Classics Retold

Shahrazad is the Frame story teller.The story was originally told by Lame Young Man to the guests of Quran recitation. The tailor who choked the hunchback to death tell the story to the king of China to get relief from the punishment. The original story as a first person account by the lame young man: The barber said, "The corn dealer sings better than the nightingale, and dances and says, 'O wailing mistress, you have not done badly.' which the men laugh until their hearts burst. As for the garbage man, he dances to the tambourine and charms even the birds, as he sings, 'News from my neighbour is locked in chest.' He is clever, deft, spirited, quick-witted, and refined fellow of whose virtues I like to say: A handsome garbage man Whose gait has set my heart on fire! Fate blessed me with him one night  On the ebb and flow of my desire  I said: you have inflamed me No wonder a scavenger can light the pyre! Every one of us know how to divert mind with mirth and fun. ...

The First Person Account of Lame Young Man: The barber threw down the razor, went out with astrolabe, and came back, counting on his fingers, and said, "According to the learned and wise mathematicians and astrologers, there are exactly three hours left to the end of prayer, neither more nor less."  I said to him, "For God's sake, fellow, hold your tongue, for you have tormented me enough." Then this cursed fellow took the razor and shaved a few hairs, and said, "By God, I don't know the cause of your haste, and I am concerned about it. You would better tell me. Your father and grandfather did nothing without consulting me." I realised that I am not going to get rid of him. I said to myself, "Noon is approaching, and I wish to go to the young lady before the people return from the mosque. If I am delayed much longer, I will not be able to get to her." I said to him, "Be quick and stop jabbering, I have to go to a party at the house o...

Blood letting was a common medical treatment in ancient times, believed to restore the balance to the body's humors and cure for various ailments. It was based on the theory of humors which posited that the health depended on the equilibrium of body fluids (blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile) When an imbalance was suspected, blood letting was used to restore the natural balance. Blood letting was practised by ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans as well as in China. The practice was deeply rooted in the humoral theory, which viewed illness as a consequence of an imbalance in the body's humors. Blood letting was performed using various methods, including: Leeches: Leeches were used to suck out blood. Cupping: Cups were used to create suction and draw blood. Phlebotomy: Also known as venesection, Cutting vein to allow blood flow out. Arteriotomy: cutting an artery, a more advanced surgical method. Blood letting was believed to be beneficial for a wide range of conditions,...

Tale By The Lame Young Man: I said to the barber, "For God's sake, spare me your chatter, for I am late." He laughed, and said, "There is no god but God. Glory be to him who changed not. My Lord, I must conclude that your illness has changed you, you have become foolish, while people usually become  wiser as they grow older. I have heard the poet: Comfort the poor, if you can God's recompense will be yours. Want is dire affliction, hard to cure,  But money can improve a sorry sight. Meet your fellows, wish them peace, Show your parents due reverence. How often they waited you sleepless, Praying to God to keep his vigilance. In any case, you are excused, but I worry about you. You should know that your father and grandfather did nothing without consulting me, for it is said, 'He who takes counsel shall not be disappointed,' and 'He who has no mentor will never be a mentor.' And the poet says: Before you proceed to do anything,  Consult a mature man...

Diogenes (BCE 404 to 323) is a perfect example of a Cynic. Cynic is a member of philosophical sect, who does not believe in kings and kingdoms and nations and nationhood. They flourished in fourth century BCE. He lived a life of a tramp, without any house and home. Towards the end of his life, he slept in public buildings, and begged his food. He advocated shamelessness, outspokenness, and austerity. Cynics advocated free access to goods, but was averse to ownership. He was influenced by Antisthenes another Greek philosopher of Cynic school. Life:- Diogenes was a citizen of Sinope. He was exiled for defacing the currency. It was not clear whether he defaced it or his father Hicesius defaced it or it was defaced out of wear and tear. It must have been a gossip by his enemies, opponents of his philosophical ideas. Anyhow he was forced to leave Sinope for Athens. Sinope is on a narrow isthmus connecting mainland Turkey to Boztepe Peninsula. Its geographical position made it a natural port...

"Am I not the one whom people call the silent one?" asked the barber to the young man. "Why?" said the young man, "I don't know." "Because I am taciturn. My elder brother is called al-Baqbuq meaning Prater. He talks foolishly and his talks are lengthy; the second al-Haddar, the Babbler, he burbles like flowing water ; the third al-Buqaybiq, the Gabbler, he talks like a drunken man. The fourth is al-Kuz, a stone mug. The fifth is al-nashshar, the Braggart, a snob. The sixth is Shaqayiq, noisy. And I al-Samit, the silent one." The barber kept talking, and I got exasperated and said to my servant, "For the sake of the Almighty God, give him four dinars and let him go. I do not wish to have my head shaved today." The barber said to me, "O my lord, what kind of talk is this? I swear that I am under an obligation not to accept any money from you until I have served you, and indeed I must serve you, and it is my duty to help you and f...

The barber put his hand in his leather bag, took out an astrolabe with seven plates inlaid with silver, went to the courtyard, held it towards sunrays, and, after some time said, "O my lord, eight degrees and six minutes have elapsed of this day, which is Friday, the eighteenth of Safar, in the six hundred and fifty third year of Hijra and Seven thousand three hundred and twentieth year of the Alexander era and the planet now in the ascendant, according to mathematical calculations on the astrolabe, is Mars, which is in conjunction with Mercury, a conjunction that is favourable for hair cutting. I can also see that you intend to meet another person and for that the time is inauspicious and ill-advised." I said, "By God, fellow, you are pestering me and wearing me with your wretched auguries. I have not brought you here to read stars, but to shave my head. Proceed at once whith that job or get out, and let me call another man." "By God, my Lord, even if you had ...