“‘My poverty’s my pride’ is not an empty word, Therein are hid a thousand blessings well assured. In anger, imprecations thou hast cast on me. I am a humble suitor; snake-catcher thou’dst see. If e’er a snake I catch, I still extract its fangs, That harm may never follow, when its head one bangs. Those fangs are enemies to every serpent’s life, When I extract them, then, I make him free from strife.” 115 “I never will submit to spell of lust and greed. For cov’tousness I’ve conquered. Its maw I’ll not feed. Thank God that greed is not among my sins, at least. Contentment fills my heart;--a true, perpetual feast. Thou lookest at the crown of pear-tree full of fruit, Come down from that idea; no good will it boot. In raising up thyself, thou giddy hast become; ’Tis not the house that reels; thy brain’s grown troublesome.” “Once Abū-Jahl saw Ahmed; spitefully he said: ‘Thou ugly portraiture from Banū-Hāshim bred!’ 120 Said Ahmed: ‘True thou’st spoken, most veracious man; Thy words are worthy credit, let who cavil can!’ Then Abū-Bekr saw him, said he was a sun Of perfect beauty; east, west, everywhere he’d run. To him, too, Ahmed answered: ‘Thou hast spoken true, O upright man, set free from all the nine spheres’ clew.’ The company assembled marvelled at these words, And asked: ‘How can two contraries be what accords?’ Said Ahmed then: ‘A mirror am I, polished bright. Both Turk and Hindū see in me reflection’s light.’” 125 “O wife! If ever thou hast thought me covetous, Come forth from such idea,--too preposterous. That which thou takest for greed is heaven’s mercy, sure. And how can greed and mercy both at once allure? Make trial of true poverty, but for one day, or two. Thou’lt find therein true riches, with contentment, too. Be patient with our poverty, and banish grief; For poverty’s a crown bestowed by our great Chief. Put off sour looks and see, how many thousand souls, Through sweet contentment are as happy as the fowls. 130 See other thousands, also, drinking dregs of grief: It permeates their being, as sugar scents roseleaf.”