Their loads are equal, they're worth the same.”
Calmly the old man smiled and said:
“My son and attentive pupil,
never contradict or violate
any custom whatever,
if it is an old one
and dates back many centuries.”
Hammadi went on:
“Agreed, my father.
My hunger has not been satisfied,
I implore you again,
give me some new knowledge.”
“Will you pay for it
as you paid before?”
“I'll pay the same for the new
as I did for the rest.
I'll give you an ox laden with gold,
the only one I have left.
Take it with its load, take everything!”
The old man burst out laughing.
He coughed calmly
and sneezed hard three times
as if he had taken snuff.
Two giant tears 86
rolled down his beard
that grew in a thick clump,
and was stiff as a tuft.
He bowed his head,
contemplated the ground,
gazed at Hammadi,
stared at him with his cross-eyes
and said:
“Hammadi my son
in your quest for knowledge
never act on suspicion,
whatever the case may be.
If Anger's eldest child

Notes (Lilyan Kesteloot)
86. The old man laughs and cries; this is a sign of his emotion before the adept who is so convinced that he offers him his whole fortune for three words of advice. In another sense, one can say that knowledge always comes with tears.