Page:Tales from the Gulistan (1928).pdf/229

Story CLI

active, graceful, smiling, sweet-tongued youth happened once to be in the circle of our assembly. His heart had been entered by no kind of grief, and his lips were scarcely ever closed from laughter. After some time had elapsed I accidentally met him again, and I learned that he had married a wife, and be- gotten children; but I saw that the root of merriment had been cut, and the roses of his countenance were withered. I asked him how he felt, and what his circumstances were.

He replied: "When I had obtained children, I left off childishness."

When thou art old, abstain from puerility, leave play and jokes to youths. Seek not a youth's hilarity in an old man, for the water gone from the brook returns no more. When the harvest-time of a field arrives, it will no longer wave in the breeze like a young crop.

An old hag had dyed her hair black. I said to her: "O little mother of ancient days, thou hast cunningly dyed thy hair, but consider that thy bent back will never be straight."