The Collected Works of Saadi Read online

  A hundred thousand praises to him who said so; see how sweetly he uttered the bitter truth!

  STORY OF THE HONEY-SELLER

  A man of smiling countenance sold honey,. captivating the hearts of all by his pleasant manner. His customers were as numerous as flies around the sugar-cane — if he had sold poison people would have bought it for honey.

  A forbidding-looking man regarded him with envy, being jealous of the way his business. prospered. One day he paraded the town with a tray of honey on his head and a scowl on his face. He wandered about crying his wares, but no one evinced desire to buy. At nightfall, having earned no money, he went and sat dejectedly in a corner, with a face as bitter as that of a sinner fearful of retribution.

  The wife of one of his neighbours jokingly remarked: “Honey is bitter to one of sour temper.”

  It is wrong to eat bread at the table of one whose face is as wrinkled with frowns as the cloth on which it is served.

  O sir! add not to thine own burdens, for an evil temper brings disaster in its train.

  If thou hast not a sweet tongue like Sadi; thou hast neither gold nor silver.

  STORY ILLUSTRATING THE FORBEARANCE OF GOOD MEN

  I have heard that a debased drunkard caught a pious man by the collar. The latter received his blows in silence, and in forbearance lifted not his head.

  A passer-by remarked: “Art thou not a man? It is a pity to be patient with this ignorant fellow.”

  The pious man replied: “Speak not thus to me. A foolish drunkard collars one by the neck in the thought that he is fighting with a lion; there is no fear that a learned man will contend with an inebriated fool.”

  The virtuous follow this rule in life — when they suffer oppression they display kindness.

  STORY ILLUSTRATING THE NOBLE-MINDEDNESS OF MEN

  A dog bit the leg of a hermit with such violence that venom dropped from its teeth, and the poor man could not sleep all night through pain.

  His little daughter chided him, saying: “Hast thou not teeth as well?”

  The unfortunate parent wept, and then smilingly replied: “Dear child! Although I was stronger than the dog, I restrained my anger. Should I receive a sword-blow on the head, I could not apply my teeth to the legs of a dog.”

  One can revenge oneself upon the mean, but a man cannot act like a dog.

  STORY OF A KIND MASTER AND HIS DISOBEDIENT SLAVE

  An eminent man, famous for his many virtues, possessed a slave of evil disposition, who in ugliness of feature surpassed every one in the city. He closely attended his master at meal-times, but he would not have given a drop of water to a dying man. Neither reproof nor the rod influenced him; the house was in a constant state of disorder through him. Sometimes, in his bad temper, would he litter the paths with thorns and rubbish; at other times, throw the chickens down the well. His unhappy temperament was written on his face, and never did he perform a task successfully.

  Some one asked his master: “What is there that thou likest in this slave — his agreeable manners, or his skill, or beauty? Surely, it is not worth while to keep such an unruly knave and burden thyself with such an affliction. I will procure for thee a slave of handsome appearance and good character. Take this one to the slave-market and sell him. If a price is offered for him, do not refuse it, for he would be dear at that.”

  The good-natured man smiled and said: “O friend! although the character of my slave is certainly bad, my character is improved by him, for when I have learned to tolerate his manner I shall be able to put up with anything at the hands of others. It were not humane to sell him and thus make known his faults. And it is better to endure his affliction myself than to pass him on to others.”

  Accept for thyself what thou wouldst accept for others. If distressed thyself, involve not thy fellows.

  Forbearance is at first like poison, but when engrained in the nature it becomes like honey.

  STORY OF MARUF KARCHI 22 AND THE SICK TRAVELLER

  No one follows the path of Maruf Karchi who does not first banish the idea of fame from his head.

  A traveller once came to Maruf’s house at the point of death — his life was joined to his body by a single hair. He passed the night in wailing and lamentation, sleeping not himself nor permitting any one else to sleep by reason of his groans. His mind was distressed and his temper was vile; though he died not himself, he killed many by his fretting. Such was his restlessness that every one flew from him. Maruf Karchi alone remained. He, like a brave man, girt his loins and sat up many nights in attendance at the sick man’s bedside. But one night Maruf was attacked by sleep — how long can a sleepless man keep up?

