Page:Tales from the Gulistan (1928).pdf/108

The Morals of Dervishes

having been plundered in the Yunân county, and deprived of boundless wealth, the merchants went and lamented, beseeching God and the prophet to intercede for them [with the robbers], but ineffectually. When a dark-minded robber is victorious, what cares he for the weeping of the caravan?

Loqmân the philosopher being among the people of the caravan, one of them asked him to speak a few words of wisdom and advice to the robbers, so that they might perhaps return some of the property they had plundered, because the loss of so much wealth would be lamentable. Loqmân replied: "It would be lamentable to utter one word of wisdom to them. The rust which has eaten into iron cannot be removed by polishing. Of what use is preaching to a black heart? An iron nail cannot be driven into a rock."

Help the distressed int eh day of prosperity, because comforting the poor averts evil from thyself. When a mendicant implores thee for a thing, give it, or else an oppressor may take it by force.