سندبادنامه 152

English (machine translation) 152

Language: English

152.1

The hand that seeks to harm you—cut off that hand!
Then he gave the sign to the executioner, saying: 'Lead him away and put him to death!'

Now the king had seven worthy viziers, each of them accomplished and judicious, counseling
and virtuous, kingdom-fostering and justice-spreading. All seven were like seven stars upon the sky of the shah's realm,
and the pivot of the realm and sovereign power was established upon correct judgment, acute perception, sound counsel, and the predominance

152.6

[...]

152.7

The Assembly of the Seven Viziers
of their intellect, firmly founded; and by virtue of an auspicious ascendant and a fortunate star, they had presented themselves in service at court.
When they perceived that matter and heard those preliminary facts,
all seven formed a consensus, gathered together in a corner, and said: 'It is essential
to take necessary deliberation in this matter.' The eldest vizier said: 'It is improper for the king
to pay heed to the words of a woman deficient in intellect, and to put to death a son on whose brow signs of rectitude,
marks of noble birth, and lights of prudence and discernment are manifest and shining, and in whose face
and aspect they are beaming and brilliant. For when the vehemence of anger
and the frenzy of fury subside, he will become distressed and regretful over having carried out this decision,

152.16

and repentance and regret will then be of no profit or success. And the disgrace of that [blame] will return upon the weak judgment
and feeble mind of the king, while we will be ascribed with weakness of intellect and foolishness of mind. Secondly, when the king regrets having carried out this decision
and executing this punishment,
he will disavow it, shift his own blame and the consequence of his haste onto us, and hold us accountable, blamed, reproached, and punished for his deed,

152.20

reciting that popular proverb:'

Linked texts (1)

سندبادنامه — Ẓahīrī Samarqandī, Persian