Story I.
They asked Hasan Maimandi, "How is it that, although Sultan Mahmud has so many handsome slaves, every one of whom is the wonder of the world, and the marvel of the age, he has not such a regard or affection for any one as for Ayaz, who is not remarkable for beauty?" He replied, "Whatever pleases the heart appears fair to the eye."
DISTICHS.
The man for whom the Sultan shows esteem, Though bad in every act, will virtuous seem. But whom the monarch pleases to reject, None of his retinue will e'er affect.
STANZA.
When with antipathy we eye a man, We see in Joseph's beauty, want of grace: And, prepossessed, should we a demon scan, He'd seem a cherub with an angel's face.
Story II.
I remember that one night a dear friend of mine entered my door, and I rose from my seat with such impatience [to receive him] that I put out my lamp with my sleeve.
They asked Hasan Maimandi, "How is it that, although Sultan Mahmud has so many handsome slaves, every one of whom is the wonder of the world, and the marvel of the age, he has not such a regard or affection for any one as for Ayaz, who is not remarkable for beauty?" He replied, "Whatever pleases the heart appears fair to the eye."
DISTICHS.
The man for whom the Sultan shows esteem, Though bad in every act, will virtuous seem. But whom the monarch pleases to reject, None of his retinue will e'er affect.
STANZA.
When with antipathy we eye a man, We see in Joseph's beauty, want of grace: And, prepossessed, should we a demon scan, He'd seem a cherub with an angel's face.
Story II.
I remember that one night a dear friend of mine entered my door, and I rose from my seat with such impatience [to receive him] that I put out my lamp with my sleeve.
VERSES.
By night a spectre came, and with its form lit up the gloom; Methought it well would suit me for a guide throughout the night. "Sail!" I exclaimed, "Well art thou come! for thee is ample room; I love thee, for the darkness flies before thy radiance bright."
COUPLET.
I said, astonished at my destiny, "Whence has this happy fortune come to me?"
He sate down and began to remonstrate with me, saying, "Why, at the moment that thou sawest me, didst thou extinguish the lamp?" I replied, "I imagined that the sun had entered; and the witty have said,
STANZA.
'If one obscure the lamp with presence vile, Arise and him before th' assembly smite: But, if he have sweet lips and honeyed smile, Seize thou his sleeve, and then put out the light.'
Story III.
A person had not seen his friend for a long interval. At last he met him and said, "Where wert thou? for I longed after thee." He replied, "Better longing than loathing."
By night a spectre came, and with its form lit up the gloom; Methought it well would suit me for a guide throughout the night. "Sail!" I exclaimed, "Well art thou come! for thee is ample room; I love thee, for the darkness flies before thy radiance bright."
COUPLET.
I said, astonished at my destiny, "Whence has this happy fortune come to me?"
He sate down and began to remonstrate with me, saying, "Why, at the moment that thou sawest me, didst thou extinguish the lamp?" I replied, "I imagined that the sun had entered; and the witty have said,
STANZA.
'If one obscure the lamp with presence vile, Arise and him before th' assembly smite: But, if he have sweet lips and honeyed smile, Seize thou his sleeve, and then put out the light.'
Story III.
A person had not seen his friend for a long interval. At last he met him and said, "Where wert thou? for I longed after thee." He replied, "Better longing than loathing."
Gay idol of my soul! late comest thou! Not soon will I release thy garment now.
’Tis better that our friend we seldom see, Than to behold him to satiety.
When a fair one comes attended by companions, she comes only to torment us; because, in that case, there must arise the jealousy and discord of rivals.
Comest thou attended, then thou comest me only to distress; Thou comest truly to make war, though peace thy looks express.
But for an instant should my friend prefer To be with others, envy would me slay.
“Saʿdi!” he smiling cried, “Would this deter Me this assembly’s beacon? What, I say, Imports it that in me moths quench life’s ray!”
I remember that, in former days, I and a friend of mine were so much associated together that we were like two kernels in one almond. All at once I happened to find it requisite to take a journey. When, after some time, I returned, he began to reproach me for not sending a messenger to him during such an interval. I replied, “I was unwilling that the eyes of the messenger should be brightened by thy beauty, while I remained excluded.”
’Tis better that our friend we seldom see, Than to behold him to satiety.
When a fair one comes attended by companions, she comes only to torment us; because, in that case, there must arise the jealousy and discord of rivals.
