THE CALIPH AND THE CLOWN

 

The caliph of Baghdad hired an intelligent and high spirited man as his court jester, and was much amused by his clever, witty comments. The clown was so well loved by his master that everyone at court showed him great respect. And so the caliph was much surprised one day when he heard his beloved clown crying out in distress from the throne room. The caliph hurried there and was astonished to find the guards beating the clown badly.
''Leave him alone at once!'' he orded. ''Why are you beating him?''
''We found him sitting on your throne, O majesty!''
the captain of the guards explained.
''out of my sight!'' commanded the caliph. ''For sure the jester did not do it with the intention of offending me.''
The clown, however, continued to weep and wail even after the guards had left.
''Stop it! said the irritated caliph.
''you're still in one piece, aren't you?''
'' i'm not crying for myself, my lord, i weep for you,'' the clown explained.
''For me?'' exclaimed the caliph in surprise.
''Certainly! if i get beaten so badly for having been only a few minutes on the throne, how many beatings must you have suffered in all the years that you have been there?''

TERJEMAHAN

THE Khalifah DAN Badut
Khalifah Baghdad menyewa seorang pria cerdas dan semangat tinggi sebagai badut pengadilan, dan lebih geli oleh pandai, cerdas komentar. Badut begitu dicintai oleh tuannya bahwa semua orang di pengadilan menunjukkan rasa hormat yang besar. Dan jadi khalifah itu sangat terkejut suatu hari ketika dia mendengar nya badut tercinta menangis dalam kesusahan dari ruang tahta. Khalifah itu bergegas di sana dan terkejut menemukan penjaga mengalahkan badut buruk.
'' Biarkan dia sendiri sekaligus'' orded! Dia. '' Mengapa Anda memukulnya?''
'' Kami menemukan dia duduk di atas takhta Anda, O keagungan!''
kapten penjaga menjelaskan.
'' keluar dari pandangan saya'' diperintahkan! khalifah. '' Untuk memastikan si badut tidak melakukannya dengan niat menyinggung saya.''
Badut, bagaimanapun, terus menangis dan meratap bahkan setelah para penjaga telah meninggalkan.
'' Hentikan! kata khalifah teriritasi.
'' Anda masih dalam keadaan utuh, bukan?''
'' Aku tidak menangis untuk diriku sendiri, Tuanku, saya menangis untuk Anda,'' jelas badut.
'' Bagi saya?'' Seru khalifah kaget.
'' Tentu saja! jika saya dipukuli begitu parah karena telah hanya beberapa menit di atas takhta, berapa banyak pemukulan harus Anda telah menderita dalam semua tahun bahwa Anda telah ada?''