The Collected Works of Saadi Read online

  One day the woman was stung by one of the insects and stood wailing on the doorstep. Hearing her cries, the husband left his shop and hurried towards the house. Angered, he said: “O wife! show not such a bitter face to the world; remember thou didst say to me, ‘Kill not the poor bees.’”

  How can one do good to the evil? Forbearance with the wicked but increases their iniquity.

  What is a dog that a dish of viands should be set before him? Command that they should give him bones. A kicking animal is best well-burdened.

  If the night-watchman display humanity, no one sleeps at night for fear of thieves.

  In the battle-field, the spear-shaft is worth more than a hundred thousand sugarcanes.

  When thou rearest a cat, she destroys thy pigeons; when thou makest fat a wolf, he rends one who is dear to thee.

  Raise not a building that has not a strong foundation; if thou dost, beware.

  DISCOURSE CONCERNING KINDNESS TO ORPHANS

  Protect him whose father is dead; remove the dust from his raiment, and injure him not. Thou knowest not how hard is his condition; no foliage is there on a rootless tree. Give not a kiss to a child of thine own in the sight of a helpless orphan. If the latter weep, who will assuage his grief? If he be angered, who will bear his burden? See that he weeps not, for the throne of God trembles at the orphan’s lament. With pity, wipe the tears from his eyes and the dust from his face. If the protecting shadow of his father’s care be gone, cherish him beneath the shadow of thy care.

  Upon my head was a kingly crown when it reposed upon the bosom of my father. Then, if a fly settled upon my body, many were distressed on my behalf. Now, should I be taken in captivity, not one among my friends would come to aid me. Well do I know the orphan’s sorrow, for my father departed in my childhood.

  CHAPTER III. Concerning Love

  Happy are the days of them that are infatuated by love for Him, whether they be sorrowed by separation from Him or made joyous by His presence.

  They are mendicants who fly from worldly sovereignty; in the hope of meeting Him they are patient in their mendicity. Oft have they drunk of the wine of anguish; be it bitter, they remain silent. In the remembrance of Him patience is not bitter, for wormwood is sweet from the hand of a friend.

  They that are captive in the coils of His love, seek not to escape; they suffer reproach, but are monarchs in the seclusion of their meditation, and their way is not known. They are like the temple of Jerusalem, splendid of which is the interior, but whose outer wall is left in ruin.

  Like moths, they burn themselves in the fire of love. Their beloved is in their breasts, yet do they seek Him; though near a fountain, their lips are parched. 18

  DISCOURSE CONCERNING CONSTANCY

  Thy love renders thee impatient and disturbed. With such sincerity hast thou placed thy head at her feet that thou art oblivious to the world.

  When in the eyes of thy beloved riches count not, gold and dust are as one to thee.

  Thou sayest that she dwelleth in thine eyes — if they be closed, she is in thy mind.

  If she demand thy life, thou dost place it in her hand; if she place a sword upon thy head, thou holdest it forward.

  When earthly love produces such confusion and such obedience demands, dost thou wonder if travellers of the road of God remain engulfed in the Ocean of Reality?

  In the remembrance of their Friend they have turned their backs upon the world; they are so fascinated by the Cup-bearer that they have spilled the wine.

  No medicine can cure them, for no one has. knowledge of their pains.

  With their cries of longing do they root up a mountain; with their sighs they dismember a kingdom.

  Such is their weeping at dawn that the tears wash the collyrium of sleep from their eyes. Night and day are they immersed in the sea of love; so distracted are they that they know not night from day.

  So enamoured are they of the beauty of the Painter that they care not for the beauty of His designs.

  He drinks of the pure wine of Unity who is forgetful of both this world and the next.

  STORY OF A DANCER

  I have heard that, at the singing of a musician, one of fairy-face began to dance. Surrounded by distracted hearts, the flame of a candle caught her skirt. She was distressed and angered.

  One of her lovers said, “Why agitate thyself? The fire has burned thy skirts — it 19 has entirely consumed the harvest of my life.”

  STORY ILLUSTRATING THE REALITY OF LOVE

  One who loved God set his face towards the desert. His father, being grieved at his absence, neither ate nor slept.

