He searched for a long time, but could not find a single egg. At length he emerged from the cistern, and, moving his arms in the manner of a cock flapping his wings, he cried aloud, “Cock-a-doodle-doo!”
“What,” asked Akbar, “is the meaning of this?”
“Your Majesty,” came the reply, “those who brought you the eggs were hens, but I am a cock, and you must not expect an egg from me.”
At which Akbar laughed heartily, and had Do-pyazah well rewarded.
The Chinese are more noted for their wit that is wisdom, than for their humor.
Confucius, doubtless the greatest of their philosophers, born 551 B.C., left many sayings which became proverbs, yet which embodied only the elementary morality of all ages and races.
These are some of the sayings from The Analects of Confucius.
“While a man’s father is alive, look at the bent of his will; when his father is dead, look at his conduct.”
“An accomplished scholar is not a cooking-pot.”