Mantiq ut Tair: The Conference of The Birds by Hazrat Farid ud-Din Attar Naqshbandi RA.

 Mantiq ut Tair: Bird Parliament 

translated by Edward FitzGerald.

Excerpt on Sultan Mehmood and Poor Fisher Boy:

One day Shah Mahmud, riding with the Wind

A-hunting, left his Retinue behind,

And coming to a River, whose swift Course

Doubled back Game and Dog, and Man and Horse,

Beheld upon the Shore a little Lad

A-fishing, very poor, and Tatter-clad

He was, and weeping as his Heart would break.

So the Great Sultan, for good humour's sake

Pull'd in his Horse a moment, and drew nigh,

And after making his Salam, ask'd why

He wept—weeping, the Sultan said, so sore

As he had never seen one weep before.

The Boy look'd up, and 'O Amir,' he said,

'Sev'n of us are at home, and Father dead,

And Mother left with scarce a Bit of Bread:

And now since Sunrise have I fish'd—and see!

Caught nothing for our Supper—Woe is Me!'

The Sultan lighted from his horse. 'Behold,' Said he,

'Good Fortune will not be controll'd:

And, since Today yours seems to turn from you,

Suppose we try for once what mine will do,

And we will share alike in all I win.'

So the Shah took, and flung his Fortune in,

The Net; which, cast by the Great Mahmud's Hand,

A hundred glittering Fishes brought to Land.

The Lad look'd up in Wonder—Mahmud smiled

And vaulted into Saddle. But the Child Ran after—

'Nay, Amir, but half the Haul Is yours by Bargain'—

'Nay, Today take all,' The Sultan cried, and shook his Bridle free

'But mind—Tomorrow All belongs to Me—'

And so rode off. Next morning at Divan

The Sultan's Mind upon his Bargain ran,

And being somewhat in a mind for sport

Sent for the Lad: who, carried up to Court,

And marching into Royalty's full Blaze

With such a Catch of Fish as yesterday's,

The Sultan call'd and set him by his side,

And asking him, 'What Luck?' The Boy replied,

'This is the Luck that follows every Cast,

Since o'er my Net the Sultan's Shadow pass'd.'