# Tales from the Gulistan/Chapter 1

I
THE MANNERS OF KINGS
“I HEARD A PÂDSHÂH”
[p. 3
STORY I
I heard a Pâdshâh giving orders to kill a prisoner. The helpless fellow began to insult the King on that occasion of despair, with the tongue he had, and to use foul expressions according to the saying: ‘Who washes his hands of life, says whatever he has in his heart.’ When a man is in despair his tongue becomes long, and he is like a vanquished cat assailing a dog. In time of need, when flight is no more possible, the hand grasps the point of the sharp sword.
When the King asked what he was saying, a good-natured vizier replied: “My lord, he says, ‘Those who bridle their anger and forgive men; for Allah loveth the beneficent.’”
The King, moved with pity, forbore taking his life; but another vizier, the antagonist of the former, said: “Men of our rank ought to speak nothing but the truth in the presence of Pâdshâhs. This fellow has insulted the King and spoken unbecomingly.”
The King, being displeased with these words, said: “That lie was more acceptable to me than this truth thou hast uttered, because the former proceeded from a conciliatory disposition, and the latter from malignity; and wise men have said, ‘a falsehood resulting in conciliation is better than a truth producing trouble.’”
He whom the Shâh follows in what he says, it is a pity if he speaks anything but what is good.
​The following inscription was upon the portico of the hall of Feridûn:
O brother! the world remains with no one; Bind the heart to the Creator, it is enough. Rely not upon possessions and this world, Because it has cherished many like thee and slain them. When the pure soul is about to depart, What boots it if one dies on a throne or on the ground?
STORY II
One of the Kings of Khorâsân had a vision in a dream of Sultân Mahmûd, one hundred years after his death. His whole person appeared to have been dissolved and turned to dust, except his eyes, which were revolving in their orbits and looking about. All the sages were unable to give an interpretation, except a Dervish, who made his salutation and said: “He is still looking amazed how his kingdom belongs to others.”
STORY III
I have heard that a royal prince of short stature and mean presence, whose brothers were tall and good-looking, once saw his father glancing on him with aversion and contempt; but he had the shrewdness and penetration to guess the meaning, and said : “O father, a puny, intelligent fellow is better than a tall, ignorant man, neither is everything [which is] bigger in stature higher in price. A sheep is nice to eat, and an elephant is carrion. The smallest mountain on earth is Jûr, nevertheless it is great with Allah in dignity and Station. Hast thou not heard that a lean scholar one day said to a fat fool, ‘Although an Arab horse may be weak, it is thus worth more than a stable full of asses.’”
The father laughed at this sally, the pillars of the State approved of it; but the brothers felt much aggrieved.
While a man says not a word His fault and virtue are concealed; Think not that every desert is empty: Possibly it may contain a sleeping tiger.
I heard that on the said occasion the King was menaced by a powerful enemy, and that when the two armies were about to encounter each other, the first who entered the battlefield was the little fellow, who said: “I am not he whose back thou wilt see on the day of battle, but he whom thou shalt behold in dust and blood. Who himself fights. Stakes his own life in battle; but he who flees, the blood of his army.”
After uttering these words he rushed among the troops of ​the enemy, slew several warriors, and, returning to his father, made humble obeisance and said: "O thou to whom my person appeared contemptible and didst not believe in the impetuosity of my valour: a horse with slender girth is of use on the day of battle, not a fattened ox."
It is related that the troops of the enemy were numerous, and that they [the King's] being few, were about to flee, but that the puny youth raised a shout, saying: "O men, take care not to put on the garments of women!" These words augmented the rage of the troopers so that they made a unanimous attack, and I heard that they gained the victory on the said occasion. The King kissed the head and eyes of his son, took him in his arms, and daily augmented his affection till he appointed him to succeed him on the throne. His brothers became envious and placed poison in his food, but were perceived by his sister from her apartment, whereon she closed the window violently, and the youth, shrewdly guessing the significance of the act, restrained his hands from touching the food, and said: "It is impossible that men of honour should die, and those who possess none should take their place."
    No one goes under the shadow of an owl
    Even if the Homâ should disappear from the world.
STORY IV
A band of Arab brigands, having taken up their position on the top of a mountain and closed the passage of caravans, the inhabitants of the country were distressed by their stratagems, and the troops of the Sultân foiled, because the robbers, having obtained an inaccessible spot on the summit of the mountain, thus had a refuge, which they made their habitation. The chiefs of that region held a consultation about getting rid of the calamity, because it would be impossible to offer resistance to the robbers if they were allowed to remain. A tree which has just taken root may be moved from the place by the strength of a man; but if thou leavest it thus for a long time, thou canst not uproot it with a windlass. The source of a fountain may be stopped with a bodkin; but when it is full, it cannot be crossed on an elephant.
The conclusion was arrived at to send one man as a spy, and to wait for the opportunity till the brigands departed to attack some people, and leave the place empty. Then several experienced men, who had fought in battles, were despatched to keep themselves in ambush in a hollow of the mountain. In the evening the brigands returned from their excursion with their booty, divested themselves of their arms, put away their plunder, and the first enemy who attacked them was sleep, till about a watch of the night had elapsed.
