Gulistan or flower garden / Sadi ; translated with an essay by James Ross and a note upon the translator by Charles Sayle.

  • Saʻdī.
Date:
[between 1900 and 1999?]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Gulistan or flower garden / Sadi ; translated with an essay by James Ross and a note upon the translator by Charles Sayle. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    74/334 (page 62)
    The shower of his infinite mercy has been sprinkled upon all, and the table of his all-comprehensive bounty is spread forth everywhere. He will not remove the veil from the reputation of his servants because of their egregious iniquities, nor withdraw the daily bread of the poor on account of their impious idolatries—“All-gracious Providence! who from a secret hoard art supplying the Guebre and Infidel with food, how canst thou exclude thy friends [the orthodox], thou ! who wilt look with compassion on thy foes ? ” He directed his chamberlain, the breeze of dawn, to spread abroad an emerald carpet; and he ordered his handmaid, the vernal cloud, to nurse the daughters of vegetation [or young herbage] in the cradle of the earth. As a new year’s day garment he covered the bosoms of the trees with mantles of verdant foliage ; and on the approach of the spring season he crowned the infant twigs with garlands of smiling flowers ; through his mighty power the juice of the sugar-cane reed waxed sweet as virgin honey ; and by his fostering care the kernel of the date grew into a stately palm—“The clouds, wind, moon, sun, and sky act in co-operation ; that thou mayst get thy daily bread, and not eat it with indifference: all revolve for thy sake, and are obedient to command; it must be an equitable condition that thou shalt be obedient.” It is in tradition [or a saying] of the prince of the universe, glory of creatures, mediator of both worlds, most immaculate of men, the consummation of