Page:Tales from the Gulistan (1928).pdf/97

Story XLVIII

man was praised in an assembly, and, his good qualities being extolled, he raised his head and said: "I am such as I know myself to be. O thou who reckonest my virtues, refrain from giving me pain; these are my open, and thou knowest not my hidden, qualities."

My person is, to the eyes of the world, of good aspect; but my internal wickedness makes me droop my head with shame. The peacock is for his beauteous colors by the people praised, whilst he is ashamed of his ugly feet.