Sa'di

“ All the sages were unable to give an interpretation, except a dervish who made his salutation and said: 'He is still looking amazed how his kingdom belongs to others.'
Many famous men have been buried under ground Of whose existence on earth not a trace has remained And that old corpse which had been surrendered to the earth Was so consumed by the soil that not a bone remains. The glorious name of Nushirvan survives in good repute Although much time elapsed since he passed away. Do good, O man, and consider life as a good fortune, The more so, as when a shout is raised, a man exists no more. ”

“ Today no one can point out on the surface of the earth, A place like the threshold of thy door, the asylum of comfort. On thee is incumbent the protection of the distressed and gratitude Upon us and reward on God the creator of the world, As long as the world and wind endure. ”

“ Then he said to me: 'Dervishes being zealous and veracious in their dealings, unite thy mind to mine, for I am apprehensive of a powerful enemy.' I replied: 'Have mercy upon thy feeble subjects that thou mayest not be injured by a strong foe.'
With a powerful arm and the strength of the wrist To break the five fingers of a poor man is sin. Let him be afraid who spares not the fallen Because if he falls no one will take hold of his hand. Whoever sows bad seed and expects good fruit Has cudgelled his brains for nought and begotten vain imaginations. ”

“ O Lord, be pleased with him and with his kingdom-has looked upon Sa'di with a favourable eye, has praised him greatly, and has shown him sincere affection so that all men, gentle and simple, love him because the people follow the religion of their king.
Because thou lookest upon my humble person, My merits are more celebrated than those of the sun. Although this slave may possess all faults, Every fault pleasing the Sultan becomes a virtue. ”

“ Nevertheless the ignorant receive a livelihood At which the learned stand aghast. The luck of wealth consists not in skill But only in the aid of heaven. It happens in the world that many Silly men are honoured and sages despised. ”

“ Obedience to him is a cause of approach and gratitude in increase of benefits. Every inhalation of the breath prolongs life and every expiration of it gladdens our nature; wherefore every breath confers two benefits and for every benefit gratitude is due.
Whose hand and tongue is capable To fulfil the obligations of thanks to him?
Words of the most high: Be thankful, O family of David, and but few of my servants are thankful.
It is best to a worshipper for his transgressions To offer apologies at the throne of God, Although what is worthy of his dignity No one is able to accomplish. ”

“ After two years had elapsed a band of robbers in the locality joined him, tied the knot of friendship and, when the opportunity presented itself, he killed the vezier with his son, took away untold wealth and succeeded to the position of his own father in the robber-cave where he established himself. The king, informed of the event, took the finger of amazement between his teeth and said:
'How can a man fabricate a good sword of bad iron? O sage, who is nobody becomes not somebody by education. ”

“ The capital of man's life is his abdomen. If it be gradually emptied there is no fear But if it be so closed as not to open The heart may well despair of life; And if it be open so that it cannot be closed, Go and wash thy hands of this world's life. ”

“ The youth made an onslaught like a mad elephant with an impulse which might have uprooted a mountain of brass from its place but the master, who knew that he was in strength superior to himself, attacked him with the rare trick he had reserved to himself and which the youth was unable to elude; whereon the master, lifting him up with his hands from the ground, raised him above his head and then threw him down. ”

“ This appeared strange to the king who knew not what wisdom there was in the proceeding and asked for it. The philosopher replied: 'Before he had tasted the calamity of being drowned, he knew not the safety of the boat; thus also a man does not appreciate the value of immunity from a misfortune until it has befallen him.'
O thou full man, barley-bread pleases thee not. She is my sweetheart who appears ugly to thee. To the huris of paradise purgatory seems hell. Ask the denizens of hell. To them purgatory is paradise. ”

“ Verily the world is happy through him; may his happiness endure for ever And may the Lord strengthen him and with the banners of victory. Thus the branch will flourish of which he is the root Because the beauty of the earth's plants depends on the virtue of the seed. ”

“ Unfortunate men sometimes ardently desire The decline of prosperous men in wealth and dignity. If in daytime, bat-eyed persons do not see Is it the fault of the fountain of light, the sun? Thou justly wishest that a thousand such eyes Should be blind rather than the sun dark. ”

“ They were all human beings, but Like wolves sharp-clawed, for shedding blood. When I returned I saw the country at rest, The tigers having abandoned the nature of tigers. Within a man of good disposition like an angel, Without an army like bellicose lions. ”

“ I was on terms of friendship with one of those who had acted treacherously and reproached him, telling him that it was base, ungrateful, despicable and undutiful to abandon an old master when his affairs have changed a little and to disregard the obligations incurred for benefits received during many years. He replied: 'If I inform thee, perhaps thou wilt excuse me for my horse had no barley and my saddle-cloth was pawned. A sultan who grudges money to his troops, they cannot bravely risk their lives for him.'
Give gold to the soldier that he may serve thee. ”

“ O thou who art above all imaginations, conjectures, opinions and ideas, Above anything people have said or we have heard or read, The assembly is finished and life has reached its term And we have, as at first, remained powerless in describing thee. ”

“ O bird of the morning, learn love from the moth Because it burnt, lost its life, and found no voice. These pretenders are ignorantly in search of Him, Because he who obtained knowledge has not returned. ”

