15. The Gnat and King Solomon


A gnat came to King Solomon's court with a complaint.
"We gnats beg you for protection from the wind!" shouted the gnat. "He blows us wherever he wants; we are powerless under his sway."
"Let us hear what the wind says about this," said King Solomon. "Wind, I summon you here to face your accuser!"
The wind rushed in, and the gnat flew away.
"Where are you going?" shouted Solomon. "The accused must confront his accuser!"
"The wind is my doom!" the gnat's voice cried faintly from far away. "I cannot breathe when he blows: in his presence, I'm nothing."



Inspired by: The English prose version of Rumi in Tales from the Masnavi by A. J. Arberry.
Notes: This is story 100 in the book.



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