Sa di

Ch 02 The Morals Of Dervishes Story 14

A dervish who had fallen into want stole a blanket from the house of a friend. The judge ordered his hand to be amputated but the owner of the blanket interceded, saying that he had condoned the fault. The judge rejoined: ‘Thy intercession cannot persuade me to neglect the provision of the law. ’ The man continued: ‘Thou hast spoken the truth but amputation is not applicable to a person who steals some property dedicated to pious uses. More over a beggar possesses nothing and whatever belongs to a dervish is dedicated to the use of the needy. ’ Thereon the judge released the culprit, saying: ‘The world must indeed have become too narrow for thee that thou hast committed no theft except from the house of such a friend. ’ He replied: ‘Hast thou not heard the saying: Sweep out the house of friends and do not knock at the door of foes. ’ If thou sinkest in a calamity be not helpless. Strip thy foes of their skins and thy friends of their fur-coats. THE GULISTAN OF SA'DI Translated by Richard Francis Burton (1821-1890)