A thief said to a beggar, “Art thou not ashamed to hold out thy hand for the smallest particle of silver to every contemptible fellow?” He replied,
COUPLET.
“Better hold the hand for coin, though small, Than lose, for one and half a dang, it all.”
Story XXVIII.
They relate that an athlete had suffered so much from adverse fortune that he was reduced to despair, and bemoaned himself on account of his keen appetite and narrow means. He went to his father to complain, and asked his leave to set out on his travels, in order that by the strength of his arm he might succeed in grasping the skirt of his wishes.
COUPLET.
Merit and skill are weak while in the husk: Aloes they cast on fire, and crush down musk.
The father said, “O son! put out of thy head this impracticable idea, and draw the feet of contentment under the skirt of security: as the wise have said, ‘Riches are not to be gained by exertion; the best resource is to chagrin oneself less.’
COUPLET.
“Better hold the hand for coin, though small, Than lose, for one and half a dang, it all.”
Story XXVIII.
They relate that an athlete had suffered so much from adverse fortune that he was reduced to despair, and bemoaned himself on account of his keen appetite and narrow means. He went to his father to complain, and asked his leave to set out on his travels, in order that by the strength of his arm he might succeed in grasping the skirt of his wishes.
COUPLET.
Merit and skill are weak while in the husk: Aloes they cast on fire, and crush down musk.
The father said, “O son! put out of thy head this impracticable idea, and draw the feet of contentment under the skirt of security: as the wise have said, ‘Riches are not to be gained by exertion; the best resource is to chagrin oneself less.’
COUPLET.
No one by strength of arm can fortune find: ’Tis labour lost—collyrium for the blind.
COUPLET.
Hast thou two hundred virtues on each hair? With adverse fate thou still wilt badly fare.
COUPLET.
What can th’ ill-starred athlete do? How thrive? Can he, though strong, with stronger fortune strive?”
The son replied, “O father! the advantages of travel are manifold; in enlivening the mind, and acquiring advantages, and seeing wonderful things, and hearing marvels, and in amusement, in passing through new countries, and in correspondence with friends, and in the acquisition of rank and courteous manners, and in the increase of wealth and profit, and as a means of obtaining companions, and making proof of different fortunes: as those who travel in the path of spirituality have said,
STANZA.
‘Whilst thou art wedded to thy shop and home, O simpleton! a man thou ne’er wilt be; Go blithely forth, and in the wide world roam, Ere thou roam’st from it to eternity.’”
No one by strength of arm can fortune find: ’Tis labour lost—collyrium for the blind.
COUPLET.
Hast thou two hundred virtues on each hair? With adverse fate thou still wilt badly fare.
COUPLET.
What can th’ ill-starred athlete do? How thrive? Can he, though strong, with stronger fortune strive?”
The son replied, “O father! the advantages of travel are manifold; in enlivening the mind, and acquiring advantages, and seeing wonderful things, and hearing marvels, and in amusement, in passing through new countries, and in correspondence with friends, and in the acquisition of rank and courteous manners, and in the increase of wealth and profit, and as a means of obtaining companions, and making proof of different fortunes: as those who travel in the path of spirituality have said,
STANZA.
‘Whilst thou art wedded to thy shop and home, O simpleton! a man thou ne’er wilt be; Go blithely forth, and in the wide world roam, Ere thou roam’st from it to eternity.’”
The father answered, “O son! the advantage of travel in the manner thou hast mentioned is great; but it is secured to five kinds of persons. The first is the merchant, who, by the possession of riches and affluence, and active slaves, and enchanting damsels, and brave servants, enjoys all the luxuries of the world, being each day in a city, and each night at a halting-place, and each instant in an abode of pleasure.
STANZA.
In mountain-waste, or forest wild, the rich man is not strange; wherever he goes his tent is pitched, and there his court is made. But he who has not this world's gear must ever friendless range, nor even in his fatherland will comfort find nor aid.
The second is the learned man, from whose sweetness of speech, and power of language, and stock of eloquence, wherever he goes, all hasten to serve him and do him honour.
STANZA.
In mountain-waste, or forest wild, the rich man is not strange; wherever he goes his tent is pitched, and there his court is made. But he who has not this world's gear must ever friendless range, nor even in his fatherland will comfort find nor aid.
The second is the learned man, from whose sweetness of speech, and power of language, and stock of eloquence, wherever he goes, all hasten to serve him and do him honour.
STANZA.
The wise man's nature is like purest gold: wherever he comes all know his value, prize his worth. But men will, cheap as leathern money, hold the witless lord, save in the land that gave him birth.
The third is the beautiful person, being such that the heart of persons of eminence inclines to friendship with him, and his society is regarded by them as a fortunate circumstance, and his service as a favour: as they have said: “A little beauty is better than much wealth: a fair countenance is a salve for heart-sickness, and the key of closed doors.”
STANZA.
Let beauty travel where it will, it finds respectful greeting, though its own parents, wrathfully, should drive it from its home. One day, amid the Kur'an's leaves, a peacock's feather meeting, I said, “This place exceeds thy worth, thou dost it not become.” “Peace!” it replied, “for to each one who wears the charm of beauty, go where he will, all him receive with favour as a duty.”
