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And if without name, let a pleader be shown,

Whose honour is higher esteemed than your own!
If the Lord should expel me, in wrath, from His gate,
I'll bring as my pleaders the souls of the great!

Story

(ON THE DEPENDENCE OF CHILDREN).

I still recollect that in childhood I went,
One 'Eed,1 with my father, on sight-seeing bent.
My attention was fixed on the people who played;
And, because of the crowd, from my father I strayed.
I uttered a cry, full of terror and fear,

When my father immediately tugged at my ear ;
Saying, "Oh, forward child! I oft told you, you know,
That your
hand from my skirt, you were not to let go !"
A babe does not know how to travel alone,
For 'tis difficult walking a pathway unknown.
In your efforts, you, too, are a child of the road;
Go, and seize on the skirts of the people of God!
Do not sit and converse with a man who is mean!
If you do, of all dignity wash your hands clean!
To pious men's saddle-straps cling with your hands!
For a saint's not ashamed who soliciting stands.
A disciple's less strong than a child of few years;
The teacher as strong as a rampart, appears.
Take a lesson in walking from that infant small,
Who when trying to walk, seeks the aid of a wall!
He who sat in the circle of men who are chaste,
Free from profligates' fetters, enjoyed Freedom's taste.

''Eed, a Mohamedan festival.

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If you have a requirement, this circle embrace!
For the sultan has no other way to get grace.
Like Sadi, go out! and a gleaner become !

That you may, of the harvest of knowledge, glean some.

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Story

(OF A DRUNKEN HARVEST-BURNER).

In the month of July, some one garnered his grain;
And cast further care for it out of his brain.
He got drunk, and a fire he enkindled, one night;
The unfortunate fool burned his harvest up quite.
Next day, as a gleaner, his time he employed;
For a grain was not left of his harvest, destroyed.
When they saw the poor man much afflicted in head,
A man to the son of his bosom, thus, said:

"If you wish not, like him, to misfortune to turn,
Your harvest, through madness, take care not to burn!"
If your life from your hand has in wickedness flown,
You are he who a light on his harvest has thrown.
To gather a harvest by gleaning's a shame,

After giving the harvest you reaped to the flame.
On the seed of the faith, oh, my life, do not trade!
Do not cast to the wind the good name you have made!
When a luckless man falls into bondage, through fate;
The fortunate men take a hint from his state.

Ere Punishment reaches you, knock Pardon's door!
For under the rod it is useless to roar.

Raise your head from the collar of negligence! lest,
To-morrow, some shame should remain in your breast.

Story

(ON FORGETFULNESS OF THE PRESENCE Of God).

A certain one joined in committing a crime,

A man of good countenance passed at the time;

There he sat, and from shame beads of sweat on his face; He said, "Well! I'm ashamed 'fore the Sheikh of this place!"

The aged philosopher heard this remark,

He was vexed, and exclaimed, "Oh, my youthful one, hark!
Respecting yourself, are you callous to shame ?

For, God being present, you blushed when I came !
Do not hope that through any one rest you will get;
Depart, and your hope on the Lord, only, set!

In the presence of God, the same shame you should show,
As in presence of strangers and people you know."

Story

(OF JOSEPH AND ZULAIKHA).

When Zulaikha1 became by the wine of love crazed,
Her hand to the skirt of poor Joseph she raised.
The demon of lust had encouraged so well,

That, wolf-like, on Joseph she wantonly fell.

Egypt's lady an idol of marble possessed,

Which to worship, both morning and night she professed; That moment, she covered its head and its face,

To prevent it from seeing her act of disgrace !

Joseph sat in a corner, afflicted and grave,

With a hand raised, himself from her ardour to save.

1 Zulaikha, Potiphar's wife.

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Zulaikha kissed, fondly, his hands and his feet,

Saying, "Fickle, and proud one! oh, come! I entreat!
With an anvil-like heart, be not frowning and coy!
Do not think of distress, in the moment of joy!"

From his eyes, like a stream, the tears flowed down his
face,

Saying, "Turn thou, and bid me not share thy disgrace!
In front of a stone you exhibited shame ;

In presence of God should not I do the same ?"

What good from repentance comes under your sway,
When Life's stock-in-trade you have squandered away?
There are some who drink wine as it makes them feel glad ;
The after effect, is to make them feel sad!

With excuses, make known your requirements to-day
For, to-morrow, the power of speech will not stay.

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Story

(OF THE CAT AND ITS FILTH).

A cat with its dirt a clean place will defile;
And conceal it with dust when it sees it is vile.
You are careless regarding your own evil ways;
Don't you fear lest they fall under other men's gaze?
From that villanous slave, take a warning you may,
Who oft from his master has broken away;

If he likes, he'll return, humbly begging, sincere ;
But fetters and chains will not make him appear.
In revenge, with that person you safely can fight,
From whom you've a cure, or a refuge in flight.
It behoves you, at present, your deeds to recall ;
And not when the book becomes public to all.

U

Though a person did evil, no evil was done,

If he grieved for himself, ere his last day had run.
If the breath on a mirror makes dimness arise,
The heart's mirror adds to its brightness by sighs.
At the sins you have done, let alarm now appear!
So that, on the last day, not a soul you may fear.

Story

(ON THE CONSEQUENCES OF EVIL-DOING).

As a stranger, at Habsh1 I arrived, on my way,
With my heart free from pain and my joyous head gay.
By the side of the road I beheld a high mound,

And on it some men who with fetters were bound;

I instantly made preparations to fly;

Like a bird from its cage, to the desert I hie.

Some one said to me, “These are night-robbers, forsooth! Who will neither take counsel nor listen to truth."

If a man has not been by your actions oppressed,

Should the world's guardian seize on you, don't be distressed!

A good man, as a prisoner, none has confined!
Be afraid of the Lord! the Ameer do not mind!
If an agent has been in his dealings correct,
He feels not alarmed when by auditors checked.
And if under his honesty cheating should lie,
His tongue in explaining accounts will be shy.
When a laudable service I'm able to show,

I am free from concern for the dark-minded foe.
Should a slave be industrious, and humble appear,
His master will certainly reckon him dear.

1 Habsh, Abyssinia.

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