Saadi [Electronic resources] : The Gulistan نسخه متنی

A Tamsil, or application in point.---They asked a Siyah-gosh , or lion-provider,
"Why do you choose the service of the lion?" He answered: "Because I
subsist on the leavings of his prey, and am secure from the ill-will of my enemies under
the asylum of his valor." They said: "Now you have got within the shadow of his
protection and admit a grateful sense of his bounty, why do you not approach more closely,
that he may include you within the circle of select courtiers and number you among his
chosen servants?" He replied, "I should not thus be safe from his
violence."---Though a Gueber may keep his fire alight for a hundred years, if he fall
once within its flame it will burn him.---It on one occasion may chance that the courtier
of the king's presence shall pick up a purse of gold, and the next that he shall lie
shorter by the head. And philosophers have remarked, saying, "It is incumbent on us
to be constantly aware of the fickle dispositions of kings, who will one moment take
offense at a salutation, and at another make an honorary dress the return for an act of
rudeness; and they have said, That to be over much facetious is the accomplishment of
courtiers and blemish of the wise .---Be wary, and preserve the state of thine own
character, and leave sport and buffoonery to jesters and courtiers.

XVI

One of my associates brought me a complaint of his perverse fortune, saying, "I
have small means and a large family, and can not bear up with my load of poverty. Often
has a thought crossed my mind, suggesting, Let me remove into another country, that in
whatever way I can manage a livelihood none may be informed of my good or bad luck ."
---(Often he went asleep hungry, and nobody was aware, saying, "Who is he?"
Often did his life hang upon his lip, and none lamented over him.)--- "On the other
hand, I reflect on the exultation of my rivals, saying, They will scoffingly sneer
behind my back, and impute my zeal in behalf of my family to a want of humanity .---Do
but behold that graceless vagabond who can never witness the face of good fortune. Be will
consult the ease of his own person and abandon to distress his wife and children.---And,
as is known, I have some small skill in the science of accounts. If, through your
respected interest, any office can be obtained that may be the means of quieting my mind,
I shall not, during the remainder of life, be able to express my sense of its
gratitude."

I replied, "O brother, the service of kings offers a twofold prospect---a hope of
maintenance and a fear for existence; and it accords not with the counsel of the wise,
under that expectation, to incur this risk.---No tax-gatherer will enter the dervish's
abode, saying, Pay me the rent of a field and orchard; either put up with trouble and
chagrin, or give thy heartstrings to the crows to pluck ."

He said, "This speech is not made as applicable to my case, nor have you given me
a categorical answer. Have you not heard what has been remarked, 'His hand will tremble on
rendering his account who has been accessory to a dishonest act.---Righteousness will
insure the divine favor; I never met him going astray who took the righteous path.'---And
philosophers have said, 'Four orders of people are mortally afraid of four others---the
revenue embezzler, of the king; the thief, of the watchman; the fornicator, of the
eavesdropper; and the adulteress, of the censor.' But what has he to fear from the
comptroller who has a fair set of account books?--- 'Be not extravagant and corrupt while
in office if thou wish that the malice of thy rival may be circumscribed on settling thy
accounts. Be undefiled, O brother, in thy integrity, and fear nobody; washer men will beat
only dirty clothes against a stone.'"

I replied, "The story of that fox suits your case, which they saw running away,
stumbling and getting up. Somebody asked him, 'What calamity has happened to put you in
such a state of trepidation?' He said, 'I have heard that they are putting a camel in
requisition.' The other answered, 'O silly animal! what connection has a camel with you,
or what resemblance is there between you and it?' He said, 'Be silent; for were the
envious from malevolence to insist that this is a camel, and I should be seized for one,
who would be so solicitous about me as to inquire into my case?' And before they can bring
the antidote from Iraq the person bitten by the snake may be dead. In like manner, you
possess knowledge and integrity, discrimination and probity, yet spies lie in ambush, and
informers lurk in corners, who, notwithstanding your moral rectitude, will note down the
opposite; and should you anyhow stand arraigned before the king, and occupy the place of
his reprehension, who in that State would step forward in your defense? Accordingly, I
would advise that you should secure the kingdom of contentment, and give up all thoughts
of preferment. As the wise have said: "The benefits of a sea voyage are innumerable;
but if thou seek for safety, it is to be found only on shore.'"

