On the Excellence of Contentment
STORY CXVII
I heard that a Dervish, sitting in a cave, had closed the doors upon the face of the world, so that no regard for Kings and rich persons remained in the eyes of his desire.
Who opens to himself a door for begging
Will, till he dies, remain a needy fellow;
Abandon greediness and be a King,
Because a neck without desire is high.
One of the Kings of that good region sent him the information that, trusting in the good manners of the respected Dervish, he hoped he would partake of bread and salt with him. The Sheikh agreed, because it is according to the Sonna[1] to accept an invitation. The next day the King paid him a visit, the A'bid leapt up, embraced him, caressed him, and praised him. After the monarch's departure the Sheikh was asked by one of his companions why he had, against his custom, paid so many attentions to the Pâdshâh, the like of which he had never seen before. He replied:
"Hast thou not heard that one of the pious said: 'In whose company thou hast been sitting, to do him service thou must necessarily rise.' Possibly and ear may during a lifetime not hear the sound of drum, lute, or fife; the eye may be without the sight of a garden; the brain may be without the rose or nasrin.[2] If no feather pillow be at hand, sleep may be had with a stone under the pillow; and if there be no sweetheart to sleep with, the hand may be placed on one's own bosom. Bt this disreputable twisting belly cannot bear to exist without anything."<ref>That is to say 'without food.'
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