The warriors leapt forth from the ambush, tied the hands of every one of the robbers to his shoulders, and brought them in the morning to the court of the King, who ordered all of them to be slain. There happened to be a youth among them, the fruit of whose vigour was just ripening, and the verdure on the rose-garden of whose cheek had begun to sprout. One of the ​viziers, having kissed the foot of the King's throne and placed the face of intercession upon the ground, said: "This boy has not yet eaten any fruit from the garden of life, and has not yet enjoyed the pleasures of youth. I hope your majesty will generously and kindly confer an obligation upon your slave by sparing his life." The King, being displeased with this request, answered:
"He whose foundation is bad will not take instruction from the good; to educate unworthy persons is like throwing nuts on a cupola. It is preferable to extirpate the race and offspring of these people, and better to dig up their roots and foundations, because it is not the part of wise men to extinguish fire and to leave burning coals, or to kill a viper and leave its young ones."
    If a cloud should rain the water of life,
    Never sip it from the branch of a willow-tree.
    Associate not with a base fellow,
    Because thou canst eat sugar from a mat-reed.
The vizier heard these sentiments, approved of them nolens volens, praised the opinion of the King, and said: "What my lord has uttered is the very truth itself, because if the boy had been brought up in the company of those wicked men, he would have become of themselves. But your slave hopes that he will, in the society of pious men, profit by education and will acquire the disposition of wise persons; being yet a child the rebellious and perverse temper of that band has not yet taken ​hold of his nature, and there is a tradition of the prophet that every infant is born with an inclination for Islâm, but his parents make him a Jew, a Christian, or a Majûsi. The spouse of Lot became a friend of wicked persons, his race of prophets became extinct; the dog of the companions of the cave for some days associated with good people, and became a man."
When the vizier had said these words, and some of the King's courtiers had added their intercession to his, the King no longer desired to shed the blood of the youth, and said: "I grant the request although I disapprove of it. Knowest thou not what Zâl said to the hero Rustam? 'An enemy cannot be held despicable or helpless. I have seen many a water from a paltry spring becoming grat and carrying off a camel with its load.'"
In short, the vizier brought up the boy delicately, with every comfort, and kept masters to educate him, till they had taught him to address persons in elegant language as well as to reply, and he had acquired every accomplishment. One day the vizier hinted at his talents in the presence of the King, asserting that the instructions of wise men had taken effect upon the boy and had expelled his previous ignorance from his nature. The King smiled at these words and said: "At last a wolf's whelp will be a wolf, although he may grow up with a man."
After two years had elapsed a band of robbers in the locality joined him, tied the knot of friendship, and, when the opportunity presented itself, he killed the vizier with his son, took ​away untold wealth, and succeeded to the position of his father in the robber-cave, where he established himself. The King [informed of the event] took the finger of amazement between his teeth and said:
STORY V
I saw at the palace gate of Oglimish the son of a military officer who was endued with marvelous intellect, sagacity, perception, and shrewdness; also the signs of [future] greatness manifested themselves on his forehead whilst yet a small boy. From his head intelligence caused the star of greatness to shine. In short, he pleased the Sultân, because he had a beautiful countenance and a perfect understanding; and philosophers have said: 'Power consists in accomplishments, not in wealth; and greatness in intellect, not in years.'
His companions, being envious, made an attempt upon his life, and desired to kill him, but their endeavours remained fruitless. What can a foe do, when the friend is kind?
The King asked: "What is the cause of their enmity to thee?"
He replied: "Under the shadow of the monarchy of my lord I have satisfied my contemporaries except the envious, who will not be contented but by the decline of my prosperity, and may the monarchy and good fortune of my lord be perpetual."
STORY VI
It is narrated that one of the kings of Persia had stretched forth his tyrannical hand to the possessions of his subjects, and had begun to oppress them violently, that in consequence of his fraudulent extortions they dispersed in the world and chose exile, on account of the afflictions entailed by his violence. When the population had diminished, the prosperity of the country suffered, the treasury remained empty, and on every side enemies committed violence.
Who desires succour in the day of calamity, say to him: "Be generous in the times of prosperity." The slave with a ring in his ear, if not cherished, will depart. Be kind, because then a stranger will become thy salve.
One day Shâhnâmah was read in his assembly, the subject being the ruin of the dominion of Zohâk and the reign of Feridûn. The vizier asked the King how it came to pass that Feridûn, who possessed neither treasure nor land, nor a retinue, established himself upon the throne. He replied:
"As thou hast heard, the population enthusiastically gathered around him, and supported him, so that he attained royalty."
The vizier said: "As the gathering around of the population is the cause of royalty, then why dispersest thou of the population?? Perhaps thou hast no desire for royalty? It is best to cherish the army as thy life, because a Sultân reigns by means of his troops."
The King asked: "What is the reason for the gathering around of the troops and the population?"
He replied: "A Pâdshâh must practise justice that they may gather around him, and clemency that they may dwell in safety under teh shadow of his government; but thou possessest neither of these qualities. A tyrannic man cannot be a Sultân ​as a wolf cannot be a shepherd. A Pâdshâh who established oppression destroys the basis of the wall of his own reign."
The King, displeased with the advice of his censorious vizier, sent him to prison. Shortly afterwards the sons of the King's uncle rose in rebellion, desirous of recovering the kingdom of their father. The population, which had been reduced to the last extremity by the King's oppression and scattered, now assembled around them and supported them, till he lost control of the government and they took possession of it.
STORY VII
A Pâdshâh was in the same boat with a Persian slave, who had never before been at sea, and experienced the inconvenience of a vessel; he began to cry and tremble to such a degree that he could not be pacified by kindness, so that at last the King became displeased as the matter could not be remedied.
In that boat there happened to be a philosopher, who said: "With thy permission I shall quiet him."
The Pâdshâh replied: "It will be a great favour."
