Tales From "The Gulistan"

Wisdom of the East

I heard of a king's son, who was low in stature and ill favoured, whilst all his brothers were tall and handsome. Once upon a time, his father looked at him with disgust, which the son had sagacity enough to discover, and said `O father! a short man who is wise is preferable to him who is tall and ignorant. Not every thing is valued according to its height; the sheep is clean and the elephant an unclean animal. Sinai is one of the most inconsiderable mountains of the earth but verily it is the greatest before God in rank and dignity. Have you heard what was said one day by a wise lean man to a fat blockhead? One Arab horse, though lean, is preferable to a stable full of asses.' The father laughed and the courtiers applauded, and the brothers were mortified to the very soul. Until a man hath spoken, his defects and his skill are concealed. Imagine not every desert to be empty for perhaps a tiger may be there asleep. I heard that at that time a powerful enemy appeared against the king, and when the two armies met, the first person who impelled his horse into the action was this young prince calling out `I am not him whose back you shall see on the day of battle but my head may be found in dust and blood: for whosoever fighteth the battle staketh his own life: and he who flieth, sporteth with the blood of his troops.' Having thus said, he attacked the troops of the enemy and overthrew several men of renown. When he came to his father, he bowed down to the earth and said `O ye, to whom my form appeared contemptible without considering the force of my valour, in the day of battle the slender steed is useful and not the fattened ox'. It is reported that the enemy having many troops, and this side but few, a body of the latter were giving way, upon which the prince shouted `Exert yourselves like men that you may not wear the dress of women.' The troopers, animated by this speech joined in the general attack, and are reported to have gained victory over the adversary on that day. The king kissed his head and eyes and folded him in his arms and his affection towards him encreased daily, till at length he appointed him his successor. The brothers became envious, and put poison into his food. His sister seeing this from a window flapped the shutters and he understanding the signal withdrew this hand from the dish, and exclaimed `If the wise should be deprived of life, it would be impossible for the unskilful to supply their place. No one would go under the shade of the owl if the Homai was annihilated from the earth.' They informed the father of the circumstances who sent for the brothers, and after rebuking them properly, he gave to each of them a suitable portion of his kingdom that all cause of strife and bickering might subside.

`It has been observed that ten Durwaishes may sleep upon one blanket, but that one kingdom cannot contain two kings.' If a pious man eateth half a loaf of bread, he bestoweth the other half on the poor. If a king possesseth the dominion of a whole climate, he longeth to have the same enjoyment of another.

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I saw at the gate of Ughulmish an officer's son, who was endowed with wisdom and sagacity beyond description: even his childhood was distinguished by proofs of superior abilities. The star of sublimity shone on his head through wisdom. Summarily, he obtained favour in the sight of the Sultan on account of his beauty and acute understanding, according to the saying of the sages `Ability and not riches constitutes worth; greatness dependeth on skill and not on years.' His companions became envious, and accusing him falsely of dishonesty made a fruitful attempt to deprive him of life. But what can the enemy do against him who hath an assured friend. The king asked him, `What is the cause of their striving against you?' He replied `Under the shade of your majesty's protection, I have gained the goodwill of every one, except the envious man, who cannot be satisfied but by the decline of my good fortune; and may the wealth and prosperity of sovereignty be perpetual. I can avoid injuring the mind of every one, but what shall I do to the envious man, who carrieth the injury in his own breast?' Die, thou envious wretch, since thou canst not be cured of the disease under which thou labourest but by death. The malevolent man wishes that misfortune may befal the successful. If the bat's eye seeth not in the day, what fault is on that account to be imputed to the sun? require you truth? It is better for a thousand such eyes to suffer than that the brightness of the sun be obscured.

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