiped the dust from her father.
The father said to her:—“Oh dear face of mine!
“Who hast the love of my distracted heart,
“In this eye (after death) dust sits, not to such a degree,
“That one can, again, make it clean with the mi'jar.”
Thy beautiful spirit, like an impetuous animal,
Takes thee running to the marge of the bottom of the
grave.
Death will suddenly cause thy stirrup to break;
One cannot hold back the rein from the profundity (of the
grave).
165 Oh bone-cage! knowst thou
That thy soul is a bird; and its name, spirit?
When the bird departs from the cage (of the body), and
snaps its chain;
It becomes not, by effort, again, thy prey.
Take care of opportunity; for, the world is for a moment;
In the opinion of the wise, a moment (of life) is better than
a world.383
Sikandar, who held sway over a world,
Abandoned the world, at that time when he died.
To him, it was unattainable that—a world from him,
They might take; and give him, in return, a moment's
respite.
170 They departed, and every one reaped what he sowed;
There only remains—good and bad name.
Why place we the heart on this káraván-place,
From which, friends have departed; and, we are on the
road?
After us,—the garden gives this very rose;
Friends sit with one another.
Fix not the heart on this mistress of the world;
For she sate with no one, whose heart she ravished not.
When a man sleeps in the dust-place of the grave,
The Resurrection Day will scatter the dust from his face.
175 Bring forth, now, the head from the pocket of carelessness
That, to-morrow (the Resurrection Day) it may not remain
lowered in regret.
No; when thou desirest to enter Shíráz,
Thou wilt wash the head and body from the dust of travel.
Oh one dusty with sin! then, presently,
Thou wilt make a journey to a foreign city (in the next
world).
Urge a stream from the two fountains of the eye;
And, if thou hast impurity,—wash it from thyself.
I remember, in my father's time,
—The rain of mercy, every moment on him!—
180 That he purchased, in my childhood, a tablet and book;
He bought, for my sake, also, a gold ring.
Suddenly, a purchaser took off
The ring, from my hand, for a single date.
When the little boy understands not (the value of) a ring,
They can take it away from him, for a sweetmeat.
Thou, also, didst not recognise life's value,
When thou didst throw it away for sweet ease.
On the Resurrection Day, when the good attain to the
highest (dignity),
They rise from the bottom of the grave-ashes to the
Pleiades.
185 Thy head will, from shame, remain (lowered) before thee,
When thy (bad) deeds arise around thee.
Brother! have shame of the work of the bad;
For, thou wilt become ashamed in the presence of the good.
On that day, when they ask of thy deeds and words,
The body of the lords of resolution (the prophets) will
tremble from fear.385
In the place, where the prophets suffer fear,
—Come—what excuse for sin, hast thou?
Those women, who, with pleasure, perform devotions
Surpass (in rank) the non-devout men.
190 Does not shame come to thee of thy own manliness,
That there should be greater favour (in God's Court) for
women, than for thee?
By the established excuse, that exists for women,
They sometimes withhold the hand from devotion.385a
Thou, excuseless, sittest apart, woman-like (excuse-pos-
sessing);
Oh less than woman! go; boast not of manliness.
I may not indeed have eloquence;
The poet 'Ansar, king of speech, thus spoke:—
“When thou passest out of straightness, it is crookedness;
“What kind of man is he, who is less than a woman?”
195 Suppose—lust cherished, with kindness and joy;
Accept—in the passing of time, a strong-made enemy.
A certain one cherished a wolf's whelp;
When it became fully matured, it rent its master.
When he slept on the brink of life—surrendering,
An eloquent one went to his head, and said:—
“When thou tenderly cherishst such an enemy,
“Knowst thou not that thou wilt, inevitably, suffer its
wound?”
No; Iblís expressed reproach as to us,
Saying:—“Only evil comes from these.”
200 Lament as to the evils that are in us;
For, I fear the opinion of Iblís is true.
The accursed one—when our punishment became agreeable
to him,
God drove him, for our sake, from the door.
How may we bring forth the head from this reproach and
shame,
When we are at peace with him; and, at war, with God?
Thy friend rarely glances at thee,
When thy face is towards the enemy's face.
If to thee be necessary, a friend, from whom thou mayst
enjoy profit,
It is improper that thou shouldst take the enemy's order.
205 He holds estrangement right from that friend,
Who chooses the enemy for a companion.
Knowst thou not that the friend seldom plants his foot
(within the house)
When he sees that an enemy is within.
Behold, what wilt thou buy with black silver (base deeds),
Who will sever thy heart for love for Joseph (God)?
If thou art wise, turn not from a friend,
That the enemy may be unable to glance at thee (to thy
injury).
A certain one used contention with a king;
He consigned him to his enemy, saying:—“Spill his
blood.”
210 A captive, in the power of that one, revenge-seeking,
He kept saying to himself, with lamentation and heart-
burning:—387
“If I had not vexed my friend the king against myself,
“How should I have suffered violence from the enemy's
hand?”
With his nails, his enemy's skin, he tore,
That friend, who vexed not a friend against himself.
With a friend, be thou of one heart, and of one speech;
For the friend brings forth the enemy's root from the
foundation.
I consider not this infamy good:—
For an enemy's pleasure, a friend's injury.
215 A certain one, by fraud, enjoyed a man's property.
When it arose (and departed), he cursed Iblís.
Iblís, on the path, thus spoke to him,
Saying:—“I have never seen a fool, like thee.
“To thee with me (there was) concord. Oh certain one!
“Why didst thou rise to battle with me?”
It is a pity that the deed ordered by the ugly demon
(Shaitán),
The hand of an angel (who is pure) should write against
thee.388
From thy ignorance and fearlessness, thou holdst it lawful,
That the pure ones (angels) should write unclean things
of thee.
220 Find a better path, and seek the peace (of God);
Raise an intercessor; and utter thy acknowledgment (of
sin).
For, safety, for a moment, appears not
When, by time's revolution the measure (of life) is full.
And, if thou hast not the hand of power, for a (good)
work,
Bring forth, like the helpless, the hand of lamentation.
And, if thy evil doing passed beyond limit,
When thou saidst:—“Evil went (from me),” thou wast
good.388a
Rise; and come forward, when thou seest the door of
peace open;
For the door of repentance becomes suddenly shut.
225 Oh son! go not beneath the load of sin.
For the burden-carrier becomes wearied on a journey.
It is proper to hasten after good men;
For, whosoever sought for this happiness—found it.389
But, thou art in rear of the base demon (Shaitán),
I know not, when thou mayst arrive among the holy.389a
The Prophet (Muhammad) is an intercessor for that one,
Who is on the highway of the law of the Prophet.
One clay-stained took the path to a masjid;
From fortune of reversed fortune, in astonishment.
230 One forbade him, saying:—“May both thy hands be
destroyed!
“Go not, skirt-stained, into a pure place.”
As to this matter, a tenderness entered my heart;
Because, lofty Paradise is pure and joyful.
In that place (Paradise) of the hopeful pure ones,
For one clay-stained with sin,—what business?
That one takes Paradise, who bears devotion,
To whom, ready money is necessary,—let him take his
trade-stock.
Do not;—wash the skirt from the dust of vileness;
For, from above, they suddenly close the stream (of puri-
fication).
235 Say not:—“The bird of wealth has leaped from my
bonds”;
Thou hast, yet, the end of the cord in thy hand.389b
And, if there was delay (in repenting), be impetuous and
active;
A perfect work has no concern as to late coming.
Death has not yet bound thy hand of entreaty (to God);
Raise thy hand to the Court of the Omnipotent.
Oh one sin-committed, sleeping! sleep not; arise;
Pour out eye-water (tears), in acknowledgment of sin.
Since it is an order of necessity that, their reputation,
They (sinners) should spill; on this dust of the street (of
the world, let them spill it).
240 And, if water (of repentance) remains not to thee,—bring
an intercessor,
Whose reputation (before God) is greater than thine.
If God drives me, in anger from His door;
I may bring the souls of the great, as intercessors.
Recollection keeps coming to me of the time of childhood,
When, on an 'Íd, I came out with my father.
I became engaged in the pastime of the men;
I became lost as to my father, through the tumult of the
people.
Through restlessness, I raised a shout;
My father suddenly rubbed my ear,
245 Saying:—“Oh saucy one! at least, several times, to thee,
“Said I not:—Keep not thy hand from off my skirt.”
The little child knows not how to go alone;
For one can, with difficulty, travel the unseen road.
Oh fakír! thou also art a child of the road; with effort,
Go; seize the skirt of those road-knowing (spiritual-
guides).
Sit not with mean men;
When thou dost, wash thy hand of respect.
Affix thy grasp to the saddle-strap of the pure;
For the holy one has no shame of beggary.
250 The disciples are, in strength, less than children;
The shaikhs are like a strong wall.
Learn motion from that little child;
How he prefers a request for aid to the wall!
He escaped from the chain of the impure,
Who sate in the circle of the devout.
If thou hast any need,—take this society (of the devout);
For, the sultán (even) has no flight from this door.
Go; be an ear-of-corn gatherer, like Sa'dí,
That thou mayst gather the harvest of the knowledge of
God.391
255 Ho! oh revellers in the prayer-niche of affection,
When, to-morrow, you sit at the holy table,391a
Turn not away the face from the beggars of the tribe;
For, the lords of generosity turn not away the humble
companion.
Now, it is proper to become a partner with wisdom;
For, to-morrow, the path of returning remains not.
A certain one heaped up the corn of the autumn month
Mardad;
He set his heart at ease, as to the care of the spring month
Dai.391b
One night, he became drunk; he kindled a fire;
The foolish one of reversed fortune burned his harvest.
260 The next day, he sate gleaning ears of corn,
For, a single grain of his harvest remained not to him.
When they saw the poor man afflicted,
One said to his own cherished one,
Thou wishst not, that thou shouldst be of such dark days?
Burn not thy harvest, in madness.
If thy life passed from thy hand, in evilness,
Thou art he, who set fire to his own harvest.
It is a disgrace to gather ears of corn (to beg),
After burning thy own harvest.
265 Oh my soul! do not; sow the seed of religion and
justice;
Give not the harvest of good fame to the wind.
When one of reversed fortune falls into bonds,
Those of happy fortune take warning from him.
Before punishment, beat thou the door of pardon;
For, lament, beneath the rod, has no profit.
Bring forth thy head from the collar of carelessness;
That shame may not remain, to-morrow, in thy breast.
A certain one was consenting to a forbidden deed;
One of good qualities passed by him.
270 He sate, perspiring as to his face, through shame,
Saying:—“Have I become ashamed of the shaikh of the
street?”
