Story 29

  I heard that a dervish, sitting in a cave, had closed the doors upon

the face of the world, so that no regard for kings and rich persons

remained in the eyes of his desire.

        Who opens to himself a door for begging

        Will till he dies remain a needy fellow.

        Abandon greediness and be a king

        Because a neck without desire is high.

  One of the kings of that region sent him the information that,

trusting in the good manners of the respected dervish, he hoped he

would partake of bread and salt with him. The sheikh agreed because it

is according to the sonna to accept an invitation. The next day the

king paid him a visit, the a'bid. leapt up, embraced him, caressed him

and praised him. After the monarch's departure the sheikh was asked by

one of his companions why he had, against his custom, paid so many

attentions to the padshah, the like of which he had never seen before.

He replied: 'Hast thou not heard that one of the pious said:

        "In whose company thou hast been sitting

        To do him service thou must necessarily rise.

        Possibly an ear may during a lifetime

        Not hear the sound of drum, lute or fife.

        The eye may be without the sight of a garden.

        The brain may be without the rose or nasrin.

        If no feather pillow be at hand

        Sleep may be had with a stone under the head

        And if there be no sweetheart to sleep with

        The hand may be placed on one's own bosom,

        But this disreputable twisting belly

        Cannot bear to exist without anything."'