Page:Tales from the Gulistan (1928).pdf/158

On the Excellence of Contentment

, having been asked whether he had seen in the world anyone of more exalted sentiments than himself, replied: "Yes, one day I slaughtered forty camels to entertain Arab Amirs. I had occasion to go out on some business into a corner of the desert, where I noticed a gatherer of briars, who had accumulated a hillock of thistles, and I asked him why he had not become a guest of Hâtim, since many people had come round to his banquet; but he replied 'Who eats bread by the work of his own hand will not bear to be obliged to Hâtim Tâi.' Then I saw that his sentiments were more exalted than mine."