“ The king asked: 'What is the reason for the gathering around of the troops and the population?' He replied: 'A padshah must practise justice that they may gather around him and clemency that they may dwell in safety under the shadow of his government; but thou possessest neither of these qualities.'
A tyrannic man cannot be a sultan As a wolf cannot be a shepherd. A padshah who establishes oppression Destroys the basis of the wall of his own reign.
The king, displeased with the advice of his censorious vezier, sent him to prison. ”

“ Cloud and wind, moon and sun move in the sky That thou mayest gain bread, and not eat it unconcerned. For thee all are revolving and obedient. It is against the requirements of justice if thou obeyest not. ”

“ From his head intelligence caused The star of greatness to shine.
In short, he pleased the sultan because he had a beautiful countenance and a perfect understanding; and philosophers have said: 'Power consists in accomplishments, not in wealth and greatness in intellect, not in years.' His companions, being envious, made an attempt upon his life and desired to kill him but their endeavours remained fruitless.
What can a foe do when the friend is kind? ”

“ It may happen that a companion of his majesty the sultan receives gold and it is possible that he loses his head. Philosophers have said that it is necessary to be on guard of the fickle temper of padshahs because sometimes they are displeased with politeness and at others they bestow robes of honour for rudeness. It is also said that much jocularity is an accomplishment in courtiers but a fault in sages.
Abide thou by thy dignity and gravity. Leave sport and jocularity to courtiers. ”

“ He told the chamberlain of the morning breeze to spread out the emerald carpet and, having commanded the nurse of vernal clouds to cherish the daughters of plants in the cradle of the earth, the trees donned the new year's robe and clothed their breast with the garment of green foliage, whilst their offspring, the branches, adorned their heads with blossoms at the approach of the season of the roses. ”

“ When the population had diminished, the prosperity of the country suffered, the treasury remained empty and on every side enemies committed violence.
Who desires succour in the day of calamity, Say to him: 'Be generous in times of prosperity.' The slave with a ring in his ear, if not cherished will depart. Be kind because then a stranger will become thy slave. ”

“ The tradition is that whenever a sinful and distressed worshipper stretches forth the hand of repentance with hopes of acceptance to the court of heaven, God the most high does not notice him, whereon he continues to implore mercy with supplications and tears and God the most holy says: O my angels, verily I am ashamed of my servant and he has no other lord besides myself. ”

“ It is against propriety, and contrary to the opinions of wise men that the Zulfiqar of A'li should remain in the scabbard and the tongue of Sa'di in his palate.'
O intelligent man what is the tongue in the mouth? It is the key to the treasure-door of a virtuous man. When the door is closed how can one know Whether he is a seller of jewels or a hawker?
Although intelligent men consider silence civil, It is better for thee to speak at the proper time. Two things betoken levity of intellect: to remain mute When it is proper to speak and to talk when silence is required. ”

“ The king rejoined: 'What would it have mattered if he had for one night delayed his enjoyment?' He said: 'My lord, hast thou not heard that it was said:
When a man with a burning thirst reaches a limpid spring, Think not that he will care for a mad elephant. When a hungry infidel is in an empty house at table Reason will not believe that he cares for the Ramazan.'
The king, being pleased with this sally, exclaimed: 'I make thee a present of the negro. ”

“ One of my friends complained of the unpropitious times, telling me that he had a slender income, a large family, without strength to bear the load of poverty and had often entertained the idea to emigrate to another country so that no matter how he made a living no one might become aware of his good or ill luck.
Many a man slept hungry and no one knew who he was. Many a man was at the point of death and no one wept for him. ”

“ It is an instance of wisdom if the Creator Causes a servant to make the general welfare his special duty. He has found eternal happiness who lived a good life, Because, after his end, good repute will keep his name alive. No matter whether virtuous men praise you or not A lovely maid stands in no need of a tire woman. ”

“ If there were no hope of rest and trouble The foot of the dervish would be upon the sphere And if the vezier feared God Like the king he would be king.
Story 30
A padshah having issued orders to kill an innocent man, the latter said: 'O king, seek not thine own injury on account of the anger thou bearest towards me.' He asked: 'How?' The man replied: 'This punishment will abide with me one moment but the sin of it for ever with thee.'
The period of life has passed away like the desert wind. Bitter and sweet, ugliness and beauty have passed away. ”

“ How then could I venture to appear in the sight of the grandees of my lord, may his victory be glorious, who are an assembly of pious men and the centre of profound scholars? If I were to be led in the ardour of conversation to speak petulantly, I could produce only a trifling stock-in-trade in the noble presence but glass beads are not worth a barleycorn in the bazar of jewellers, a lamp does not shine in the presence of the sun, and a minaret looks low at the foot of Mount Alvend.
Who lifts up his neck with pretentions, Foes hasten to him from every side. Sa'di has fallen to be a hermit. ”

“ We have not known thee as thou oughtest to be known.
If someone asks me for his description, What shall I despairing say of One who has no form? The lovers have been slain by the beloved. No voice can come from the slain. ”

“ The case of the dervish having been brought to the notice of the king when he was not in good humour, he became angry and turned his face away. Therefore it has been said that intelligent and experienced men ought to be on their guard against the violence and despotism of kings because their thoughts are generally occupied with important affairs of state so that they cannot bear to be importuned by the crowd of vulgar persons. ”