O thou of whose life seventy years have passed, perhaps thou hast slept in negligence3 that thy days have been thrown to the winds. Worldly aims hast thou well pursued; no preparations hast thou made for the departure to that world to come.
On the Judgment4 Day, when the bazar of Paradise will be arrayed, rank will be assigned in accordance with one’s deeds.
If thou shouldst take a goodly stock of virtues5, in proportion will be thy profit; if thou be bankrupt, thou wilt6 be ashamed.
While still thou hast the power of speech, close not thy lips like the dead from the praise of God.
One night, in the season of youth, several of us young men sat together; we sang like bulbuls and raised a tumult10 in the street by our mirth.
An old man sat silent, apart; like a filbert-nut,[111] his tongue was closed from speech. A youth approached him and said: “O old man! why sittest thou so mournfully in this corner? Come, raise thy head from the collar of grief and join us in our festivity.”
Thus did the old man reply: “When the morning breeze blows over the rose-garden, the young trees proudly wave their branches. It becomes not me to mingle11 in thy company, for the dawn of old age has spread over my cheeks. Thy turn it is to sit at this table of youth; I have washed my hands of youthful pleasures. Time has showered snow upon my crow-like wings; like the bulbul, I could not sport in the garden. Soon will the harvest of my life be reaped; for thee, the new green leaves are bursting. The bloom has faded from my garden; who makes a nosegay from withered12 flowers? I must weep, like a child, in shame for my sins, but cannot emulate13 his pleasures.”
Well has Luqman said: “It is better not to live at all than to live many years in sinfulness.” Better, too, may it be to close the shop in the morning than to sell the stock at a loss.
Advice and Warning
To-day, O youth, take the path of worship, for to-morrow comes old age. Leisure thou hast, and strength—strike the ball when the field is wide.[35]
[112]
I knew not the value of life’s day till now that I have lost it.
A broken cup that is mended—what will its value be? Now that in carelessness the cup of life has fallen from thy hand, naught14 remains15 but to join the pieces.
Negligently17 hast thou let the pure water go; how canst thou now perform thy ablutions, except with sand?[36]
One night in the desert of Faid[37] my feet became fettered19 with sleep. A camel-driver awoke me, saying: “Arise; since thou heedest not the sound of the bell, perhaps thou desirest to be left behind! I, like thee, would sleep awhile, but the desert stretches ahead. How wilt thou reach the journey’s end if thou sleepest when the drum of departure beats?”
Happy are they who have prepared their baggage before the beat of the drum! The sleepers21 by the wayside raise not their heads and the caravan22 has passed out of sight.
He who was early awake surpassed all on the road; what availed it to awaken23 when the caravan had gone?
This is the time to sow the deeds of the harvest thou wouldst reap.
[113]
Go not bankrupt to the Resurrection, for it availeth not to sit in regret. By means of the stock that thou hast, O son, profit can be acquired; what profit accrueth to him who consumeth his stock himself?
Strive now, when the water reacheth not beyond thy waist; delay not until the flood has passed over thy head.
Heed20 the counsel of the wise to-day, for to-morrow will Nakir[38] question thee with sternness. Esteem as a privilege thy precious soul, for a cage without a bird has no value. Waste not thy time in sorrow and regret, for opportunity is precious and Time is a sword.
Story concerning Sorrow for the Dead
A certain man died and another rent his clothes in grief. Hearing his cries, a sage24 exclaimed: “If the dead man possessed25 the power he would tear his shroud26 by reason of thy wailing27 and would say: ‘Do not torment28 thyself on account of my affliction, since a day or two before thee I made ready for the journey. Perhaps thou hast forgotten thine own death, that my decease has made thee so distressed29.’”
When he whose eyes are open to the truth scatters30 flowers over the dead, his heart burns not for the dead but for himself.
Why dost thou weep over the death of a child? He came pure, and he departed pure.
[114]
Tie now the feet of the bird of the soul; tarry not till it has borne the rope from thy hand.
Long hast thou sat in the place of another; soon will another sit in thy place.
Though thou be a hero or a swordsman, thou wilt carry away nothing but the shroud.
If the wild ass break its halter and wander into the desert its feet became ensnared in the sand. Thou, too, hast strength till thy feet go into the dust of the grave.
Since yesterday has gone and to-morrow has not come, take account of this one moment that now is.