The shaikh of illumined soul heard this speech,
He was confounded at him, and said:—“Oh youth!
“Does not shame come to thee of thyself,
“That God is present; and thou hast shame of me?
“Have such shame of the lord of self,
“As shame is to thee of strangers and relations.
“Thou restst not at any one's side;
“Go; look towards God only.”
275 When Zulaikhá became intoxicated with the wine of love,
She fixed her hand on the skirt of Yúsuf.
The demon of lust had given consent, to such a degree,
As when the wolf had fallen upon Yúsuf.
The lady of Egypt (Zulaikhá) had an idol of marble,
She was, morning and evening, assiduous in its devotion.
At that time, she covered its face and head,
Lest that her act might, in its sight, be disagreeable.
Yúsuf, grief-stricken, sate in a corner,
Hand over the head, through the lust of the tyrant (Zulai-
khá).
280 Zulaikhá kissed both his hands and feet,
Saying:—“Oh one of sluggish covenant, perverse!
“Contract not thy face, with anvil heart;
“Waste not the sweet time, in harshness.”
From his eye, a stream went running on his face,
Saying:—“Return; and, seek not this uncleanness from
me.
“Thou didst become ashamed, in the face of thy stone
idol;
“Does not shame come to me of Omnipotence?”
What profit,—if repentance comes to hand,
When thou hast squandered the capital of life.
285 They drink wine, for the sake of a ruddy face;
But, they bear, in the end, through it, a yellow face.
Make entreaty, to-day, with supplication for pardon for
sin;
For, to-morrow, (the Resurrection Day), the power of
speech remains not.
The cat makes pollution, in a pure place;
When it appears filthy, he covers it with dust.
Thou art free (from fear) of filthy deeds,
Thou fearst not, that the eyes (of men) may fall on them.
Reflect on that sinful slave,
Who is, sometimes, disobedient to his master.
290 If he returns, in truth and supplication,
They bring him not back to chains and fetters.
Thou art, in malice, in strife with that Person (God),
From whom, there is for thee remedy (for ills), or flight.
It is necessary to make reckoning of thy deeds, now,
Not, at the time when the Book (of Deeds) becomes spread
open.
Although, a person did evil,—he did not evil,
When, before the Judgment Day, he suffered grief for
himself.
Although the mirror becomes obscured by a sigh;
The heart's mirror becomes bright by a sigh.
295 Be afraid of thy sins, this moment,
That thou mayst fear no one, in the Judgment Day.
I came a traveller into a city of Abyssinia;
Heart, from care, free; head, through ease, happy.
On the road, I beheld a lofty prison;
In it, some wretched ones foot-bound.
I immediately prepared for journeying;
I took to the desert, like a bird from the cage.
One spoke, saying:—“These fettered ones are night-
prowlers;
“They take not advice; and hear not truth.”
300 When oppression comes to no one from thy hand;
If the watchman seize the world,—to thee what care?
No one takes captive the one of good name;
Fear God; but, fear not the amír.
The agent, treachery unused in business,
Cares not for the deciding of court-officials.
But, if there be deceit beneath his (apparent) integrity,
The tongue of his account-giving becomes not bold.
When thou performst approved service,
Thou thinkst not of the malignant enemy.
305 If the slave exerts himself, slave-like,
The lord holds him dear.
But if he be, in service, dull of judgment,
He falls from soul-guarding to ass-slaving.
Plant the foot (of devotion) forward, that thou mayst
surpass the angels;
For, if thou remainst behind, thou art less than a rapa-
cious animal.
The King of Damighán, with a chaugán, a certain one,
Struck, so that his cry, drum-like, came forth.
At night, from restlessness, he could not sleep;
A devotee passed by him, and said:—
310 “If, at night, he had borne his heart-burning (for crime) to
the watchman,
“In the day, the crime would not have taken his repu-
tation.”
On the day of the place of assembling (Judgment Day)
that one becomes not ashamed,
Who, nights, preferred his heart-burning to the Court (of
God).
Still, if thou hast desire for peace (with God), what fear?
The Merciful One (God) fastens not the door against those
pardon-seeking.
If thou art wise,—of the ruler (God), desire
Forgiveness for the sin of the day, on the night of re-
pentance.396
That Merciful One (God), who brought to thee existence,
from non-existence,
Will seize thy hand, if thou shouldst fall. Oh wonderful!
315 If thou art a slave,—bring forth the hand of need, (at
God's Court);
And, if ashamed,—rain the water of repentance (weep).
There came to this door, pardon-asking, no one,
Whose sin the water of penitence washed not away.
God spills the honour of none,
Whose sin pours forth much eye-water (tears).
In Sin'á, a child of mine passed away (in death);
Of that which passed over my head,—what may I say?397
Fate drew not a picture of beauty, Yúsuf-like,
Which the fish of the grave devoured not, Yúnas-like.
320 This garden (of the world), that cypress became not lofty,
Whose root, the wind of death plucked not from its foun-
dation.
It is not wonderful, if the rose blossoms on his dust;
For, many a rose-limb sleeps in the dust.
To my heart, I said:—“Oh shame of men! die;
“For, the boy goes pure (to God); and, the old man,
stained.”
Through madness and perturbation regarding his stature
(of body),
I uplifted a stone from his tomb.
In that place, dark and narrow,—through fear,
My state became confounded, and complexion changed.
325 From that changed state, when I returned to sense;
From the son, heart-binding, there came to my ear:—
“If fear comes to thee, of the dark place (of the grave),
“Be wise; and, enter endowed with light.
“Thou wishst the night of the grave, illumined day-
like?
“Here (in this world), kindle the lamp of (good) deeds.”
The body of the work-performer trembles with fever (of
anxiety),
Least that his date-tree should not bring forth dates.
A multitude of excessive avarice entertain the idea,
That they may, wheat unscattered, take up the harvest.
330 Oh Sa'dí! that one enjoyed the fruit, who planted the
root;
That one took the harvest, who scattered the seed.
1 COME; let us raise a hand from the heart;
For, to-morrow, (after death), one cannot raise the hand
from the clay (of the grave).
In the autumn season, seest thou not the tree,
Which, from severe cold, remains leafless!
It uplifts the empty hands of supplication.
It returns not, through God's mercy, empty-handed (leaf-
less).
Fate gives to it a renowned dress of honour;
Destiny places fruit, within its bosom.
5 At that door, which God never closed,—think not,
That he, hands raised (in supplication), becomes hopeless.
All bring devotion; and the wretched, supplication;
Come, so that at the Court of the Cherisher of the
Wretched (God),
We may raise the hand, like the naked (leafless) branch;
For, one cannot sit longer than this, without means (leaf-
less).
Oh Lord! look with bounty,
When sin comes into existence (issues) from Thy slaves.
Sin issues from the dust-like slave,
In hope of the pardon of the Lord.
10 Oh Merciful One! we are cherished by Thy bounty;
We are accustomed to Thy favour and grace.
When a beggar experiences liberality, and grace, and
tenderness,
He turns not back from the rear of the giver.
Since Thou didst make us precious in the world,
We have expectation of this same (dearness), in the future
world.
Thou alone givest preciousness and despicability;
One, dear to Thee, experiences contempt from none.
Oh God! by Thy honour, make me not contemptible (in
the future world);
By the baseness of sin, make me not ashamed.
15 Make not, a person like unto myself, ruler over me;
If I bear punishment, it is best from Thy hand.
There is no evil, in the world, worse than this,—
To suffer oppression from the hand of one like unto my-
self.
Shame of Thee is for me enough;
Make me not further ashamed before any.
If a shadow from Thee falls on my head,
For me,—the sky is of the lowest rank.
If Thou grantst a crown, it exalts my head;
Raise Thou me, so that none may cast me down.
20 My body trembles, when I bring to recollection,
The prayers of one distraught, in the sacred enclosure at
Makka,
Who, with much lamentation, was saying to God:—
“Cast me not away; for no one takes my hand.
“Call me, with kindness, to Thy door; or, drive me from
Thy door;
“—My head is only at Thy threshold.
“If Thou knowst that we are wretched, and helpless;
“We are wearied of imperious lust.
“This headstrong lust hastens to such a degree,
“That reason cannot seize its rein.
25 “Who, by force, prevails over lust and Shaitán?
“The battle-ranks of panthers come not from the ant.
“Give me a path, by the holy men of Thy path,
“Give me protection, from these enemies (lusts).
“Oh God! by the nature of Thy Lordship,
“By Thy qualities, matchless and unequalled,
“By—I await Thy command—of the pilgrim of the holy
house (the Ka'ba),
“By the buried Muhammad,—peace be on him!
“By the extolling of Thee of men, sword-exercising,
“Who reckon the man of war, a woman.
30 “By the worship of old men adorned (with devotion),
“By the truth of young men, newly risen,—
“(I pray) saying:—In that whirlpool of a breath (death-
throes),
“Help us from the shame of saying, two (Gods).
“There is hope from those who perform devotions;
“For, they make intercession for those devotionless.
“Keep me far from pollution, by the pure;
“And hold me excused, if any sin passes from me.
“By the old men, back bent with devotion;
“Eye from shame of sin (stitched) to the back of the foot.
35 “(I pray) saying:—Close not my eye from the face of
happiness;
“Bind not my tongue, at the time of witnessing.
“Hold the lamp of truth opposite my path;
“Keep my hand short of doing evil.
“Cause my eyes to turn from that unfit to be seen;
“Give me no power, as to disgraceful deeds.
“I am that atom, standing in Thy air,
“My existence, or non-existence, through despicability, is
one.402
“A single ray of the sun of Thy grace is sufficient;
“For no one sees me, save in Thy effulgence.
40 “Glance at the evil one, that he may be better;
“A glance from the king is enough for the beggar.
“If Thou, in justice and equity, seizest me,
“I will complain, saying:—Thy pardon gavest not to me
this condition.
“Oh God! drive me not, in contempt, from Thy door;
“For no other door appears to me.
“And if I become, through ignorance, absent a few days,
“Shut not the door, in my face, when I return.
“What excuse may I bring for the shame of wet-skirted-
ness,
“Unless I offer submission, saying:—Oh independent One!
45 “I am a poor man; take me not in crime, and sin;
“The rich man has pity for the poor.
“Why is it necessary to weep for the weakness of my state?
“If I am weak, my shelter is Thou.
“Oh God! in carelessness, we broke the covenant;
“What force may the hand of struggle bring against
destiny?
“What issues from the hand of our deliberation?
“This reliance is, indeed, enough,—confession of our sin.
“Whatever I did, Thou didst strike it all together (upset
it);
“What power may one's self exert against God?
