--- title: Story of Ortogrul of Basra. — Oriental tales, for the entertainment of youth · full text with trees description: Story of Ortogrul of Basra., «Oriental tales, for the entertainment of youth» by Anonymous: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: As Ortogrul of Basra was one day wandering along the streets of Bagdat, musing on the varieties of merchandize which the s --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg62868/15/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Oriental tales, for the entertainment…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg62868/) / Story of Ortogrul of Basra. # Story of Ortogrul of Basra. Story of Ortogrul of Basra. of «Oriental tales, for the entertainment of youth» by Anonymous: the whole text, 33 sentences and 825 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. As Ortogrul of Basra was one day wandering along the streets of Bagdat, musing on the varieties of merchandize which the shops offered to his view, and observing the different occupations which busied the multitudes on every side, he was awakened from the tranquility of meditation by a crowd that obstructed his passage.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") He raised his eyes, and saw the chief vizier, who having returned from the divan, was entering his palace.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") Ortogrul mingled with the attendants, and being supposed to have some petition for the vizier, was permitted to enter.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") He surveyed the spaciousness of the apartments, admired the walks hung with golden tapestry, and the floors covered with silken carpets, and despised the simple neatness of his own little habitation.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") Surely, said he to himself, this palace is that seat of happiness where pleasure succeeds to pleasure, and discontent and sorrow can have no admission.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") Whatever nature has provided for the delight of sense, is here spread forth to be enjoyed.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") What can mortals hope or imagine which the master of this palace has not obtained.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") The dishes of luxury cover his table, the voice of harmony lulls him in his bowers; he breathes the fragrance of the groves of Java, and sleeps upon the down of the cygnets of the Ganges.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") He speaks, and his mandate is obeyed; he wishes, and his wish is gratified; all whom he sees obey him; and all whom he hears flatter him.[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") How different, Ortogrul, is thy condition, who art doomed to the perpetual torments of unsatisfied desire, and who hast no amusement in thy power that can withhold thee from thy own reflections\![10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") They tell thee that thou art wise, but what does wisdom avail with poverty?[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") None will flatter the poor, and the wise have very little power of flattering themselves.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") That man is surely the most wretched of the sons of wretchedness who lives with his own faults and follies always before him, and who has none to reconcile him to himself by praise and veneration.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") I have long sought content, and have not found it; I will from this moment endeavour to be rich.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") Full of his new resolution, he shut himself in his chamber for six months, to deliberate how he should grow rich; he sometimes proposed to offer himself as a counsellor to one of the kings of India, and sometimes resolved to dig for diamonds in the mines of Golconda.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") One day, after some hours passed in violent fluctuation of opinion, sleep insensibly seized him in his chair; he dreamed that he was ranging a desart country, in search of some one that might teach him to grow rich! and as he stood on the top of a hill shaded with cypress, in doubt whither to direct his steps, his father appeared on a sudden standing before him.[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") “Ortogrul,” said the old man, “I know thy perplexity; listen to thy father, turn thine eye on the opposite mountain.”[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") Ortogrul looked, and saw a torrent tumbling down the rocks, roaring with the noise of thunder, and scattering its foam on the impending woods.[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") “Now,” said his father, “behold the valley that lies between the hills.”[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") Ortogrul looked, and espied a little well, out of which issued a small rivulet.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") “Tell me now,” said his father, “dost thou wish for sudden affluence, that may pour upon thee like the mountain torrent, or for a slow and gradual increase, resembling the rill gliding from the well?”[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") “Let me be quickly rich,” said Ortogrul; “let the golden stream be quick and violent.”[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") “Look round thee,” said his father, “once again.”[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") Ortogrul looked, and perceived the channel of the torrent dry and dusty; but following the rivulet from the well, he traced it to a wide lake, which the supply, slow and constant, kept always full.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") He waked, and determined to grow rich by silent profit, and persevering industry.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") Having sold his patrimony, he engaged in merchandize, and in twenty years purchased lands, on which he raised a house, equal in sumptuousness to that of the vizier, to which he invited all the ministers of pleasure, expecting to enjoy all the felicity which he imagined riches able to afford.[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") Leisure soon made him weary of himself, and he longed to be persuaded that he was great and happy.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") He was courteous and liberal; he gave all that approached him hopes of pleasing him, and all who should please him hopes of being rewarded.[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") Every art of praise was tried, and every source of adulatory fiction was exhausted.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") Ortogrul heard his flatters without delight, because he found himself unable to believe them.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") His own heart told him its frailties, his own understanding reproached him with his faults.[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") “How long,” said he, with a deep sigh, “have I been labouring in vain to amass wealth, which at last is useless.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") Let no man hereafter wish to be rich, who is already too wise to be flattered.”[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") - ← previous: [The Story of Gelaleddin of Bassora.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg62868/14/) - next →: [The Story of Alnaschar.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg62868/16/) - ↑ back to [Oriental tales, for the entertainment of youth](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg62868/)