Now the people, bearing lights in their hands, all ran
to look at their dead enemy.
But the Sahib said "Return, my children; the night
is dark, do not rush into danger."
And in the morning all the people saw the lion
lying dead.
And then the Sahib said, "Do not think of work to-day
- make holiday, enjoy and be merry."
So the people had holiday and made merry with
friends from whom they had been long parted, on
account of the lion:
And the absence of those who had run away was
forgiven, and their money allowed them -
A generous action, comparable to the forgiveness of
God and the Prophet to sinners and criminals on the
day of judgment.
Oh! poet, leave this kind of simile, it is too deep
for thee;
We mortals have the Devil, like unto a fierce lion, ever
after us;
Oh! Roshan, may God, the Prophet, and your
spiritual adviser, safeguard you day and night!
One lion, however, remained, and for fear of him all
went in dread;
Sixteen days passed, all being well, and everyone
enjoyed a peaceful mind;
But again, on the seventeenth day, the lion appeared
and remained from sunset to sunrise.
He kept on roaming about in the neighbourhood like
a general reconnoitring the enemy's position.
On the following day the Sahib sent for the
people and warned them all to be careful of their
lives;
