burton--1001-nights--sample

And he said further on the same theme: —
Turn thee from grief nor care a jot! * Commit thy needs to Fate and
Lot!
Enjoy the Present passing well * And let the Past be clean forgot;
For whatso haply seemeth worse * Shall work thy weal as Allah wot:
Allah shall do whate’er He wills * And in His will oppose Him not.
And further still: —
To th’ All-wise Subtle One trust worldly things * Rest thee from all
whereto the worldling clings:
Learn wisely well naught cometh by thy will * But e’en as willeth
Allah, King of Kings.
And lastly: —
Gladsome and gay forget thine every grief * Full often grief the wisest
hearts outwore:
Thought is but folly in the feeble slave * Shun it and so be savèd
evermore.
Said the King for sole return, “Knowest thou why I have summoned
thee?” and the Sage replied, “Allah Most Highest alone kenneth hidden
things!” But the King rejoined, “I summoned thee only to take thy
life and utterly to destroy thee.”
Duban the Wise wondered at this strange address with exceeding
wonder and asked, “O King, and wherefore wouldest thou slay me, and
what ill have I done thee?” and the King answered, “Men tell me thou
art a spy sent hither with intent to slay me; and lo! I will kill thee ere I
be killed by thee;” then he called to his Sworder, and said, “Strike me
off the head of this traitor and deliver us from his evil practices.”
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