Page:Tales from the Gulistan (1928).pdf/44

The Manners of Kings

was in the same boat with a Persian slave, who had never before been at sea, and experienced the inconvenience of a vessel; he began to cry and tremble to such a degree that he could not be pacified by kindness, so that at last the King became displeased as the matter could not be remedied.

In that boat there happened to be a philosopher, who said: "With thy permission I shall quiet him."

The Pâdshâh replied: "It will be a great favour."

The philosopher ordered the slave to be thrown into the water, so that he swallowed some of it, whereon he was caught and pulled by his hair to the boat, to the stern of which he clung with both his hands. Then he sat down in a corner, and became quiet. This appeared strange to the King, who knew not what wisdom there was in the proceeding [and asked for it]; he [the philosopher] replied:

"Before he had tasted the calamity of being drowned, he knew not the safety of the boat; thus also a man does not appreciate the value of immunity from a misfortune until it has befallen him."


 * O thou full man! Barley-bread pleases thee not;
 * She is my sweetheart who appears ugly to thee!
 * To the houris of paradise purgatory seems hell;
 * Ask the denizens of hell: [to them] purgatory is paradise!