Page:Tales from the Gulistan (1928).pdf/123

'STORY LXXIII

, professing to be a hermit in the desert of Syria, attended for years to his devotions, and subsisted on the leaves of trees. A Pâdshâh, who had gone in that direction by way of pilgrimage, approached him and said: "If thou thinkest proper, we shall prepare a place for thee in the town, where thou wilt enjoy leisure for thy devotions, and others may profit by thy spiritual advice, as well as imitate thy good works."

The hermits refused compliance, but the pillars of the State were of the opinion that, in order to please the King, he ought to spend a few days in town to ascertain the state of the place; so that if [he feared that] the purity of his precious time might become turbid by association with strangers, he would still have the option [to refuse compliance]. It is related that the hermit entered the town, where a private garden-house of the King, which was a heart-expanding and soul-refreshing locality, had been prepared to receive him.

Its red roses were like the cheeks of belles, Its hyacinths like the ringlets of mistresses; Protected from the inclemency of mid-winter, Like sucklings who have not yet tasted the nurse's milk

The King immediately sent him a beautiful slave-girl. After [beholding] this hermit-deceiving crescent-moon of the form of an angel, and the beauty of a peacock; after seeing her it would be impossible to an anchorite's nature to remain patient. After her he sent likewise a slave-boy of wonderful beauty, and graceful placidity.

The hermit began to eat delicious foods, to wear nice clothes, to enjoy fruit and perfumed confectionery; as well as to