My friend listened to this speech; he got into a passion, caviled at my fable, and
began to question it with warmth and asperity, saying, "What wisdom or propriety,
good sense or morality, is there in this? Here is verified that maxim of the sage, which
tells us they are friends alone that can serve us in a jail, for all our enemies may
pretend friendship at our own table.--- 'Esteem him not a friend who during thy prosperity
will brag of his love and brotherly affection.' I account him a friend who will take his
friend by the hand when struggling with despair, and overwhelmed with misfortune."

I perceived within myself, saying, "He is disturbed, and listens to my advice with
impatience"; and, having called the sahib diwan , or lord high treasurer, in
virtue of a former intimacy that subsisted between us, I stated his case and spoke so
fully upon his skill and merits, that he put him in nomination for a training office.
After some time, having adverted to his kindly disposition and approved of his good
management, his promotion was in train, and he got confirmed in a much higher station.
Thus was the star of his good fortune in ascension, 'till it rose into the zenith of
ambition; and he became the favorite of his majesty the king, toward whom all turned for
counsel, and upon whom all eyes rested their hopes! I rejoiced at this prosperous change
of his affairs, and said: "Repine not at thy bankrupt circumstances, nor let thy
heart despond, for the fountain of immortality has its source of chaos. "Take heed, O
brother in affliction! and be not disheartened, For God has in store many hidden mercies.
Sit not down soured at the revolutions of the times, for patience is bitter, yet it will
yield sweet fruit."

At that juncture I happened to accompany a party of friends on a journey to Hijaz, or
Arabia Petraea. On my return from the pilgrimage to Mecca, he came out two stages to meet
me. I perceived that his outward plight was wretched, and his garb that of dervishes. I
asked, "How is this?" He replied, "Just as you said, a faction bore me a
grudge and charged me with malpractice; and the king, be his reign eternal, would not
investigate the truth of that charge, and my old and best friends stood aloof from my
defense, and overlooked my claims on our former acquaintance.---When, through an act of
God, a man has fallen, the whole world will put their feet upon his neck; when they see
that fortune has taken him by the hand, they will put their hands upon their breasts, and
be loud in his praise.---In short, I underwent all manner of persecution 'till within this
week, that the tidings of the safe return of the pilgrims reached us, when I got a release
from my heavy durance and a confiscation of my hereditary tenements." I said,
"At that time you did not listen to my admonition, when I warned you that the service
of princes is, like a voyage at sea, profitable but hazardous: you either get a treasure
or perish miserably.---The merchant gains the shore with gold in both his hands, or a wave
will one day leave him dead on its beach."---Not deeming it generous any further to
irritate a poor man's wound with the asperity of reproach, or to sprinkle his sore with
the salt of harsh words, I made a summary conclusion in these two verses, and said:---
"Wert thou not aware that thou shouldst find fetters on thy feet when thou wouldst
not listen to the generous man's counsel? Thrust not again thy finger into a scorpion's
hole till thou canst endure the pain of its sting."

XVI

I was the companion of a holy fraternity, whose manners were correct from piety, and
minds disciplined from probity. An eminent prince entertained a high and respectful
opinion of the worth of this brotherhood, and had assigned it an endowment. Perhaps one of
them committed an act unworthy of the character of dervishes; for the good opinion of that
personage was forfeited, and the market of their support shut. I wished that I could by
any means re-establish the maintenance of my friends, and attempted to wait on the great
man; but his porter opposed my entrance, and turned me away with rudeness. I excused him
conformably with what the witty have said: "Till thou canst take an introduction
along with thee approach not the gate of a prince, vizier, or lord; for the dog and the
doorkeeper, on espying a beggar, will the one seize his skirt and the other his
collar."

