If wisdom and knowledge within you appear,
With rev'rence to Sádi's advice you'll give ear;
For in this manner, chiefly, his eloquence rolls;
Not on eyes nor on curls, not on ears nor on moles.
(OF THE MISERLY FATHER AND THE GENEROUS SON).
One departed and left earthly treasure behind;
His successor was gen'rous and prudent in mind.
He did not, like misers, clutch greedily gold;
Over it, like the free, he relinquished his hold.
His palace was filled with the needy and poor,
And travellers lived in his guest-house secure.
He made kinsmen and strangers, in spirit, content;
And was not, like his father, on hoarding-up bent.
A reprover addressed him: "Oh squandering hand!
Do not scatter, at once, all you have in command!
In a year you can one harvest, only, obtain ;
It is silly to burn, in one moment, the grain!
If you do not have patience in times of distress,
Look to your accounts when you plenty possess !"
To her daughter, how well spoke a village-chief's wife :-
"Prepare for distress when provisions are rife!
At all times, a pitcher and cup brimful show!
For the stream in the village will not always flow."
With the world, you can doubtless Futurity gain,
And the claws of the Devil, with gold you can sprain.
From a hand that is empty, no hope will arise;
With gold, you can gouge out the White Devil's1 eyes.
Do not visit your Love, if you own not a thing!
And if you have silver, oh come thou, and bring!
Do not turn empty handed the door of the Fair!
For a man without money is valueless there!
If you place on your palm all the wealth you possess,
Your palm will be bare, in the time of distress.
By your efforts, weak beggars will never get strong,
And I fear, you yourself will get weak before long.
Continuation of the Story of the Miser's Son.
When this story, discouraging good, he had told,
Chagrin made the blood in the youth's veins run cold.
By these callous remarks, his kind heart was unstrung,
He was vexed and exclaimed, "Incoherent of tongue!
My father once said that the wealth I've obtained,
As a heritage from my forefathers remained;
Did they not, before that, protect it with care?
They died, with regret, and left all to their heir.
The wealth of my father has fallen to me,
So that, after my exit, my son's it should be.
It is better that men should consume it to-day,
For, to-morrow, they'll bear it as plunder away."
Eat and dress and bestow, and remove others' care!
And know that your wealth is for others to share!
From the world it is borne by possessors of mind;
Mean wretches regretfully leave it behind.
Give gold and life's joys, while you have them in hand,
For after you die, they're beyond your command!
With the world, you can surely Futurity get,
Then purchase, my soul! or you'll suffer regret.
The White Devil, Satan as an angel of light.
(ON SHOWING KINDNESS TO neighbours).
A wife, shedding tears, to her husband thus said—
"From the merchant near by, do not purchase more bread! Henceforth, to the market of wheat-sellers go!
For he sells only barley, though wheat he may show.
Not from customers, but from the number of flies,
His face, for a week, has been hid from men's eyes."
In consoling, the husband, a master of pray'r,
Replied to his wife, "Roshanai, forbear!
Expecting our favour he opened shop there;
To withdraw now our custom would scarcely be fair."
The path of the good, and the gen'rous, select !
And since you have a footing, the fallen protect!
Be forgiving! for people who study the Lord,
Are buyers at shops where no glitter is stored.
If truly you wish to know one gen'rous mind,
It's the liberal Ali, the chief of mankind!
(OF THE PILGRIM TO MECCA).
I have heard that a man did to Mecca repair,
And made, at each step, two prostrations in pray'r.
So zealous a walker in God's path, to boot,
That he plucked not th' Acacia thorn from his foot.
At last, by a conscience deluded inspired,
His own foolish doings he greatly admired.
By the Devil deceiving, he walked to a pit,
For he could not discover a pathway more fit.
If he had not been found by the mercy of God,
His pride would have made his head swerve from the road.
In this manner, a voice from above, him addressed :—
"Oh man of good fortune! whose nature is blessed!
Do not think that because you have worshipped so fine,
You have carried a gift to this Presence Divine!
To soothe by a kindness one heart has more grace,
Than a thousand prostrations at each halting place."
The wife of a government officer said :—
"Rise Mabārak, and knock at the door of life's bread! Go, and ask them to give you a share from the tray! For your children are in a deplorable way."
He answered, "The kitchen to-day will be cold, For the Sultan, last night, said a fast he would hold." The wife in despair dropped her head on her breast; With heart sore from hunger herself she addressed :— "When the king talks of fasts, does he gain in the least? The breaking of his fast is my children's feast."
The eaters, who have a beneficent hand,
Beat the constantly fasting and world-serving band.
It is right for the person to keep up a fast,
Who gives bread to the poor, for their morning repast.
If not! why should trouble be suffered by you ?
You withhold from yourself, and consume yourself, too! The ignorant fancies of hermits must tend
To confound unbelief and the Faith, in the end.
There is clearness in water, and mirrors, as well;
But the clearness of each you should know how to tell.
(OF THE KIND POOR MAN AND THE DEBTOR).
A man had no pow'r, but was gen'rous inclined;
His means did not equal his liberal mind.
May a miser the owner of wealth never be !
May a generous man never poverty see!
The person whose spirit soars lofty and loose,
Will find that his projects fall short of his noose.
Like the wild, rushing flood, in a mountainous place,
Which, while on high ground, cannot stop its mad pace.
He was gen'rous beyond what his means would allow,
And, thus, his resources were shallow enow.
One poverty-stricken, a note to him sent:-
"Oh thou happy of end, and of nature content!
Assist me with so many direms,1 I pray.!
For I've lain in a dungeon for many a day."
He could not the value of anything see;
And yet, in his hand not a copper had he.
To the foes of the debtor a person he sent,
Saying, "Men of good name who are free, oh, relent! Permit that he may for a short time be free!
And if he runs off, I'll security be."
From thence to the dungeon he went, and said, “Rise! And run from this city, while strength in you lies!" When an open cage door met the poor sparrow's view, For a moment, thereafter, no patience he knew.
1 Dírem, a small silver coin.
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