TALE XV
They asked Hatim Tai, If he had ever seen or heard of any person in the world more noble-minded than himself? He replied, “One day after having sacrificed forty camels, I went along with an Arab chief to the skirt of a desert, where I saw a labourer, who had made up a bundle of thorns;
whom I asked, Why he did not go to the feast of Hatim Tai, to whose table people were repairing in crowds? He answered, £ Whosoever eateth bread from his own labour will not submit to be under obligation to Hatim Tai.’ I considered this man as my superior in generosity and liberality.”
TALE XVI
Moses the prophet (upon whom be peace!) saw a Durwesh, who, for want of clothes, had hidden himself in the sand. He said, “() Moses, implore God to bestow on me subsistence, for I am perishing in distress.” Moses prayed, and God granted him assistance. Some days after, when Moses was returning from performing his devotions he saw the Durwesh apprehended, and a crowd of people gathered round him. On inquiring, What had happened to him? They replied, “Having drank wine, he made a disturbance and killed a man; now they are going to exact retaliation.”
If the poor cat had wings she would not leave a sparrow’s egg in the world; and if a mean Wretch should happen to get into power, he would become insolent, and twist the hands of the weak. Moses acknowledged the wisdom of the Creator of the Universe, and asked pardon for his boldness, repeating the following verse of the Koran: 1 If God were to open his stores of subsistence for His servants, of a truth they would rebel on the earth.’ O vain man, what hast thou done to precipitate thyself into destruction? Would that the ant had not been able to fly!
When a mean wretch obtains promotion and wealth, of a truth he requires a thump on the head. Is not this the adage of a sage?
It were better for the ant not to have wings.’ Our Heavenly Father hath honey in abundance, but his son is affected with a feverish complaint. He who doth not make you rich, knoweth what is good for you better than you do yourself.
TALE XVII
I saw an Arab sitting in a circle of jewellers of Basrah and relating as follows: “Once on a time, having missed my way in the desert Gregorian calendar, and having no provisions left, I gave myself up for lost, when I happened to find a bag full of pearls. I shall never forget the relish and delight.that I felt on supposing it to be fried wheat; nor the bitterness and despair which I suffered, on discovering that the
bag contained pearls. In tKe parched desert of quicksands, pearls of shells, in the mouth of the thirsty traveller, are alike unavailing. When a man destitute of provisions is fatigued, it is the same thing to have in his girdle gold or potsherds.”
TALE XVIII
An Arab labouring under excessive thirst exclaimed, “I wish that for one day before my death this my desire may be gratified: that a river dashing its waves against my knees, I may fill my leather sack with water.”
In like manner a traveller, who had lost his way in the great desert, had neither strength nor provisions remaining, but a few direms in his girdle. He had wandered about a long time without finding the road, and perished for want. A company of men arrived, saw the direms lying before his face, and the following words written on the ground: “If the man destitute of food were possessed of pure gold, it would avail him nothing. To a poor wretch in the desert parched with the heat of the sun, a boiled turnip is of more value than virgin silver.”
Travelling 