بخش 11 - قصهٔ آن دباغ کی در بازار عطاران از بوی عطر و مشک بیهوش و رنجور شد

A certain man fell senseless and curled up as soon as he came into the bazaar of the perfumers.

The scent of the perfume (floating) from the goodly perfumers smote him, so that his head reeled and he fell on the spot.

He fell unconscious, like a car case, at noontide in the middle of the thoroughfare.

Thereupon the people gathered over him, all crying Lá hawl and applying remedies.

One was putting his hand on his (the tanner's) heart, while another sprinkled rose-water upon him;

(For) he did not know that from (smelling) rose-water in the meadow (the bazaar) that calamity had overtaken him.

One was massaging his hands and head, and another was bringing moist clay mixed with straw (to serve as a cold plaster);

One compounded incense of aloes-wood and sugar, while another was divesting him of part of his clothes;

And another felt his pulse, to see how it was beating; and another was smelling his mouth,

To see whether he had drunk wine or eaten beng or hashish: the people (having exhausted every resource) remained in despair at his insensibility.

So they speedily brought the news to his kinsfolk—“Such and such a person is lying there in a state of collapse;

No one knows how he was stricken with catalepsy, or what it was that led to this public exposure.”

That stout tanner had a brother, (who was) cunning and sagacious: he came at once in hot haste.

(With) a small quantity of dog's dung in his sleeve, he cleft (his way through) the crowd and approached (the senseless man) with cries of grief.

“I know,” said he, “whence his illness arises: when you know the cause (of a disease), the (means of) curing (it) is manifest.

When the cause is unknown, the remedy for the illness is difficult (to find), and in that (case) there are a hundred grounds to which it may be referred;

(But) when you have ascertained the cause, it becomes easy: knowledge of causes is the means of expelling ignorance.”

He said to himself, “The smell of that dog's dung is multiplied in his brain and veins.

Up to the waist in filth, he is absorbed in the tanner's craft till nightfall, seeking his livelihood.

Thus then has the great Jálínús (Galen) said: ‘Give the patient that to which he was habituated (before his illness);

For his illness arises from doing the contrary to (his usual) habit: therefore seek the remedy for his illness in that which is habitual (to him).’

He (the tanner), from carrying dung, has become like the dung-beetle: the dung-beetle is made insensible by rose-water.

The remedy for him consists in that same dog's dung to which he is habituated and accustomed.”

Recite (the text), the wicked women for the wicked men: recognise (both) the front and the back of this saying.

The sincere mentors prepare medicine for him (the wicked man) with ambergris or rose-water to open the door (of Divine Mercy);

(But) sweet words will not do for the wicked: ’tis not fitting and suitable, O ye trusty ones!

When from the perfume of the Revelation they (the wicked infidels) became crooked (disordered in mind) and lost (in error), their lament was, “We augur evil from you.

This discourse (of yours) is illness and sickness to us: your exhortation is not of good omen to us.

If ye once begin to admonish (us) overtly, at that instant we will stone you.

We have waxed fat on frivolity and diversion: we have not steeped ourselves in admonition.

Our food is falsehood and idle boasts and jests: our stomachs are turned by your delivering this message.

Ye are making the illness hundredfold and more: ye are drugging the intelligence with opium.”