  As soon as the invalid saw him asleep he began to rave: “Cursed be thy abominable race!” he cried: “what knows this glutton, intoxicated with sleep, of the helpless man who has not closed his eyes?”

  Maruf took no notice of these words, but one of the women of the harem, overhearing them, remarked: “Didst thou not hear what that wailing beggar said? Turn him out, and tell him to take his abuse with him and die elsewhere. Kindness and compassion have their occasions, but to do good to the evil is evil; only a fool plants trees in barren soil. A grateful dog is better than an ungrateful man.”

  Maruf laughed: Dear woman,” he replied, “be not offended at his ungracious words. If he rave at me through sickness, I am not angered. When thou art strong and well thyself, bear gratefully the burdens of the weak. If thou cherish the tree of kindness, thou wilt assuredly eat of the fruits of a good name.”

  They attain to dignity who rid themselves of arrogance.

  He who worships grandeur is the slave of pride; he knows not that greatness consists in meekness.

  STORY ILLUSTRATING THE FOLLY OF THE IGNOBLE

  An impudent fellow begged of a pious man, but the latter had no money in his house. Otherwise, would he have showered gold upon him like dust. The infamous rascal, therefore, went out and began to abuse him in the street.

  The eye of the fault-finder sees no merits. What regard has he who has acted dishonourably for the honour of another?

  Being informed of his words, the pious man smiled and said: “It is well; this man has enumerated only a few of my bad qualities — only one out of a hundred that are known to me. The evil that he leas supposed in me I know for certain that I possess. Only one year has he been acquainted with me; how can he know the faults of seventy years? None but the Omniscient knows my faults better than myself. Never have I known one who has attributed to me so few defects. If he bear witness against me in the Day or Judgment, I shall have no fear. If he who thinks ill of me seek to reveal my faults, tell him to come and take the record from me.”

  Be humble when the veil is torn from off thy character. If a pitcher were made of the dust of men, the calumnious would shatter it with stones.

  STORY OF ONE WHO HAD A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE

  A certain man knew something of astronomy and his head, in consequence, was filled with pride. Journeying far, he visited Kushyar, 23 the sage, who turned his eyes from him and would teach him nothing. When the disappointed traveller was on the point of leaving, Kushyar addressed him with these words:

  “Thou imaginest that thou art full of knowledge. How can a vessel that is full receive of more? Rid thyself of thy pretensions, so that thou mayest be filled. Being full of vanity, thou goest empty.”

  STORY ILLUSTRATING THE HUMILITY OF THE PIOUS

  Some one heard the barking of a dog in the ruined hut of a pious man. Reflecting upon the strangeness of the fact, he went and searched, but found no traces of a dog. In truth, the devotee alone was in the house.

  Not wishing his curiosity to be revealed, the man was departing, when the owner of the house cried out: “Come in; why standest thou upon the door? Knowest thou not, O friend, that I it was who barked? When I discerned that humility was acceptable to God, I banished pride and vanity from my heart, and clamoured with barks at the door of God, for I saw none more lowly than a dog.”

&nb
sp; If thou desire to attain to dignity, let humility be thy path.

  Behold, when the dew lies low upon the earth, the sun doth raise it to the skies.

  STORY ILLUSTRATING THE VALUE OF SOFT WORDS

  The slave of a king escaped, and, though a search was made, was not discovered. Later, when the fugitive returned, the king, in anger, ordered that he should be put to death.

  When the executioner brought out his scimitar, like the tongue of a thirsty man, the despondent slave cried out:

  O God! I forgive the king the shedding of my blood, for I have ever enjoyed his bounty and shared in his prosperity. Let him not suffer for this deed on the Day of Judgment, to the delight of his enemies.”

  When the king heard these words his anger was appeased, and he appointed the slave to be an officer of the standard.

  The moral of this story is that soft speech acts like water on the fires of wrath. Do not the soldiers on the battle-field wear armour consisting of a hundred folds of silk?

  O friend! be humble when thou dealest with a fierce foe, for gentleness will blunt the sharpest sword.

