THERE was a rich and generous man of Bokhara. Because he had such high rank in the invisible hierarchy, he was known as the President of the World. He made one condition about his bounty. Every day he gave gold to one category of people --the sick, widows, and so on. But nothing was to be given to anyone who opened his mouth.
Not all could keep silent.
One day it was the turn of lawyers to receive their share of the bounty. One of them could not restrain himself and made the most complete appeal possible.
Nothing was given to him.
This was not the end, however, of his efforts. The following day invalids were being helped, so he pretended that his limbs had been broken.
But the President knew him, and he obtained nothing.
The very next day he posed in another guise, covering his face, with the people of another category. He was again recognized and sent away.
Again and again he tried, even disguising himself as a woman: again without result.
Finally this lawyer found an undertaker and told him to wrap him in a shroud. 'When the President passes by he will perhaps assume that this is a corpse. He may throw down some money towards my burial --and I will give you a share of it.'
This was done. A gold piece from the hand of the President fell upon the shroud. The beggar seized it, out of fear that the undertaker would get it first. Then he spoke to the benefactor: 'You denied me your bounty. Note how I have gained it!'
'Nothing can you have from me', replied the generous man, 'until you die. This is the meaning of the cryptic phrase "man must die before he dies". The gift comes after "death" and not before. And this "death", even, is not possible without help.'
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