Page 80 - The Book of Rumi

“Please wait,” implored the young man, still confounded. “Now that
you’ve shared your invaluable wisdom, please tell me, what do you mean
exactly?”
The horseman pulled his bridle and turned to face the inquirer. “All
right, let me tell you clearly once and for all. The woman whose heart will be
yours but only halfway is the widow. Although childless, she’ll always hold
onto the fond memories of her late husband. There’s another type of woman
who will never share her heart with you, and she’s the widow with children.
Every time she looks at them, she’ll be reminded of the love she shared with
their father. Undoubtedly the best woman of all, whose heart will be yours
forever, is the woman who has never shared it with anyone before you. Now
get out of my way before my horse knocks you out.”
“Dear old man, I have one last question to ask. May I?”
“Go on then,” he replied, a little annoyed.
“Your wisdom is unrivalled; why do you pretend to madness?”
“The townsmen wished to select me as their supreme judge, but I refused
time and time again,” he confessed. “Nevertheless, they insisted that there was
no other wise man in town whom they could trust. They wouldn’t leave me
alone; therefore, I had no choice but to pretend that I’d lost my mind. Inside,
though, I’m still the same. My mind is my spiritual treasure, and I’ll never
share it with the common folk!”
Having imparted his precious secret, the wise madman rode toward the
gang of boys, who were impatient to continue their unfi nished battle.

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