Parable of Harun al-Rashid and the old woman who prayed for his health

There is a parable. Harun al-Rashid liked to wander about at night. One evening he strayed into a dark hovel in which an elderly woman was offering up a prayer for his health.

"How pleasant!" he said. "How may I reward you?"

"You see, you are a great deal worse than your father, and so I want you to keep well for as long as possible, because whoever comes after you will be worse still," replied the old woman.

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September digest: archaeological finds, exhibitions, museums, theatre and the Church

In the finale of the Strugatskys' Roadside Picnic, the Golden Ball is told: "Happiness for everybody, free, and let nobody go away unsatisfied!" I do not promise to offend nobody, but the digest really does come free of charge. So, here is the main business of the

Frederic Leighton

Frederic Leighton. “Daedalus and Icarus”, 1869 Daedalus warns his son not to climb too high: the heat of the sun may melt the wax, but Icarus is already gazing into the distance, and the lamentations of a foolish old man interest him not in the least

Parable of Harun al-Rashid and the old woman who prayed for his health

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September digest: archaeological finds, exhibitions, museums, theatre and the Church

Frederic Leighton

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