When the favorite attendants of that great man were aware of my situation, they ushered
me into his presence with respect, and offered me the highest seat; but in humility I took
the lowest, and said: "Permit that I, the slave of the abject, should seat myself on
a level with servants."---The great man answered, "My God, my God! what room is
there for this speech? Wert thou to seat thyself upon the pupil of mine eye, I would court
thy dalliance, for thou art lovely."

In short, I took my seat, and entered upon a variety of topics, 'till the indiscretion
of my friends was brought upon the carpet, when I said: "What fault did the lord of
past munificence remark, that his servant should seem so contemptible in his sight?
Individually with God is the perfection of majesty and goodness, who can discern our
failings and continue to us his support." When the prince heard this sentiment he
subscribed to its omnipotence; and, with regard to the stipendiary allowance of my
friends, he ordered its continuance as heretofore, and a faithful discharge of all
arrears. I thanked him for his generosity, kissed the dust of obeisance, apologized for my
boldness, and at the moment of taking my leave, added: "When the fane of the Kaaba,
at Mecca, became their object from a far distant land, pilgrims would hurry on to visit it
for many farsangs. It behooves thee to put up with such as we are, for nobody will throw a
stone at a tree that bears no fruit."

XVIII

A prince inherited immense riches by succeeding to his father. He opened the hand of
liberality, displayed his munificence, and bestowed innumerable gifts upon his troops and
people. "The brain will not be perfumed by a censer of green aloes-wood; place it
over the fire that it may diffuse fragrance like ambergris. If ambitious of a great name,
make a practice of munificence, for the crop will not shoot till thou shalt sow the
seed."

A narrow-minded courtier began to admonish him, saying, "Verily, former sovereigns
have collected this wealth with scrupulosity and stored it advisedly. Check your hand in
this waste, for accidents wait ahead, and foes lurk behind. God forbid that you should
want it on a day of need.-Wert thou to distribute the contents of a granary among the
people, every master of a family might receive a grain of rice; why not exact a grain of
silver from each, that thou mightest daily hoard a chamber full of treasure?"

The prince turned his face aside from this speech, so contrary to his own lofty
sentiments, and harshly reprimanded him, saying, "A great and glorious God made me
sovereign of this property, that I might enjoy and spend it; and posted me not a sentinel,
to hoard and watch over it.---Carown perished, who possessed forty magazines of treasure;
Nushirowan died not, who left behind him a fair reputation."

XIX

They have related that at a hunting-seat they were roasting some game for Nushirowan,
and as there was no salt they were dispatching a servant to the village to fetch some.
Nushirowan called to him, saying, "Take it at its fair price, and not by force, lest
a bad precedent be established and the village desolated." They asked, "What
damage can ensue from this trifle?" He answered, "Originally, the basis of
oppression in this world was small, and every newcomer added to it, 'till it reached to
its present extent.--Let the monarch eat but one apple from a peasant's orchard, and his
guards, or slaves, will pull up the tree by its root. From the plunder of five eggs, that
the king shall sanction, his troops will stick a thousand fowls on their spits."

XX

I have heard of a revenue-collector who would distrain the huts of the peasantry, that
he might enrich the treasury of the sovereign, regardless of that maxim of the wise, who
have said, "Whoever can offend the Most High, that he may gain the heart of a
fellow-creature, God on high will instigate that creature against him, 'till he dig out
the foundation of his fortune.---That crackling in the fame is not caused by burning rue,
but it is the sigh of the afflicted that occasions it."

They say, of all animals the lion is the chief; and of beasts the ass is the meanest;
yet, with the concurrence of the wise, the burden-bearing ass is preferable to the
man-devouring lion. "The poor ass, though devoid of understanding, will be held
precious when carrying a burden; oxen and asses that carry loads are preferable to men
that injure their fellow creatures."

The king had reported to him a part of his nefarious conduct. He put him to the rack,
and tortured him to death. "Thou canst not obtain the sovereign's approbation 'till
thou make sure of the good-will of his people. Wish thou that God shall be bountiful to
thee, be thou good thyself to the creatures of God."

