Hafiz belonged to religious order of the Sufis, which he is said to have joined in youth. Later it is probable he became their head, although we know his free, vigorous mind could not long be bound by tenets of an order. The Vizier, Kiwam-eddin, founded a public school for him that he might have an assured income. These duties Hafiz discharged more faithfully than the founder who acquired the disagreeable habit of forgetting pay day, and the fact that poets share with the world the vulgar need of eating. The following is Hafiz’ effective manner of reminding him of negligence: Thou jingling rhyme with the kernel of wit Away to the master! Make quick work of it! When the place shall be right and with it the hour From your eloquent lips let a gay jest flower. In case it should please him, brighten his heart, Within it conceal this question with art: Does it seem to him right (Oh! light be your tone!) That the slave who well serves him receive but a stone? Here is another poetic remonstrance showing that the great in his day had interesting peculiarities. TO SULTAN MESSUD (_On finding his ass in the sultan’s stable_) Through spirit voices thou hast learned How into night my day is turned, All in three years thou gavest me, Or that thy Vizier gave for thee Was taken from me in a trice, And vanished stealthily as mice. I found myself but yesterday In dreams, in thy broad stable way And trusted not my eyes to see An ass eating who thus to me Up-looking from his manger there: _Hast thou seen me, pray, anywhere?_ Now since I am not wise enough To understand dream-written stuff, And none in wisdom equal thee, Great Sultan, explain, pray to me! Not only the ruler of Shiraz, but rulers of other Persian cities knew Hafiz, gave proofs of favor, and invited him to court. But the traveling! No one ever had greater distaste for it. He did not even make the pilgrimage to Mecca. The thought of leaving his beloved city made him miserable. This attitude recalls Horace, and Keats, too, with his love for the green English country. It is commonly written that he went to Jesd once on the invitation of Shah Jehja, tempted by hope and need of money. But money was not forthcoming. He writes philosophically, glad to get home: This is the way of a Shah, Hafiz; Therefore be not grieved. The historian Muhammed Kasim Firischteh disputes the story of his never having left Shiraz, save on one occasion, for the fruitless journey to Jesd. He relates how he went on ship board, on invitation of some distant Sultan, and how a storm came up just as they were ready to sail. Hafiz was in terror. He made hasty pretext of a forgotten farewell in the city. He left the ship, and started post haste back to Shiraz.