The wise man's nature is like purest gold: wherever he comes all know his value, prize his worth. But men will, cheap as leathern money, hold the witless lord, save in the land that gave him birth.
The third is the beautiful person, being such that the heart of persons of eminence inclines to friendship with him, and his society is regarded by them as a fortunate circumstance, and his service as a favour: as they have said: “A little beauty is better than much wealth: a fair countenance is a salve for heart-sickness, and the key of closed doors.”
STANZA.
Let beauty travel where it will, it finds respectful greeting, though its own parents, wrathfully, should drive it from its home. One day, amid the Kur'an's leaves, a peacock's feather meeting, I said, “This place exceeds thy worth, thou dost it not become.” “Peace!” it replied, “for to each one who wears the charm of beauty, go where he will, all him receive with favour as a duty.”
VERSE.
When the son beauty has, and courtesy, let him not care how cold his sire may be. He is a pearl, what if the shell be lost? Who for a priceless pearl will grudge the cost?
The fourth is he who possesses a sweet voice; who, with the throat of David, restrains the water from flowing, and arrests the bird in its flight; and, moreover, by means of this excellence, captivates the hearts of men, and spiritual persons eagerly desire his companionship.
COUPLET.
My ears attend his melody; who's this whose hands the lute-strings try?
STANZA.
How winningly a soft and tender voice comes to the ears of friends, whom the early bowl makes blithe! In it, more than in looks, rejoice all hearts; these the sense gladden: that the soul.
The fifth is the artisan, who gains the means of support by the labour of his arm, so that his character is not jeoparded for bread: as the wise have said,
When the son beauty has, and courtesy, let him not care how cold his sire may be. He is a pearl, what if the shell be lost? Who for a priceless pearl will grudge the cost?
The fourth is he who possesses a sweet voice; who, with the throat of David, restrains the water from flowing, and arrests the bird in its flight; and, moreover, by means of this excellence, captivates the hearts of men, and spiritual persons eagerly desire his companionship.
COUPLET.
My ears attend his melody; who's this whose hands the lute-strings try?
STANZA.
How winningly a soft and tender voice comes to the ears of friends, whom the early bowl makes blithe! In it, more than in looks, rejoice all hearts; these the sense gladden: that the soul.
The fifth is the artisan, who gains the means of support by the labour of his arm, so that his character is not jeoparded for bread: as the wise have said,
STANZA.
“If want from his own city should expel a cotton-carder, he'd not feel distress; but if the king of Nimroz, ruined, fell from his high place, he'd slumber supperless.”
Qualities such as I have described are a means of consolation in travel, and a sweet cause of enjoyment; but one who has no share in all these will enter the world with vain expectations, and no one will hear his name again, or see any more trace of him.
He, whom afflict upsprings revolving fate Malevolent, is led by destiny Against his will. The pigeon, who his mate Shall ne'er revisit, follows fate's decree Towards the net [in blind security].
The son answered, “O father! how shall I act in opposition to the saying of the wise? who have pronounced that although a subsistence is allotted, yet it is on the condition of using the means of acquiring it; and though calamity is predestined, yet it is right to secure oneself against the portals by which it might have access.
“If want from his own city should expel a cotton-carder, he'd not feel distress; but if the king of Nimroz, ruined, fell from his high place, he'd slumber supperless.”
Qualities such as I have described are a means of consolation in travel, and a sweet cause of enjoyment; but one who has no share in all these will enter the world with vain expectations, and no one will hear his name again, or see any more trace of him.
He, whom afflict upsprings revolving fate Malevolent, is led by destiny Against his will. The pigeon, who his mate Shall ne'er revisit, follows fate's decree Towards the net [in blind security].
The son answered, “O father! how shall I act in opposition to the saying of the wise? who have pronounced that although a subsistence is allotted, yet it is on the condition of using the means of acquiring it; and though calamity is predestined, yet it is right to secure oneself against the portals by which it might have access.
STANZA.
Though, without doubt, fate will our want supply, Reason requires it be sought from home; 'Tis true that none will unpredestined die, Yet in a dragon's maw one should not come.
In my present condition I could encounter a furious elephant and contend with a devouring lion. My best course is to travel, for I am unable to endure my privations any longer.
STANZA.
Whene'er a man from home and country flies, All earth is his; he has no further care. Each night the rich man to his palace hies: Where night descends, the poor man's home is there.”
He spoke thus, and asking his father's blessing, took leave of him and set off, and at the time of his departure they heard him say,
COUPLET.
“The man of worth, whose fate is cross, will go Where men have never learned his name to know.”
Though, without doubt, fate will our want supply, Reason requires it be sought from home; 'Tis true that none will unpredestined die, Yet in a dragon's maw one should not come.
In my present condition I could encounter a furious elephant and contend with a devouring lion. My best course is to travel, for I am unable to endure my privations any longer.
STANZA.
Whene'er a man from home and country flies, All earth is his; he has no further care. Each night the rich man to his palace hies: Where night descends, the poor man's home is there.”
He spoke thus, and asking his father's blessing, took leave of him and set off, and at the time of his departure they heard him say,
COUPLET.
“The man of worth, whose fate is cross, will go Where men have never learned his name to know.”