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Forbear, O troubles of the world, * And pardon an ye nill

forbear: I went to seek my daily bread * I find that breadless I

must fare: For neither handcraft brings me aught * Nor Fate

allots to me a share: How many fools the Pleiads reach * While

darkness whelms the wise and ware.

So he prayed pardon of Allah and, throwing away the jar, wrung

his net and cleansed it and returned to the sea the third time to

cast his net and waited till it had sunk. Then he pulled at it

and found therein potsherds and broken glass; whereupon he began

to speak these verses:-