50 “I take not my head beyond Thy order;
“But Thy command thus passes over my head.”
A certain one called one of blackish colour, ugly;
He gave to him an answer of such a sort that he remained
astonied.
“I have not created my own form,
“Which thou considerest my fault, saying:—I have done
ill.
“If I am ugly of face, what business (oh sneerer!) hast
thou with me?
“I am not, in short, the pourtrayer of the ugly and
beautiful.”
Beyond that which Thou didst write on my forehead,
Oh Slave-cherisher! I did neither less nor more.404
55 Thou art, in short, the Knower that I am not powerful;
Thou art absolutely powerful;—who am I?
If Thou art my Guide, I arrive at safety;
But, if Thou shouldst lose me, I remain behind in journey-
ing.
If the World-Creator affords not assistance,
How may the slave exercise abstinence?
How well said the darvesh of short hand,
Who, in the night, vowed; and, in the morning, broke his
vow:—
“If He gives repentance, it will remain steadfast;
“For, our covenant is unstable and languid.”
60 By Thy truth! stitch up my eyes from falsehood;
By Thy light! consume me not, to-morrow, in hell.
My face, through poverty, went into the dust;
My sin's dust ascended to Heaven.
Oh Cloud of Mercy! rain Thou once;
For dust, in the presence of rain, remains not.
Through sin, to me, in this kingdom (of the world) is no
rank;
But, to the next world, there is no path.
Thou knowst the intention of those tongue-bound;
Thou placest the plaster, on those heart-wounded.
65 An idolater was door shut as to his face against the world;
He was loin-girt in an idol's service.
After some years, as to that one of despised religion
—Fate brought before him, a difficult matter.
At the idol's foot, in the hope of good,
He helplessly rolled, in the dust of the temple,
Saying:—“Oh idol! I am distressed; help me;
“I am ready to die; pity my body.”
Many times, in its service, he groaned;
But, any deeds for his arrangement issued not.
70 How may an idol accomplish a person's important affairs,
Which cannot drive a fly from its face?
He was confounded, saying:—“Oh one foot-bound in
error!
“I worshipped thee several years, in folly:
“Accomplish the important matter, which I have before
me;
“Otherwise, I will ask it from the Omnipotent.”
His face, still stained with dust from (prostration before)
the idol,
When the pure God accomplished his wish.
One truths-recognising became astonished at this;
—For, his pure time became to him obscured,—
75 Saying:—“A mean, false, perturbed worshipper,
“—His head still, with the wine of the wine-tavern, in-
toxicated,—
“Washed not his heart from infidelity; nor his religion
from treachery,
“—God fulfilled that desire, which he sought!”
His heart descended into this difficulty,
When a message (from God) came to the ear of his heart,
Saying:—“The old man of deficient wisdom, before the
idol,
“Uttered much; but, his prayer was unacceptable.
“If he be also repulsed from Our Court,
“Then, from the idol to the Lord God,—what difference?”
80 Oh friend! it is necessary to bind the heart on the Lord
God;
Than the idol whatever (or whosoever) it be—who are
more helpless?
If thou placest thy head (in devotion) at this door, it is
impossible,
That the hand of need should return to thee empty.
Oh God! we came deficient in work;
We came empty of hand, but hopeful.
I have heard that one intoxicated with the heat of the
date-wine,
Ran to the most sacred place of a masjid.
He bewailed at the threshold of mercy,
Saying:—“Oh Lord! take me to the loftiest Paradise?”
85 The Mu,azzin seized his collar, saying:—“Make haste,
“Oh one careless of wisdom and religion!—a dog and a
masjid.407
“What worthy deed didst thou, that thou seekst Para-
dise?
“Grace beseems thee not with an ugly face.”
The old man uttered this speech, while intoxicated one
wept,
Saying:—“Oh sir! I am drunk; keep thy hand from me.
“Hast thou wonder at the grace of the Omnipotent,
“When a sinner is hopeful?
“I say not to thee (oh Mu,azzin!)—accept my excuse;
“The door of repentance is open, and God is helper.”
90 I have constantly shame of the grace of the Merciful One;
For, I call my sin great, in comparison with his pardon.407a
When old age brings down a person from his feet,—
When thou seizest not his hand, he rises not from his place.
I am that old man, fallen from his feet;
Oh God! help me, by Thy own grace.
I say not:—Give me greatness and rank;
Pardon me the cause of my wretchedness (sin), and my
crime.
If a friend knows a little defect regarding me,
He makes me notorious for foolishness.
95 Thou seeing, and we fearful of each other;
For Thou art the Screen-coverer (of sin), and we the
screen-render.
Men from without (the screen) have raised a shout (on
finding a defect);
Thou art always within the screen and screen-coverer.
If slaves, in foolishness, turn their heads (from order),
The lords draw the pen (efface the crime).
If Thou pardonst sin to the extent of Thy liberality,
There remains no captive in existence.
And, if Thou becomest angry to the extent of sin,—
Send to hell; and, ask not for the balance.
100 If Thou helpst me, I may arrive at the (appointed) place;
And, if Thou castest me down,—no one assists.
Who uses violence, if Thou givest assistance?
Who seizes, when thou givest deliverance?
In the place of assembling, there will be two parties;
I know not which path they may assign to me.
If my road be from the right hand,—it is wonderful;
For, only crookedness arose from my hand.
My heart gives, time to time, hope,
That God has shame of my white hair.408
105 I have wonder, if He has shame of me,
For shame comes not to me of myself.
Did not Yúsuf—who experienced such calamity and im-
prisonment,
When his command became current, and his rank lofty,—
Pardon the crime of the offspring of Ya'kúb?
For a good appearance has virtue.
He imprisoned them not, for their bad conduct;
He rejected not their small capital.
We also, from Thy grace, have expectation of this very
(treatment),
Oh dear One! forgive the sin of this one, without capital.409
110 No one has seen one of blacker deeds than me
Of whom no deed is approved.
Besides this that to me there is hope of Thy assistance;
To me, there is hope of Thy forgiveness.
I have brought no capital, save hope;
Oh God! make me not hopeless of pardon.
685 He saw an ass, fleet and load-carrying;
Strong, powerful, and effective.
A certain man,—a bone in his hand,
He so struck it, that he broke its bone.
The king was astonied and said:—“Oh youth!
“Thy cruelty to this tongueless one has passed bounds.
“Since thou art strong, make not this self-display;
“Exercise not strength against the fallen.”
The idle words of the king came not pleasing to him;
He expressed a shout, in terror, against the king.
690 Saying:—“I chose not, in folly, this action;
“Since thou knowst not,—go about thy own business.
“Many an one, who is in thy opinion not excused,
“—If thou wilt look well into the matter,—is not far from
good counsel.”
To the king, his reply seemed severe;
He said:—“Come; what right hast thou?
“I think thou art a stranger to reason;
“Thou art, assuredly, not drunk,—but mad.”
The man laughed, saying:—“Oh foolish soldier! silence;
“The tale of Khizr has not perhaps come to thy ears?
695 “No one calls him either mad, or intoxicated;
“Why broke he the ship of the feeble folk?”
The king said:—“Oh tyranous one!
“Knowst thou not, why Khizr so acted?
“In that sea, was a king, a tyrant,
“On whose account, hearts were a sea of terror.
“Creatures, from his deeds, full of lamentation;
“A world, by his power, like a river in agitation.
“Then, for the sake of the good, he broke (in pieces) that
ship;
“That the chief, the tyrant, might not acquire it.
700 “A broken (article of) property, that is in thy hand,
“Is better than that whole (should be) in the enemy's
power.”
The villager of enlightened mind laughed,
Saying:—“O Amír! the right is in my hand.
“Not, through stupidity, do I break the ass's leg;
“But, through the oppression of the unjust sultán.
“The ass, in this place, lame and pain-suffering,
“Is better than that (ass) which (is) a load-carrier before
the king.
“Fie upon such (a tyrant king) who ruled (this) country
and empire!
“On whom, shame will remain till the Judgment Day.
705 “If the woman, burden-bearing (pregnant) brings forth a
snake,
“It is better than one man-born of demon-form.”
The tyrant exercised tyranny on his own body;
He exercised it not on the state of the poor darvesh.
For, to-morrow, in that assembly of fame and infamy,
The darvesh will seize, in his grasp, the tyrant's collar and
beard.
The darvesh places the load of his own sins, on his neck;
He (the tyrant) is unable to raise his head.
I grant—that the ass now carries his load;
How will he (the tyrant) bear the load of asses, on that
Day (of Judgment).
710 If thou askest justice, he is ill-starred,
To whom, another's sorrow is joy.
These very fine days of delight, he has
Whose delight is in the grief of men.
If that dead-heart (ignorant one) rise not (from his sleeping-
garment), it is better than that
Men should, on his account, sleep heart-distressed.
