Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, HUMILITY, FR. GARDEN OF PERFUME, by MOSHARREF OD-DIN IBN MOSLEH OD-DIN SADI


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HUMILITY, FR. GARDEN OF PERFUME, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: A youth, intelligent and of good disposition, arrived by sea at
Last Line: Abasement; to reach the lofty roof there is no ladder save this.
Alternate Author Name(s): Saadi


A YOUTH, intelligent and of good disposition, arrived by sea
at a Grecian port.
They perceived that he was endowed with excellence,
and judgment, and an inclination. to asceticism, and placed
him accordingly in a sacred building.
The Head of the devotees said to him one day: --
"Go and cast out the dirt and the rubbish from the
mosque."
As soon as the young traveler heard the words he went
forth, but no one discovered any sign of his return.
The Superior and the brethren laid a charge against him,
saying: --
"This young devotee hath no aptness for his vocation."
The following day one of the society met him in the
road.and said to him: --
"Thou hast showed an unseemly and perverse
disposition, Didst thou not know, O self-opinionated boy, that it
is through obedience men attain to honor?"
He began to weep, and replied: "O friend of my soul
and enlightener of my heart, it is in earnestness and in sincerity
that I have acted thus.
"I found in that sacred building neither dust nor
defilement: only myself was polluted in that holy place.
"Therefore, immediately I drew back my foot, feeling
that to withdraw myself was to cleanse the mosque from dirt and
rubbish."
For the devotee there is only one path, -- to submit his
body to humiliation.
Thine exhalation must come from choosing self-
abasement; to reach the lofty roof there is no ladder save this.






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