BY A. HART EDWARDS

LONDON
JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, W.
1911

PRINTED BY
HAZELL, WATSON AND VINEY, LD.,
LONDON AND AYLESBURY.


CONTENTS

PAGE
[Introduction]
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful[19]
On the Reason for the Writing of the Book[21]
Concerning Atābak Abu Bakr, Son of Sád[22]
CHAP.
I.[Concerning Justice, Counsel, and the Administration of Government:]
Nushīravān’s Counsel to his Son[24]
Discourse concerning Travellers[24]
Story illustrating the Need for Deliberation[25]
Story of the King whose Coat was Coarse[28]
Story of Darius and the Herdsman[29]
Story of Abdul Aziz and the Pearl[30]
Story of how Tukla was rebuked by a Devotee[31]
Discourse concerning Riches and Poverty[31]
Story of Qazal Arsalān and the Fort[32]
A Story of Damascus[32]
Story of a Bully[34]
II.[Concerning Benevolence:]
Story illustrative of doing good to the Evil[36]
Story concerning Fasting[36]
Story illustrative of Practical Charity[37]
Story of a Man and a Thirsty Dog[38]
Story Apropos of Nemesis[39]
Story of a Fool and a Fox[40]
Story of a Devout Miser[41]
Story of Hātim Tai[42]
Story of Hātim and the Messenger sent to kill him[43]
Discourse concerning Kindness to Orphans[47]
III.[Concerning Love:]
Discourse concerning Constancy[49]
Story of a Dancer[50]
Story illustrating the Reality of Love[50]
Story Illustrative of Patience[51]
Story of One who was Assiduous in Prayer[52]
Story of Sultan Mahmūd and his Love for Ayāz[52]
Story of a Village Chief[53]
Story of a Fire-fly[54]
Story of a Moth and a Candle[54]
Another Story on the same Subject[55]
IV.[Concerning Humility:]
Story of a Raindrop[56]
Story Illustrative of Pious Men regarding themselves with Contempt[57]
Story of Sultan Bāyazīd and Bustāmi[57]
Discourse on Conceit[58]
Story of the Darwesh and the Proud Cādi[59]
Story of the Honey-seller[62]
Story illustrating the Forbearance of Good Men[63]
Story illustrating the Noble-mindedness of Men[64]
Story of a Kind Master and his Disobedient Slave[64]
Story of Marūf Karchi and the Sick Traveller[65]
Story illustrating the Folly of the Ignoble[67]
Story of One who had a Little Knowledge[68]
Story illustrating the Humility of the Pious[68]
Story illustrating the Value of Soft Words[69]
Story illustrating the Wisdom of feigning Deafness[70]
Story illustrating Forbearance for the Sake of Friends[71]
Story of Luqman, the Sage[72]
V.[Concerning Resignation:]
Story of a Soldier of Isfahan[73]
Story of the Doctor and the Villager[75]
Story of the Villager and his Ass[76]
Story illustrating Luck[76]
Story of One who blamed his Destiny[76]
Story of a Darwesh and his Wife[77]
Story of a Vulture and a Kite[77]
Story of a Camel[78]
Discourse concerning Hypocrisy[79]
VI.[Concerning Contentment:]
Story of the King of Khwarazm[81]
Concerning the Evils of Over-eating[81]
Story of a Glutton[82]
Story of a Recluse[82]
Story Illustrating the Evils of Avarice[83]
Story of an Ambitious Cat[83]
Story of a Short-sighted Man and his High-minded Wife[84]
Story of a Holy Man who built a House[85]
Story of a Sheikh who became King[85]
Discourse concerning Riches[86]
VII.[Concerning Education:]
Discourse concerning the Excellence of Taciturnity[89]
Story concerning the keeping of Secrets[90]
Story illustrating the Fact that Silence Is Best for Fools[90]
Story illustrating the Folly of Impertinence[91]
Discourse on Slander[92]
Story concerning the same Subject[92]
Why Thieving is better than Slandering[92]
Sadi and his Envious Class-friend[93]
Story of Sadi’s Childhood[93]
Story of a Sufi’s Rebuke[94]
Concerning Absent Friends[94]
Where Slander is Lawful[95]
Tale-bearers worse than Back-biters[95]
Faridun and his Wise Vazier[96]
Discourse concerning Wives[97]
Discourse on the Training of Sons[98]
Sadi rebuked for his Fault-finding[98]
VIII.[Concerning Gratitude:]
A Mother’s Warning to her Son[101]
Discourse concerning the Art of the Most High God[102]
Discourse concerning the Condition of the Weak[103]
Story of Tughral, King of Shirāz, and the Hindu Watchman[103]
Story of a Thief[104]
Story of One who was not what he seemed[105]
Story of a Sage Donkey[105]
Story illustrating the Evils of Pride[106]
Story of Sadi and the Idolaters[106]
IX.[Concerning Repentance:]
An Old Man’s Lament[110]
Advice and Warning[111]
Sadi’s Rebuke from a Camel-driver[112]
Story concerning Sorrow for the Dead[113]
Story of a Pious Man and a Gold Brick[114]
Admonition[115]
Moral from an Incident in Sadi’s Childhood[116]
Story of a Man who reared a Wolf[117]
Story of a Cheat[117]
A Recollection of Childhood[118]
Story of One who burned his Harvest[118]
Discourse on Repentance[119]
X.[Concerning Prayer:]
A Worshipper’s Lament[121]
Story of an Idolater[121]
[Notes][123]