Page:Tales from the Gulistan (1928).pdf/49

Story XIII

a king, who had changed night into day by pleasures, saying in his drunkenness: "We have in the world no moment more delightful than this, because I care neither for good nor for bad, nor for anyone."

A naked Dervish, who was sleeping [outside] in the cold, then said: "O thou like whom in happiness there is no one in the world! I take it if thou carest not, we also do not care."

The King, being pleased with these words of [unconcern], held out a bag of a thousand dinârs from the window and said: "Dervish! Spread out thy skirt."

He replied: "Whence can I, who have no robe, bring a skirt?"

The Pâdshâh took pity on his helpless condition, added a robe to his gift, and sent it out to him; but the Dervish squandered the money in a short time and returned.


 * Property cannot abide in the hands of the free. 
 * Neither patience in the heart of a lover, nor water in a sieve.

The case of the Dervish having been brought to the notice of the King when he was not in good humour, he became angry and turned his face away. Therefore it has been said that intelligent and experienced men ought to be on their guard against the violence and despotism of kings, because their thoughts are generally occupied with important affairs of State, so that they cannot bear to be importuned by a crowd of vulgar persons. He will be excluded from the beneficence of the Pâdshâh, who cannot watch for the proper opportunity;