| Serial Number. | SUBJECT. | Couplet where commencing. | Letter of Reference. |
| INTRODUCTION, p. 1. | |||
| 1 | Address to God | 1 | |
| 2 | Address to Muẖammad, the most distinguished of apostles | 69 | |
| 3 | On the cause of the versification of the work | 99 | |
| 4 | In praise of Atábuk Bú Bakr, son of Sa'd, son of Zangí | 130 | a |
| 5 | In praise of Muẖammad Sa'd, son of Bú Bakr | 176 | a |
| CHAPTER I.—On Justice, Equity, and Administration of Government, p. 26. | |||
| 6 | Preamble | 1 | a |
| 7 | The pious man who rode on a panther, snake in hand | 21 | |
| 8 | The counsel given by Naushíravan to his son Hurmuz | 31 | |
| 9 | The counsel given by Khusrau-Parvíz to his son Shírviya | 52 | |
| 10 | The merchant surrounded by robbers | 69 | |
| 11 | Cherishing old attendants; or, the story of Khusrau and Sháhpúr | 82 | a |
| 12 | On deliberation of kings, and on exercising delay in administration | 123 | a |
| 13 | The man who, in a dream, saw Satan | 212 | |
| 14 | On mercy towards the weak | 265 | |
| 15 | On kindness towards subjects | 280 | |
| 16 | What Jamshíd wrote at a fountain-head | 297 | |
| 17 | On recognising friend and foe, on the part of kings; or, Darius and the keeper of the king's horses | 303 | |
| 18 | On kings beholding their subjects | 321 | |
| 19 | The King of Media and one who lamented beneath an arch | 328 | a |
| 20 | The compassion of ancient kings towards the wretched; or, the story of 'Abdu-l-'Azíz | 334 | a |
| 21 | The Lovely One | 353 | |
| 22 | Atábuk (deceased) Tukla bin Sa'd Zangí | 359 | |
| 23 | The Sulṭán of Rúm and the good man | 370 | a |
| 24 | The unjust king and the recluse Khudá-dost | 391 | a |
| 25 | On respecting the hearts of darveshes | 415 | |
| 26 | Mercy to the powerless; or, the famine at Damascus | 429 | |
| 27 | The selfish man | 452 | |
| 28 | On justice and its reward | 463 | |
| 29 | The two brothers,—one just, the other unjust | 479 | |
| 30 | The man who sat on a branch of a tree while he cut it | 513 | |
| 31 | The tranquillity of the heart of the darvesh | 523 | a |
| 32 | The skull that spoke to a devotee | 532 | a |
| 33 | The watch-keeper man-injuring, who fell into a well | 548 | |
| 34 | Hujjáj and the good man | 561 | |
| 35 | On exercising violence against small folk | 581 | a |
| 36 | On the vigilance of kings and their mercifulness to their subjects; or, the king who suffered from guinea-worm | 586 | |
| 37 | On the infidelity of this world | 618 | a |
| 38 | On the vicissitudes of time | 623 | |
| 39 | King Kizil Arslán and the wise man | 637 | |
| 40 | The phrenzied one | 651 | |
| 41 | Alaf Arslan's death | 654 | |
| 42 | The sage who prayed for King Kayḳúbad | 663 | a |
| 43 | On the lusting of the world for just kings; or, the King of Ghur and the peasant | 678 | |
| 44 | Mamún and the moon-faced damsel | 754 | a |
| 45 | The unjust king and the faḳír, truth-speaking | 776 | a |
| 46 | On the strength-essaying of the empty-headed one | 798 | |
| 47 | On refraining from giving advice to one who accepts it not | 822 | a |
| 48 | On administration | 841 | |
| 49 | On cherishing the army in peace-time | 881 | |
| 50 | On the strength of men, work-experienced | 891 | |
| 51 | The hero Gurgín and his son | 909 | |
| 52 | On cherishing wise men | 916 | |
| 53 | On caution towards the enemy | 922 | |
| 54 | On repelling the enemy by judgment and deliberation | 928 | |
| 55 | On courtesy towards the enemy, as a matter of prudence | 936 | |
| 56 | On caution towards the enemy who comes in submission | 946 | |
| CHAPTER II.—On Beneficence, p. 123. | |||
| 57 | Preamble | 1 | a |
| 58 | On cherishing orphans | 18 | |
| 59 | The man whom the Chief of Khojand saw walking in Paradise | 29 | |
| 60 | The liberality of Ibráhím | 37 | |
| 61 | On beneficence to men, good or bad | 55 | |
| 62 | The pious man and the impudent impostor | 59 | a |
| 63 | The miserly father and generous son | 79 | a |
| 64 | The woman who complained to her husband of the cheating of the shopkeeper | 122 | |
| 65 | The old man who performed the pilgrimage to Hijáz | 130 | |
| 66 | The officer of the Sulṭán, and his wife | 138 | |
| 67 | The poor liberal man and the beggar | 148 | |
| 68 | The man who gave water to a thirsty dog | 172 | |
| 69 | The darvesh who became rich | 191 | |
| 70 | Shiblí and the ant in the wheat-sack | 217 | |
| 71 | Generosity and its fruit | 229 | a |
| 72 | On making prey by beneficence; or, the youth who led a sheep | 235 | |
| 73 | The darvesh and the crippled fox | 244 | |
| 74 | The miserly hermit | 266 | |
| 75 | Ḥátim Ṭáí and the swift-footed steed | 281 | |
| 76 | Ḥátim Ṭáí and the King of Yaman | 305 | |
| 77 | The daughter of Ḥátim in the time of the Prophet Muẖammad | 343 | a |
| 78 | Ḥátim Ṭáí and the sugar-sack | 354 | a |
| 79 | The clemency of a king towards one whose ass had fallen in the mire | 368 | |
| 80 | The mean rich man and the pious darvesh | 382 | |
| 81 | On cherishing the people so that one may find a pious one | 401 | |
| 82 | The man who sought for his son in a káraván | 405 | |
| 83 | The ruby that was lost in a camel-stable | 411 | a |
| 84 | The miserly father and the prodigal son | 427 | |
| 85 | The small favour and its great reward | 447 | |
| 86 | On the reward of goodness. | 473 | |
| 87 | On those to whom it is improper to be liberal | 485 | |
| 88 | On kindness to one unworthy; or, the man, his wife, and the wasps | 494 | |
| 89 | Bahrám and his steed | 508 | |
| CHAPTER III.—On Love, p. 172. | |||
| 90 | Preamble | 1 | |
| 91 | On the meaning of worldly love | 14 | |
| 92 | On the perfection of the love of the pure lover; or, the beggar-born one and the prince | 37 | a |
| 93 | On the meaning of the sacrifice of themselves made by lovers; or, the lovely one and the candle | 67 | |
| 94 | On the occupation of lovers | 72 | |
| 95 | On the overpowering nature of ecstasy and the dominion of love; or, the beauty of Samarḳand who disdained her lover | 96 | a |
| 96 | On lovers sacrificing themselves and considering death gain | 114 | |
| 97 | On the patience of men of God; or, the old man who dwelt in a masjid | 122 | |
| 98 | The true lover (of God) turns not back on account of violence | 142 | |
| 99 | On patience as to the tyranny of that one from whom one cannot bear separation | 154 | a |
| 100 | The slave who wept on leaving his master | 164 | |
| 101 | On preferring pain to the remedy; or, the physician and his friend | 166 | a |
| 102 | On the overpowering nature of love over reason | 172 | |
| 103 | The marriage of two cousins | 179 | a |
| 104 | Desirest thou hell, or heaven? | 187 | |
| 105 | Majnún and his loyal love for Lailạ | 190 | |
| 106 | Sulṭán Maẖmúd and his true love for the disposition of Ayáz | 197 | |
| 107 | On the true foot of holy men; or, the old man who crossed a piece of water on his prayer-carpet | 213 | a |
| 108 | On the transitory nature of created things, and the grandeur of God | 227 | a |
| 109 | The villager and his son passing by an army | 237 | |
| 110 | The fire-fly | 249 | |
| 111 | The man, truth-recognising; or, the seizing of an old man in a Syrian city | 253 | |
| 112 | What the man did on seeing the words— “Allah va bas” | 260 | b |
| 113 | On love which turns not from violence | 268 | a |
| 114 | On the ecstasy of the pious, and on its truth and falsehood | 284 | b |
| 115 | The young man who played on a flute | 305 | b |
| 116 | The moth's love for a candle | 315 | |
| 117 | The moth's address to a candle | 348 | |
| CHAPTER IV.—On Humility, p. 213. | |||
| 118 | Preamble | 1 | |
| 119 | The meaning of humility shown by the exaltation of a drop of water | 5 | a |
| 120 | The contempt with which men of God regard themselves | 10 | a |
| 121 | The humility of Bayízíd, the Busṭámí, on whose head ashes fell | 22 | |
| 122 | On haughtiness and its end; on humbleness and its blessing | 30 | a |
| 123 | Jesus and the 'ábid, and the sinner | 42 | |
| 124 | The lawyer of tattered garment and the ḳáẓí | 93 | |
| 125 | The repentance of the Prince of Ganja brought about by a recluse | 145 | a |
| 126 | The lovely one who sold honey, and the sour-visaged one | 202 | |
| 127 | On the humility of good men, exemplified by the pious one whose collar an intoxicated one seized | 216 | |
| 128 | The man who was bitten by a dog | 223 | |
| 129 | The benevolent master and the disobedient slave | 230 | |
| 130 | Shaikh Ma'rúf of Karkh and his guest | 247 | |
| 131 | On the insolence of the worthless and the endurance of good men | 282 | |
| 132 | On the presumption of darveshes and the clemency of kings | 317 | |
| 133 | On the disappointment of the conceited, illustrated by the conceited man and the sage Koshyár | 345 | |
| 134 | On the resignation and right-recognising of God's creatures | 352 | a |
| 135 | On humility and negation of desire, exemplified by the man who barked like a dog | 364 | |
| 136 | Hátim, his deafness and disposition for humility | 376 | a |
| 137 | The devotee and the thief | 393 | a |
| 138 | On the endurance of the violence of an enemy for the sake of a friend | 417 | a |
| 139 | The saint Bahlúl | 425 | |
| 140 | The sage Luḳmán and his endurance of hardship | 428 | |
| 141 | Shaikh Junid and his humility in comparing himself to a dog | 440 | |
| 142 | The holy man and the intoxicated minstrel | 451 | |
| 143 | On the patience of good men as to the violence of the worthless; or, the sage of Wakhsh and his calumniator | 456 | a |
| 144 | On the humility of the Commander of the Faithful, 'Alí | 476 | a |
| 145 | On the humility of 'Umar, who trod on a beggar's foot | 493 | a |
| 146 | The one of good conduct and good disposition | 501 | |
| 147 | The humility of Zu-n-Nún at the time of the drought of Egypt | 506 | |
| CHAPTER V.—On Resignation, p. 264. | |||
| 148 | Preamble | 1 | |
| 149 | On patience and resignation to the decree of Fate | 9 | c |
