Persian Literature, Volume 2, Comprising The Shah Nameh | Page 7

the sovereignty. My precious life has,
alas! been wasted in the hope that what my heart chiefly coveted might
enter at my gate. My bounden hope was gratified; yet what do I benefit
by that? There is no hope that my passed life can return. The hand of
death beats the drum of departure. Yes, my two eyes, you must bid
adieu to my head. Yes, palm of my hand, wrist, and arm, all of you say
farewell, and each take leave of the other. Death has overtaken me to
the gratification of my foes; and you, O my friends, must at last be
going. My days were blazed away in folly; what I did not do let you
take warning (and do)."
X
At the metropolitan mosque of Damascus I was one year fervent in
prayer over the tomb of Yahiya, or John the Baptist and prophet, on
whom be God's blessing, when one of the Arab princes, who was
notorious for his injustice, chanced to arrive on a pilgrimage, and he
put up his supplication, asked a benediction, and craved his
wants.--The rich and poor are equally the devoted slaves of this shrine,
and the richer they are the more they stand in need of succor. Then he
spoke to me, saying: "In conformity with the generous resolution of
dervishes and their sincere zeal, you will, I trust, unite with me in
prayer, for I have much to fear from a powerful enemy." I answered
him, "Have compassion on your own weak subjects, that you may not
see disquiet from a strong foe. With a mighty arm and heavy hand it is
dastardly to wrench the wrists of poor and helpless. Is he not afraid

who is hardhearted with the fallen that if he slip his foot nobody will
take him by the hand?--Whoever sowed the seed of vice and expected a
virtuous produce, pampered a vain brain and encouraged an idle whim.
Take the cotton from thy ear and do mankind justice, for if thou
refusest them justice there is a day of retribution. The sons of Adam are
members one of another, for in their creation they have a common
origin. If the vicissitudes of fortune involve one member in pain, all the
other members will feel a sympathy. Thou, who art indifferent to other
men's affliction, if they call thee a man art unworthy of the name."
XI
A dervish, whose prayers had a ready acceptance (with God), made his
appearance at Bagdad. Hojaj Yusuf (a great tyrant) sent for him and
said: "Put up a good prayer for me." He prayed, "O God! take from him
his life!" Hojaj said, "For God's sake, what manner of prayer is this?"
He answered: "It is a salutary prayer for you, and for the whole sect of
Mussulmans.--O mighty sir, thou oppressor of the feeble, how long can
this violence remain marketable? For what purpose came the
sovereignty to thee? Thy death were preferable to thy tyrannizing over
mankind."
XII
An unjust king asked a holy man, saying, "What is more excellent than
prayers?" He answered: "For you to remain asleep till mid-day, that for
this one interval you might not afflict mankind."--I saw a tyrant lying
dormant at noon, and said, "This is mischief, and is best lulled to sleep.
It were better that such a reprobate were dead whose state of sleep is
preferable to his being awake."
XIII
I have heard of a king who had turned night into day in the midst of
conviviality, and in the gayety of intoxication was exclaiming--"I never
was in this life happier than at this present moment, for I have no
thought of evil or good, and care for nobody!"--A naked dervish, who
had taken up his rest in the cold outside, answered--"O thou, who in

good fortune hast not thy equal in the world, I admit that thou hast no
cause of care for thyself, but hast thou none for us?"--The king was
pleased at this speech. He put a purse of a thousand dinars out at the
window, and said: "O dervish! hold up your skirt." He replied, "Where
can I find a skirt, who have not a garment." The king was still more
touched at the hardship of his condition, and adding an honorary dress
to that donation, sent them out to him.
The dervish squandered all that ready cash within a few days, and
falling again into distress, returned.--"Money makes no stay in the hand
of a religious independent; neither does patience in a lover's heart, nor
water in a sieve."--At a time when the king had no thought about him,
they obtruded his case, and he took offence and turned away his face.
And it is on such an occasion that men of prudence