Story I.
An African mendicant, in the street of the mercers of Aleppo, said, “O wealthy sirs! if you had but justice and we contentment, the custom of begging would be banished from the world.”
STANZA.
Contentment! do thou me enrich; for those Who have thee not are blest with wealth in vain. Wise Lukman for his treasure patience chose: Who have not patience wisdom ne’er attain.
Story II.
There were in Egypt two sons of an Amir. One studied science; the other gained wealth. The former became the most learned man of the age; and the latter king of Egypt. The rich one then looked with scornful eyes on his learned brother, and said, “I have arrived at sovereign power, and thou hast remained in thy poverty as at the first.” He replied, “O brother! it behoves me to render thanks to God Most High, for His bounty, in that I have obtained the inheritance of the Prophets—that is to say, wisdom; and thou the inheritance of Firaun and Haman, namely, the land of Egypt.”
An African mendicant, in the street of the mercers of Aleppo, said, “O wealthy sirs! if you had but justice and we contentment, the custom of begging would be banished from the world.”
STANZA.
Contentment! do thou me enrich; for those Who have thee not are blest with wealth in vain. Wise Lukman for his treasure patience chose: Who have not patience wisdom ne’er attain.
Story II.
There were in Egypt two sons of an Amir. One studied science; the other gained wealth. The former became the most learned man of the age; and the latter king of Egypt. The rich one then looked with scornful eyes on his learned brother, and said, “I have arrived at sovereign power, and thou hast remained in thy poverty as at the first.” He replied, “O brother! it behoves me to render thanks to God Most High, for His bounty, in that I have obtained the inheritance of the Prophets—that is to say, wisdom; and thou the inheritance of Firaun and Haman, namely, the land of Egypt.”
DISTICHS.
I am the ant which under foot men tread, And not the hornet whose fierce sting they dread. How, for this boon, shall I my thanks express? That I, to injure man, am powerless.
Story III.
I have heard of a darwesh who was consumed with the flames of hunger, and who sewed rag upon rag, and consoled himself with this couplet.
COUPLET.
I'm with dry bread contented, and with tatters; for 'tis better To bear up under sorrow, than to be another's debtor.
Some one said to him, “Why dost thou sit here? for such a one in this city has a generous mind, and displays a munificence that extends to all, and his loins are ever girded to serve the distressed, and he sits at the gate of all hearts [waiting to fulfil their wishes]. If he should become acquainted with the state of thy circumstances, he would consider it an obligation to serve a man of worth, and regard it as a precious opportunity.” The darwesh replied, “Be silent! for it is better to die in indigence than to expose one's wants to another: as they have said,
I am the ant which under foot men tread, And not the hornet whose fierce sting they dread. How, for this boon, shall I my thanks express? That I, to injure man, am powerless.
Story III.
I have heard of a darwesh who was consumed with the flames of hunger, and who sewed rag upon rag, and consoled himself with this couplet.
COUPLET.
I'm with dry bread contented, and with tatters; for 'tis better To bear up under sorrow, than to be another's debtor.
Some one said to him, “Why dost thou sit here? for such a one in this city has a generous mind, and displays a munificence that extends to all, and his loins are ever girded to serve the distressed, and he sits at the gate of all hearts [waiting to fulfil their wishes]. If he should become acquainted with the state of thy circumstances, he would consider it an obligation to serve a man of worth, and regard it as a precious opportunity.” The darwesh replied, “Be silent! for it is better to die in indigence than to expose one's wants to another: as they have said,
“Better to suffer, and sew patch o’er patch, Than begging letters to the rich to write. Truly it doth hell’s torments fairly match, To mount by others to celestial light.”