| 150 | The warrior of Sipáhán and his resignation to Fate | 16 | |
| 151 | The falling of the archer of Ardabíl to the hand of one felt-wearing | 67 | |
| 152 | The warrior and the physician | 84 | |
| 153 | The villager who put up an ass's head as a charm | 89 | |
| 154 | The poor man who lost a diram | 94 | |
| 155 | The old man who struck his son with a stick | 98 | c |
| 156 | The rich man, Bakht-Yar | 101 | c |
| 157 | The woman who quarrelled with her husband because he came empty-handed | 105 | |
| 158 | The man of Kísh and his ugly spouse | 112 | |
| 159 | The vulture and kite | 121 | |
| 160 | The apprentice of the weaver of gold-wrought garments | 133 | c |
| 161 | Sincerity and its reward; hypocrisy and its evil results | 146 | c |
| 162 | The Chief of Ḳalandars living on a mountain, and the man who slept not at night | 155 | c |
| 163 | The boy who fasted | 160 | |
| 164 | The hypocritical devotee who fell from a ladder into hell | 170 | c |
| CHAPTER VI.—On Contentment, p. 284. | |||
| 165 | Preamble | 1 | |
| 166 | The Ṣúfí who spent two dínars | 30 | b |
| 167 | The Hájí who gave Sa'dí an ivory comb | 39 | |
| 168 | The covetous one who bowed obsequiously to Khwárazam | 48 | c |
| 169 | The holy man, who, suffering from fever, was told to ask for sugar | 59 | |
| 170 | On the disgrace of gluttons | 72 | |
| 171 | The man who wandered about offering sugarcane | 81 | |
| 172 | The man to whom the King of Khutan gave a piece of silk | 86 | |
| 173 | How the man was treated who went for food to the king's table | 90 | |
| 174 | The old woman's cat | 98 | |
| 175 | The man of narrow views; the wife of lofty spirit | 104 | c |
| 176 | The holy man who made a house proportionable to his stature | 124 | c |
| 177 | The shaikh who became a king | 129 | c |
| 178 | On patience in weakness, in the hope of prosperity | 140 | c |
| 179 | The old man who shaved his son's head | 153 | a |
| CHAPTER VII.—On Education, p. 301. | |||
| 180 | Preamble | 1 | c |
| 181 | On the excellence of taciturnity | 15 | c |
| 182 | On keeping a secret; or, Sulṭán Takash and his slaves | 30 | |
| 183 | The safety of the ignorant one within the veil of silence | 47 | |
| 184 | The one who uttered abuse at the time of fighting | 64 | c |
| 185 | King 'Azud, whose son was sick | 74 | |
| 186 | The disciple who broke the musician's harp | 85 | c |
| 187 | The Ethiop and the moon-like damsel | 94 | b |
| 188 | On the excellence of concealing faults; or, Dá,ud Ṭá,í and the drunken Ṣúfí | 117 | |
| 189 | On backbiting | 134 | |
| 190 | The slanderer and the wise man | 139 | c |
| 191 | The person who considered thieving better than slandering | 142 | c |
| 192 | Sa'dí at the Niẓámiya of Baghdád | 147 | c |
| 193 | Hujjaj, the blood-devourer | 153 | c |
| 194 | The pious one who laughed at a boy | 161 | c |
| 195 | The devotee who taught Sa'dí the manner of ablution | 165 | c |
| 196 | The Ṣúfí who slandered | 182 | c |
| 197 | The distraught one of Marghaz, his opinion as to slandering | 188 | c |
| 198 | The three persons whom it is lawful to slander | 196 | c |
| 199 | The thief who was robbed by the grocer of Sístán | 202 | c |
| 200 | The Ṣúfí who was asked if he knew what someone said behind his back | 205 | c |
| 201 | Firídún, the vazír, and his calumniator | 215 | c |
| 202 | On the rights of women,—their good and bad qualities | 240 | c |
| 203 | The youth who bewailed about his discordant wife | 274 | c |
| 204 | On the training of boys | 280 | c |
| 205 | The convivial meeting and the youth | 304 | c |
| 206 | On abstaining from the society of youths | 310 | a |
| 207 | What befell the merchant in the Tang-i-Turkán | 320 | a |
| 208 | The crowd of men who sate with a youth | 336 | a |
| 209 | The devotee who became enamoured. What Buḳráṭ said | 340 | a |
| 210 | On safety in retirement, and patience under the calumny of men | 359 | b |
| 211 | What happened to Sa'dí, on his saying “Someone has no front teeth” | 408 | c |
| CHAPTER VIII.—On Thanks, p. 343. | |||
| 212 | Preamble | 1 | c |
| 213 | The woman who showed a cradle to her rebellious son | 27 | |
| 214 | On the creation of mankind | 38 | c |
| 215 | The prince and the philosopher of Greece | 55 | c |
| 216 | The boy who undermined the wall of a masjid | 66 | c |
| 217 | On looking at the creating of God Most High | 71 | c |
| 218 | On examining the state of the feeble, and offering thanks to God for His favour | 88 | c |
| 219 | Sulṭán Tughril and the Hindú watchman | 99 | c |
| 220 | The thief hard-bound, and the man hard-straitened | 118 | c |
| 221 | The man who wore a dress of raw hide | 123 | c |
| 222 | The man who beat a pious one, thinking him to be a Jew | 127 | c |
| 223 | The road-lost one and the ass | 131 | c |
| 224 | The lawyer who passed by one fallen drunk | 134 | c |
| 225 | The regard of the pious for God's creating | 143 | c |
| 226 | On God's grace | 160 | c |
| 227 | Sa'dí's journeying to Somnáth | 174 | |
| CHAPTER IX.—On Repentance, p. 368. | |||
| 228 | Preamble | 1 | c |
| 229 | The old man and his regret over the time of youth | 11 | c |
| 230 | The physician and the old man | 37 | c |
| 231 | On the valuing of youth before the weakness of old age | 54 | c |
| 232 | On understanding religion before death | 65 | c |
| 233 | On Sa'dí's approaching death | 91 | c |
| 234 | The death of Jamshíd's son | 106 | c |
| 235 | The devotee who found a gold brick | 113 | |
| 236 | The two enemies | 134 | c |
| 237 | The girl who wiped the dust from her father's face | 158 | c |
| 238 | Exhortation and counsel | 165 | c |
| 239 | Sa'dí's boyhood | 179 | c |
| 240 | The man who cherished a wolf's cub | 196 | c |
| 241 | The man who contended with a king | 209 | c |
| 242 | The man who enjoyed wealth by fraud | 215 | c |
| 243 | The one, clay-stained, who went to a masjid | 229 | c |
| 244 | Incident in Sa'dí's boyhood | 242 | c |
| 245 | The intoxicated one who burned his harvest | 258 | c |
| 246 | The man, ashamed before the shaikh, not ashamed before God | 269 | c |
| 247 | Zulaikhá (Potiphar's wife) and Joseph | 275 | a |
| 248 | On avoiding pollution | 287 | c |
| 249 | Sa'dí's journeying to Abyssinia | 296 | c |
| 250 | The man whom King Dámaghán struck | 308 | c |
| 251 | Death of Sa'dí's son | 318 | c |
| CHAPTER X.—On Prayer, p. 399. | |||
| 252 | Preamble | 1 | c |
| 253 | The prayer of the distraught one at Makka | 20 | c |
| 254 | The man who called a black man ugly | 51 | c |
| 255 | The darvesh who repented at night and broke his vow by day | 58 | c |
| 256 | The idolater who asked his idol to aid him | 65 | |
| 257 | The intoxicated one who entered a masjid | 83 | c |
The tales, or discourses, marked:—
a are not contained in the 'Iḳd-i-manẓúm;
b do not properly belong to the 'Iḳd-i-manẓúm;
a and c need not be read for the High Proficiency Examination in Persian, in India.
As to examinations, see Appendix to Clarke's “Persian Manual.”
| From | To | Total Couplets. | Chapter. | From | To | Total Couplets. | Chapter. |
| 54 | 67 | 14 | Introduction. | 179 | 187 | 9 | |
| 213 | 236 | 24 | |||||
| 72 | 97 | 26 | 268 | 283 | 16 | ||
| 104 | 1 | 284 | 304 | 21 | |||
| 107 | 190 | 84 | 305 | 314 | 10 | ||
| 336 | 347 | 12 | |||||
| 125 | |||||||
| 146 | |||||||
| 1 | 21 | 21 | 1 | ||||
| 39 | 41 | 3 | 5 | 21 | 17 | 4 | |
| 69 | 264 | 195 | 30 | 41 | 12 | ||
| 297 | 302 | 6 | 145 | 201 | 57 | ||
| 318 | 319 | 2 | 352 | 363 | 12 | ||
| 322 | 358 | 37 | 376 | 424 | 49 | ||
| 370 | 414 | 45 | 456 | 501 | 46 | ||
| 418 | 421 | 4 | |||||
| 452 | 479 | 28 | 193 | ||||
| 512 | 547 | 36 | |||||
| 559 | 560 | 2 | 0 | 5 | |||
| 581 | 588 | 8 | |||||
| 618 | 636 | 19 | 0 | ||||
| 651 | 655 | 5 | |||||
| 663 | 677 | 15 | 30 | 37 | 8 | 6 | |
| 714 | 718 | 5 | 69 | 71 | 3 | ||
| 742 | 747 | 6 | 153 | 174 | 22 | ||
| 753 | 797 | 45 | |||||
| 822 | 880 | 59 | 33 | ||||
| 891 | 971 | 89 | |||||
| 94 | 116 | 23 | 7 | ||||
| 630 | 310 | 358 | 49 | ||||
| 400 | 407 | 8 | |||||
| 1 | 28 | 28 | 2 | ||||
| 55 | 121 | 67 | 80 | ||||
| 229 | 234 | 6 | |||||
| 263 | 265 | 3 | 0 | 8 | |||
| 411 | 426 | 16 | |||||
| 467 | 472 | 6 | 0 | ||||
| 480 | 484 | 5 | |||||
| 508 | 518 | 11 | 255 | 257 | 3 | 9 | |
| 275 | 286 | 12 | |||||
| 142 | |||||||
| 15 | |||||||
| 37 | 66 | 30 | 3 | ||||
| 96 | 113 | 8 | 0 | 10 | |||
| 154 | 163 | 10 | |||||
| 166 | 171 | 6 | 0 |
| Total number of couplets in the Bustán | 4,099 |
| Total number of couplets omitted in the 'Iḳd-i-manẓúm | 1,344 |
| Hence total number of couplets in the 'Iḳd-i-manẓúm | 2,755 |
“Azíze” signifies a king; it is applied to God. ↩
“Khwán-i-yaghmá” is the tray of food which liberal people spread, and to which they invite the poor.
↩↩And, if he had hastened in the way of tyranny.
“Gurohe” refers to Far'ún and his host, who were drowned in the waters of the Nile. God sent them to Hell.
↩The earth is supposed to be stretched out flat, like a carpet, with the hills planted on it, to keep it steady.
↩In some copies the first line reads:—
↩Many nights, I sate silent in this world (of thought of God).
According to the holy tradition:—(Arabic.) “I cannot reckon Thy praises, Oh God, as Thou dost know Thyself.”
↩As in the traditions:—(Arabic.) “In this case think only that there is one God; do not think of the substance of God.”
“Sipar andákhtan” signifies—to fly, to make submission, to be feeble; or, in respect to God most High, one cannot make reflection.
↩In the “'Iḳd-i-manẓúm,” couplets 54 to 67 are omitted.
↩“Asp” here means—that which draws one to the world, e.g. avarice, sensual pleasures, etc.
↩In the áyat of the Sára of I'ráḳ, God says:—(Arabic.) “Oh, Muẖammad! thy God took this confession from the descendants, the offspring and race of Ádam; and, I possess evidence on their bodies as to—“Am I your God?”
God most High, before the creation of Ádam (on him be peace), having created the souls of men, said:—
“Am I your God?”
