Joseph welcomed a childhood friend to his palace.
"How you've prospered!" exclaimed his friend. "Despite your jealous brothers."
"I was like a lion bound with a chain," replied Joseph. "The chain brings no shame; a lion is always a lion. The moon wanes, and then it waxes. It is always the moon." Joseph smiled. "And I see you've brought me a present!"
The friend said shyly, "I could think of nothing worthy to offer you, so I offer you this picture of your own beauty." He held out a mirror. "Please remember me when you gaze upon your face there."
Inspired by: The English prose version of Rumi in Tales from the Masnavi by A. J. Arberry.
Notes: This is story 13 in the book.
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