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The son of a pious man inherited great wealth left him by some uncles, whereon he plunged into dissipation and profligacy, became a spendthrift and, in short, left no heinous transgression unperpetrated and no intoxicant untasted. I advised him and said: ‘My son, income is a flowing water and expense a turning mill; that is to say, only he who has a fixed revenue is entitled to indulge in abundant expenses.
Because the sailors chant this song:“If there be no rain in the mountainsThe bed of the Tigris will be dry in one year.”‘Follow wisdom and propriety, abandon play and sport because thy wealth will be exhausted, whereon thou wilt fall into trouble and will repent.’ The youth was prevented by the delights of the flute…
I remember how in former times I and another friend kept company with each other like two almond kernels in one skin. Suddenly a separation took place but after a time, when my companion returned, he commenced to blame me for not having sent him a messenger during it. I replied: ‘I thought it would be a pity that the eyes of a messenger should be brightened by thy beauty and I deprived thereof.’
Because even a sword will not compel me to repent.I am jealous that anyone should see thee to satiety.Again I say that no one will be satiated.
A padshah was in the same boat with a Persian slave who had never
began to cry and to tremble to such a degree that he could not bepacified by kindness, so that at last the king became displeased asthe matter could not be remedied. In that boat there happened to bea philosopher, who said: ‘With thy permission I shall quiet him.’The padshah replied: ‘It will be a great…
One of the kings of Persia had sent an able physician to wait upon the Mustafa, the benediction of Allah and peace be on him; and he remained for some years in the Arab country without anyone coming to him to make a trial of his ability or desiring to be treated by him. He went to the Prophet, salutation to him, and complained that although he had been sent to treat the companions, none of them had up to this time taken notice of him or required the services incumbent upon him. The Apostle, salutation to him, replied: ‘It is a law with these people not to eat until appetite overpowers them and when some of it yet remains they withdraw their hands from food.’ The doctor said: ‘This is the cause of health’, and kissing the earth of service departed.
Or points his fingers to the dishWhen silence would be dangerousOr abstinance would bring on death.No doubt his wisdom is in speakingAnd his eating bears the fruit of health.
A year of dearth set in at Alexandria so that even a dervish lost the reins of patience from his hands, the pearls of heaven were withheld from the earth and the lamentations of mankind ascended to the firmament.
Whose wailings prompted by distress had not reached the sky.For a wonder the heart-smoke of the people did not condenseTo form clouds and the torrents of their tears rain.In such a year there was an hermaphrodite. I owe it to my friends not to describe him because it would be an abandonment of good manners,…
I complained to one of the sheikhs that a certain man had falsely accused me of lasciviousness. He replied: ‘Put him to shame by thy good conduct.’
May not find occasion to speak of thy faults.When the harp is in proper tuneHow can the hand of the musician correct it?