Story 10 A poet went to an amir of robbers and recited a...

Story 10 A poet went to an amir of robbers and recited a panegyric but he ordered him to be divested of his robe. As the poor man was departing naked in the world, he was attacked from behind by dogs, whereon he intended to snatch up a stone but it was frozen to the ground and, being unable to do so, he exclaimed: 'What whore-sons of men are these?

They have let loose the dogs and have tied down the stones.' The amir of the robbers who heard these words from his room laughed and said: 'O philosopher, ask something from me.' He replied: 'I ask for my robe if thou wilt make me a present of it.' We are satisfied of thy gift by departure. A man was hoping for the gifts of people. I hope no gift from thee. Do me no evil.

The robber chief took pity upon him, ordered his robe to be restored to him and added to it a sheepskin jacket with some dirhems. Story 11 An astrologer, having entered his own house, saw a stranger and, getting angry, began to insult him, whereon both fell upon each other and fought so that turmoil and confusion ensued.

A pious man who had the scene exclaimed: 'How knowest thou what is in the zenith of the sky If thou art not aware who is in thy house?' Story 12 A preacher imagined his miserable voice to be pleasing and raised useless shouts, thou wouldst have said that the crow of separation had become the tune of his song; and the verse- for the most detestable of voices is surely the voice of asses- appears to have been applicable to him.

This distich also concerns him: When the preacher Abu-l-Fares brays At his voice Istakhar-Fares quakes. On account of the position he occupied the inhabitants of the locality submitted to the hardship and did not think proper to molest him.

In course of time, however, another preacher of that region, who bore secret enmity towards him, arrived on a visit and said to him: 'I have dreamt about thee, may it end well!' 'What hast thou dreamt?' 'I dreamt that thy voice had become pleasant and that the people were comfortable during thy sermons.' The preacher meditated a while on these words and then said: 'Thou hast dreamt a blessed dream because thou hast made me aware of my defect.

It has become known to me that I have a disagreeable voice and that the people are displeased with my loud reading. Accordingly I have determined henceforth not to address them except in a subdued voice': I am displeased with the company of friends To whom my bad qualities appear to be good.