  STORY ILLUSTRATING THE WISDOM OF FEIGNING DEAFNESS

  Many writers affirm the falsity of the idea that Hatim was deaf.

  One morning his attention was attracted by the buzzing of a fly, which had become ensnared in a spider’s web. “O thou,” he observed, “who art fettered by thine own avarice, be patient. Wherever there be a tempting bait, huntsman and snare are close at hand.”

  One of his disciples remarked: “Strange it is that thou couldst hear the buzzing of a fly that hardly reached our ears. No longer can: they call thee deaf.”

  The Sheikh replied: “Deafness is better than the hearing of idle words. Those that sit with me in private are prone to conceal my faults and parade my virtues; thus, do they make me vain. I feign deafness that I may be spared their flattery. When my assumed affliction has become known to them they will speak freely of that which is good and bad in me; then, being grieved at the recital of my faults, I shall abstain from evil.”

  Go not down a well by a rope of praise. Be deaf, like Hatim, and listen to the words of them that slander thee.

  STORY ILLUSTRATING FORBEARANCE FOR THE SAKE OF FRIENDS

  A certain man, whose heart was as pure as Sadi’s, fell in love. Although taunted by his enemies in consequence, he showed no anger.

  Some one asked him: “Hast thou no sense of shame? Art thou not sensible to these indignities? It is abject to expose oneself to ridicule, and weak to endure patiently the scoffs of enemies. To overlook the errors of the, ignorant is wrong, lest it be said that thou hast neither strength nor courage.”

  How elegantly did the distracted lover make reply! His words are worthy to be writ in letters of gold:

  “Alone in my heart there dwelleth affection for my loved one; thus, it contains no room. for malice.”

  STORY OF LUQMAN, 24 THE SAGE

  I have heard that Luqman was of dark complexion and careless of his appearance. Some one mistook him for a slave, and employed him in digging trenches at Baghdad. Thus he continued for a year, no one suspecting who he was. When the truth was known the master was afeared, and fell at Luqman’s feet, offering excuses.

  The sage smiled and said: “Of what use are these apologies? For a year my heart has bled through thine oppression. How can II forget that in one hour? But I forgive thee, good man, for thy gain has caused to me no loss. Thou hast built thy house; my wisdom and knowledge have increased. I, too, possess a slave, and frequently set him to arduous labour. Nevermore, when I remember the hardships of my toil, will I afflict him.”

  He who has not suffered at the hands of the strong grieves not at the frailness of the weak.

  If thou be sorrowed by those above thee, be not harsh with thine inferiors.

  CHAPTER V. Concerning Resignation

  Happiness comes from the favour of God, not from the might of the powerful. If the heavens bestow not fortune, by no valour can it be obtained.

  The ant suffers not by reason of its weakness; the tiger eats not by virtue of its strength.

  Since the hand reaches not to the skies, accept as inevitable the fortune that it brings.

  If thy life is destined to be long, no snake nor sword will harm thee; when the fated day of death arrives, the antidote will kill thee no less than the poison.

  STORY OF A SOLDIER OF ISFAHAN

  In Isfahan I had a friend who was warlike, spirited, and shrewd. His hands and dagger were for ever stained with blood. The hearts of his enemies were consumed by fear of him; even the tigers stood in awe of him. In battle he was like a sparrow among locusts; in combat, sparrows and men were alike to him. Had he made an attack upon Faridun, he would not have given the latter time to draw his sword. Neither in bravery nor magnanimity had he an. equal.

  This warrior formed a liking for my company; but as I was not destined to remain in Isfahan, Fate transferred me from Iraq to Syria, in which holy land my staying was agreeable. After some time the desire for my home attracted me, so I returned to Iraq.

  One night, the memory of the sepoy passed through my mind; the salt of his friendship opened the wounds of my gratitude, for I had eaten salt from his hand. To meet him, I. went to Isfahan, and inquired as to where he lived.

