burton--1001-nights--sample

upon dry land. Then found he in it a large earthen pitcher which was
full of sand and mud; and seeing this he was greatly troubled and
began repeating these verses: —
Forbear, O troubles of the world, * And pardon an ye nill forbear:
I went to seek my daily bread * I find that breadless I must fare:
For neither handcraft brings me aught * Nor Fate allots to me a
share:
How many fools the Pleiads reach * While darkness whelms the wise
and ware.
So he prayed pardon of Allah and, throwing away the jar, wrung his
net and cleansed it and returned to the sea the third time to cast his net
and waited till it had sunk. Then he pulled at it and found therein potsherds
and broken glass; whereupon he began to speak these verses: —
He is to thee that daily bread thou canst nor loose nor bind * Nor pen
nor writ avail thee aught thy daily bread to find:
For joy and daily bread are what Fate deigneth to allow; * This soil is
sad and sterile ground, while that makes glad the hind.
The shafts of Time and Life bear down full many a man of worth *
While bearing up to high degree wights of ignoble mind.
So come thou, Death! for verily life is not worth a straw * When low
the falcon falls withal the mallard wings the wind:
No wonder ’tis thou seest how the great of soul and mind * Are poor,
and many a losel carle to height of luck designed.
This bird shall overfly the world from east to furthest west * And that
shall win her every wish though ne’er she leave the nest.
Then raising his eyes heavenwards he said, “O my God! verily Thou
wottest that I cast not my net each day save four times; the third is
75