Story I.
I was engaged in a dispute with some learned men in the principal mosque of Damascus. Suddenly a young man entered the door, and said, “Is there any one among you who knows the Persian language?” They pointed to me. I said, “Is all well?” He replied, “An old man, of a hundred and fifty years of age, is in the agonies of death, and says something to me in Persian, which is not intelligible to me. If thou wouldest be so kind as to trouble thyself so far as to step with me thou wilt be rewarded. It may be that he wants to make his will.” When I reached his pillow, he said this,
STANZA.
“ Methought a few short moments I would spend As my soul wished; alas! I gasp for air. At the rich board, where all life’s dainties blend, I sate me down—partook a moment there, When, ah! they bade me leave the scarcely tasted fare.”
I was engaged in a dispute with some learned men in the principal mosque of Damascus. Suddenly a young man entered the door, and said, “Is there any one among you who knows the Persian language?” They pointed to me. I said, “Is all well?” He replied, “An old man, of a hundred and fifty years of age, is in the agonies of death, and says something to me in Persian, which is not intelligible to me. If thou wouldest be so kind as to trouble thyself so far as to step with me thou wilt be rewarded. It may be that he wants to make his will.” When I reached his pillow, he said this,
STANZA.
“ Methought a few short moments I would spend As my soul wished; alas! I gasp for air. At the rich board, where all life’s dainties blend, I sate me down—partook a moment there, When, ah! they bade me leave the scarcely tasted fare.”
I repeated the meaning of these words to the Damascenes in Arabic. They marvelled at his having lived so long, and yet grieving for worldly life. I said to him, “How dost thou find thyself under present circumstances?” He replied, “What shall I say?”
STANZA.
“Hast thou ne’er marked his agony, Out from whose jaw a tooth is wrenched? Then think what must his feelings be, Whose life, dear life, is being quenched!”
I said, “Dismiss from thy mind the idea of death, and let not thine imagination conquer thy nature; for the philosophers have said, ‘Though the constitution may be vigorous, we are not to rely upon it as gifted with perpetuity, and, though a disease may be terrible, it furnishes no positive proof of a fatal termination.’ If thou wilt give us leave, we will send for a physician, in order that he may use remedies for thy recovery.” He replied, “Alas!
STANZA.
“Hast thou ne’er marked his agony, Out from whose jaw a tooth is wrenched? Then think what must his feelings be, Whose life, dear life, is being quenched!”
I said, “Dismiss from thy mind the idea of death, and let not thine imagination conquer thy nature; for the philosophers have said, ‘Though the constitution may be vigorous, we are not to rely upon it as gifted with perpetuity, and, though a disease may be terrible, it furnishes no positive proof of a fatal termination.’ If thou wilt give us leave, we will send for a physician, in order that he may use remedies for thy recovery.” He replied, “Alas!
DISTICHS.
The master’s bent on garnishing His house, which, sapped, is falling in; The skilful leech, in mute despair, Together smites his hands as there He marks, like broken potsherd, lie The poor old man outstretched to die.
The old man groans in parting pain; His wife the sandal rubs in vain: But once unpoise our nature frail, Nor cure nor amulet avail.”
The master’s bent on garnishing His house, which, sapped, is falling in; The skilful leech, in mute despair, Together smites his hands as there He marks, like broken potsherd, lie The poor old man outstretched to die.
The old man groans in parting pain; His wife the sandal rubs in vain: But once unpoise our nature frail, Nor cure nor amulet avail.”