The philosopher ordered the slave to be thrown into the water, so that he swallowed some of it, whereon he was caught and pulled by his hair to the boat, to the stern of which he clung with both his hands. Then he sat down in a corner, and became quiet. This appeared strange to the King, who knew not what wisdom there was in the proceeding [and asked for it]; he [the philosopher] replied:
"Before he had tasted the calamity of being drowned, he knew not the safety of the boat; thus also a man does not appreciate the value of immunity from a misfortune until it has befallen him."
    O thou full man! Barley-bread pleases thee not;
    She is my sweetheart who appears ugly to thee!
    To the houris of paradise purgatory seems hell;
    Ask the denizens of hell: [to them] purgatory is paradise!
STORY VIII
STORY IX
An Arab king was sick in his state of decrepitude, so that all hopes of life were cut off. A trooper entered the gate with the good news that a certain fort had been conquered by the good luck of the King, that the enemies had been captured, and that the whole population of the district had been reduced to obedience. The King heaved a deep sigh and replied:
STORY X
I was constantly engaged in prayer, at the head of the prophet Yahia's tomb in the cathedral mosque of Damascus, when one of the Arab kinds, notorious for his injustice, happened to arrive on a pilgrimage to it, who offered his supplications, and asked for compliance with his needs.
The Dervish and the plutocrat are slaves on the floor of this threshold, and those who are the wealthiest are the most needy.
Then he said to me: "Dervishes being zealous and veracious in their dealings, unite thy mind to mine, for I am apprehensive of a powerful enemy."
I replied: "Have mercy upon they feeble subjects, that thou mayest not be injured by a strong foe. With a powerful arm and the strength of the wrist to break the five fingers of a poor man is sin. Let him be afraid who spares not the fallen, because if he falls no one will take hold of his hand. Whoever sows bad sees and expects good fruit had cudgelled his brains for nought, and begotten vain imaginations. Extract the cotton from thy ears, and administer justice to thy people; and if thou failest to do so, there is a day of retribution."
STORY XI
A Dervish, whose prayers met with answers, made his appearance, and Hejâj Yusuf, calling him, said: "Utter a good prayer for me."
Whereupon the Dervish exclaimed: "O God, take his life!"
He replied: "For God's sake, what prayer is this?"
The Dervish rejoined: "It is a good prayer for thee and for all Mussalmâns. O tyrant, who oppressest they subjects! how long wilt thou persevere in this? Of what use is authority to thee? To die is better for thee than to oppress men."
STORY XII
An unjust king asked a devotee what kind of worship is best? He replied: "For thee the best is to sleep one half of the day, so as to not injure the people for a while."
STORY XIII
I heard a king, who had changed night into day by pleasures, saying in his drunkenness: "We have in the world no moment more delightful than this, because I care neither for good nor for bad, nor for anyone."
A naked Dervish, who was sleeping [outside] in the cold, then said: "O thou like whom in happiness there is no one in the world! I take it if thou carest not, we also do not care."
The King, being pleased with these words of [unconcern], held out a bag of a thousand dinârs from the window and said: "Dervish! Spread out thy skirt."
He replied: "Whence can I, who have no robe, bring a skirt?"
The Pâdshâh took pity on his helpless condition, added a robe to his gift, and sent it out to him; but the Dervish squandered the money in a short time and returned.
    Property cannot abide in the hands of the free.
    Neither patience in the heart of a lover, nor water in a sieve.
The case of the Dervish having been brought to the notice of the King when he was not in good humour, he became angry and turned his face away. Therefore it has been said that intelligent and experienced men ought to be on their guard against the violence and despotism of kings, because their thoughts are generally occupied with important affairs of State, so that they cannot bear to be importuned by a crowd of vulgar persons. He will be excluded from the beneficence of the Pâdshâh, who cannot watch for the proper opportunity; ​before thou seest the occasion for speaking at hand destroy not thy power by heedless talk.
The King said: "Drive away this impudent and prodigal mendicant, who has in so a short time thrown away so much money. He does not know that the Beit-ulmal is intended to offer a morsel to the needy, and not to feed the brothers of devils."
    The fool who burns by day a camphor-light
    Will soon not have an oil-lamp for the night.
STORY XIV
One of the ancient kinds neglected the government of his realm and kept the army in distress; accordingly the whole of it ran away, when a powerful enemy appeared. If he refrains from giving treasure to the troops, they refrain from putting their hands to the sword; what bravery will they display in battle array, when their hands are empty and affairs deplorable?
I was on terms of friendship with one of those who had acted treacherously, and reproached him, telling him that it was base, ungrateful, despicable, and undutiful to abandon an old master when his affairs have changed a little, and to disregard the obligations incurred for benefits received during many years.
He replied: "If I inform thee, perhaps thou wilt excuse me; for my horse had no barley, and my saddle-cloth was pawned. A Sultân who grudges money to his troops, they cannot bravely risk their lives for him. Give gold to the soldier that he may serve thee; if thou withholdest gold, he will serve elsewhere."
    When a warrior is full, he will be brave in fight;
    But if his belly be empty, he will be brave in flight.
STORY XV
A vizier, who had been removed from his post, entered the circle of Dervishes, and the blessing of their society took such effect upon him that he became contented in his mind. When the King was again favourably disposed towards him, and ordered him to resume his office, he refused, and said: "Retirement is better than occupation. Those who have sat down in the corner of safety have bound the teeth of dogs, and tongues of men; they tore the paper up, and broke the pen, and are saved from the hands and tongues of slanderers."
The King said: "Verily we stand in need of a man of sufficient intelligence who is able to carry on the administration of the government."
