He was hurrying that he might overtake his fellow-travellers;

he went into the stable but did not find the ass.

He said, "The servant has taken it (the ass) to water, because it drank little water last night."

The servant came, and the Súfi said to him, "Where is the ass?" "Look at your beard,"^[1] replied the servant, and a quarrel arose.

He (the Súfi) said, "I have entrusted the ass to you, I have put you in charge of the ass.

Discuss (the matter) with propriety, don't argue: deliver back to me what I delivered to you.

I demand from you what I gave to you: return that which I sent to you.

The Prophet said that whatever your hand has taken must in the end be restored (to its owner).

And if you, from insolence, are not content with this, look here, let us (go) to the house of the Cadi of (our) religion."

The servant said, "I was overpowered: the Sufis rushed (on me), and I was in fear for my life.

Do you throw a liver with the parts next it amongst cats, and (then) seek the trace of it?

One cake of bread amongst a hundred hungry people, one wasted (starved) cat before a hundred dogs?"

"I suppose," said the Súfi, "that they took it (the ass) from you by violence, (and thereby) aimed at the life of wretched me;

(And seeing this) you would not come and say to me, 'They are taking away your ass, O poor man!"

So that I might buy back the ass from (the purchaser) whoever he is, or else they might divide my money (amongst themselves and return the ass to me).

There were a hundred ways of mending (the injury) when they (the Súfis) were present, (but) now each one is gone to a (different) clime.

Whom should I seize? Whom should I take to the Cadi? 'Tis from you in sooth that this judgement has come upon me.

How wouldn't you come and say (to me), 'O stranger, such a terrible outrage has occurred'?"

"By God," said he, "I came several times to inform you of these doings,

(But) you were always saying, "The ass is gone, O son,' with more gusto than all (the others) who said it.

(So) I was (always) going back, (thinking), 'He himself is aware; he is satisfied with this (Divine) judgement: he is a man that knows (God)"."

The Súfi said, "They all were saying (it) merrily, (so) I also took delight in saying it.

1. ↑ I.e. "recollect how old you are (and don't ask such a foolish question)."