  Some one admonished the son, who said “Since my Friend has claimed me as His own, no other friendship do I own. When He revealed to me His beauty, all else that I saw appeared unreal.”

  They that love Him care for no one else; their senses are confused and their ears are deaf to the words of them that reproach.

  They wander through the desert of Divine Knowledge without a caravan.

  They have no hope of approbation from their fellow-men, for they are the chosen of the elect of God.

  STORY ILLUSTRATIVE OF PATIENCE

  An old man begged at the door of a mosque. Some one said to him: “This is not the place to beg; stand not here with impudence.”

  “What house is this,” the man inquired, “from which no pity comes upon the condition of the poor?”

  “Silence!” was the reply. “What foolish words are these! This is the house of our Master!”

  The beggar raised a cry: “Alas,” he said, “that I should be disappointed at this door. I have not gone hopeless from any street; why should I go thus from the door of God? Here will I stretch forth my hand of want, for I know that I shall not depart empty-handed.”

  For a year he remained devoutly employed in the mosque. One night, through weakness, his heart began to palpitate, and at daybreak his last breath flickered like a morning lamp. Thus did he exclaim with joy: “And whoever knocked at the door of the Bounteous One, it opened.”

  He who seeks God should be patient and enduring; I have not heard of an alchemist being sad. Much gold he reduces to ashes so that he may one day turn copper into gold. Gold is good with which to buy — and what couldst thou wish to buy better than the face of thy Friend? 20

  STORY OF ONE WHO WAS ASSIDUOUS IN PRAYER

  An old man spent the night in worship and the morning in prayer. A guardian angel whispered to him: “Go, take thy way, for thy prayers are not acceptable at this door.”

  The next night again he passed the night in devotion; and a disciple, being informed of his circumstances, said: “When thou seest that the door is shut, why dost thou thus exert thyself?”

  Weeping, he replied: “O my son! Dost thou suppose that although He has torn my reins I shall keep my hands from off his saddle-straps? When a supplicant is repelled at one door, what is his fear if he know of another?”

  While thus he spoke, with his head upon the ground, the angel uttered this message in his ears: “Although there is no merit in him, his prayers are accepted, for except Me he has no refuge.”

  STORY OF SULTAN MAHMUD AND HIS LOVE FOR AYAZ

  Some one found fault with the king of Ghazni, saying: “Ayaz, his favourite slave, possesses no beauty. It is strange that a nightingale should love a rose that has neither colour nor perfume.”

  This was told to Mahmud, who said: “My love, O sir, is for his virtues, not for his farm and stature.”

  I have heard that in a narrow pass a camel fell and a chest of pearls was broken. The king gave the signal for plunder, and urged on his horse with speed. The horsemen did likewise, and, leaving the king behind, gathered up the pearls. Not one of them remained near the king but Ayaz.

  “O thou of curly locks!” said Mahmud, “what hast thou gained of the plunder?”

  “Nothing,” he replied. “I walked in haste behind thee: I do not occupy myself with riches away from thy service.”

  If an honourable place in
the court be thine, be not neglectful of the king on account of gain elsewhere.

  STORY OF A VILLAGE CHIEF

  A village chief passed with his son through the centre of the imperial army. In the presence of such pomp and splendour the man displayed humility and fled, through fear, into a corner.

  “After all,” observed his son, “thou art a ‘village chief, and in chieftaincy greater than the nobles. Why dost thou tremble like a willow tree?”

  “True,” replied his father. I am a chief and a ruler, but my honour lies as far as my village.”

  Thus are the saints overwhelmed with fear when they stand in the court of their King.

  STORY OF A FIRE-FLY

  Perhaps thou mayest have seen the fire-fly shine like a lamp in the garden at night.

  “O night-illuminating moth!” some one said, “why comest thou not out in the daytime?”

  The fly gave an answer full of wisdom: Because I am not visible before the sun.”

