It is related that a sultan thus addressed a miserly beggar who had accumulated great riches: `It is evident that thou possessest boundless wealth and we have an affair on hand in which thou canst aid us by way of a loan. When the finances of the country are in a flourishing condition it will be repaid.? The miser replied: `It is not befitting the power and dignity of a padshah to soil the hands of his noble aspirations with the property of an individual like myself who has collected it grain by grain.? The king replied: `It does not matter because the money will be spent upon infidels: The wicked women should be joined to the wicked men.?

 If the water of a Christian?s well is impure 
 What matters it if thou washest a dead Jew therein? 
 They said: `The lime-mortar is not clean.? 
 We replied: `We shall plug therewith the privy holes.? 

I heard that he refused to comply with the behest of the king, began to argue and to look insolently; whereon the king ordered the sum in question to be released from his grasp by force and with a reprimand.

 If an affair cannot be accomplished with gentleness 
 He forsooth turns his head to impudence. 
 Who has no regard for himself 
 It is proper that no one should pay him any.