Ease After Hardship

I heard from elders with their sweet talk that once, in this city, there lived an old man. He had seen many kings, many ages, many rulers; he had lived a lifetime, from the days of old. This ancient tree bore fresh fruit: a young beauty for whom the whole city was famous. How strange, that dimple on his chin, that charmer; for an apple never grew on a cypress. Because the young man was mischievous and cutting toward people, someone thought it best to shave his head. With a razor, an old man of short-lived hopes turned that head as white as the hand of Moses. The sharpness of that iron-hearted man made him mock the fairy-faced boy's flaw. For the little hair he had trimmed from that beauty, they suddenly shoved that man's head into his belly. Like a harp bowed low in shame, the beautiful boy hung his head, his hair fallen before him. There was one whose heart was given to the boy, as troubled as his beloved's captivating eyes. Someone told him: you have tasted his cruelty and pain; stop chasing this futile desire. Turn your back on his love, as a moth would, for the scissors have snuffed out the candle of his beauty. A cry rose from the loyal, quick-tongued lover: the shallow are the ones whose vows run thin. A son should be good-natured and handsome; let his ignorant father go ahead and shave off his hair. My soul is woven into his love; my heart never hung on a single hair. If you have a lovely face, do not grieve, for if the hair falls out, it will grow again. The vine does not always give fresh clusters; sometimes it sheds its leaves, sometimes it bears fruit. When the great fall behind a veil, like the sun, the envious go out like embers dropped in water. The sun slowly emerges from under the cloud, and the ember dies in the water. Do not fear the darkness, my worthy friend, for it may be that the water of life lies within it. Did the world not find rest after its turmoil? Did Saadi not travel until he found his wish? Do not burn your heart with thoughts of disappointment; the night is pregnant with the day, my brother.