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6
2568-2617

  • Many a thought and fancy that is not real and true comes into the mind, O Prince.
  • Verily, some suspicion is a sin, O Vizier: injustice is not right, especially (when it is done) to a poor man.
  • The king does not chastise one who vexes him: wherefore should he chastise one who makes him laugh?” 2570
  • The words of the Sáhib (vizier) impressed the king, and he resolved to clear up this deceit and imposture.
  • “Take Dalqak to prison,” he said, “and pay no attention to his wheedling and hypocrisy.
  • Beat him, empty-bellied like a drum (as he is), that like a drum he may give us information.
  • (Whether) the drum is wet or dry or full or empty, its sound informs us of everything.
  • (Beat him) in order that he may be compelled to declare the secret, so that these (apprehensive) hearts will be reassured. 2575
  • Since the shining truth is (a cause of) tranquillity, the heart will not be calmed by lying words.
  • Falsehood is like a (piece of stick or) straw, and the heart like a mouth: a straw never becomes (quietly) hidden in the mouth.
  • So long as it is there, he (who is annoyed by it) keeps moving his tongue, in order that thereby he may eject it from his mouth.
  • Especially, when a straw (blown) by the wind falls into the eye, the eye begins to water and shut and open.
  • We, therefore, now kick (out) this (man of) straw, in order that our mouth and eye may be delivered from (the disquiet caused by) this straw.” 2580
  • Dalqak said, “O King, be calm: do not scratch the face of clemency and forgiveness.
  • Why such an excessive haste to take revenge? I cannot fly away, I am in thy hand (power).
  • ’Tis not right to be hasty in (the case of) correction that is (inflicted) for God's sake;
  • (But as regards) that (of) which (the motive) is (ill) humour and casual anger, he (the corrector) is in a hurry (for fear) lest he should become content (reconciled).
  • He is afraid that, if contentment come and his anger go, his revenge and the pleasure of (taking) it will be lost. 2585
  • False appetite makes haste to (devour) the food for fear of missing the pleasure: that is sickness indeed.
  • (If) the appetite be true, ’tis better to delay, in order that it (the food) may be digested without difficulty.
  • Wilt thou beat me for the purpose of averting a (dreaded) calamity, to the end that thou mayst see the crevice and block it up,
  • So that the calamity will not issue from that crevice? Destiny hath many a crevice besides that one.
  • Violence is not the means of averting calamity: the means is beneficence and pardon and kindness. 2590
  • He (the Prophet) said, ‘Alms is a means of averting calamity: cure thy diseased ones by (giving) alms, O youth.’
  • ’Tis not alms-giving to burn a poor man (in the fire of anger) and to blind the eye that meditates on forbearance.”
  • The king replied, “Charity and the occasion for it are excellent (things), but (only) when you perform an act of charity in its (proper) place.
  • (If) you put the king in the rook's place, ’tis ruin (to the game); likewise, (if you put) the horse (knight) in the king's place, ’tis the act of an ignoramus.
  • Both bounty and severity are (sanctioned) in the religious Law: (’tis) for the king (to sit on) the throne, (’tis) for the horse (to stand at) the gate. 2595
  • What is justice? To put (a thing) in its (right) place. What is injustice? To put it in its wrong place.
  • Nothing is vain that God created, (whether it be) anger or forbearance or sincere counsel or guile.
  • None of these things is absolutely good, nor is any of them absolutely evil.
  • The usefulness and harm of each depend on the place (occasion): for this reason knowledge is necessary and useful.
  • Oh, many a punishment inflicted on a poor fellow is more meritorious than (a gift of) bread and sweetmeat, 2600
  • For sweetmeat (when eaten) unseasonably causes yellow bile, (whereas) slaps purge him of wickedness.
  • Give the poor fellow a slap in season: it will save him from beheading (afterwards).
  • The blow is really inflicted because of (his) evil disposition: the stick falls on the dust (in the garment of felt), not on the felt (itself).
  • Every Bahrám (emperor) has a banquet(-hall) and a prison: the banquet is for the sincere (friend) and the prison for the half-baked (churl).
  • (If) a sore wants lancing and you apply a poultice to it, you will (only) establish the pus in the sore, 2605
  • So that it will eat away the flesh underneath: (the result) will be a half (a mere fraction) of profit and fifty losses.”
  • Dalqak said, “I am not saying, ‘Let (my offence) pass’; I am saying, ‘Take some care to investigate.’
  • Hark, do not bar the road of patience and deliberation: be patient, reflect for a few days.
  • In (the course of) deliberation thou wilt hit upon a certainty, (and then) thou wilt chastise me with a sure conviction (of knowing the truth).”
  • Why, indeed, (be one who) walks falling (on his face) in wayfaring, when it behoves him to walk in an upright posture? 2610
  • Take counsel with the company of the righteous: note the (Divine) command (given) to the Prophet, “Consult them.”
  • (The words) their affair is (a matter for) consultation are to this (the same) purpose, for owing to consultation mistakes and errors occur less (frequently).
  • These (human) intellects are luminous like lamps: twenty lamps are brighter than one.
  • There may happen to be amongst them a lamp that has become aflame with the light of Heaven,
  • (For) the jealousy of God has produced a veil (of concealment) and has mingled the low and the lofty together. 2615
  • He hath said, “Travel”: always be seeking in the world and trying your fortune and (destined) lot.
  • In (all) assembly-places always be seeking amidst the intellects such an intellect as is (found) in the Prophet,