A TRUTHFUL CRITIC

New Zealand Tablet, 20 December 1906, Page 37

A TRUTHFUL CRITIC

The grand father of the. present Shah "Of Persia took it inlo rids head, one ' d&£ .that he, could- write poetry. He accordingly ' set to work, and in 'the course of three or four- hours turned "out some stanzas which impressed him ,as being ■ pretty., good. ," Wishing _ to' be assured oLrtheir merit,, however, he sent for.- the poet ' laureate',^the official versifier of. /his "{ court ; and, handing him* "the" 7 verses, oMered him to read them and then state truly -his -sincere opinion as to their worth.. The poet was not much of a courtier* After readr" ing the manuscript ;very attentively, -he< said': 'Sire, since you command -me- to tell the truth, you will permit me to "remark that, irf my humble opinion, there is nothing at all poetical" abidut these lines, and—' fi 1 Here, guards,' furiously interrupted the Shah, who, like most writers ti . .wanted praise when lie asked - for criticism, 'take this. jackass out to the stable and tie him up alongside of^one "of liis long-eared brethren.' No sooner said than done. Ttie unfortunate • poet was forced to live during several weeks .-side .by side-, with a peculiarly stupid donkey called AliDoron. :, " At last the Shah,,/ jMrintaing., that the leison had been sharp enough, gave' the poor poet his liberty. But -he caused him to appear hefore him again, and submits ted Ms criticism a second bit of v verse, taking., the , trouble this time* "to read.it aloud; himself. U. '..'"- "-'" -' The poet listened attentively,' and, as soon as 1/htwShah stopped reading, ; turned ' quickly and hurried"- to---ward the door. " r ~ ~ - - - ; 1 Hello, wheie are r you going, man ? ' inquired;, .the I Shah, with considerable surprise. ' -„.,.. ""<-, "■ ' Back to the stables, Sire.' - r ' i ' - Now, the monarch.-was not a v fool ; , aftid this .method of letting him know that his comp6sition was worthless rather tickled his sense of •hurrior. He -burst out laughing, forgave the poet for his frankness, -and— gave up writing verses. :. - . . ;