THE CALIPH AND THE POET
Once upon a time there was a famous Arab [Footnote: Ar'ab.] whose name
was Al Mansur. He was the ruler of all the Arabs, and was therefore
called the caliph. [Footnote: Caliph (_pronounced_ ka'lif).]
Al Mansur loved poetry and was fond of hearing poets repeat their own
verses. Sometimes, if a poem was very pleasing, he gave the poet a
prize. One day a poet whose name was Thalibi [Footnote: Thal i'bi.]
came to the caliph and recited a long poem. When he had finished, he
bowed, and waited, hoping that he would be rewarded.
"Which would you rather have" asked the caliph, "three hundred pieces
of gold, or three wise sayings from my lips?"
The poet wished very much to please the caliph. So he said, "Oh, my
master, everybody should choose wisdom rather than wealth."
The caliph smiled, and said, "Very well, then, listen to my first wise
saying: When your coat is worn out, don't sew on a new patch; it will
look ugly."
"Oh, dear!" moaned the poet. "There go a hundred gold pieces all at
once." The caliph smiled again. Then he said, "Listen now to my second
word of wisdom. It is this: When you oil your beard, don't oil it too
much, lest it soil your clothing.
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