سندبادنامه 105
English (machine translation) 105
- Language
- English
105.1
“O you whose judgment upon the sphere of deliberation / is the form-giver of the sun of destiny!
Untying the knot of secrets like a needle, / your heart exposed like a lion!”
A sapling that has grown in the meadow of royal dominion and received nurture in the gardens of royal fortune,
when the cloud of the bestowal of sciences washes from the leaves of its trees, its blossoms, and its flowers the dust of heedlessness and forgetfulness,
the breeze of its fragrance will perfume and scent the world. Then, from among those thousand philosophers, seven were chosen,
and the reins of this important matter were committed to their competence and the fingertips of their deliberation.
These seven sages sat for three days and nights and delved into this matter,
and cast a gaze upon the horoscope of the prince’s birth.
Each offered an opinion, and none saw it proper to undertake [education] in this matter.
They said: “Since in the span of ten years he has learned nothing of the varieties of science and wisdom,
and his nature has not accepted instruction or teaching, despite being at the onset of growth and the beginning of development,
and his temperament took no liking to learning and discipline, and he became neither well-mannered nor trained, now
it is impossible that he accept instruction. Just like iron that remains in salty earth: it produces rust,
105.15
Sindbād accepts the prince’s instruction
and if it remains longer, rust entirely consumes its substance, after which it will not accept correction or purification by fire or chemical. Likewise, a sapling that has grown crooked: if excessive
trouble and strain are applied in straightening it, it will break and be ruined, and the toil of tending it will be wasted.”
Sindbād, who was one of those seven sages, said: “An inauspiciousness was joined to this child's horoscope,
and now those malefic influences are waning. I shall accept him and teach him all the sciences.
For by stratagem a human being brings down a bird from the air, brings up a fish
from the bottom of the sea, and makes a wild, stubborn beast tamed and trained.” The philosophers [replied]:
“There is no one more qualified [than you], for time has engrossed him in imparting sciences and bestowing wisdom and knowledge.
Any bird to which he gives the feed of his nurture can run rein-to-rein with the Sīmurgh and share a nest with the peacock;
and any beauty for whom his intellect acts as tire-woman, and attaches ornaments to the beauty of her temperament, can rival the sun and match the moon.
His breath possesses the properties of the breath of the Messiah, and his gaze possesses the effect of the nature of alchemy.” Sindbād
said: “Yes, however much I am a sage and scholar, I shall not be deceived by your words, nor duped by your cajolery,
just as that monkey fell into the trap by the words of the fox.” They asked:
“How was that? Relate that story!”
105.30
The story of the monkey with the fox and the fish
Sindbād said: “They relate that a fox saw a fish on a main highway. He thought to himself:
105.32
‘This place is neither sea nor river, nor is it the shop of a fisherman or fishmonger,
where a fish could be; this cannot be without a pretext and an ambush.’ He left the fish and took to the road.
On the way, he encountered a monkey. The fox greeted the monkey, performed the requisite respect and ceremonies
of service, and said: ‘By virtue of their trust, the game and the beasts of prey have sent me on an embassy and mission
to you, and delivered messages, saying: “Until now, the king of the beasts of prey has been the lion,
and he has inflicted abundant suffering upon us through tyranny and bloodthirstiness. Now we wish
to depose him from the kingdom and sovereignty, and commit the reins of this important matter to your sound deliberation.
If you accept, show desire, and deem it incumbent to undertake the administration of this affair,
come to such-and-such a place.”’ Greed for the kingdom and sovereignty seized the monkey, and he immediately
returned with the fox. When the fox knew that they had arrived near the fish, he stood still, opened his hands in prayer,
and said: ‘O Sovereign, who synthesizes intellect and ignorance in brains,
105.44
and brings together knowledge and folly in hearts! As He, Exalted is He, says: “He gives wisdom to whom He wills, and whoever
Linked texts (1)
- سندبادنامه — Ẓahīrī Samarqandī, Persian