In this garden of the world there is not a cypress31 that has grown which the wind of death has not uprooted32.
A gold brick fell into the hands of a pious man and so turned his head that his enlightened mind became gloomy. He passed the whole night in anxious thought, reflecting: “This treasure will suffice me till the end of my life; no longer shall I have to bend my back before any one in begging. A house will I build, the foundation of which shall be of marble; the rafters of the ceiling shall be of aloe-wood. A special room will I have for my friends, and its door shall lead into a garden-house. Servants shall cook my food, and in ease will I nourish my soul. This coarse[115] woollen bed-cloth has killed me by its roughness; now will I go and spread a carpet.”
His imaginings made him crazy; the crab34 had pierced its claws into his brain. He forsook35 his prayers and devotions, and neither ate nor slept.
Unable to rest tranquil36 in one place, he wandered to a plain, with his head confused with the charms of his vain fancies. An old man was kneading mud upon a grave for the purpose of making bricks. Absorbed in thought for a while, the old man said:
“O foolish soul! hearken to my counsel. Why hast thou attached thy mind to that goldbrick when one day they will make bricks from thy dust? The mouth of a covetous37 man is too widely open that it can be closed again by one morsel38. Take, O base man, thy hand from off that brick, for the river of thy avarice39 cannot be dammed up with a brick.
“So negligent16 hast thou been in the thought of gain and riches that the stock of thy life has become trodden underfoot. The dust of lust40 has blinded the eyes of thy reason—the simoon of desire has burned the harvest of thy life.”
Wipe the antimony of neglect from off thine eyes, for to-morrow wilt thou be reduced to antimony under the dust.
Admonition
Thy life is a bird, and its name is Breath. When the bird has flown from its cage it cometh not back to captivity41.
[116]
Be watchful42, for the world lasts but a moment, and a moment spent with wisdom is better than an age with folly43.
Why fix we thus our minds upon this caravanserai? Our friends have departed and we are on the road. After us, the same flowers will bloom in the garden, together will friends still sit.
Soon, O thou polluted with the dust of sin, wilt thou journey to a strange city. Weep, and wash with thy tears thy impurities45 away.
Moral from an Incident in Sadi’s Childhood
I remember that, in the time of my childhood, my father (may God’s mercy be upon him every moment!), bought me a gold ring. Soon after, a hawker took the ring from my hand in exchange for a date-fruit.
When a child knows not the value of a ring he will part with it for a sweetmeat. Thou, too, didst not recognise the value of life, but indulged thyself in vain pleasures.
In the Day of Judgment, when the good will attain46 to the highest dignity and mount from the bottommost depths of the earth to the Pleiades, thy head will hang forward in shame, for thy deeds will gather around thee.
[117]
O brother! be ashamed of the works of the evil, for ashamed wilt thou be at the Resurrection in the presence of the good.
Story of a Man who reared a Wolf
Some one reared a wolf-cub, which, when grown in strength, tore its master to pieces. When the man was on the point of death a sage passed by and said: “Didst thou not know that thou wouldest suffer injury from an enemy thus carefully reared?”
How can we raise our heads from shame when we are at peace with Satan and at war with God?
Thy friend regards thee not when thou turnest thy face towards the enemy.
He who lives in the house of an enemy deems right estrangement47 from a friend.
Story of a Cheat
Some one robbed the people of their money by cheating, and whenever he had accomplished48 one of his nefarious49 acts he cursed the Evil One, who said:
“Never have I seen such a fool! Thou hast intrigued50 with me secretly; why, therefore, dost thou raise the sword of enmity against me?”
Alas51! that the angels should record against thee iniquities52 committed by the order of the Evil One!
[118]
Go forward when thou seest that the door of peace is open, for suddenly the door of repentance will be closed.
A Recollection of Childhood
In the time of my childhood I went out with my father during the Id Festival, and in the tumult of the mob got lost. I cried in fear, when my father suddenly pulled my ear, and said: “Several times did I tell thee not to take thy hand from the skirt of my robe.”
A child knows not how to go alone; it is difficult to travel on any road unseen.
Thou, poor man, art as a child in thine endeavours; go, hold the skirt of the virtuous55. Sit not with the base, but fasten thy hand to the saddle-straps of the pious.
