Читать книгу Arabic Stories for Language Learners - Hezi Brosh - Страница 21

A Father’s Advice

One of the tribal sheiks was a wise and just man, and all the people loved him. He had seven sons who were famous for their courage and strength. When he became old and about to die, he called his seven sons to him and gave each of them one arrow, telling them: I want each of you to break the arrow that is in your hand.

The sons were surprised at their father’s request, but everyone broke his arrow. After this, the father gave each son a bundle of seven arrows and said to them: Each of you must break the bundle of arrows that is in your hand.

Each son tried to break his bundle but without success, despite their strength and youth.

The father said to them: Do you see? Each of you had been able to break his one arrow quite easily, but you weren’t able to break the bundle of arrows. I am an old sheik and, before long, I will be leaving this world. I have one wish: that you be united after I die and that each of you protect the other, for then no one will be able to defeat you. However, if you quarrel and become divided, you will grow weak and easily vanquished.

The sons looked on their father with respect and appreciation because of his wisdom and counsel, and they vowed to fulfill his wish.

Detail from an illustration in the late Timurid manuscript of Sa'di's story of "Sa'di and the Youth of Kashgar" in his Gulistan ch 5, story 17. illustration 1547 Bukhara, for a text written by Sa'di in 1259, copied for this book in Herat in July 1500. Peerless Images: Persian Figural Painting and Its Sources, Eleanor Sims, from the Bibliotheca Bodmeriana, Geneva.