  STORY OF A MOTH AND A CANDLE

  Some one said to a moth: “Go, thou contemptible creature, and make friendship with one worthy of thyself; go where thou seest the path of hope. How different is thy love from that of the candle! Thou art not a salamander — hover not around the fire, for bravery is necessary before combat. It is not compatible with reason that thou shouldst acknowledge as a friend one whom thou knowest to be thine enemy.”

  “What does it matter if I burn?” the moth replied. “I have love in my heart, and this flame is as a flower to me. Not of my own accord do I throw myself into the fire; the chain of her love is upon my neck. Who is it that finds fault with my friendship for my friend? I am content to be slain at her feet. I burn because she is dear to me, and because my destruction may affect her. Say not to the helpless man from whose hands the reins have fallen, ‘Drive slowly.’”

  ANOTHER STORY ON THE SAME SUBJECT

  One night, as I lay awake, I heard a moth say to a candle: “I am thy lover; if I burn, it is proper. Why dost thou weep?”

  The candle replied: “O my poor friend! Love is not thy business. Thou fliest from before a flame; I stand erect until I am entirely consumed. If the fire of love has burned thy wings, regard me, who from head to foot must be destroyed.”

  Before the night had passed, some one put the candle out, exclaiming: “Such is the end of love!”

  Grieve not over the grave of one who lost his life for his friend; be glad of heart, for he was the chosen of Him.

  If thou art a lover, wash not thy head of the sickness of love; like Sadi, wash thy hands of selfishness.

  A devoted lover holds not back his hand from the object of his affections though arrows and stones may rain upon his head.

  Be cautious; if thou goest down to the sea, give thyself up to the storm.

  CHAPTER IV. Concerning Humility

  Thou, O creature of God, vast created of the dust; therefore, be humble as the dust. Be not covetous, nor oppressive, nor headstrong. Thou art from the dust; be not like fire. When the terrible fire raised his head in pride, the dust prostrated itself in humility.

  And since the fire was arrogant and the dust was meek, from the former were the demons formed, and from the latter mankind.

  STORY OF A RAINDROP

  A raindrop fell from a spring cloud, and, seeing the wide expanse of the sea, was shamed. “Where the sea is,” it reflected, “where am I? Compared with that, forsooth, I am extinct.”

  While thus regarding itself with an eye of contempt, an oyster took it to its bosom, and Fate so shaped its course that eventually the raindrop became a famous royal pearl.

  It was exalted, for it was humble. Knocking at the door of extinction, it became existent.

  STORY ILLUSTRATIVE OF PIOUS MEN REGARDING THEMSELVES WITH CONTEMPT

  A sagacious youth of noble family landed at a seaport of Turkey, and, as he displayed piety and wisdom, his baggage was deposited in a mosque.

  One day the priest said to him: “Sweep away the dust and rubbish from the mosque.”

  Immediately, the young man went away and no one saw him there again. Thus, did the elder and his followers suppose he did not care to serve.

  The next day, a servant of the mosque met him on the road and said: ‘Thou didst act wrongly in thy perverse judgment. Knowest thou not, O conceited youth, that men are dignified by service?”

  Sorrowfully, the youth began to weep. “O soul-cherishing and heart-illuminating friend!” he answered; “I saw no dirt or rubbish in that holy place but mine own corrupt self. Therefore, I retraced my steps, for a mosque is better cleansed from such.”

  Humility is the only ritual for a devotee. If thou desire greatness, be humble; no other ladder is there by which to climb.

  STORY OF SULTAN BAYAZID BUSTAMI 21

  When Bayazid was coming from his bath one morning during the Id festival, some one unwittingly emptied a tray of ashes from a window upon his head. With his face and turban all bespattered, he rubbed his hands in gratitude and said: I am in truth worthy of the fires of hell; why should I be angered by a few ashes?”

  The great do not regard themselves; look not for godliness in a self-conceited man. Eminence does not consist in outward show and vaunting words, nor dignity in hauteur and. pretension.

  On the Day of Judgment thou wilt see in. Paradise him who sought truth and rejected vain pretension.

  He who is headstrong and obdurate falleth headlong; if thou desire greatness, abandon pride.

  DISCOURSE ON CONCEIT

  Expect not him who is possessed of worldly vanities to follow the path of religion, nor look for godliness in him who wallows in conceit.