  I chanced upon him. He who had been a youth had become old; his form, once erect as. an arrow, had become as a bow. Like a hoary mountain, his head was covered with snowy hair; Time had conquered him and twisted the wrist of his bravery. The pride of his strength had gone; the head of weakness was upon his knees,

  “O tiger-seizer!” I exclaimed, “what has made thee decrepit like an old fox?”

  He laughed and said: “Since the day of the battle of Tartary, I have expelled the thoughts of fighting from my head. Then did I see the earth arrayed with spears like a forest of reeds. I raised like smoke the dust of conflict; but when Fortune does not favour, of what avail is fury? I am one who, in combat, could take with a spear a ring from the palm of the hand; but, as my star did not befriend me, they encircled me as with a ring. I seized the opportunity of flight, for only a fool strives with Fate. How could my helmet and cuirass aid me when my bright star favoured me not? When the key of victory is not in the hand, no one can break open the door of conquest with his arms.

  “The enemy were a pack of leopards, and as strong as elephants. The heads of the heroes were encased in iron, as were also the hoofs of the horses. We urged on our Arab steeds like a cloud, and when the two armies encountered each other thou wouldst have said they had struck the sky down to the earth. From the raining of arrows, that descended like hail, the storm of death arose in every corner. Not one of our troops came out of the battle but his cuirass was soaked with blood. Not that our swords were blunt — it was the vengeance of stars of ill fortune. Overpowered, we surrendered, like a fish which, though protected by scales, is caught by the hook in the bait. Since Fortune averted her face, useless was our shield against the arrows of Fate.”

  STORY OF THE DOCTOR AND THE VILLAGER

  One night a villager could not sleep owing to a pain in his side. A doctor said: “This pain is caused by his having eaten the leaves of the vine. I shall be astonished if he lasts through the night, for the arrows of a Tartar in his breast were better for him than the eating of such indigestible food.”

  That night the doctor died; forty years have since passed, and villager yet lives.

  STORY OF THE VILLAGER AND HIS ASS

  The ass of a villager died, so he set the head upon a vine in his garden in order that it might ward off the Evil Eye.

  A sage old man passed by and laughingly remarked: “Dost think, O friend, this will effect thy purpose? In life, the ass could not protect itself from blows; so, in weakness, did it die.”

  What knows the physician of the condition of the sick, when, helpless, he himself will die through illness?

  STORY ILLUSTRATING LUCK

  A poor man dropped a dinar in the road. He searched mu
ch, but at last, despairing, abandoned the attempt.

  Some one came along and found the coin by chance.

  God and ill fortune are predestined. Our daily portion depends not upon our strength and efforts, for those who are strongest and strive the most stand often in the direst need.

  STORY OF ONE WHO BLAMED HIS DESTINY

  There was once a rich and prosperous man named Bakhtyar. The wife of one of his neighbours, who was in the other extreme of poverty, upbraided her husband one night when he went to her empty-handed, saying: “No one is so poor and unfortunate as thee. Take a lesson from thy neighbours, who are well-to-do. Why art thou not fortunate, like them?”

  The man replied: “I am incapable of aught; quarrel not with Fate. I have not been endowed with the power to make myself a Bakhtyar.” 25

  STORY OF A DARWESH AND HIS WIFE

  A Darwesh remarked to his wife, who was of ill-favoured countenance: “Since Fate has made thee ugly, do not encrust thy face with cosmetic.”

  Who can attain good fortune by force! Who, with collyrium, can make the blind to see?

  Not one among the philosophers of Greece or Rome could produce honey from the thorn.

  Wild beasts cannot become men; education is wasted upon them.

  A mirror can be freed from stain, but it cannot be made from a stone.

  Roses do not blossom on the branches of the willow; hot baths never yet made an Ethiop white.

  Since one cannot escape the arrows of Fate, resignation is the only shield.

  STORY OF A VULTURE AND A KITE

  A vulture said to a kite: “No one can see so far as I.”

  “Possibly,” replied the kite; “but what canst thou see across the desert?”

  Gazing down, the vulture exclaimed: “Yonder do I see a grain of wheat.”

  Thereupon, they flew to the ground. When the vulture settled upon the wheat he became caught in a trap. He had not known that, through his eating the grain, Fate would ensnare him by the neck.