Poverty and Pomp
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Behlool liked to visit the graveyards. "People here are good friends", he used to say, "They do not backbite." Once, he sat in a corner of a graveyard and with a long heavy stick started probing some of the old skulls which lay scattered about. Harun Rashid, the king passed by, and saw him. The he said: O Behlool, what are you doing?
Oh nothing very important, said Behlool. I am just trying to find out whether the skulls belong to kings or paupers. They are all the same.
And what is the stick for, Harun asked.
Well, I am measuring the earth, Behlool replied.
Measuring the earth? What are your findings? Harun joked!
It is equal and the same, O King! Behlool retorted. Three armlengths for me, inspite of my poverty and three armlengths for you, in spite your pomp and wealth.
From Unto Thee We Grant...