He replied: "It is a sign of sufficient intelligence not to engage of in such matters. The homâ excels all other birds in nobility, because it feeds on bones and injures no living thing."
A donkey, having been asked for what salary he had elected to attend upon the lion, replied: "That I may consume the remnants of his prey, and live in safety from my enemies by taking refuge under his bravery." Being again asked, that as he had entered into the shadow of the lion's protection, and gratefully acknowledged his beneficence, why he had not joined the circle of intimacy so as to be accounted one of his favourite servants, he replied: "I am in the same way also not safe of his bravery."
    Should a Guebre kindle fire a hundred years,
    If he falls one moment into it he will be burnt.
STORY XVI
One of my friends complained of the unpropitious times, telling me that he had a slender income, a large family, without strength to bear the load of poverty, and had often entertained the idea to emigrate to another country so that, no matter how he made a living, no one might become aware of his good or ill luck.
He was also apprehensive of the malevolence of enemies, who would laugh behind his back and would attribute the struggle he underwent for the benefit of his family to his want of manly independence, and that they would say: "Behold that dishonourable fellow who will never see the face of prosperity, [who] will choose bodily comfort for himself, abandoning his wife and children to misery."
He also told me that, as I knew he possessed some knowledge of arithmetic, I might, through my influence, get him appointed to a post, which would become the means of putting his mind at ease, and place him under obligations to me which he could not requite by gratitude during the rest of his life.
I replied: "Dear friend! employment of a Pâdshâh consists of two parts, namely, the hope for bread and the danger of life; but it is against the opinion of intelligent men to incur this danger for that hope. No one comes to the house of a Dervish to levy a tax on land and garden. Either consent to bear thy anxiety or grief, or carry thy beloved children to the crows."
He replied: "Thou hast not uttered these words in conformity with my case, nor answered my question. Hast thou not heard the saying: Whoever commits treachery let his ​hand tremble at the account? Straightness is the means of acceptance with God; I saw no one lost on the straight road."
Sages have said: Four persons are for life find read of four persons; a robber of the Sultân, a thief of the watchman, an adulterer of an informer, and a harlot of the Muhtasib; but what has he to fear whose account [of the conscience] is clear? Be not extravagant when in office, if thou desirest on thy removal to see thy foes embarrassed [for imputations against thee]; be thou pure, O brother, and in fear of no one; washermen beat [only] impure garments against stones.
I said, "The story of that fox resembles thy case who was by some persons seen fleeing with much trouble, and asked for the cause of his fear. He replied: 'I have heard that camels are being forced into the service!' They said: 'O fool! What connection hast thou with a camel, and what resemblance does the latter bear to thee?' The fox rejoined: 'Hush! If the envious malevolently say that I am a camel, and I am caught, who will care to release me or investigate my case? Till the antidote is brought from Erâq, the snake-bitten person dies.'
"Thou art a very excellent and honest man, but enemies sit in ambush, and competitors in every corner; if they describe thy character in a contrary manner, thou wouldst be called upon to give explanations to the Pâdshâh and incur reproof. Who would on that occasion venture to say anything? Accordingly I am of opinion that thou shouldst retire to the domain of contentment and abandon aspirations to dominion. Wise ​men have said, 'In the sea there are countless gains, but it thou desirest safety, it will be on the shore.'"
My friend, having heard these words, became angry, made a wry face, and began to reproach me, saying: "What sufficiency of wisdom and maturity of intellect is this? The saying of philosophers has come true, that friends are useful in prison, because at table all enemies appear as friends. Account him not a friend who knocks at the door of prosperity, boasts of amity, and calls himself thy adopted brother. I consider him a friend who takes a friend's hand when he is in a distressed state and in poverty."
Seeing that he had thus changed, and ascribed my advice to an interested motive, I paid a visit to the President of the State Council, and, trusting in my old acquaintance with him, explained the case of my friend, whom he then appointed to a small post. In a short time my friend's affable behaviour and good management elicited approbation, so that he was promoted to a higher office. In this manner the star of his good luck ascended till he reached the zenith of his aspirations, and became a courtier of His Majesty the Sultân, generally esteemed and trusted. I was delighted with his safe position, and said: "be not apprehensive of tangled affairs, and keep not a broken heart, because the spring of life is in darkness. Do not grieve, O brother in misery, because the All-merciful has hidden favours. Sit not morose on account of the turns of time; for patience, although bitter, nevertheless possesses a sweet fruit."
At that time I happened to go with a company of friends on a journey to Mekkah, and on my return he met me at a distance ​of two stages; I perceived his outward appearance to be distressed, his costume being that of Dervishes. I asked: "What is the matter?"
He replied: "As thou hast predicted, some persons envied me, brought against me an accusation of treason; the King ordered no inquiry on its truthfulness, and my old well-wishes, with my kind friends who failed to speak the word of truth, forgot our old intimacy.
    "Seest thou not in the front of the possessor of dignity,
    They place the hands on their heads, praising him?
    But, if fortune's turn causes his fall,
    All desire to place their feet on his head.
"In short, I was till this week undergoing various persecutions, when the news of the pilgrim's [approach] from Mekkah arrived, whereon I was released from my heavy bonds, and my hereditary property confiscated."
I replied: "Thou hast not paid attention to my remarks, when I said that the service of Pâdshâhs is like a sea voyage, profitable and dangerous, so that thou wilt either gain a treasure or perish in the waves. The Khâjah either takes gold with both hands to the shore, or the waves throw him one day dead upon the shore."
