A drunken man was sleeping on the highway,
overcome by the power of intoxication; a devotee
passed by, and beheld his condition with detestation. The young man lifted up
his head, and said, when you meet an inconsiderate person, pass him with kindness;
and when you see a sinner, conceal his crime and be compassionate. 0 thou, who
despisest my indiscretion, why dost thou not rather pity me? 0 holy man, avert
not thy face from a sinner, but regard him with benignity. If my manners are
unpolished, nevertheless behave yourself towards me with civility.”
Dispute Durwesh
A company of dissolute men came to dispute
with a Durwesh, and made use of improper expressions; at which being
offended, he went to his spiritual guide and complained of what had happened.
He replied, “0 my son, the habit of a Durwesh is the garment of resignation;
whoso ever weareth this garb and cannot support injuries, is an enemy to the
profession, and is not entitled to the dress. A great river is not made turbid
by a stone; the religious man who is hurt at injuries, is as yet but shallow
water. If any misfortune befilth you, bear with it, that by forgiving others
you may yourself obtain pardon. O my brother, seeing that we are at last to
return to earth, let us humble ourselves in ashes before we are changed into
dust.”
Bughdad
Attend to the following story. In the city of Bughdad there happened a contention between the Flag and the Curtain. The Flag, disgusted with the dust of the road and the fatigue of marching, said to the Curtain in displeasure, “You and myself are school-fellows, both servants of the Sultan’s court. I never enjoy a moment’s relaxation from business, being obliged to travel at all seasons ; you have not experienced the fatigue of marching, the danger of storming the fortress, the perils of the lesser, nor the inconveniences of whirlwinds and dust ; my foot is more forward in enterprise, why then is thy dignity greater than mine ?
You pass your time amongst youths beautiful as 1 he moon, and with virgins odoriferous as Jasmin; I am carried in the hands of menial S; reams, and travel with my feet in bands and my head agitated by the wind.” The Curtain replied, “My head is placed on the threshold, and not, like yours, raised up to the sky; whosoever through folly exalts his necklace, precipitates himself into distress.”
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