Sadi's Scroll of Wisdom (Barnes & Noble Digital Library)

By Sadi and Arthur Naylor Wollaston

This 1908 edition of the famous collection of verses by the Persian poet Sa'di contains, among the twenty-four moralistic poems, "In Praise of Muhammad," "Address to the Soul," "Description of Humility," and "In Explanation of the Wine of Affection and Love."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Barnes & Noble
• Release date: Aug 23, 2011
• ISBN: 9781411446922

Book preview

SADI'S SCROLL OF WISDOM

SADI

TRANSLATED BY ARTHUR NAYLOR WOLLASTON

This 2011 edition published by Barnes & Noble, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission from the publisher.

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ISBN: 978-1-4114-4692-2

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

PRAYER

IN PRAISE OF MUHAMMAD

ADDRESS TO THE SOUL

IN PRAISE OF GENEROSITY

DESCRIPTION OF BENEVOLENCE

IN CONDEMNATION OF PARSIMONY

DESCRIPTION OF HUMILITY

IN CONDEMNATION OF PRIDE

ON THE EXCELLENCE OF LEARNING

AS REGARDS AVOIDING THE SOCIETY OF THE IGNORANT

DESCRIPTION OF JUSTICE

IN CONDEMNATION OF OPPRESSION

DESCRIPTION OF CONTENTMENT

IN CONDEMNATION OF AVARICE

DESCRIPTION OF OBEDIENCE AND WORSHIP

IN CONDEMNATION OF SATAN

IN EXPLANATION OF THE WINE OF AFFECTION AND LOVE

AS TO THE NATURE OF FIDELITY

ON THE EXCELLENCE OF GRATITUDE

IN EXPLANATION OF PATIENCE

DESCRIPTION OF RECTITUDE

IN CONDEMNATION OF LYING

ON THE WORKS OF THE MOST HIGH GOD

AGAINST PLACING HOPE IN CREATED BEINGS

INTRODUCTION

SHAIKH MUSLIH-UD-DIN SADI, the celebrated Persian poet, was born at Shiraz between the years 1175 and 1193 of the Christian era. His father, whose name was Abdullah, is generally supposed to have held some minor post about the Court of the Atabak ruler of Fars, by name Sa'd bin Zangi (A.D. 1195–1226), from whom was derived the poetical nom de plume of Sadi.

He commenced his studies in his native city, whence after a while he removed to the Muhammadan College of Baghdad, where it chanced that a rich native gentleman, being informed of the young student's want of means, befriended the lad, who was fortunate enough to obtain assistance, also, from a Professor in the College. In due course Sadi gained a fellowship. He thereupon abandoned himself to a contemplative life and the study of divinity, while his pious and devotional aspirations found vent in a pilgrimage