Not thinking it suitable to scratch the wound of the Dervish more than I had already done, and so sprinkle salt thereon, I contented myself with reciting the following two distichs:
    Knewest thou not that thou wit see thy feet in bonds,
    If the advice of people cannot penetrate into thy ear?
    Again, if thou canst not bear the pain of the sting,
    Put not thy finger into the hole of a scorpion.
STORY XVII
Several men were in my company whose external appearance displayed the adornment of piety. A great man, who had conceived a very good opinion of these persons, had assigned them a fixed allowance; but, after one of them had done something unbecoming the profession of Dervishes, his opinion changed and they fell into disgrace. I desired in some way to save the allowance of my friends and intended to wait upon the great man, but the doorkeeper would not allow me [to enter] and was rude. I pardoned him, because it has been said: 'The door of an amir, vizier, or Sultân is not to be approached without an introduction. When a dog, or a doorkeeper, sees a stranger, the former takes hold of his skirt, the latter of his collar.'
When those, who could at any time approach the presence of the said great man, became aware of my case, they took me in with compliments and desired to assign me a high seat, but I humbly took a lower one and said: "Allow me, who am the smallest slave, to sit in the line of slaves."
He said: "Allah! Allah! What need is there for such words? If thou sittest on my head and eyes I shall be polite, for thou are polite!"
In short I took a seat, and we conversed on a variety of topics, til the affair of the error of my companions turned up, and I said: "What crimes has my lord seen, who was bountiful, to make the slave despicable in his sight? To God that magnanimity and bounty is surrendered, which beholds the crime but nevertheless bestows the bread."
STORY XVIII
A royal prince, having inherited abundant treasures from his father, opened the hand of liberality, and satisfied his impulse of generosity by lavishing without stint benefits upon the army and the population. A tray of lignum aloes will emit no odour; place it on fire, it will smell like ambergris. If thou wishest to be accounted great, be liberal, because grain will to grow unless it be sown.
One of his courtiers began heedlessly to admonish him, saying: "Former kings have by their exertions accumulated this wealth, and deposited it for a useful purpose. Cease this movement, because calamites may arise in front and enemies in the rear; it is not meet for thee to be helpless at a time of necessity. If thou distributest a treasure to the multitude, each householder will receive a grain of rice; why takes thou not from each a barley-corn of silver that thou mayest accumulate every day a treasure?"
STORY XIX
It is related that while some game was being roasted for Nushirvân the Just during a hunting party, no salt could be found. Accordingly a boy was sent to an adjoining village to bring some. Nushirvân said: "Pay for the salt, lest it should become a custom and the village be ruined." Having been asked what harm could arise from such a trifling demand, Nushirvân replied: "The foundation of oppression was small in the world; but whoever came augmented it, so that it reached its present magnitude. If the king eats one apple from the garden of a subject his slaves will pull him up the tree from the roots. For five eggs, which the Sultân allows to be taken by force, the people belonging to his army will put a thousand fowls on the spit!"
    A tyrant does not remain in the world;
    But the curse on him abides for ever!
STORY XX
I heard that an oppressor ruined the habitations of the subjects to fill the treasury of the Sultân, unmindful of the maxim of philosophers, who have said: Who offends God the Most High to gain the heart of a created being, God will use that very being to bring on his destruction in the world. Fire burning with wild rue will not cause a smoke like that of afflicted hearts.
The prince of all animals is the lion, the meanest of beasts the ass; nevertheless sages agree that an ass who carries loads is a lion who destroys men. The poor donkey, though void of discernment, is nevertheless esteemed when he carries a burden. Oxen and asses who carry loads are superior to men oppressing mankind.
When the King had obtained information about some of the oppressor's misdeeds and bad conduct, he had him put on the rack and slain by various tortures:
    Thou wilt not obtain the approbation of the Sultân,
    Unless thou seekest the goodwill of his subjects.
    If thou desirest God to condone thy transgressions,
    Do good to the people whom God has created.
STORY XXI
It is narrated that an oppressor of the people [a soldier] hit the head of a pious man with a stone, and that the Dervish, having no means of taking vengeance, preserved the stone till the time arrived when the King became angry with that soldier, and imprisoned him in a well. Then the Dervish made his appearance, and dropped the stone upon his head.
He asked: "Who art thou, and why hast thou hit my head with this stone?"
The man replied: "I am the same person whom thou hast struck on the head with this stone on such and such a day."
The soldier continued: "Where hast thou been all this time?"
The Dervish replied: "I was afraid of thy dignity, but now, when I beheld thee in the well, I made use of the opportunity."
STORY XXII
A king was subject to a terrible disease, the mention of which is not sanctioned by custom. The tribe of Yunani physicians agreed that this pain cannot be allayed, except by means of the bile of a person endued with certain qualities. Orders having been issued to search for an individual of this kind, the son of a landholder was discovered to possess the qualities mentioned by the doctors. The King summoned the father and mother of the boy, whose consent he obtained by giving them immense wealth, the Qâzi issued a judicial decree that it is permissible to shed the blood of one subject for the safety of the King, and the executioner was ready to slay the boy, who then looked heavenwards and smiled.
The King asked: "What occasion for laughter is there in such a position?"
The youth replied: "A son looks to the affection of his father and mother to bring his case before the Qâzi, and to ask justice from the Pâdshâh; in the present instance, however, the father and mother have for the trash of this world surrendered my blood, the Qâzi has issued a decree to kill me, the Sultân thinks he will recover his health only through my destruction, and I see no other refuge besides God the Most High. To whom shall I complain against thy hand, if I am also to seek justice from thy hand?"
