पृष्ठ 397 / 626

When the horseman came up, he proved to be a student, a merry

fellow, who was journeying along on his nag, and singing as he

went. As soon as the man in the sack saw him passing under the

tree, he cried out, 'Good morning! good morning to thee, my

friend!' The student looked about everywhere; and seeing no one,

and not knowing where the voice came from, cried out, 'Who calls

me?'

Then the man in the tree answered, 'Lift up thine eyes, for

behold here I sit in the sack of wisdom; here have I, in a short

time, learned great and wondrous things. Compared to this seat,

all the learning of the schools is as empty air. A little longer,

and I shall know all that man can know, and shall come forth

wiser than the wisest of mankind. Here I discern the signs and

motions of the heavens and the stars; the laws that control the

winds; the number of the sands on the seashore; the healing of

the sick; the virtues of all simples, of birds, and of precious

stones. Wert thou but once here, my friend, though wouldst feel

and own the power of knowledge.