The souls answered “Yes.” Those who said “Yes” in this world became of the faith of Islám. Those who gave no reply remained as infidels. Some of the Muslims, by reason of the affections of this world, forgot that Covenant; but, in the case of the souls of those who are lovers of God, and solitary save as regards Him,—its sound still remains.
↩God most High says to thee—“O Adorer!” and thou dost reply— “O Lord!”
Thence, with the wing of love, thou dost fly and arrive at the side of the Court of God, which is the end of the world. Certainty as to the Unity of God is then acquired, and no veil remains between the Adored (God) and the adorer (man) save the veil of splendour, beyond which there is no passing for the steed of thought.
After that, thou dost reach the stage of astonishment at witnessing the essence of the splendour of God.
↩Faithful, because Muẖammad concealed not any part of the revelation of God. The angel Jibrá,il descended on Muḥammad with the Ḳurán.
↩In the 'Iḳd-i-manẓúm, couplets 72 to 97 are omitted.
↩“Mai” signifies—bekhudí (senselessness), ecstacy, or the state in which a person considers himself non-existent.
“Kharábí wa bekhudí,” signifying—the true state of the lovers of God.
And it may may be mentioned that, similarly, sáḳí (a cup-bearer) signifies:—
The Divine promise; a spiritual guide; or, a source of Divine bounties.
↩“Sar andar burdan or zadan” signifies—to plunge the head in the collar of reflection, or to be thoughtful and amazed.
I raise not my head, because in my words goodness (eloquence) and evil (defect) are mingled.
↩Muḥammad Atábak Abú Bakr-i-Sa'd-i-Zangí, to whom this work is dedicated. He died in 658 A.H./1260 A.D.
↩These Khulafá were succeeded by 'Alí, the cousin of Muẖammad, who had married Fátima, the daughter of the Prophet. The Sunnís acknowledge Abú-Bakr, 'Umar, 'Uṯmán and 'Alí. The Shíahs reject these, and consider that 'Alí was the rightful heir to Muẖammad. 'Alí was assassinated in A.D. 660 in the Masjid, at Kúfa; he was succeeded by his eldest son Ḥasan, who gave place to Mu'awiyya, the enemy of his father. It is believed that Ḥasan was afterwards poisoned.
'Alí's younger son Ḥusain, on the death of Mu'awiyya and accession of his son Yazíd, escaped to Makkah. Misled by the representations of the people of Kúfa, he set out for that city with 100 men.
On the plains of Kerbela, 5,000 men were opposed to him; his party were massacred. The corpse of Ḥusain was subjected to many indignities. This took place in A.D. 680.
The Persians (Shí'ah) venerate the three imáms 'Alí, Ḥasan, and Ḥusain; they execrate the memory of the three successors of the Prophet; to wit, Abú-Bakr, 'Umar, and 'Uṯmán.
The masjid of Muẖammad is at Makka; of 'Alí, at Najuf, near Kúfa; of Ḥusain, at Kerbela, near the ruins of Babylon.
The orthodox Mussulmán was ordered to make a pilgrimage to Makka at least once in his life. Hárunu-r-rashíd visited Makkah nine times, and spent (£700,000) on the way. Ibráhím Adham, who had abandoned the throne of Khurásán, spent twelve years on the pilgrimage, in consequence of the number of genu-flections which he had vowed to perform.
The Ka'ba, at Makka, is a square building protecting a black stone, which is said to be one of the precious stones of paradise, which fell to the earth with Ádam. The angel Jibrá,il brought it to Ibráhím when he was re-building the Ka'ba. The stone is set in silver in the S.E. corner, seven spans above the ground; it was originally white as snow, but has become superficially black—either by the touch of a menstruous woman or by the kisses of numberless pilgrims; it is said to be lighter than water.
The pilgrims, free from sin and impurity, have to circulate seven times around the Ka'ba. The first three circuits should be at a quick pace, and the last four slowly. As they pass the stone it is incumbent to kiss it, or to touch it with the hand, which should immediately be applied to the lips.
The style and title of the ceremony is—
ṭawáf-i-baytu-lláhí-l-ḥarám.
With the Persians the pilgrimage to the shrine of Ḥusain is more popular than that to Makka, which is in the hands of their opponents, the Sunnís (Turks).
From all parts of Persia, bodies (often in an advanced state of decomposition) are brought to Kerbela.
It is allowable, for those who cannot make the pilgrimage, to get a substitute. There are men whose sole occupation is to make the journey for others.
The deaths of Ḥasan and Ḥusain are commemorated during the first ten days of the Muẖarram.
The play is acted on a stage: when the audience has been worked up into passionate grief, it is not unusual for men to rush through the streets, cutting themselves with knives, and crying “Ḥasan! Ḥusain!” The acting usually takes place in a tent called a takiyá.
The Shí'ahs only believe the interpretations of the Ḳurán given by 'Alí, Ḥusain, and the next seven lineal descendants of the Prophet, who form their nine imáms. They do not call the Sunnís infidels, but refuse them the appellation of “al mumín,” the faithful.
↩Some say that “waḳf” signifies—dastína, a wrist-ornament. The couplet would then mean—that country, treasure, and throne, were the adornment and boast of child, youth, and old men.
↩“Reflection places beneath its foot nine thrones of the sky,
So that it may kiss the stirrup of Ḳizil Arslán.”
The poet Sa'dí, in praising Abú-Bakr, says What need to say so much? because in saying so, pride and arrogance are found, and pride is the mark of misfortune.
↩The conception of the form of fire from smoke.
“'Ainu-l-yaḳín” is—the viewing of a thing is obtained so that a person sees the form of fire with his eye. This yaḳín is superior to the first.
“Ḥaḳḳu-l-yaḳín” signifies—the effacing of one thing by another in such a way that, apparently, it becomes that other thing itself, as—
Iron in the fire of the smith's stove appears exactly like the fire itself.
The “Nineteenth Century” magazine, October 1878, “Faith and Verification,” page 677:—“A fact only is proved when the evidence can leave us no room to doubt; when it cannot be denied without absurdity; when it becomes a necessity of the reason that we give our full assent to it.” Page 678:—“This great scientific axiom is an utterly false one.” “It is in diametrical opposition to truth.” “It is only the meanest and most subordinate truths that are capable of being proved at all.”
↩I saw one, in the bed of a river (or, from the plain of the city of
Rúd-bár),
Who came towards me riding on a panther:
Such terror, on account of that state, sate on (overpowered) me,
That fearing bound the feet of my going.
Smiling, he took his hand to his lip,
Saying—Oh Sa'dí! at whatever thou didst see be not astonished.
↩Thou hast slept cool, in the retired place, half a day;
Say,—to the traveller, burn in the heat outside.
And again:—(Arabic.) “Fear and hope are to man, as wings to a bird.”
In the 'Iḳd-i-manẓúm, couplets 39 to 41 are omitted.
↩↩In thy hand, there is nothing although thou art a king. Moreover, affairs are in the hand of God. Hence thou also hast hope and fear.
↩In business, I have fear of none,
Save that one, who is God-fearing.
“Málish” signifies—punishment.
“Málash” signifies—his property, as given in the text.
↩Exercise not patience; nay, dismiss him, because I will plunder this tyranny-practising one, after that he has become fat, and amassed by oppression much wealth from the peasant, and will take his plunder from him.
Again:—
Exercise not patience; because it is necessary to flay this tyranny-practising one. If not, having become bold, he will exercise on all still greater tyranny.
↩The gist of this speech is:—That a king should protect merchants and travellers.
↩↩When the king broke faith, in whom may he seek faith?
When the villagers fled, from whom will he seek fame?
What goodness, does that-one-without-purity expect,
In whose rear are curses?
Neither poverty, nor helplessness;
Neither rebuke, nor oppression—at once.
When memory of former kings comes to thee,
Recite that same writing after thy own time.
They possessed this very desire, and pride, and pleasure;
In the end, they departed, and abandoned the world.
When a man is in doubt as to how much he possesses, he spreads out his long purse (the scrip suspended at the girdle), and counts his money.
↩↩Is better than to subdue a thousand fortresses.
↩Whosoever came into the world will be one who passes away;
He who is permanent and lasting will be God.
“Mihmán saráe” signifies — the place where they give food to the poor and necessitous.
↩They possessed this very desire, and blandishment, and joy;
In the end, they departed (from the world) and passed away.
The picture, regarding their lifelessness and namelessness, which after the death of former kings thou didst see on the tablet of possibility— behold that same picture (of non-existence) on the page of Time after thy own epoch. That is—like former ones, thou also wilt become nameless and traceless.
↩Angusht ba dandán gazídan; ta'ajjub wa tahrír namúdan; angusht-i-ḥairat bar lab giriftan.
↩↩A person, in a dream, saw Iblís:
In stature, a cone-bearing tree; in face, a sun.
Blood-shedding is considered abominable in all religions; but when the law has decreed it, it is lawful.
↩The weak ant, with great labour, collects his store of food.
↩uftádan.” ↩
In the 'Iḳd-i-manẓúm couplets 297 to 302 are omitted.
↩In some places:—
What use is there in boasting, or complaining, of prosperity and
misfortune?
If thou dost twinkle the eye, thou dost see neither this, nor that.
In the year 333 B.C., on the bank of the Issus, Darius with 600,000 men met the army of Alexander consisting of 30,000 foot and 5,000 horse. Darius fled from the field. Alexander gained a complete victory over the Persian Army, of which 110,000 were slain.
Alexander then conquered Egypt, and was prepared in 331 B.C. to meet the forces which Darius had collected.
Darius wished for peace. He offered to Alexander the provinces west of the Euphrates, and a vast sum for the release of his family.
Alexander, being determined to conquer Persia, refused.
In 331 B.C. the two armies met near Arbela. Darius had 40,000 horse and myriads of infantry. The horsemen came from the Khurd and Turkoman tribes; the footmen from Afghanistan and Bokhára.
Alexander mustered 7,000 horse and 40,000 foot.
As at the battle of the Issus, the courage of Darius gave way; he fled, and his flight decided the fate of the day. Darius escaped the hand of Alexander, to fall by the hand of his own satrap Bessus.
This event is most graphically described by Shaikh Niẓámí in Discourse 30 of the “Sikandar Náma,” translated by Clarke.
↩↩The wise man was amazed, saying:—“Wherefore is this weeping?
It is proper to weep, on account of this reason and spirit.”
Make thy own deliberation; because that one full of wisdom,
Who is after thee, endures his own grief.
Boast not of this five days' stay;
Prepare for the thought of the plan of departing (from the world).
↩↩One whose foot is foremost in endeavour.
↩If friendship for me chances to thee,
Perhaps then God holds thee an enemy.
Drive not men from their place, and cause them not to slip from their station and rank.
