Nothing Worse Than This

There is nothing so bad that some good doesn't hide in it. An evil that turns into good was never really evil at all. You heard what happened to my brother; in short, you have no idea. They forced dates on him at a fixed price; no crime could be worse than that. The children, the household, and the friends all eat the dates, and there's no money left. And then what a tax collector you send: a brute than whom none is worse. They beat him so hard, my lord, that the road home was cut off to him. If a generous man gives away forced dates, from such a kind soul it is no waste. As long as we had the strength to endure, we endured; what more can we do when it runs out? Is it that the customs of loyalty and kindness simply don't exist in your city? I've never seen such charm in all of Fars; not even Egypt has sweetness like this. Every night a hundred drops fall from Sadi's eyes, and each one is nothing less than a pearl. We told you this out of pure affection; perhaps no one else needs to know.