{"collection":"Islam","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/isl/saab/saab07.htm","path":"isl/saab/saab07.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/isl/saab/saab07.htm","text":"Salaman and Absal, by Jami, tr. Edward Fitzgerald, [1904]\nOne Night The Shah of Y\u00fanan, as his wont,\n Consider\u2019d of his Power, and told his State,\n How great it was, and how about him sat\n The Robe of Honour of Prosperity;\n Then found he nothing wanted to his Heart,\n Unless a Son, who his Dominion\n And Glory might inherit after him.\n And then he turn\u2019d him to The Shah, and said;\n \"Oh Thou, whose Wisdom is the Rule of Kings\u2014\n \"(Glory to God who gave it!)\u2014answer me;\n \"Is any Blessing better than a Son?\n \"Man's prime Desire; by which his Name and He\n \"Shall live beyond Himself; by whom his Eyes\n \"Shine living, and his Dust with Roses blows;\n \"A Foot for Thee to stand on, he shall be\n \"A Hand to stop thy Falling; in his Youth\n \"Thou shalt be Young, and in his Strength be Strong;\n \"Sharp shall he be in Battle as a Sword,\n \"A Cloud of Arrows on the Enemy's Head;\n \"His Voice shall cheer his Friends to \"Plight,\n \"And turn the Foeman's Glory into Flight.\"\nThus much of a Good Son, whose wholesome Growth\n Approves the Root he grew from; but for one\n Kneaded of Evil\u2014Well, could one undo\n His Generation, and as early pull\n Hint and his Vices from the String of Time.\n Like Noah's, puff\u2019d with Ignorance and Pride,\n Who felt the Stab of \"He is none of Thine!\"\n And perish\u2019d in the Deluge. And because\n All are not Good, be slow to pray for One,\n Whom having you may have to pray to lose.\nIll affronts a Neighbour's Wife,\n Draws his Dagger on the Husband,\n Who complains before the Justice,\n And the Father has to pay.\n Day and Night the Youngster's Doings\n Such\u2014the Talk of all the City;\n Nor Entreaty, Threat, or Counsel\n Held him; till the Desperate Father\n Once more to the Sheikh a-running,\n Catches at his Garment, crying\u2014\n \"Sheikh, my only Hope and Helper!\n \"One more Prayer! that God who laid\n \"Will take that Trouble from my Head!\"\n But the Sheikh replied: \"Remember\n \"How that very Day I warn\u2019d you\n \"Better not importune Allah;\n \"Unto whom remains no other\n \"Prayer, unless to pray for Pardon.\n \"When from this World we are summon\u2019d\n \"On to bind the pack of Travel\n \"Son or Daughter ill shall help us;\n \"Slaves we are, and unencumber\u2019d\n \"Best may do the Master's mind;\n \"And, whatever he may order,\n \"Do it with a Will Resign\u2019d.\"","title":"Salaman and Absal: Sal\u00e1m\u00e1n and Abs\u00e1l: V","type":"page"}