↩“Páe az jáe bendan” signifies—
Az ḳadar kase rá afgandan wa ba árám sákhtan.
“Páe” has here the force of “ṭáḳat.”
“Az pá, e dar ámadan” signifies—to fall into distress.
So, when the weak gather together they become strong.
↩↩Taḥḳír wa ihmál wa ta'líl kardan.
Friends on meeting said in former times—“'Ishḳ,” love be to thee! Say in these—“Salám 'alayḳa,” peace be to thee!
In the drought year, for fear of being asked for something, friends saluted not each other.
↩↩Thank God, although I am free from wound.
For this word, “bul-hawas” should be read, in which “bul” signifies —“bisiyár.”
↩↩The sage of Ghuznaví has said:—
Oh Brother! whatever thou sowest, thou wilt reap.
One of the three will be a just king.
On the Judgment Day there will be no shadow save that of God's throne.
↩↩When Death broke the rope of his hope,
The hand of Death tied down his tongue.
According to the guidance of their reason, to whatever they recognised as best for them, they each took their way.
↩↩Hear the end of the other brother!
If thou art a good man, and manly run.
“Kun,” the order of God in the beginning of the creation of the world.
Verse of the Ḳurán:—(Arabic.) “When God wished to create a thing, His command was indeed as follows:—God said to it—‘Be!’ Then it became.”
“Káf” is the first letter of the word “Kun.” Immediately on God's order, all created things became.
↩In the 'Iḳd-i-manẓúm, couplets 512 to 547 are omitted.
↩On the Judgment Day, the oppressed beggar (who in thy opinion is not worth a grain of barley) brings the king (his oppressor) before God.
↩↩I was desire-making; or, I was wishing.
In some places:—
Souls will bewail, on account of thy power.
And again:—
↩Thou hadst no grief, for the pain of hearts.
↩Be attentive to this speech and listen well:
Wheat springs from wheat; barley from barley.
In the 'Iḳd-i-manẓúm, couplets 559 and 560 are omitted.
↩The good man gave advice with severity; and, whatever Hujjáj said, rejected.
↩“Dast-i-hujjat fishánad.” That is to say, Hujjáj became convinced. The custom of Hujjáj was this:—He would slay a guiltless man. If it were his pleasure, they would spread the decapitation carpet before him; place the victim on it; cut off his head; and take away the slain one on it. In this way, the spot, in front of Hujjáj, was unstained with blood.
↩Tree and fruit continually speak to thee,
Saying:—Oh Sir! whatever thou wilt sow, the same grows for thee.
In some places:—
↩At the time of quarrelling, rend not the curtain of any one;
Because, thou also mayst have shame in secret.
I am relating the advice given by a certain one; listen, and hold
dear.
In the 'Iḳd-i-manẓúm, couplets 581 to 588 are omitted.
↩↩Practise not again the tyrannies which thou didst once exercise.
↩This space of five days' prosperity is his,
Whose pleasure is—the vexing of men.
“Zulf” is the ringlet that goes round about the ear.
↩In the 'Iḳd-i-manẓúm, couplets 714 and 715 are omitted.
↩“Ḳazaḥ” is the name of a devil.
“Ḳaus-i-Ḳazaḥ” is Satan's bow; and also the name of Rustam's bow.
In Persia, rain is precious. When the rainbow appears, rain usually ceases. The people then say that “Shaiṭan” has stopped the rain with his bow.
↩The Persians say it is a bitter juice, possessing the power of purging the bile from the body.
↩↩Since, this very moment, the world is no more,
Grief and joy are not present to the Darvesh.
In the first line, “kháṭir” signifies—ánchi ba dil khaṭúr kunád.
↩↩Though by reason of his size it requires two men to place him, &c.
↩man=13.0033 lbs.
“Mujarrd” signifies—one who flings away all his goods that he may devote himself to God.
↩Shaikh Sa'dí enjoyed his society; and travelled, by water, with him.
↩↩“Last night, in a dream, I beheld money.
I said: ‘Why comest thou not to me?’
The money replied: ‘Thou recognisest not my worth;
Thou givest, in liberality, to this and that.
Misers know my value;
I therefore go to the misers.’”
“Murda-dil” signifies—tárík-dil wa bad-kár.
↩Firdausí wrote the Sháh-Náma, containing one hundred and twenty thousand lines, at the desire of Maḥmúd of Ghazní; he died A.D. 1021.
The Sháh-Náma has, in part, been translated into English.
↩“Taḥlíl” signifies—lá iláha illa lláh!
↩Read:—Whose magnanimity places the hand of munificence on the mouths, &c.
↩“Dandán faro burdan” signifies—khám ṭam' namúdan.
↩In some copies, the second line runs:—
↩(a) Which thorn (rival) may have, snake-like, fallen in thy path.
(b) In whose heart, blood, pomegranate-like, may have gathered.
“Dáman-kashán” signifies—kharámán ba náz vavanda.
↩Moses made an attempt against him, upon which 'Új took up a mountain, two farsangs in extent, on his head, with the intention of casting it on the army of Moses, so that it might be destroyed. God sent the bird, Hoopoo, which pierced the mountain, so that it became a collar about his neck.
Moses then struck him on the ankle, so that he fell and died.
↩In the 'Iḳd-i-manẓúm, couplets 480 to 484 are omitted.
The king,—in whose shade a world is living and at ease at his table of bounty,—to what dignity will he (in heaven) ascend!
↩In the 'Iḳd-i-manẓúm, couplets 508 to 518 are omitted.
↩The student should on this subject see—
(a) A summary of the tenets of Ṣúfí-ism, by Sir William Jones.
(b) De Bode's Bakhára.
(c) Sind, by Richard Burton, World-traveller, chap. viii.
(d) Hughes' Notes on Muẖammadanism, p. 227.
For a general view of the tenets of the Muslim religion, see Lane's Modern Egyptians, vol. i. chap. iii.
The season of those distraught in love for God Most High is, in every state, very happy. Whether they experience the wound of separation, through the thorn of pain of love for Him, or become wounded by the axe of separation, life-penetrating, and the arrow of affliction of separation, heart-stitching; or, by obtaining propinquity to the presence of God, and the fortune of union with Him, receive the healing plaster for the heart- wound, and drink the draught, pleasant-tasting, of beholding Him.
↩Then, head-sickness from wine-drinking and the thorn of the rose-branch are as guards, so that the father of lust may not, without bitterness, obtain the taste of pleasure, nor easily bring to his hand the rose (of the beloved).
↩“'Uzlat” here signifies—khilwat wa tanhá,í, or the mystery belonging to God, into which a stranger has no entrance.
“Gum karda pai” signifies—be nishán búdan, one who so does his work that another cannot find the clue to his purpose.
“Manázil-shinásán” signifies —murshidán wa 'árifán, holy men.
↩“Waḳt” here signifies—waḳt-i-ẖuẓúr, the time of being present before God.
As regards the water of life, see the Sikandar Náma, Discourses 69 and 70. English translation by Clarke.
↩“Mushtaghil,” in the second line, signifies—gháfil; ná-parwá; rúe gardánída.
“Janán” signifies—ma'shúḳ, a mistress.
↩The second line means—With the splendour of the Cup-bearer (God) they are to such a degree intoxicated, and become non-existent, that they have spilled the wine of love, and have no need of wine for causing intoxication (masti), and selflessness (be-khudí).
↩They gave evidence to the truth, and said, “Yes!”
When they came into the world, many, by reason of worldly affections, forgot that covenant; but, as to the true lovers, the sound of those words is yet in the ear of their hearts; and they are in shout till now, in exclaiming, “Yes!”
↩After passing through the stage “ilạ Alláh” (to God), they proceed to “fí Alláh” (in God), to which there is no limit.
↩“Naẓar dáshtan” signifies—'ishḳ dáshtan.
“Dandán ba kám faro burdan” signifies—kám-yáb wa mastaulí shudan.
↩Again:— Cast the fire of love into my heart and go, so that all my body may burn.
↩“Jám” signifies—jám-i-ma'rifat wa rísálat.
↩Outwardly beggars, inwardly kings.
↩See couplet 103.
↩With the intoxication of the wine of beauty and loveliness, he was so intoxicated and senseless that, apart from (ḳaṭa'-i-naẓar) the remedy for the heart-pain of lovers, he had not even knowledge of his own sick eye, so that he might prepare a remedy for it.
↩Bar kase 'áshiḳ shudam.
Bá kase ta'ashshuḳ wa mail-i-dil dashtam.
See couplets 58 and 268.
↩↩I heard the wretch in that (state) beneath (the lip) say:—
(a) Ta'alluḳ wa mihr-i-tamám ba shauhar dásht.
(b) Zan ba shauhar rághib wa masrúr búd.
The student should note the use of “uftādan” in these two lines.
↩(a) Maẖbúb-i-muẓá'af wa mustaẖkam.
(b) Dil-rabáyanda dar kham-i-zulf-i-tábdár.
Oh heart-ravisher, in the curl of the curling-curl!
↩In the 'Iḳd-i-manẓúm, couplets 213-236 are omitted.
↩“Ahl-i-da'wạ” signifies—ahl-i-dunyá, people attentive to the exterior, but who know not God from the heart (the Pharisee).
↩“Ahl-i-ḳiyás” signifies—sages who make proof of religious points by sight and argument.
↩According to the author, the possible existence (of a creation) in connection with the necessary existence (God the Creator) is in the stage of nonentity; and, though possibilities (of creation) are great, they are small in comparison with the greatness of God.
With the Ṣúfís the display of argument on the part of sages is impossible, for they say that reason, in the understanding of this, is dismissed, even as in the understanding of probabilities the senses are out of office.
They call the Ṣúfís “ṭá,ifa,e wujúdiya.” The word Ṣúfí comes from the Arabic word “ṣúf” signifying wool. In former days the Ṣúfís wore a blue woollen garment of harsh texture; for good clothing could not then be made of wool. In Persia, the educated people are in favour of Ṣúfí-ism. The belief, set forth in couplet 232, is attributed to Revelation and Apocalypse.
↩In the 'Iḳd-i-manẓúm, couplets 268 to 283 are omitted.
↩(a) Ikhtiyár-i-nístí kun.
(b) Tark-i-khudí kun, va dar yád-i-ma'shúḳ khud vá farámosh kun.
In the 'Iḳd-i-manẓúm, couplets 284-304 are omitted.
↩↩“Whosoever regards himself self-less, he is informed.”
“Samá'” signifies—hearing, song, the circular dance of the darvesh.
↩“Zer” signifies—áwáz-i-sabuk wa barík wa narm, a quick, gentle, and soft note.
