Introduction: The Reason for Composing the Book

Very much I have travelled in many a clime ;And with many a person have utilized time.From many a corner I pleasure have gained ;And from many a harvest have corn-ears obtained.Like the pure of Shiraz, with humility crowned,I have never seen one, mercy be on that ground!My love for the men of this sanctified part,From Syria and Rum made me sever my heart.I regretted, from all of those gardens so fair,To my friends empty-handed again to repair.I said to myself that from Egypt they bearSugar-candy to friends, as an offering rare.If none of that candy I brought in my hand,Words sweeter than candy are mine to command.Not like candy in form, that for eating may serve,But such as the thoughtful on paper preserve.When this palace of wealth I designed and arrayed,Ten doors for the sake of instruction I made.First, a chapter with justice and counsels is stored ;Taking care of the people and serving the Lord.In the Second, I've laid generosity's base ;For he who is good for God's favours gives praise.The Third is on love and on rapture of mind ;Not the love to which profligate men are inclined.Humility, Fourth. Resignation, the Fifth.On those choosing contentment is chapter the Sixth.The Sev'nth is a chapter on discipline's sphere ;And the Eighth will to thanking for welfare adhere.Repentance and probity's path, the Ninth shows ;And the Tenth brings to pray'rs, and the book to a close.In a prosperous year, on a fortunate day,And felicitous date that between two 'Eeds lay ;When Six Hundred and Fifty and Five years had flown,Replete with rare pearls was this treasure, well known.Oh, wise One of affable nature, beware!I've not heard that the cultured for fault-finding care.Is a cloak Parnian, or plain silk ? you will findThat, of course, with a padding of cotton 'tis lined.Are you Parnian ? then, to harm show not zeal !Be gracious, and all my coarse padding conceal !I do not presume on my own virtue's store ;As a beggar, I come with my hands stretched before.I have heard:—" On the day full of hope and of fear,To the bad and the good God in mercy is near."In my writings should you see depravity, too ;By the people God made ! then, expose it to view !If in one thousand couplets, of one you approve,By manhood ! in taunting, a hand do not move !In Persia, my writings are, doubtless, thought nice ;As musk is in Cathay esteemed beyond price.Like the noise of a drum, from afar was my fright;In my heart, all my errors lay hidden from sight.To the garden brought Sadi, with boldness, a rose,As they do spice to India, where spice freely grows.They resemble the date with a sweet crusted skin,Which when opened to view, has a hard stone within.