Chapter IV: Story of the Poor Theologian and the Proud Cazi

A poor theologian in old raiment dressed,Sat down in the hall of a judge, with the best.The Cazi beheld him with ire in his eyes;The mace-bearer tugged at his sleeve, saying, "Rise!It does not become you, the best place to seize ;Sit lower or leave, or stand up if you please!In the ranks of the great, do not haughtily crow!Since you do not have claws, tiger tricks do not show !Ev'ry one is not worthy to fill the chief seat ;You see greatness with rank, rank with merit you meet.What need have you, then, of a person's advice?The shame, as a punishment, ought to suffice !The man who sits lower, with honour to show,Does not tumble disgraced from above down below."From the breast of the Dervish, like fire the smoke welled ;He sat lower down than the place he first held.The divines, in their way of disputing. then pranced;The " Why" and " We do not admit," they advanced.They together the portal of discord oped wide,And extended their necks, as they "Yes" and "No" cried.You'd have said that bold cocks, as not seldom occurs,Were fighting together with beaks and with spurs.As if drunk one beside himself passionate stands ;Another is beating the floor with his hands.They fell into knots of an intricate kind,And a way to undo them were helpless to find.The man in old clothes on the very last seat,Like a fierce roaring lion vexed, sprang to his feet."Proofs clear and convincing are needed," he yelled,"Not the veins of the neck with wild arguments swelled!The club and the ball, too, of letters I hold."They said, "If proficient, your knowledge unfold !"With rhetoric's pen the clear proofs he possessed,On their hearts as if graved on a seal he impressed.From substance to spirit his head he out-drew ;Their lines of pretension he passed his pen through.From every corner applause they proclaimed ;At his wisdom and nature, "Well done!" they exclaimed.He the dun horse of eloquence urged to such pass,That the Cazi remained in the mud, like an ass.His robe and the turban he wore on his head,In honour and kindness he sent him and said:"Alas ! that I failed your great merits to know,And thanks for your coming neglected to show !I am sorry, that having such wisdom in store,You appear in a state I am forced to deplore."To console him the mace-bearer near to him sped ;The Cazi's rich turban to place on his head.With his hand and his tongue he opposed him: "AwayThe fetters of pride on my head do not lay!For to-morrow to those with old.turbans you'd see,With a fifty-yard turban, me proud. as could be.When they call me a lord and a mighty Ameer,Other men in my eyes will like rubbish appear.Does it make any diff'rence if water quite pure,Is held in a golden or earthenware ewer?In the head of a man brains and wisdom should be,A turban like yours is unsuited to me.From bigness of head no one benefit gains ;A pumpkin's big-headed but does not have brains.For turban and beard raise your neck not, alas!For your turban is cotton, your whiskers dry grass.All those who a human appearance possess,Do well if like idols they silence profess!A rank must be sought in accordance with worth;Do not, Saturn-like, greatness and troubles bring forth!The merit of cane, used for matting, is size;In its substance, the virtue of sugar-cane lies.With such wisdom and spirit, I call you not man!Although hundreds of slaves in your following ran!How well spoke the Cowrie, bespattered with mire,When a fool picked it up, full of eager desire :"To buy me for anything, none will aspire,Do not, madly, bedeck me in silken attire!'A rich man by his wealth does not others surpass ;Clothe a donkey in satin and still he's an ass !"In this manner, the clever and eloquent sage,With the water of speech washed his mouth free from rage.The words of a person heart-grieved are severe;When your enemy falls, do not lazy appear !Remove your foe's brain, when he comes in your pow'r!For, fit time will all dust from the heart surely scour.So subdued by his harshness the Cazi remained,That he said, "To a hard day, indeed, I've attained."He gnawed at his hands with the teeth of surprise ;Like the two polar stars, he fixed on him his eyes.The youth turned his face of resolve from that place ;Out he hurried and no one again found his trace.'Mong the chiefs of the assembly a clamour arose :"Where this speaker so forward belongs to, who knows?"The mace-bearer after him ev'rywhere hied ;"Who has seen one who suits this description?" he cried.Some one said, "Such a man, whose sweet temper is known,In this city I recognize Sadi, alone."Five score thousands of praises on him I invoke,For he said bitter truths, yet how sweetly he spoke!