The Sultân became troubled at these words, tears rushed to his eyes, and he said: "It is better for me to perish than to shed innocent blood." He kissed the head and eyes of the youth, presented him with boundless weath; and it is said that the King also recovered his health during that week. ​I also remember the distich recited by the elephant-driver on the bank of the Nile:
    If thou knewest the state of the ant under thy foot,
    It is like thy own condition under the foot of an elephant."
STORY XXIII
One of the servants of Umrulais had fled, but some men, having been sent in pursuit, brought him back. The vizier, who bore a grudge towards him, desired him to be killed, that the other servants might not imitate his example. He placed his head on the ground before Urumlais and said: "Whatever befalls my head is lawful with thy approbation. What plea can the slave advance? The sentence is the master's. But having been nourished by the bounty of this dynasty, I am loth that on the day of resurrection thou shouldst be punished for having shed my blood; but, if thou desirest to kill me, do so according to the provisions of the law."
He asked: "How am I to interpret it?"
The slave continued: "Allow me to kill the vizier, and then take my life in retaliation, so that I may be killed justly."
The King smiled, and asked the vizier what he thought of the matter.
STORY XXIV
King Zûzan had a Khâjah of noble sentiments and of good aspect, who served his companions when they were present, and spoke well of them when they were absent. He happened to do something whereby he incurred the displeasure of the King, who inflicted a fine on him, and also otherwise punished him. The officials of the King, mindful of the benefits they had formerly received from him, and being by them pledged to gratitude, treated him kindly whist in their custody, and allowed no one to insult him. If thou desirest peace from the foe, whenever he finds fault behind they back, praise him to his face. A vicious fellow's mouth must utter words; if thou desirest not bitter words, sweeten his mouth.
He was absolved of some accusations brought by the King against him, but retained in prison for some. Another King in those regions secretly despatched a message to him, to the purport that the sovereigns of that country, not knowing his excellent qualities, had dishounoured him, but that if his precious mind (may Allah prosper the end of his affairs!) were to look in this direction, the utmost efforts would be made to please him, because the nobles of this realm would consider it an honour to see him, and are waiting for a reply to this letter.
The Khâjah, who received this information, being apprehensive of danger, forthwith wrote a brief and suitable answer on the back of the sheet of paper, and sent it back; one, however, of the King's courtiers, who noticed what had taken place, reported to him that the imprisoned Khâjah was in correspondence with the princes of the adjacent country. The King became angry and desired this affair to be investigated; the ​courier was overtaken and deprived of the letter, the contents of which were found on perusal to be as follows:
'The good opinion of high personages is more than their servant's merit deserves, who is unable to comply with the honour of reception which they have offered him, because having been nourished by the bounty of this dynasty, he cannot become unthankful towards his benefactor in consequence of a slight change of sentiments of the latter, since it is said: "He, who bestowed every moment favours upon thee, is to be pardoned by thee, if once in his life he injures thee."'
The King approved of his gratitude, bestowed upon him a robe of honour, gave him presents, and asked his pardon, saying: "I committed a mistake."
He replied: "My lord! It was the decree of God the Most High that a misfortune should befall this servant; but it was best that it should come from thy hands, which had formerly bestowed favours upon him, and placed him under obligations."
STORY XXV
One of the Arab kings ordered his officials to double the allowance of a certain attendant, because he was always at the palace expecting orders, whilst the other servants were engaged in amusements and sports, neglecting their duties. A pious man, who heard this, remarked that high degrees at the Court of heaven are similarly bestowed upon servants.
STORY XXVI
It it narrated that a tyrant who purchased wood from Dervishes forcibly, gave it away to rich people gratuitously. A pious man passing near said: "Thou art a snake, stingest whom thou beholdest, or an owl: wherever thou sittest thou destroyest. Although thy oppression may pass among us, it cannot pass with the Lord, who knows all secrets. Oppress not the denizens of the earth, that their supplications may not pass to heaven."
THe tyrant, being displeased with these words, got angry and took no notice of him; until one night, when fire from the kitchen fell into the store of his wood and burnt all he possessed-transferring him from his soft bed to a hot mound of ashes-the same pious man happened again to pass, and he heard him saying to his friends: "I do not know whence this fire has fallen into my house."
He replied: "From the smoke of the hearts of Dervishes."
    Beware of the smoke of internal wounds,
    Because at last an internal wound will break out.
    Forbear to uproot one heart as long as thou canst,
    Because one sigh may uproot a world.
Upon the diadem of Kaikhosru the following piece was inscribed:
    For how many years and long lives
    Will the people walk over my head on the ground!
    As from hand to hand the kingdom came to us,
    So it will also go to other hands.
STORY XXVII
A man had attained great excellence in the art of wrestling, who knew three hundred and sixty exquisite tricks, and daily exhibited something new. He had a particular affection for the beauty of one of his pupils, whom he taught three hundred and fifty-nine tricks, refraining to impart him only one. At last the youth had attained such power and skill that no one was able to contend with him, and he went so far as to say to the Sultân: "I allow superiority to my teacher on account of his age, and from gratitude for his instruction; but my strength is not less than his, and my skill equal."
The King, who was not pleased with this want of good manners, ordered them to wrestle with each other, and, a spacious locality having been fixed upon, the pillars of State and courtiers of his majesty made their appearance [to witness the spectacle]. The youth made an onslaught like a mad elephant, with an impulse which might have uprooted a mountain of brass from its place; but the master, who knew that he was in strength superior to himself, attacked him with the rare trick he had reserved to himself, and which the youth as unable to elude; whereon the master, lifting him up with his hands from the ground, raised him above his head and then threw him down. Shouts [of applause] were raised by the spectators, and the King ordered a robe of honour, with other presents, to be given to the teacher, but reproached and blamed the youth for having attempted to cope with his instructor and succumbed.
