Page:Tales from the Gulistan (1928).pdf/194

On the Advantages of Silence

imagined his miserable voice to be pleasing and raised useless shouts. Thou wouldst have said that the crow of separation had become the tune of his song; and the verse 'for the most detestable of voices is surely the voice of asses' appears to have been applicable to him. This distich also concerns him:

When the preacher Abu-l-Fâres brays At his voice Istakhar-Fâres quakes.

On account of the [respected] position he occupied, the inhabitants of the locality submitted to the hardship, and did not think proper to molest him. In course of time, however, another preacher of that region, who bore secret enmity towards him, arrived on a visit, and said to him: "I have dreamt about thee; may it end well!"

"What hast thou dreamt?"

"I dreamt that thy voice had become pleasant, and that the people were comfortable during thy sermons."

The preacher meditated a while on these words, and then said: "Thou hast dreamed a blessed dream, because thou hast made me aware of my defect; it has become known to me that I have a disagreeable voice, and that the people are displeased with my loud reading; accordingly I have determined henceforth not to address them except in a subdued voice."