of learned and witty men, each of whom was repeating such a jest, or
anecdote, as is usual with the facetious. Having travelled across a
desert, the dervish was much fatigued, and well-nigh famished. One of
the company observed, in the way of pleasantry, "You must also repeat
something." The dervish answered, "I am not, like the others,
overstocked with learning and wit, nor am I much read in books; and you
must be satisfied with my reciting one distich." One and all eagerly
cried, "Let us hear it." He said, "Hungry as I am, I sit by a table
spread with food, like a bachelor at the entrance of a bath full of
women!"

They applauded what he said, and ordered the tray to be placed before
him. The lord of the feast said, "Stay your appetite, my friend! till my
handmaids can prepare for you some forced meat." He raised his head from
the tray, and answered, "Say there is no need for forced meat on my
tray, for a crust of plain bread is sufficient for one baked as I have
been in the desert."


XXXVII

A disciple complained to his ghostly father, saying, "What can I do, for
I am much annoyed by the people, who are interrupting me with their
frequent visits, and break in upon my precious hours with their
impertinent intrusions." He replied, "To such of them as are poor lend
money, and from such as are rich ask some in loan; and neither of them
will trouble you again." Let a beggar be the harbinger of an army of
Islam, or the orthodox, and the infidel will fly his importunity as far
as the wall of China.