STORY CIV
Moses, to whom be salutation, beheld a Dervish who had, on account of his nudity, concealed himself in the sand, exclaiming: "O Moses, utter a supplication to God the Most High to give me an allowance, because I am, on account of my distress, on the point of starvation." Moses accordingly prayed and departed, but, returning a few days afterwards, he saw that the Dervish was a prisoner, and surrounded by a crowd of people. On asking for the reason, he was informed that the Dervish had drunk wine, quarrelled, slain a man, and was to be executed in retaliation.
If the humble cat possessed wings, he would rob the world of every sparrow-egg. It may happen that, when a weak man obtains power, he arises and twists the hands of the weak. And if Allah were to bestow abundance upon His servants, they would certainly rebel upon earth.[1]
What has made thee wade into danger, O fool! till thou hast perished? Would that the ant[2] had not been able to fly! When a base fellow obtains dignity, silver, and gold, his head necessarily demands to be knocked; was not, after all, this maxim uttered by a sage? 'That ant is best which possesses no wings.'
He who does not make thee rich knows better what is good for thee than thyself.
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