سندبادنامه 267
English (machine translation) 267
- Language
- English
267.1
Through the son, the father's step endures; / Through the son, the father's name is alive.
Merely upon the incitement and confusion wrought by one who seeks the impossible and pictures a phantom, to command punishment
whose remedy cannot be contained in the imagination is neither in accord with justice nor befitting the excellence
of the king. And even if some alteration has appeared upon the tablets of minds, these pretexts
do not warrant haste in punishment; and kings have established custody and prison for this very purpose of wisdom,
and have arranged it for this precise subtlety, so that in future days of inquiry and interpretation,
267.7
[...]
267.8
11. The Tale of the Soldier, the Child, the Cat, and the Snake
investigation and reflection, they may travel into the depth of occurrences, and separate the pure essence of truth from the dregs of falsehood.
If there is room for pardon, they display the perfection of their bounty to leader and follower,
servant and master, low and noble, far and near, and manifest their own persons
in the sphere of munificence. Any king who does not pause in punishing bodies,
shedding blood, and violating the persons of creatures, will be seized in this world and the hereafter
by chastisement and regret, and thereafter remorse and sorrow will be neither beneficial nor effective;
just as that soldier was hasty in killing that cat, and when the beauty of
truth showed its face from behind the veil of suspicion, he suffered many regrets, and [the cat] proved to be his rescuer and savior,
and had been his supporter and protector." The shah asked: "How was that? Relate it!"
267.18
11. The Tale of the Soldier, the Child, the Cat, and the Snake
The third vizier, who had heard reports of the events of the times and tales of the wonders of the age,
said: "May the life of the just king of the world endure for many years!
267.21
The masters of history have related that in past times and bygone centuries,
there was a soldier who had a beautiful wife, who in fairness of form
267.23
[...]
267.24
11. The Tale of the Soldier, the Child, the Cat, and the Snake
was peerless, and in elegance of figure without equal. Her character and nature were the garments of charm,
and her qualities and features the opening chapter of the book of grace; the rose took its color from the cheek of her face,
and the moon rose from the horizon of her matchless beauty:
Linked texts (1)
- سندبادنامه — Ẓahīrī Samarqandī, Persian