Discourses of Rumi

148 V DISCOURSES OF RUMISaying this, he sat down and asked for water.She brought him water that was hotter than fireand more brackish than salt, and from lip tothroat it burned every part. The man, out ofextreme compassion, addressed the woman.“I am indebted to you for what relief you havegiven me,” he said. “Compassion has welled upwithin me. Listen to what I say to you. Behold,Baghdad is nearby, and Kufa and Wasit and therest. There you will find plenty of sweet, coolwater, foods of various kinds, baths, luxuries, richdelights.” And he described the pleasures of thosecities.A moment later the Bedouin came on the scenewho was the woman’s husband. He had caught afew brace of desert rats, which he told the womanto cook. They offered some to the guest, whobeing in such desperate straits ate them. Afterthat, in the middle of the night, the guest sleptoutside the tent. The woman spoke to her husband.“Did you hear all the stories our guest had totell?” And she repeated to her husband the guest’sentire account.