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THE BUSTĀN OF SADI

PROLOGUE

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

On the Reason for the Writing of the Book

Discourse concerning Travellers

Story illustrating the Need for Deliberation

Story of the King whose Coat was Coarse

Story of Abdul Aziz and the Pearl

Story of how Tukla was rebuked by a Devotee

Discourse concerning Riches and Poverty

A Story of Damascus

Story of a Bully

Story Illustrative of Doing Good to the Evil

Story concerning Fasting

Story Illustrative of Practical Charity

Story of a Man and a Thirsty Dog

Story Apropos of Nemesis

Story of a Fool and a Fox

Story of a Devout Miser

Story of Hātim and the Messenger sent to kill Him

Story Illustrative of Misdirected Kindness

Discourse concerning Kindness to Orphans

Discourse concerning Constancy

Story of a Dancer

Story illustrating the Reality of Love

Story Illustrative of Patience

Story of One who was Assiduous in Prayer

Story of Sultan Mahmūd and his Love for Ayāz

Story of a Village Chief

Story of a Fire-fly

Story of a Moth and a Candle

Another Story on the Same Subject

Story of a Raindrop

Story Illustrative of Pious Men regarding themselves with Contempt

Discourse on Conceit

Story of the Darwesh and the Proud Cādi

Story of the Honey-seller

Story illustrating the Forbearance of Good Men

Story illustrating the Noble-mindedness of Men

Story of a Kind Master and his Disobedient Slave

Story illustrating the Folly of the Ignoble

Story of One who had a Little Knowledge

Story illustrating the Humility of the Pious

Story illustrating the Value of Soft Words

Story illustrating the Wisdom of Feigning Deafness

Story illustrating Forbearance for the Sake of Friends

Story of a Soldier of Isfahan

Story of the Doctor and the Villager

Story of the Villager and his Ass

Story illustrating Luck

Story of One who blamed his Destiny

Story of a Darwesh and his Wife

Story of a Vulture and a Kite

Story of a Camel

Discourse concerning Hypocrisy

Concerning the Evils of Over-eating

Story of a Glutton

Story of a Recluse

Story illustrating the Evils of Avarice

Story of an Ambitious Cat

Story of a Short-sighted Man and his High-minded Wife

Story of a Holy Man who built a House

Story of a Sheikh who became King

Discourse concerning Riches

Discourse concerning the Excellence Of Taciturnity

Story concerning the Keeping of Secrets

Story illustrating the Fact that Silence is Best for Fools

Story illustrating the Folly of Impertinence

Discourse on Slander

Story concerning the same Subject

Why Thieving is Better than Slandering

Sadi and his Envious Class-friend

Story of Sadi’s Childhood

Story of a Sufi’s Rebuke

Concerning Absent Friends

Where Slander is Lawful

Tale-bearers worse than Back-biters

Discourse concerning Wives

Discourse on the Training of Sons

Sadi rebuked for his Fault-finding

A Mother’s Warning to her Son

Discourse concerning the Art of the Most High God

Discourse concerning the Condition of the Weak

Story of Tughral, King of Shirāz, and the Hindu Watchman

Story of a Thief

Story of One who was not what he seemed

Story of a Sage Donkey

Story illustrating the Evils of Pride

Story of Sadi and the Idolaters

An Old Man’s Lament

Advice and Warning

Sadi’s Rebuke from a Camel-driver

Story concerning Sorrow for the Dead

Story of a Pious Man and a Gold Brick

Admonition

Moral from an Incident in Sadi’s Childhood

Story of a Man who reared a Wolf

Story of a Cheat

A Recollection of Childhood

Story of One who burned his Harvest

Discourse on Repentance

A Worshipper’s Lament

Story of an Idolater

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