↩(a) Gardan nihádan.
(b) Muráḳibat kardan.
(c) Fikr wa andesha kardan.
In resignation to God, they sit, head on the knee of reflection; and whenever, in the stage of witnessing the splendour of God, power of restraining the effulgence of the rays of glory remains not, they rend the collar in perturbation.
↩“The hearing of a pleasant modulated sound is the inciter of the heart.”
When the hearer comes, by reason of this sound, into motion, I observe that the motion is either modulated, or not modulated. If it be modulated, they call it dancing (raḳṣ), and, if not modulated, agitation (iẓṭiráb), or “samá'.”
When the “samá'” is the cause of motion, they call the motion itself “samá',” after the fashion of naming the thing caused (raḳṣ) by the name of the cause (samá').
When a person hears this pleasant sound, a certain state, called ecstasy (wajd) is created within him. When, involuntarily, not through sport or in the way of the sinner, such a state (wajd) is produced within him, “samá'” is lawful, otherwise unlawful. The impropriety (ẖurmat) of sport and mirth, on hearing a pleasant sound, is not because the “samá'” is modulated, or that it is a pleasant sound. The listening to modulated metrical utterances of God's word, and the traditions of His Prophet, and the words of pious men, and to nightingales and men of fine voice, would then have been unlawful; but no one has said so.
↩If the bird of fancy is the hearer from the tower of the knowledge of God (that is, the nest of truth, “ma'ní,” is in his fancy), his flight will reach to a place where the angel is impotent as to his flight.
But, if he be a lust-worshipper, his imperious lust will become stronger, and will incline him to his sins.
↩The lust-worshipper is incapable of hearing “samá'” and song (sarod), for he is in the sleeping stage [careless of intoxication (masti) and the relish of the love of God], not intoxicated and senseless with wine of the love of God. He, sleeping, becomes awake at the pleasant sound.
The lovers of God are all, with wine of love, intoxicated and senseless.
Again:—He who is a lust-worshipper is not of the people of “samá'.” When the lovers of God hear the sound of the song of praise to God, the hearing of such sound is lawful. Hence, they have said:—
“‘Samá'’ is lawful to that one to whom the sound of the harp and of the shutting of a door are the same as regards enjoyment and pleasure.”
↩Another of the assembly replied, “God and His Prophet, and the Cousin of His Prophet ('Alí) know.”
Then 'Alí said, “This conch exclaims ‘Oh God! Oh God! Oh God! Oh truth! Oh truth! Oh truth!’”
↩In the 'Iḳd-i-manẓúm, couplets 305-314 are omitted.
↩In the sea of love, calamity-exciting, and in the sea of the knowledge of God, blood-shedding, thou canst not swim with the garments of fame and reputation, nor with the raiment of fraud and hypocrisy.
Then pluck off the garment of existence from thy back; cast off the ragged robe of worldly affections from thy breast.
↩“Wáṣil,” in Ṣúfí-ism, signifies—one who has escaped from himself; joined God Most High; dived into the sea of non-existence; and carried his foot to the shore of existence, so that his trace is not visible, just as a drop in the ocean becomes untraceable.
“Ḥijáb” signifies—a veil, or hinderer of union, between thee and God.
↩↩Fidá sákhtan-i-ján dar sar o kár-i-kase, wa 'umr-i-khud ṣirf namúdan.
↩(a) Awwal kár wa kár-i-ákhir.
(b) Saudá,e 'ishḳ.
↩Into reckoning, a lover like thee, how may that one bring,
Towards whom the faces of kings and sulṭáns are (turned)?
“Sar bar dáshtan” signifies—tark-i-sar kardan.
↩“Sar andáz” is one who sports with his head (life).
↩Observe that “kushtan” is used to express in couplet—
↩358, the extinguishing of a candle.
360, the slaying of a man.
In the 'Iḳd-i-manẓúm, couplets 5 to 21 are omitted.
The Ḳurán says:—“Verily, we have created man from black clay, kneaded; and, before his creation, jinn, from red fire, flame-possessing and burning.
“Tan ba becháragí andákhtan” signifies —
↩Tawáẓu' farotaní kháksárí kardan.
Abú Músạ, his disciple, says that Báyazid relates:—
In a dream I beheld God Most High. I said, “How is the path to Thee?” He replied, “When thou passest out of thyself, thou arrivest.”
In a dream they beheld Báyizid, after death, and asked, “What is thy state?” He replied, “The angels said to me, ‘Oh, old man, what hast thou brought?’ I said, ‘When a darvesh goes to a king's country, they say not to him, “What broughtst thou?” but “What wishst thou?”’”
Báyizid, at the time of death, said:—
↩“Neither did I worship Thee, save with negligence;
Nor did I serve Thee, save with carelessness.”
“Maghrúr-i-dunyá” signifies—one in love with the pomp of the world.
↩In some copies, “sále búd” occurs instead of “chú sál-i-bad”; the first line will then run:—
Like the year, the people were fugitives from him.
The word “sále” (a year) is introduced, in this case, to mark excessive avoidance and abhorrence; for, a year is a long period of time.
↩The Prophet—with all his devotion and purity, and power of prophesying, and message-bringing, and sublime rank—chose humility; put not his foot beyond limit, in any matter; and confessed to the defect of his devotion.
↩In every matter, to pass beyond limit and not to preserve bounds, is indecorous; nay, it brings loss upon the face of the work.
When some of the “Companions” exercised asceticism, Muẖammad forbade their going deeply in devotion.
↩Even so are the Lords of Eloquence, in every garment and condition; difference, in their perfection and greatness, occurs not.
↩“Ja'l” signifies—sargín, ghalatang.
↩↩In this way, the man, speech-uttering, quickly.
Candle here signifies—joking.
↩↩An evil one: one with vinegar rubbed on his face.
“Az kase girau burdan” signifies—ba kase sábiḳa kardan; taḳad-dum namúdan; az kase rihn sitándan.
↩Músạ's rod, by swallowing, became not fat; the same is the case with these men.
↩See couplet 250.
↩In the 'Iḳd-i-manẓúm, couplets 352 to 363 are omitted.
↩In the 'Iḳd-i-manẓúm, couplets 376 to 424 are omitted.
↩↩Assist me, for recompense and reward.
The claimant here means one claiming to be of the circle of holy men.
↩Juníd was a well-known saint of Baghdád; they say that originally he was of Nihávand; his title was Abú-l-Ḳásim, and his nickname Ḳávarírí of Zajjaj, or Khazzár. He died in A.H. 287 or 289.
All Imáms are directly descended from him; hence they call him Ṣayyidu-l-ṭá,ifa, “chief of the band.”
↩In the 'Iḳd-i-manẓúm, couplets 456-501 are omitted.
↩Hangáma-gir is one who, in public places, utters tales so that men purchase his amulets.
“Zabán-band” signifies—a charm, with which they close an enemy's mouth, so that he is unable to slander.
“Mush 'abid” signifies—huḳḳa-báz; hangáma-gír.
↩His father was Naubí of the wise ones of Kuresh; his spiritual guide, Isráfíl; his teacher, Malik-i-Uns. He died in A.H. 245.
↩The second line may mean:—
↩That thou rememberst me in auspicious prayer.
Or, That thou rememberst this speech, in couplet 523.
Zarír is a yellow grass with which they dye garments.
↩Through the display of bravery and assault, they rendered all things topsy-turvy.
↩“Sipar dar sipar yáftem” signifies—darmíyán-i-má va eshán parda sákhtem.
In the second line, “báftem”—signifying “muttaṣil va paiwand kar-dem”—sometimes occurs.
When the enemy's horsemen approached and the work of arrow and musket was ended—of necessity, alighting from our horses, and placing the shield in front, we were opposed to the enemy, who did even so.
On both sides, the armies commingled to such a degree that shield to shield became conjoined.
↩“Shist” signifies—ḳulláb, a flsh-hook.
↩For driving away the evil eye, they used to suspend the head of an ox, or an ass.
↩“Kargis” signifies—nasr.
↩“Sábiḳ” signifies—sabaḳ dihanda; khalífa,e maktab.
↩The second line means:—
↩Cause thy exterior to be decked with hypocrisy.
For obvious reasons, couplets 30 to 33 are here omitted.
↩In the 'Iḳd-i-manẓúm, couplets 69 to 71 are omitted.
↩↩“Through fear of want, kill not thy children; we give thee and them daily food.”
A commentator says that the second line may be rendered:—
↩“Men placed, at once, the loss of the beauty of his head, in secret, within their own belly.”
“Zhazh-khá” is opposed to “shakr-khá”; it is synonymous with “behúda-go”; “sakht-go.”
↩↩“If thou knowst, say little;
Utter not one thing a hundred times; say a hundred things once.”
↩Like Sa'dí, who, while he was tongue-bound,
Was free from the calumny of calumniators.
At the beginning of ablution, to say—“Bimi-lláhu-r-raẖmanu-r-raẖím,”—was Muẖammad's command.
↩In the traditions, it is stated:—“If a person oppresses, the boldness of the oppressed goes to the oppressor; and the goodness of the oppressor to the oppressed.
↩↩Take a virgin woman.
The Malámatí is one who keeps secret the worship of God from others, who displays neither goodness nor beauty, and who conceals neither wickedness nor evil.
The Ṣáfí is one whose heart is not engaged with the people.
The Ṣáfí is higher than the other two, because they are obedient to saints and prophets.
They apply the word Ḳalandar to wicked men, on account of their outward similarity to Ḳalandars, and to wine-drinkers. Of these three sects, the Ḳalandar alone shaves his head.
↩Then, as the rose-bud, with the breath of the morning wind, laughs— do thou breathe the breath of fidelity, and see that, rose-like, with much laughter, she will fall in rear and display cordiality.
↩One míl = four thousand camel-paces = one-third of a farsang.
↩Then “khisht-zan,” in the first line means—brick-maker; in the second, brick-caster.
↩↩“From sky to earth, if thou lookst with wisdom,
There is not an atom in which there is not a strange mystery.”
How may he utter thanks for the grace of thanks to God?
↩In Persia, from a willow growing in moist ground.
In Arabia, from a tamarisk, in the district of Mount Sinai. This “manna” is called “ṭúfra.”
In India and Syria, from the camel-thorn. This “manna” is called “al ẖaj.”
“Manna” is of red colour, very sweet; it melts in water. In India, it is used as medicine.
↩Devotion in old age cannot attain to austerity in youth; but such devotion is at least better than that thou shouldst go empty-handed, and have no bank-draft in thy hand.
↩We lament and supplicate and prefer excuse for sin. After saying— Oh Lord!—we depreciate ourselves and our deeds.
↩