Chapter IV: Story of Maruf-Karkhi and the Sick Traveller

No man in the path of Maruf-Karkhi sped,Who first did not cast foolish pride from his head.I have heard that a certain one came as his guest,Who from sickness had closely approached his last rest :The hair of his head and his face was all grey ;By a hair was his life held from slipping away.He alighted at night and his pillow he laid,And quickly a noise of lamenting he made.All the night, for a moment, sleep closed not his eyes ;Not a person could sleep, on account of his cries.With a nature distracted and temp'rament soured,He lived, and his harshness a people devoured.From his weeping and wailing, and fidgety plight,The household was forced to take refuge in flight.Out of all the male inmates that dwelling contained,Maruf and that helpless one only remained.For nights, in attendance, he slept not at all,And with loins girt obeyed like a slave ev'ry call.Sleep brought its strong army one night to his brain—For how long can a man without sleeping remain ?—The instant that sleep caused his eyelids to close,In the stranger distracted a tempest arose :—"May curses," he said, "seize this draggle-tailed kind !Their name and their fame are deception and wind!With high aspirations and clothes clean and new,They're deceivers, and sellers of piety, too.What knows the coarse glutton, in drunken repose,Of the sufferer pow'rless his starved eyes to close?"He spoke to Maruf words devoid of respect,Saying, "Why did you slumber and show me neglect?"Out of kindness, the sage bore the words he let fall;In the private apartments the women heard all!To Maruf one among them in secret thus spoke :"Did you hear what the wailing wretch said, to provoke ?Go and say, 'Your own journey henceforth you must hie !Your curses remove, in another place die !'Both goodness and mercy are right in their place,But kindness to those who are wicked, is base.'Neath the head of a wretch, a soft pillow don't put !For the head of a tyrant a stone best will suit.Do not favour the wicked; oh fortunate hand!Only fools will plant trees in a dry, barren land.That you ought not to care for mankind, I don't say ;But, before the debased, throw not mercy away !Be not soft, through good nature, with harsh-mannered folk !The back of a dog, like a cat's, you don't stroke.Ask you justice? the dog that some gratitude shows,Surpasses the man who no thankfulness knows.Do not serve with iced water those hardened in vice!When you've done it, the recompense write upon ice !So cross-grained a person I never have seen ;Do not pity a creature so worthless and mean !"He smiled and replied, "Oh my heart-soothing spouse!Do not suffer his ravings your temper to rouse !If from sorrow his conduct was noisy and rough;To my ear his displeasure came pleasant enough.Of such a man's fury one should not be shy,For his restlessness suffers not sleep to come nigh."When you find yourself strong and your happiness sure,In gratitude, weak people's burden endure !If you the same shape as a talisman show,You die, and your name like your body will go.And if you're a trainer of mercy's fair tree,As fruit, a good name you will certainly see.In Karkh you see tombs in great numbers around,But excepting Maruf's, none is eminent found.By Fortune ! those people have gained high renown,Who have cast from their temples vain-glory's false crown.The pomp-loving person exhibits his pride ;He knows not that pomp may in mildness reside.