حبیب السیر 17.2

17.2

Another of the poets contemporary with Sultan Mahmud was Farrukhi, who, from the excessive generosity of the Sultan, having amassed great wealth, determined to go to Samarkand. When he drew near that city, he was attacked by highwaymen and plundered of all that he had. Having arrived in Samarkand he showed himself to nobody, but after a few days he hoisted the flag of his return, having given utterance to the following lines : — " I have seen all the charms of Samarkand, I have looked upon its gardens, its villas, its valleys, and its deserts. But since my purse and my pockets are without dirhams, My heart has folded up the carpet of pleasure from off the court-yard of hope. From the learned men of every city I have heard that there is one Kausar and eight paradises ; I have seen thousands of rivers and thousands of paradises : But what profit if I always return with a thirsty lip ? The eye seeing wealth, and not having the money in the hand, Is like a head cut off in the midst of a golden basin."