Story of One who burned his Harvest
In the month of July, a certain man stored his grain and set his mind at ease concerning it. One night, he became intoxicated57 and lighted a fire, which destroyed his harvest.
[119]
The next day he sat down to glean the ears of corn, but not a single grain remained in his possession. Seeing him thus afflicted58, some one remarked: “If thou didst not wish for this misfortune, thou shouldst not in folly have burned thy harvest.”
Do not so, O my life! Sow the seeds of religion and justice, and throw not to the winds the harvest of a good name.
Knock at the door of forgiveness before thy punishment arrives, for lamentation60 beneath the lash61 is of no avail.
If thou art wise, pray for forgiveness in the night for the sins that thou hast committed in the day.
What is thy fear if thou hast made thy peace with God? He closes not the door of forgiveness upon them that supplicate64 Him.
If thou art a servant of God, raise thy hands in prayer; and if thou be ashamed, weep in sorrow.
No one has stood upon His threshold whose sins the tears of repentance have not washed away.
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repentance
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| n.懊悔 | |
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ass
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| n.驴；傻瓜，蠢笨的人 | |
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negligence
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| n.疏忽，玩忽，粗心大意 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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boon
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| n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠 | |
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lament
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| n.悲叹，悔恨，恸哭；v.哀悼，悔恨，悲叹 | |
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tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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mingle
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| vt.使混合，使相混；vi.混合起来；相交往 | |
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withered
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| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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emulate
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| v.努力赶上或超越，与…竞争；效仿 | |
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naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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negligent
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| adj.疏忽的；玩忽的；粗心大意的 | |
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negligently
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rebuke
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| v.指责，非难，斥责 [反]praise | |
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fettered
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| v.给…上脚镣，束缚( fetter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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sleepers
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| n.卧铺（通常以复数形式出现）；卧车( sleeper的名词复数 )；轨枕；睡觉（呈某种状态）的人；小耳环 | |
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caravan
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| n.大蓬车；活动房屋 | |
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awaken
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| vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起 | |
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sage
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| n.圣人，哲人；adj.贤明的，明智的 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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shroud
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| n.裹尸布，寿衣；罩，幕；vt.覆盖，隐藏 | |
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wailing
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱 | |
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torment
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| n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠 | |
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distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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scatters
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| v.（使）散开， （使）分散，驱散( scatter的第三人称单数 )；撒 | |
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cypress
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| n.柏树 | |
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uprooted
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| v.把（某物）连根拔起( uproot的过去式和过去分词 )；根除；赶走；把…赶出家园 | |
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pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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crab
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| n.螃蟹，偏航，脾气乖戾的人，酸苹果；vi.捕蟹，偏航，发牢骚；vt.使偏航，发脾气 | |
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forsook
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| forsake的过去式 | |
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tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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covetous
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| adj.贪婪的，贪心的 | |
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morsel
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| n.一口，一点点 | |
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avarice
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| n.贪婪；贪心 | |
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lust
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| n.性(淫)欲；渴(欲)望；vi.对…有强烈的欲望 | |
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captivity
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| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
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watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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cleanse
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| vt.使清洁，使纯洁，清洗 | |
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impurities
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| 不纯( impurity的名词复数 )； 不洁； 淫秽； 杂质 | |
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attain
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| vt.达到，获得，完成 | |
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estrangement
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| n.疏远，失和，不和 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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nefarious
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| adj.恶毒的，极坏的 | |
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intrigued
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| adj.好奇的，被迷住了的v.搞阴谋诡计(intrigue的过去式)；激起…的兴趣或好奇心；“intrigue”的过去式和过去分词 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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iniquities
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| n.邪恶( iniquity的名词复数 )；极不公正 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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mediator
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| n.调解人，中介人 | |
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virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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glean
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| v.收集(消息、资料、情报等) | |
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intoxicated
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| 喝醉的，极其兴奋的 | |
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afflicted
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| 使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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iniquity
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| n.邪恶；不公正 | |
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lamentation
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| n.悲叹，哀悼 | |
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lash
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| v.系牢；鞭打；猛烈抨击；n.鞭打；眼睫毛 | |
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discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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supplicates
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| vt.& vi.祈求，哀求，恳求（supplicate的第三人称单数形式） | |
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supplicate
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| v.恳求；adv.祈求地，哀求地，恳求地 | |
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deity
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| n.神，神性；被奉若神明的人(或物) | |
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