سندبادنامه 91

English (machine translation) 91

Language: English

91.1

Whoever is not sincere upon the path of love / is nothing but a hypocrite and dissembler.
And because the bird of kingship had no chick in its egg of existence, he passed times and hours
in reflection and bewilderment, and said to himself: 'The tree of rule
is without branch, and the root of majesty is without shoot; if the hand of death folds
the carpet of hope, the throne of kingship will remain destitute and ruined.'
One day he was pondering this matter, and one of the veiled women of the harem, who alongside
faultless beauty possessed perfect discernment, and was adorned with the capital of courage and the ornament of skill, had come before the king's throne to serve; and seeing the marks of contemplation and signs of altered mood in
the king, [she addressed him.]
observed upon the king's forehead. Yet, purely through physiognomy, she did not deem it permissible to pry,
as it was neither suited to chivalrous behavior nor in keeping with [proper] service, for inquiring into the secret thoughts of monarchs and
asking after their private mysteries was not the practice of the wise. But when the shah's brooding
grew prolonged and signs of grief bordered on excess, the lady began, by way of courtesy, to inquire
into his circumstances; seeking out the cause of his distress, she said: "May the span of the shah's life
be joined with the extension of time by the aid of the Creator's grace! Praise be to God and His favor, the world
is flourishing through the bounties of royal justice, and the world's folk are gladdened by the favors of royal grace;

91.16

[Illustration]

Linked texts (1)

سندبادنامه — Ẓahīrī Samarqandī, Persian