And Hafiz the Rock, saw coming towards him a man—but he could not see the face. As the man approached he suddenly raised a hammer and struck Hafiz, so that he felt it through all his stony body. And Hafiz said: "Is there something stronger in the world than the Rock?
"Ah me! Ah me!
If Hafiz only that Man might be!"
And the Voice said:
"Be thou—Thyself."
And Hafiz seized the hammer and said:
"The Sun was stronger than the King, the Cloud was stronger than the sun, the Rock was stronger then the Cloud, but I, Hafiz, was stronger than all."
Adapted and arranged by the Author.
[TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH]
(From the Russian)
Long long ago there lived a King who was such a mighty monarch that whenever he sneezed everyone in the whole country had to say, "To your good health!" Everyone said it except the Shepherd with the bright blue eyes, and he would not say it.