On the Excellence of Contentment
STORY CIX
It is related that a Sultân thus addressed a miserly beggar who had accumulated great riches: "It is evident that thou possesses boundless wealth, and we have an affair on hand in which thou canst aid us by way of a loan; when the finances of the country are in a flourishing condition it will be repaid."
The miser replied: "It is not befitting the power and dignity of a Pâdshâh to soil the hands of his noble aspirations with the property of an individual like myself, who has collected it grain by grain."
The King replied: "It does not matter, because the money will be spent upon infidels. The wicked [women should be joined] to the wicked [men]."[1]
If the water of a Christian's well is impure,
What matters it if thou washest a dead Jew therein?
I heard that he refused to comply with the behest of the King, began to argue and to look insolently; whereon the King ordered the sum in question to be released fro his grasp by force and with a reprimand.
If an affair cannot be accomplished with gentleness he, forsooth, turns his head to impudence; who has no regard for himself, it is proper that no one should pay him any.
- ↑ Qurân, ch.xxiv., v.26. The meaning given above within brackets is the true one, as appears also from the context of the verses; but, as the whole phrase consists only of the two words alkhabithat lilkhabithin, the King could use it for the purpose he had in view, so that it may also one translated: 'The wicked [lucre is to be given] to the wicked [infidels].'
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