Sa di

Ch 02 The Morals Of Dervishes Story 07

I remember, being in my childhood pious, rising in the night, addicted to devotion and abstinence. One night I was sitting with my father, remaining awake and holding the beloved Quran in my lap, whilst the people around us were asleep. I said: ‘Not one of these persons lifts up his head or makes a genuflection. They are as fast asleep as if they were dead. ’ He replied: ‘Darling of thy father, would that thou wert also asleep rather than disparaging people. ’ The pretender sees no one but himself Because he has the veil of conceit in front. If he were endowed with a God-discerning eye He would see that no one is weaker than himself. THE GULISTAN OF SA'DI Translated by Richard Francis Burton (1821-1890)