I heard a padshah giving orders to kill a prisoner. The helpless <br />fellow began to insult the king on that occasion of despair, with <br />the tongue he had, and to use foul expressions according to the <br />saying: <br /> <br /> Who washes his hands of life <br /> Says whatever he has in his heart. <br /> <br /> When a man is in despair his tongue becomes long and he is like a <br />vanquished cat assailing a dog. <br /> <br /> In time of need, when flight is no more possible, <br /> The hand grasps the point of the sharp sword. <br /> <br /> When the king asked what he was saying, a good-natured vezier <br />replied: 'My lord, he says: Those who bridle their anger and forgive <br />men; for Allah loveth the beneficent.' <br /> The king, moved with pity, forbore taking his life but another <br />vezier, the antagonist of the former, said: 'Men of our rank ought <br />to speak nothing but the truth in the presence of padshahs. This <br />fellow has insulted the king and spoken unbecomingly.' The king, being <br />displeased with these words, said: 'That lie was more acceptable to me <br />than this truth thou hast uttered because the former proceeded from <br />a conciliatory disposition and the latter from malignity; and wise men <br />have said: "A falsehood resulting in conciliation is better than a <br />truth producing trouble."' <br /> <br /> He whom the shah follows in what he says, <br /> It is a pity if he speaks anything but what is good. <br /> <br /> The following inscription was upon the portico of the hall of <br />Feridun: <br /> <br /> O brother, the world remains with no one. <br /> Bind the heart to the Creator, it is enough. <br /> Rely not upon possessions and this world <br /> Because it has cherished many like thee and slain them. <br /> When the pure soul is about to depart, <br /> What boots it if one dies on a throne or on the ground?<br /><br />Saadi Shirazi<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/ch-01-manner-of-kings-story-01/
