Chapter IV: Story of Ali, the Commander of the Faithful

To Ali a man brought a subject abstruse,In the hope that the difficult knot he would loose.The conquering, foe-subjugating Ameer,Full of wisdom and sense, his reply stated clear.I have heard that a man at the conference said :"Oh perfection of goodness ! you've erred on this head!"The magnanimous lion raged not at the man,But replied, " State it better than this, if you can!"He explained what he knew in an elegant way—It becomes not to hide the sun's splendour with clay—The monarch of men liked his lucid reply,Saying, " He is correct, and in error was I.He better explained ; and the Maker is one !And knowledge more noble than His there is none."Had you been a person of rank in those days,From hauteur you would not have deigned him a gaze.Your slaves would have quickly expelled him the hall,And beaten him down, for no reason at all ;Saying, "Do not hereafter disgracefully walk !It is rude in the presence of nobles to talk !"If in any one's head self-conceit should appear,Do not fancy that always the truth he will hear.From his learning comes grief ; at advice shame is shown—Rain cannot cause tulips to spring from a stone—Don't you see that from Earth, which humility shows,The spring season comes and the rose blossom blows.Oh, philosopher, scatter your pearls not too free,When the buyer stuffed full of himself you can see!A person seems little in other men's eyes,Who to publish his greatness continually tries.Do not lecture that thousands of thanks you may gain !When you've eulogized self, hope in others is vain !