He replied: "My lord, he has not vanquished me by his strength, but there was a slender part in the art of wrestling, which he had withheld from me and had to-day thereby got the upper hand of me."
STORY XXVIII
A solitary Dervish was sitting in a corner of the desert when a Pâdshâh happened to pass by; but, ease having made him independent, he took no notice. The Sultân, in conformity with his royal dignity, became angry and said: "this tribe of rag-wearers resembles beasts."
The vizier said: "The Pâdshâh of the surface of the earth has passed near thee, why hast thou not paid homage and shown good manners?"
He replied: "Tell the King to look for homage from a man who expects benefits from him, and also that kings exist for protecting subjects, and subjects not for obeying kings. The Pâshâh is the guardian of the Dervish, although wealth is in the glory of his reign. The sheep is not for the shepherd, but the shepherd for the service of it. To-day thou beholdst one man prosperous, and another whose heart is wounded by struggling; wait a few days till the earth consumes the brain in the head of the visionary. Distinction between king and slave has ceased when the decree of fate overtakes them. If a man were to open the tombs of the dead, he would not distinguish a rich from a poor man."
The King, who was pleased with the sentiments of the Dervish, asked him to make a request; but he answered that the only one he had to make was to be left alone. The King them asked for advice, and the Dervish said:
    "Understand now, while wealth is in thy land,
    That fortune and kingdom will leave thy hand."
STORY XXIX
A vizier paid a visit to Zulnûn Misir and asked for his favour, saying: "I am day and night engaged in the service of the Sultân and hoping to be rewarded, but nevertheless dread to be punished by him."
STORY XXX
A Pâdshâh having issued orders to kill an innocent man, the latter said: "O King! Seek not thine own injury on account of the anger thou bearest towards me."
He asked: "How!"
The man replied: "This punishment will abide with me one moment, but the sin of it for ever with thee. The period of life has passed away like the desert wind, bitter and sweet; ugliness and beauty have passed away. The tyrant fancied he had done injury to us; it remained on his neck and passed away from us."
STORY XXXI
The viziers of Nushirvân happened to discuss an important affair of State, each giving his opinion according to his knowledge. The King likewise gave his opinion, and Barzachumihr concurred with it. Afterwards the viziers secretly asked him: "What superiority hast thou discovered in the opinion of the King above so many other reflections of wise men?"
STORY XXXII
An imposter arranged his hair [in a peculiar fashion]. pretended to be a descendant of A'li, and entered the town with a caravan from the Hejâz, saying that he had just arrived from a pilgrimage; he also presented an elegy to the King, alleging that he had himself composed it.
One of the King's courtiers, who had that year returned from a journey, said: "I have seen him at Bosrah on the Azhah festival; then how can he be a Hâji?"
Another said: "His father was a Christian at Melitah; how can he be a descendant of A'li? And his poetry has been found in the Divân of Anvari."
The King ordered him to be beaten and expelled the country for his mendacity.
The man said: "O Lord of the surface of the earth, I shall say something more; and, if it is not true, I shall deserve any punishment which thou mayest decree."
He asked: "What is it?"
"When a stranger brings before thee buttermilk, two measures of it will be water and a spoonful sour milk. If thou hast heard heedless talk from thy slave, be not offended; a man who has seen the world utters much falsehood."
STORY XXXIII
STORY XXXIV
One of the sons of Hârûn-al-Rashid went to his father and angrily informed him that the son of an official had used insulting expressions towards him, whereon Hârûn asked his courtiers what requital he deserved. One of them proposed capital punishment, another the amputation of the tongue, whilst a third recommended fine and imprisonment.
Then Hârûn said: "O, my son! It would be generous to pardon him; but, if thou art unable to do so, use likewise insulting expressions concerning his mother; not, however, to such a degree as to exceed the bounds of vengeance, because in that case the wrong will be on thy side. He is not reputed a man by the wise who contends with a furious elephant; but he is a man in reality who, when angry, speaks not idle words."
STORY XXXV
I was sitting in a vessel with a company of great men, when a boat which contained two brothers happened to sink near us. One of the great men promised a hundred dinârs to a sailor if he could save them both; whilst, however, the sailor was pulling out one, the other perished. I said: "He had no longer to live and therefore delay took place in rescuing him."
The sailor smiled, and replied: "What thou hast said is certain; moreover, I preferred to save this one, because, when I once happened to lag behind in the desert, he seated me on his camel, he seated me on his camel, whereas I had received a whipping by the hands of the other. When I was a boy I recited: 'He who doth right, doth it to his own soul, and he who doth evil, doth it against the same.'"
STORY XXXVI
There were two brothers; one of them in the service of the Sultân, and the other gaining his livelihood by the effort of his arm. The wealthy man once asked his destitute brother why he did not serve the Sultân, in order to be delivered from the hardship of labouring. He replied: "Why labourest thou not, to be delivered from the baseness of service, because philosophers have said that it is better to eat barley-bread and sit than to gird oneself with a golden belt and to stand in service. To leaven mortar of quicklime with the hand is better to hold them on the breast before the Amir."
