“A talisman. If my foot were to light upon a treasure, my desiring heart would be free. I truly believe that love for the Simurgh is no fable, for it is not felt by fools; but I am far from standing firm in its love, I love only my treasure and my…”
The hoopoe said to him: “O thou who art drunk with love of riches! Suppose thou succeedest in finding a treasure; why, thou wilt die upon that treasure, and thus thy life will have passed without attaining the lofty goal one ought to set oneself. Love of gold is the mark of infidels. He who makes an idol of gold is another Tharé. To worship gold is unbelief; art thou perchance not of the family of the Israelite who fashioned the golden calf? Every heart corrupted by love of gold will have its appearance altered, like counterfeit coin, on the day of resurrection.”
The hoopoe said to him: “O thou who art drunk with love of riches! Suppose thou succeedest in finding a treasure; why, thou wilt die upon that treasure, and thus thy life will have passed without attaining the lofty goal one ought to set oneself. Love of gold is the mark of infidels. He who makes an idol of gold is another Tharé. To worship gold is unbelief; art thou perchance not of the family of the Israelite who fashioned the golden calf? Every heart corrupted by love of gold will have its appearance altered, like counterfeit coin, on the day of resurrection.”