The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-29


temptuOus style Of conversation. and Saad,
wounded to the quick, declares that he answered
bitterly, "Yes he ransomed me for ten dinars
and delivered me up to you for q hundred" A
more cheerful story Is told Of his meeting with
brother poet named Hemam, OF Tauris (the ancient
Ecbabana OF TObit and his dog. now called
Tabreez). Hemam. being ignorant of the name
and only knowing the birthplace OF his COM
panon. held out to him the bottom OF cup, and
asked, "Why are the heads OF the Shirazians (wh0
were remarkable for their early baldness) like
this 81 The dervis turned the hollow Of the
cup to Hemam and asked. "Why are the
heads of the Tabreezians like this ~ Hemam
then asked his companion II he knew any OF the
verses OF Saadi, and the dervis repeated some OF
the most beautiful, just as any other dervis would
have done and would do to-day II traveller got
him to talk upon the subject. Hemam then In
quired whether his own poems were much es-
teemed, and Saadi Immediately quoted from one
OF the best of them.
Another anecdote shows the high esteem In
which the writings Of Saadi were held even during
his life time. holy man OF Shiraz Is said to have
dreamed that he heard all the angels OF heaven
singing o verse which he could not understand,
but which he was told was couplet OF Saadi's
and tina, it would be sung in heaven for year to
come. This does not give very lively idea OF the
appear be rather wanting in variety; but 1t Is an
undeniabe proof Of the popularity of Ssadi In this
(Mohammedan) world and the next.
THE 'sGULIsTANn AND THE ''BOsTAN"
He who would wish to know upon what intellec-
tual food the wisest Oriental minds are nourished
must read the "Gulistan" and the "Bostan, (which
are now the best known Of Saadi's works. The
former Is collection Of stories in prose, mixed up
with verses OF the authors own composition or
borrowed from the writings OF others, Eastern
writer's being by no means scrupulous as to pla-
gary-or, as 1t is now more politely called, 'jewel
setting" The "Guhstan" Is divided into eight
chapters
/. On the morals Of kings.
2. On the morals of dervises who, In the authors
estimation, come next in rank to kings and posi-
bly, deserve to be preferred before them.
g. On the excellency Of contentment favorite
subject with all ancient writer's, who consoied
their poverty as the fox consoled himself for the
loss OF his TAIL by recommending his acquaintance
to go tailless likewise.
4. On the advantages OF taciturnity, chapter
which has hardly been read with advantage by the
Persians, who are among the most garrul0us PEG
pie upon earth.
s. On love and youth.
6. On imbecility and old age, Of which subjects
he takes the same sound view as Cicero, who truly
appel arf so2e, senuna eciUn est, non O1nnfuna."
Z. On the effects Of education and rules for con-
duct in life. These nrst seven chapters consist
chiefly OF moral stories taken from history table,
each in some degree bearing upon the sub
ject OF the chapter. 1t must be owned, however,
In candor that the headings to Saadi's chapters
are rather like the texts Of Sidney Smith, which. he
observed would do for any sermon; and Saadi's
chapters would almost do Tor any heading, consid
ering that he mingles puns, piety, preaching and
jokes together, as they occur to him. Professor
Falconer has published very good selection from
the ''Bostan," and several excellent versions OF
detached stories, accompanied by the original text
of that work That such works as the "Gulistsa"
and the 'Bostan" were written by Persian in
the twelfth century shows much higher state
OF education existing in Central Asia at that period
than that which exists at present.
HAPIZ.
Hanz-Mohammed- Shems- Eddin who ts still the
most popular author in Persia after Saad was
born also at Shiraz-a place now famous as Lesbos
for the excellence OF its wine and the beauty OF its
| women Hafz received lettered education from
his earliest youth-an education such as could not
now be. obtained by Persian youth, Persia having
gone backwards instead OF forwards in the matter
OF education. He paid particular attention to the
study OF religion and Mussulman Jurisprudence SO
u
considered a SOUND lawyer and theolo-
g1an. Upon this solid foundation he built
his poetry and all poetry must be built upon 1t II
it is intended to speak to the ages and to instruct
and delight them. He soon became so celebrated
for the strong music and ripe reason OF his rhymes
that he was invited to the court OF the Caliph Of
Bagdad Hafz was. however, too wise man to
exchange his personal comfort for life OF splendid
slavery, which would ct best have obliged him to
prostitute his intellect to the bases: batteries and
he had the good sense to remain In his native town
for the greater part OF his life.
The poems OF Ham,, like those OF Anacreon, cele.
brate the pleasures OF love and wine. They have
probably had great influence In forming the Per-
sian character and making it so different from that
OF the other Asiatic races, whose poets were
mostly ostentatious water drinkers, and
rarely INDUCED In drinking bout
OF anything stronger than sour milk,
! with salt in it. The charge OF rreligion and i'm
atty has OF course been brought against hafz,
| as 1t always Is brought by stupid people against
| every author directly he becomes famous. But the
admirers OF the Persian poet contend that his
poems are not to be understood In literal, but in
an alIegorica or Ggurative sense like the Song Of
Solomon; and that they express in emblemavical
language, not the gross love Of drink and woman
but the purified alteration OF the creature for the
Creator. The sect OF the S7fs, who interpret the
poems Of Ha6z in this manner, possess many SINH
lar writings, which they believe to have been CON-
posed under divine inspiration. They declare that
by wine Hanz meant devotion by perfume the
favor and grace OF God, and even die
tionary mas been composed with these meanings
explained in it (pide Asiatlc Researches VOL 81.
Although Saadi and Hafz are still read in Persia,
they are only read by the upper classes The peo-
pie are amused by tae-tellers who relate wonder.
full stories Of good and evil GENT in the bazaars and
market places They tell how young men OF I'M
surpassing beauty and prowess made love TO en-.
| chanted maideDs on flying horses and with
invincible arms, and they tell with much gravity
many other things which can by no manner OF
means be mentioned here.
THE PERSIAN REVENUE.
| Those who are interested In the enormous specu
! Iations OF Baron Reuter- Will naturally be anxious