  If thou desire dignity, do not, like the mean, regard thy fellows with contemptuous eyes.

  Seek no position more honourable than that of being known to the world as a man of laudable character.

  Thou deemest him not great who, being of equal rank, is haughty towards thee; when thou makest a similar display before others, dost thou not appear before them as the arrogant appear before thee?

  If thou art eminent, laugh not, if thou art wise, at them that are lowly. Many have fallen. from high whose places have been taken by the fallen.

  Though thou be free from defect, revile not me who am full of blemishes.

  One holds the chain of the Kaba temple in his hands; another lies drunken in the tavern.

  If God call the latter, who can drive him away? If He expel the former, who can bring him back? The one cannot implore the divine help by reason of his good deeds, nor is the door of repentance closed upon the other.

  STORY OF THE DARWESH AND THE PROUD CADI

  À poorly-clad doctor of law and divinity sat one day in the front row of seats in a Cadi’s court. The Cadi gave him a sharp look, whereupon the usher took the man by the arm and said: “Get up; dost thou not know that the best place is not for such as thee? Either take a lower seat, or remain standing, or leave the court altogether. Be not so bold as to occupy the seat of the great. If thou art humble, pose not as a lion. Not every one is worthy of the chief seat; honour is proportionate to rank, and rank to merit.”

  He who sits with honour in a place lower than that of which he is worthy falls not with ignominy from eminence.

  Fuming with anger, the doctor moved to a lower seat. Two advocates in the court then entered into a spirited discussion, and flew at each other with their tongues like fighting-cocks with beak and claw. They were involved in a complicated knot which neither could unravel. From the last row of seats the tattered doctor roared out with the voice of a lion in the forest.

  “It is not the veins of the neck that should stand out in argument,” he said, “but the proofs, which should be full of meaning. I, too, have the faculty of argument.”

  “Speak on,” they answered.

  With the quill of eloquence that he possessed, the doctor engraved his words upon the minds of his listeners like inscriptions on a signet-ring; and, drawing his pen through the letters of pretension, he invoked applaus
e from every corner. So hard did he drive the steed of speech that the Cadi lagged behind like an ass in the mire. Removing his cloak and turban, the latter sent them to the doctor as a token of his respect.

  “Alas!” he said, “I did not discern thy merit, nor welcome thee on thy arrival. I regret to see thee in this condition with such a stock of knowledge.”

  The usher then approached the stranger courteously in order that he might place the Cadi’s turban upon his head. But the doctor repelled him with his hands and tongue, saying:

  “Place not upon my head the fetters of pride, for to-morrow this fifty-yarded turban would turn my head from those in jaded garb. Those who called me ‘lord’ and ‘chief’ would then appear insignificant in mine eyes. Is pure water different whether it be contained in a. goblet of gold or an earthen ewer? A man’s head requires brain and intellect, not an imposing turban like thine. A big head does not make one worthy; it is like the gourd, void of kernel. Be not proud because of thy turban and beard, for the one is cotton and the other grass. One should aim at the degree of eminence that is conformable with one’s merit. With all this intellect, I will not call thee man, though a. hundred slaves walk behind thee. How well spoke the shell when a greedy fool picked it out of the mire: ‘None will buy me for the smallest price: be not so insane as to wrap me up in silk?

  A man is not better than his fellows by reason of his wealth, for an ass, though covered with a satin cloth, is still an ass.”

  In this way the clever doctor washed the rancour from his heart with the water of words. Thus do those who are aggrieved speak harshly. Be not idle when thine enemy has fallen. Dash out his brains when thou art able, for delay will efface the grudge from thy mind.

  So overcome was the Cadi by his vehemence that he exclaimed, “Verily, this day is a hard one.” He bit his fingers in amazement, and his eyes stared at the doctor like the two stars near the pole of the lesser bear. As for the latter, he went abruptly out and was never seen there again. They in the court clamoured to know whence such an impertinent fellow had come. An official went in search of him, and ran in all directions, asking whether a man of that description had been seen. Some one said: “We know no one in this city so eloquent as Sadi.”