Malayan Literature: Comprising Romantic Tales, Epic Poetry and Royal Chronicles
General
Malayan Literature: Comprising Romantic Tales, Epic Poetry and Royal Chronicles
Malay literature -- Translations into English
"When Yahya had arrived at his house he made the beggar sit down at the
door, and calling an attendant said to him: 'Every day give this man
1,000 dinars, and for his food give him his part in the provisions
consumed in your house.'
"They say that for a month the beggar came every day and sat at Yahya's
door, and received the sum of 1,000 dinars. When he had received them
at the end of the month, 30,000 dinars, the beggar went away. When
informed of his departure, Yahya said: 'By the Lord! if he had not gone
away, and had come to my door for the rest of his life, I should have
given him the same daily ration.'"
In the Kitab Tarykh the following is told: "There was once upon a time
a Persian king named Khrosrou, remarkable among all the kings of Persia
for his power, his greatness of character, his goodness, and the purity
of his morals. His wife, named Chirine, was of a rare beauty, and no
one at that time could be compared to her, for she possessed all the
virtues. Khrosrou passionately loved Chirine, and among the books,
famous in the world, which speak of loving couples, there is one called
'Khrosrou and Chirine.' One day Khrosrou was seated in the palace with
his wife Chirine, when a fisherman brought in a fine fish as a present
to Khrosrou. The latter ordered them to give him a present of 4,000
dirhems.
"'You are wrong,' said Chirine.
"'And why?' asked the King.
"'If, in the future, you made one of your servants a present of 4,000
dirhems he will not fail to say forthwith, "I am considered as the
equal of a fisherman." If your present is less than 4,000 dirhems, then
necessarily he will say, "I am considered as being less than a
fisherman," and your actions will sadden his heart.'"
"Khrosrou said: 'Your observation is just. But I have spoken, and I
cannot reverse what I have said, for it is shameful for a king to fail
in keeping his word.'
"Chirine replied, 'Never mind, I know a way, and no one can say that
you broke your promise.'
"'What is this way?' asked Khrosrou.
"Chirine answered: 'Put this question to the fisherman, "Is this a
fresh-water or a salt-water fish?"
"'If he answers, "It is a fresh-water fish," say, "I want a salt-water
one," and the contrary. Then he will go away and you will be released
from your foolish promise.'"
"Khrosrou, who by love of Chirine could not help hearing her advice and
following it, put the question to the fisherman. But the latter,
suspecting a trap, said, 'It is both.' King Khrosrou began to laugh,
and gave him 4,000 dirhems in addition.
"The fisherman, having received his 8,000 dirhems, put them in a sack
and went away. On the journey, a dirhem fell to the ground, and the
fisherman, lowering his sack, began to search for the dirhem that had
fallen. When he found it, he placed it with the others and took up his
march again.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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