Seite 140 von 1116

Now when he saw it, he exclaimed in his grief, "There is no

Majesty, and there is no Might save in Allah the Glorious, the

Great!" Then quoth he, "This is a strange manner of daily bread;"

and he began re citing in extempore verse:-

O toiler through the glooms of night in peril and in pain * Thy

toiling stint for daily bread comes not by might and main! Seest

thou not the fisher seek afloat upon the sea * His bread, while

glimmer stars of night as set in tangled skein. Anon he plungeth

in despite the buffet of the waves * The while to sight the

bellying net his eager glances strain; Till joying at the night's

success, a fish he bringeth home * Whose gullet by the hook of

Fate was caught and cut in twain. When buys that fish of him a

man who spent the hours of night * Reckless of cold and wet and

gloom in ease and comfort fain, Laud to the Lord who gives to

this, to that denies his wishes * And dooms one toil and catch

the prey and other eat the fishes.[FN#60]