SA`DI (1184-1292 AD)

 

 

The rose can only bloom an hour:

My Garden will forever flow'r

(From Sa`di's introduction to "The Gulistan")

 

 

All night he wept unceasingly beside

His friend, who lay inert upon the bed;

At dawn, they found that he who watched had died,

And lo the sick man had been cured instead.

 

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A willow-branch reminds one that a youth

Can easily be bent towards the truth;

Old reprobates a sterner fate require,

For they will straighten only in the fire.

 

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Observe this percept whenever you can-

Never make friends with an elephant-man;

For an elephant-man has a pet to keep,

Eating and drinking, awake or asleep,

And if you are friendly one day you'll see,

When the elephant keeper comes to tea,

That, not in the least by chance or whim,

The elephant will accompany him.

Then as soon as the animal's through the door

You'll notice cracks in the parlour floor,

And however much you may frown or stare

He'll sit cross-legged on an easy chair,

And swill your tea with his cumbrous trunk

Till you think `My word, what a lot he's drunk.'

And if you should offer a mild reproof

He'll be up from your table and off with your roof...

In your sorrows you'll only sink deeper and deeper

If you ever make friends with an elephant-keeper.

 

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When choosing a mount

For a race or a hunt,

Or to ride at the Front,

Remember fat cattle

Get blown in a battle;

But a lean stringy horse

Will stand up round a course,

And will never give in-

Although he's too thin

You can back him to win.

 

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The Bull to the Donkey one day said in jest:

`Do you think that your ears or my horns are the best?'

The Ass to this sally replied: `Since a child

My friends have described me as humble and mild,

But if I had horns 't would no longer be true-

And I shudder to think what would happen to you.'

 

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Gold can glitter strangely

When hewn in some deep mine;

Gold can buy you many things

Including warmth and wine;

But anyone amassing it

In honesty must own

There's hardly any difference

'Twixt a nugget and a stone.

 

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Whose wife is tender, wise, and true,

In fact, Beloved, just like you,

Although he merits no such thing

Will live, as I do, like a King.