'Travels in Assyria, Media, and Persia, including a journey from Bagdad by Mount Zagros, to Hamadan, the ancient Ecbatana, researches in Ispahan and the ruins of Persepolis, and journey from thence by Shiraz and Shapoor to the sea-shore. Description of Bussorah, Bushire, Bahrein, Ormuz, and Muscat, narrative of an expedition against the pirates of the Persian Gulf, with illustrations of the voyage of Nearchus, and passage by the Arabian Sea to Bombay.' [‎249] (280/582)

SAADI, THE PERSIAN POET.
249
none, even in his plainest way, under fifty; so that his gains might
well be considerable. He had recently been at Shiraz for three
months, and intended passing the winter at Ispahan, Like the
Dervish, his friend, he was poorly dressed, and travelled always on
foot; for the sake, as he said, of having less cares, and being more
at ease to follow any capricious inclination which might seize him
on the way. His ready money he generally disposed of for an
order, or letter of credit, on some one in the town to which he was
going, that he might be more at peace and free from apprehension
of robbery on the road. He illustrated the benefit of such a prac
tice by an anecdote of Saadi, the great Persian poet and moralist,
the sense of which was as follows:—" Saadi, journeying on the
road, in possession of a small sum of money, had for his com
panions some wealthy merchants, who carried with them a con
siderable treasure. They were in continual alarm for fear of rob
bers, while the philosopher was perfectly at ease. The merchants,
observing the tranquillity of their poor comrade, were a good deal
surprised, and still more so when he offered to propose to them a
certain remedy for their fears. They impatiently demanded to
know it: 4 Throw away,' said the moralist, 4 that for which it is
excited, and you will be as much at ease as I am.' They could
not be prevailed on to do this; but proceeding a little further,
they overtook a man asleep, in the middle of the road.— 4 What!'
said they, rousing him from his slumber, 4 do you dare to repose
here, in a road beset with dangers on every side ?' 4 Why,' re
plied the stranger, 4 I am perfectly at ease, for I have nothing to
lose and turning on his side, sunk to sleep again. This was so
forcible an illustration of the advice they had received, that they
acknowledged the justice of the poet's maxim: 4 But, said Hassan,
4 as the greater part of mankind are content to admire good ad
vice without following it, the story does not add whether the mer
chants acted upon that which they both heard and saw, or not.
We were detained, but most agreeably, for nearly an hour on
our road by this incident; and the parting of these two friends,
2 k