One who had suffered from his oppression passed him at the time of his execution, and
said: "It is not every man that may have the strong arm of high station, that can in
his government take an immoderate freedom with the subjects' property. It is possible to
cram a bone down the throat, but when it sticks at the navel it will burst open the
belly."

XXI

They tell a story of an evil-disposed person who struck a pious good man on the head
with a stone. Having no power of revenge, the dervish was keeping the stone by him 'till
an occasion when the sovereign let loose the army of his wrath, and cast him into a
dungeon. The poor man went up and flung the stone at his head. The person spoke to him,
saying, "Who are you, and why did you throw this stone at my head?" He answered,
"I am that poor man, and this is the same stone that you on a certain occasion flung
at my head." He said, "Where have you been all this time?" The poor man
answered, "I stood in awe of your high station, but now that I find you in a dungeon,
I avail myself of the opportunity, as they have said--- 'Whilst they saw the worthless man
in prosperity, the wise thought proper to show him respect. Now thou hast not sharp and
tearing nails, it is prudent for thee to defer to engage with the wicked. Whoever grappled
with a steel-armed wrist exposed his own silver arm to torture. Wait 'till fortune can
manacle his hands, then beat out his brains to the satisfaction of thy friends.'"

XXV

I have heard that one of the kings of Arabia directed the officers of his treasury,
saying, "You will double a certain person's salary, whatever it may be, for he is
constant in attendance and ready for orders, while the other courtiers are diverted by
play, and negligent of their duty." A good and holy man overheard this, and heaved a
sigh and groan from the bottom of his bosom. They asked, saying, "What vision did you
see?" He replied, "The exalted mansions of his devoted servants will be after
this manner portioned out at the judgment-seat of a Most High and Mighty Deity!---If for
two mornings a person is assiduous about the person of the king, on the third he will in
some shape regard him with affection. The sincerely devout exist in the hope that they
shall not depart disappointed from God's threshold. The rank of a prince is the reward of
obedience. Disobedience to command is a proof of rejection. Whoever has the aspect of the
upright and good will lay the face of duty at this threshold."

XXVI

They tell a story of a tyrant who bought firewood from the poor at a low price, and
sold it to the rich at an advance. A good and holy man went up to him and said, "Thou
art a snake, who bites everybody thou sees; or an owl, who digs up and makest a ruin of
the place where thou sits. Although thy injustice may pass unpunished among us, it can not
escape God, the knower of secrets. Be not unjust with the people of this earth, that their
complaints may not rise up to heaven." They say the unjust man was offended at his
words, turned aside his face, and showed him no civility, as they have expressed it (in
the Qur'an): He, the glorified God, overtook him amidst his sins: 'till one night,
when the fire of his kitchen fell upon the stack of wood, consumed all his property, and
laid him from the bed of voluptuousness upon the ashes of hell torments. That good and
holy man happened to be passing and observed that he was remarking to his friends, "I
can not fancy whence this fire fell upon my dwelling." He said, "From the smoke
of the hearts of the poor!---Guard against the smoke of the sore-afflicted heart, for an
inside sore will at last gather into a head. Give nobody's heart pain so long as thou
canst avoid it, for one sigh may set a whole world into a flame."

They have related that these verses were inscribed in golden letters upon Kai-khosrau's
crown: "How many years, and what a continuance of ages, that mankind shall on this
earth walk over my head. As the kingdom came to me from hand to hand, so it shall pass
into the hands of others."