STORY XXXVII
STORY XXXVIII
STORY XXXIX
Hârûn-al-Rashid said when the country of Egypt was surrendered to him: "In contrast to the rebel, who had, in his arrogance of [being sovereign of] Egypt, pretended to be God, I shall bestow this country upon the meanest of my slaves. He had a stupid negro, Khosaib by name, whom he made governor of Egypt; but his intellect and discrimination were so limited that, when the tribe of Egyptian agriculturists complained an stated that they had sown cotton along the banks of the Nile and that an untimely rain had destroyed it, he replied: "You ought to have sown wool!"
STORY XL
Iskander Rûmi, having been asked how he had conquered the east and the west, considering that the treasures, territories, reigns, and armies of former kings exceeded his own, and they had not gained such a victory, replied: "Whatever country I conquered by the aid of God the Most High, I abstained from distressing its population and spoke nothing but good of the King. The intelligent will not call him great who speaks ill of the great. All this is nothing, as it passes away; throne and luck, command and prohibition, taking and giving. Injure not the of those who have passed away, in order that thy own name may subsist."
* ↑ Qurân, ch. iii., v. 128.
* ↑ Mount Sinai is also called by this name; but in the above passage it means a very small one near Jerusalem, with tombs of holy men on it.
* ↑ The Homâ is a fabulous bird, resembling, in some respects, the phoenix; the person upon whose head the shadow if it falls, while flying in the sky, is believed to be destined to occupy a throne.
* ↑ The world being, according to Moslem geography, divided into seven climates, the sense is that if a king were to conquer the whole world, he would long for another to conquer.
* ↑ About three of our hours make one watch.
* ↑ The celebrated water of life, which also Alexander the Great is described to have been in search of, is said to procure immortality, like the Amrita of the Hindus and the Nectar of the Greeks.
* ↑ A willow is considered to be one of the meanest trees.
* ↑ The bamboos of which mats are made can never produce sugar like the bamboo of the sugar-cane.
* ↑ Majûsi is the Arabised form of Magus, Magian, and stands for Zoroastrian.
* ↑ Another copy has: 'The son of Noah.'
* ↑ In the Qurân, ch.xviii. bears the title of 'The Cave,' where the story of the 'Companions' is narrated, who are known in European tales as 'The Seven Sleepers.'
* ↑ Rustam, the celebrated hero of the Shâhnâmah, or King-book, where his adventures are narrated at great length, were the son of Zâl.
* ↑ He reigned in Turkestan, A.H. 656, A.D. 1256.
* ↑ Not less than five kings of the Sasanian dynasty bore this name.
* ↑ Meaning,'Unite thy supplications to mine.'
* ↑ Men of holiness, whose prayers are believed to be met with responses, not only enjoy great respect, but are also feared on account of the imprecations they may utter in anger; and when impudent they can scarcely be punished.
* ↑ Name of a notoriously tyrannical governer.
* ↑ By 'the free,' persons are meant who have cast away all cares of this world, as, for instance, Dervishes.
* ↑ The Public Treasury; literally, 'House of property.'
* ↑ Pilgrims to Mekkah, which is in the province of Hejâz.
* ↑ A Zoroastrian.
* ↑ The expression for 'beloved' is jigarband literally, 'Tied to the liver.'
* ↑ The resurrection is meant, when everyone will have to account for his deeds.
* ↑ Superintendent, examiner of weights, bazâr-master, etc.
* ↑ Only the government employment to which he aspired is meant by 'dominion.'
* ↑ Allusion to the fabled' fountain of immortality,' supposed to be in darkness, but, when discovered, bestowing eternal life.
* ↑ The tri-literal word used designates 'patience' and also 'aloes,' both of which are bitter.
* ↑ The meaning is: 'Since the temple of Mekkah has become the spot towards which we turn to obtain the satisfaction of our wants,' etc.
* ↑ He is described as a man of immense wealth, who was swallowed up by the earth because he refused to pay tithes to his cousin Moses. See also Korah, in the book of Numbers, ch. vi. from which the legend of Qarûn appears to have been passed over into Islam.
* ↑ This plant is burnt to fumigate sore eyes, and makes a great smoke.
* ↑ This punishment is not altogether obsolete even in Persia, where men are still living who have undergone it.
* ↑ The Ionian, or Greek, system of Hippocrates and others is still taught in India, and in Bombay also a Yunani dispensary is kept up.
* ↑ Umrulais, the second Sultan of the Saffatide dynasty, reigned A.H 267, A.D 880.
* ↑ The general meaning of this word is 'gentleman,' but here it means a 'high official,' 'a minister.'
* ↑ 'Smoke of the heart' is a figure of speech for 'groans, sighs, laments.'
* ↑ Name of an ancient King of Persia, celebrated in the Shâhnâmah.
* ↑ Meaning 'from generation to generation.'
* ↑ Literally, 'But as leisure is the kingdom of contentment, etc.'
* ↑ The allusion is to the next world; namely, the rewards and punishments meted out there.
* ↑ To have 'the foot upon the sphere' means to be extremely happy.
* ↑ This is the day of sacrifice in the month Zulhejjah, celebrated at Mekkah by the pilgrims.
* ↑ Malatea, a town on the Euphrates.
* ↑ Therefore he was a plagiarist.
* ↑ Name of a celebrated Abasside Khalifah of Baghdad.
* ↑ By his predestined fate.
* ↑ Qurân, ch. xli., part of v.46.
* ↑ To 'scratch the interior' is to injure the feelings.
* ↑ Kesra stands for Nurshirvân the Just, called also Khosroes or Chosroes by the Byzantine Greeks.
* ↑ Alchemists search for the philosopher's stone, and attempt to transmute base metals into gold, but meet with disappointment.
* ↑ Alexander the Great.