Story 48 - The Morals of Dervishes - gulistaan-e-sa.adii

I saw bouquets of fresh roses

Tied upon a cupola of grass.

I asked: 'What is despicable grass

To sit also in the line of the roses?'

The grass wept and said: 'Hush!

Companionship does not obliterate nobility.

Although I have no beauty, colour and perfume,

Am I not after all the grass of his garden?

I am the slave of a bountiful lord,

Cherished from old by his liberality.

Whether I possess virtue or not

I hope for grace from the Lord

Although I possess no property

No capital to offer as obedience.

He knows the remedy for the slave

To whom no support remains.

It is customary that the owner gives a writ

Of emancipation to an old slave.

O God, who hast adorned the universe,

Be bountiful to thy old slave.'

Sa'di, take the road to the Ka'bah of submission.

O man of God, follow the way of God.

Unlucky is he who turns his head

Away from this door for he will find no other door.

I saw bouquets of fresh roses

Tied upon a cupola of grass.

I asked: 'What is despicable grass

To sit also in the line of the roses?'

The grass wept and said: 'Hush!

Companionship does not obliterate nobility.

Although I have no beauty, colour and perfume,

Am I not after all the grass of his garden?

I am the slave of a bountiful lord,

Cherished from old by his liberality.

Whether I possess virtue or not

I hope for grace from the Lord

Although I possess no property

No capital to offer as obedience.

He knows the remedy for the slave

To whom no support remains.

It is customary that the owner gives a writ

Of emancipation to an old slave.

O God, who hast adorned the universe,

Be bountiful to thy old slave.'

Sa'di, take the road to the Ka'bah of submission.

O man of God, follow the way of God.

Unlucky is he who turns his head

Away from this door for he will find no other door.