XXVII

A person had become a master in the art of wrestling; he knew three hundred and sixty
sleights in this art, and could exhibit a fresh trick for every day throughout the year.
Perhaps owing to a liking that a corner of his heart took for the handsome person of one
of his scholars, he taught him three hundred and fifty-nine of those feats, but he was
putting off the instruction of one, and under some pretense deferring it. In short the
youth became such a proficient in the art and talent of wrestling that none of his
contemporaries had ability to cope with him, 'till he at length had one day boasted before
the reigning sovereign, saying, "To any superiority my master possesses over me, he
is beholden to my reverence of his seniority, and in virtue of his tutorage; otherwise I
am not inferior in power, and am his equal in skill." This want of respect displeased
the king. He ordered a wrestling match to be held, and a spacious field to be fenced in
for the occasion. The ministers of State, nobles of the court, and gallant men of the
realm were assembled, and the ceremonials of the court marshaled. Like a huge and lusty
elephant, the youth rushed into the ring with such a crash that had a brazen mountain
opposed him he would have moved it from its base. The master being aware that the youth
was his superior in strength, engaged him in that strange feat of which he had kept him
ignorant. The youth was unacquainted with its guard. Advancing, nevertheless, the master
seized him with both hands, and lifting him bodily from the ground, raised him above his
head and flung him on the earth. The crowd set up a shout. The king ordered them to give
the master an honorary dress and handsome largess, and the youth he addressed with
reproach and asperity, saying, " You played the traitor with your own patron, and
failed in your presumption of opposing him." He replied, " O sire! my master did
not overcome me by strength and ability, but one cunning trick in the art of wrestling was
left which he was reserved in teaching me, and by that little feat had to-day the upper
hand of me." The master said, " I reserved myself for such a day as this. As the
wise have told us, Put it not so much into a friend's power that, if hostilely disposed,
he can do you an injury.' Have you not heard what that man said who was treacherously
dealt with by his own pupil: ' Either in fact there was no good faith in this world, or
nobody has perhaps practiced it in our days. No person learned the art of archery from me
who did not in the end make me his butt.'?"

XXVIII

A solitary dervish had taken up his station at the corner of a desert. A king was
passing by him. Inasmuch as contentment is the enjoyment of a kingdom, the dervish did not
raise his head, nor show him the least mark of attention and, inasmuch as sovereignty is
regal pomp, the king took offense, and said : "The tribe of ragged mendicants
resemble brute beasts, and have neither grace nor good manners." The vizier stepped
up to him, and said: "O generous man! the sovereign of the universe has passed by
you; why did you not do him homage, and discharge the duty of obeisance?" He answered
and said, " Speak to your sovereign, saying: Expect service from that person who will
court your favor; let him moreover know that kings are meant for the protection of the
people, and not the people for the subjects of kings. ---Though it be for their benefit
that his glory is exalted, yet is the king but the shepherd of the poor. The sheep are not
intended for the service of the shepherd, but the shepherd is appointed to tend the sheep.
---Today thou mayest observe one man proud from prosperity, another with a heart sore from
adversity; have patience for a few days 'till the dust of the grave can consume the brain
of that vain and foolish head. When the record of destiny came to take effect, the
distinction of liege and subject disappeared. Were a person to turn up the dust of the
defunct, he could not distinguish that of the rich man from the poor."

These sayings made a strong impression upon the king; he said: "Ask me for
something." He replied: "What I desire is, that you will not trouble me
again!" The king said, "Favor me with a piece of advice." He answered:
"Attend to them now that the good things of this life are in thy hands; for wealth
and dominion are passing from one hand into another."

XXX

A king ordered an innocent person to be put to death. The man said, "Seek not your
own hurt by venting any anger you may entertain against me." The king asked,
"How?" He replied, "The pain of this punishment will continue with me for a
moment, but the sin of it will endure with you forever.--The period of this life passes by
like the wind of the desert. Joy and sorrow, beauty and deformity, equally pass away. The
tyrant vainly thought that he did me an injury, but round his neck it clung and passed
over me." The king profited by this advice, spared his life, and asked his
forgiveness.

XXXI

The cabinet ministers of Nushirowan were debating an important affair of State, and
each delivered his opinion according to the best of his judgment. In like manner the king
also delivered his sentiments, and Abu-zarchamahr, the prime minister, accorded in opinion
with him. The other ministers whispered to him, saying, "What did you see superior in
the king's opinion that you preferred it to the judgment of so many wise heads?" He
replied: "Because the event is doubtful, and the opinion of all rests in the pleasure