C.D. Warner, et al., comp. The Library of the World’s Best Literature.
An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917.
Humanity
By Sadī (c. 12131291)
A
The worthy man made a bucket of his cap, and twisted his muslin sash into a rope;
Then he girded his waist and extended his arms for service, and gave to the feeble dog a sup of water.
The Prophet revealed of his future condition, that the Supreme Judge had for this act pardoned his sins.
Oh, if thou hast been a hard man, bethink thee; learn to be kind, and make beneficence thy business!
If a kindness done to a dog is not lost, how should that be which is done to a worthy man?
Do good as you find it offered to your hand; the Master of the Universe hath closed against no one the door for doing some good.
To give from your treasury a talent of gold is of less worth than a carat bestowed by the hand of labor.
Each one shall bear the burthen proportioned to his strength: the foot of a locust would be heavy for an ant.