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From the Persian by Edward Fitzgerald
ONE night Shah Mahmúd, who had been of late | |
| Somewhat distempered with Affairs of State, | |
| Strolled through the Streets disguised, as wont to do— | |
| And coming to the Baths, there on the Flue | |
| Saw the poor Fellow who the Furnace fed | 5 |
| Sitting beside his Water-jug and Bread. | |
| Mahmúd stept in—sat down—unasked took up | |
| And tasted of the untasted Loaf and Cup, | |
| Saying within himself, “Grudge but a bit, | |
| And, by the Lord, your Head shall pay for it!” | 10 |
| So, having rested, warmed and satisfied | |
| Himself without a Word on either side, | |
| At last the wayward Sultan rose to go. | |
| And then at last his Host broke silence—“So?— | |
| Art satisfied? Well, Brother, and Day | 15 |
| Or Night, remember, when you come this Way | |
| And want a bit of Provender—why, you | |
| Are welcome, and if not—why, welcome too.”— | |
| The Sultan was so tickled with the whim | |
| Of this quaint Entertainment and of him | 20 |
| Who offered it, that many a Night again | |
| Stoker and Shah forgathered in that vein— | |
| Till, the poor Fellow having stood the Test | |
| Of true Good-fellowship, Mahmúd confessed | |
| One Night the Sultan that had been his Guest: | 25 |
| And in requital of the scanty Dole | |
| The poor Man offered with so large a soul, | |
| Bid him ask any Largess that he would— | |
| A Throne—if he would have it, so he should. | |
| The Poor Man kissed the Dust, and “All,” said he, | 30 |
| “I ask is what and where I am to be; | |
| If but the Shah from time to time will come | |
| As now, and see me in the lowly Home | |
| His presence makes a Palace, and my own | |
| Poor Flue more royal than another’s Throne.” | 35 |
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