Conclusion of the Book

  The book of the Gulistan has been completed, and Allah had been

invoked for aid! By the grace of the Almighty, may his name be

honoured, throughout the work the custom of authors to insert verses

from ancient writers by way of loan, has not been followed.

        To adorn oneself with one's own rag

        Is better than to ask for the loan of a robe.

  Most of the utterances of Sa'di being exhilarant and mixed with

pleasantry, shortsighted persons have on this account lengthened the

tongue of blame, alleging that it is not the part of intelligent men

to spend in vain the kernel of their brain, and to eat without

profit the smoke of the lamp; it is, however, not concealed from

enlightened men, who are able to discern the tendency of words, that

pearls of curative admonition are strung upon the thread of

explanation, and that the bitter medicine of advice is commingled with

the honey of wit, in order that the reader's mind should not be

fatigued, and thereby excluded from the benefit of acceptance; and

praise be to the Lord of both worlds.

        We gave advice in its proper place

        Spending a lifetime in the task.

        If it should not touch anyone's ear of desire

        The messenger told his tale; it is enough.

    O thou who lookest into it, ask Allah to have mercy

    On the author and to pardon the owner of it.

    Ask for thyself whatever benefit thou mayest desire,

    And after that pardon for the writer of it.

    If I had on the day of resurrection an opportunity

    Near the Compassionate one I should say: 'O Lord,

    I am the sinner and thou the beneficent master,

    For all the ill I have done I crave for thy bounty.'

  Gratitude is due from me to God that this book is ended Before my

life has reached its termination.                           -THE END-

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