Comest thou attended, then thou comest me only to distress; Thou comest truly to make war, though peace thy looks express.
But for an instant should my friend prefer To be with others, envy would me slay.
“Saʿdi!” he smiling cried, “Would this deter Me this assembly’s beacon? What, I say, Imports it that in me moths quench life’s ray!”
I remember that, in former days, I and a friend of mine were so much associated together that we were like two kernels in one almond. All at once I happened to find it requisite to take a journey. When, after some time, I returned, he began to reproach me for not sending a messenger to him during such an interval. I replied, “I was unwilling that the eyes of the messenger should be brightened by thy beauty, while I remained excluded.”
Friend of my youth! cease now me to reprove; Thy love not steel could make me e’er repent.
That one should gaze his fill on thee does move My envy, yet my heart would soon relent— For seeing thee could ne’er his sight content.
They shut up a parrot in a cage with a crow. The parrot was distressed at the ugly appearance of the other, and said, “What hateful form is this, and detested shape, and accursed face, and unpolished manners? O crow of the desert! would that between me and thee were the space ’twixt east and west!”
Should one at dawn arising thy face see, ’Twill change to twilight gloom that morning’s mirth. Such wretch as thou art should thy comrade be, But where could such a one be found on earth!
But still more strangely the crow, too, was harassed to death by the society of the parrot, and was utterly chagrined by it. Reciting the deprecatory formula, “There is no power nor strength but in God,” it complained of its fate, and, rubbing one upon the other the hands of vexation, it said, “What evil fate is this, and unlucky destiny, and fickleness of fortune! It would have been commensurate with my deserts to have walked proudly along with another crow on the wall of a garden.
That one should gaze his fill on thee does move My envy, yet my heart would soon relent— For seeing thee could ne’er his sight content.
They shut up a parrot in a cage with a crow. The parrot was distressed at the ugly appearance of the other, and said, “What hateful form is this, and detested shape, and accursed face, and unpolished manners? O crow of the desert! would that between me and thee were the space ’twixt east and west!”
Should one at dawn arising thy face see, ’Twill change to twilight gloom that morning’s mirth. Such wretch as thou art should thy comrade be, But where could such a one be found on earth!
But still more strangely the crow, too, was harassed to death by the society of the parrot, and was utterly chagrined by it. Reciting the deprecatory formula, “There is no power nor strength but in God,” it complained of its fate, and, rubbing one upon the other the hands of vexation, it said, “What evil fate is this, and unlucky destiny, and fickleness of fortune! It would have been commensurate with my deserts to have walked proudly along with another crow on the wall of a garden.
’Twill for a prison to the good suffice, To herd them with the worthless sons of vice.
What crime have I committed in punishment for which my fate has involved me in such a calamity, and imprisoned me with a conceited fool like this, at once worthless and fatuous?”
All would that wall with loathing fly Which bore impressed thy effigy: And if thy lot in Eden fell, All others would make choice of Hell.
I have brought this example to show that, how strong soever the disgust a wise man may feel for a fool, a fool regards with a hundred times more aversion a wise man.
COUPLETS.
A pious man, ’mid dance and song, was seated with the gay; One of Balkh’s beauties saw him there, and marked the mirth decay: “Do we, then, weary thee?” he said, “at least, uncloud thy brow; For we, too, feel thy presence here is bitterness enow.
What crime have I committed in punishment for which my fate has involved me in such a calamity, and imprisoned me with a conceited fool like this, at once worthless and fatuous?”
All would that wall with loathing fly Which bore impressed thy effigy: And if thy lot in Eden fell, All others would make choice of Hell.
I have brought this example to show that, how strong soever the disgust a wise man may feel for a fool, a fool regards with a hundred times more aversion a wise man.
COUPLETS.
A pious man, ’mid dance and song, was seated with the gay; One of Balkh’s beauties saw him there, and marked the mirth decay: “Do we, then, weary thee?” he said, “at least, uncloud thy brow; For we, too, feel thy presence here is bitterness enow.
QUATRAIN.
This social band like roses is and lilies joined in one, And ’mid them thou, a withered stick, upspringest all alone; Like winter’s cruel cold art thou, or like an adverse blast,— Thou sittest there like fallen snow, ice-bound and frozen fast.”
This social band like roses is and lilies joined in one, And ’mid them thou, a withered stick, upspringest all alone; Like winter’s cruel cold art thou, or like an adverse blast,— Thou sittest there like fallen snow, ice-bound and frozen fast.”