Mushfiqi entered the padishah while he was looking at some drawing.
“Look, Mushfiki,” said the padishah, “how well the artist depicted the farmer!”
A powerful, beautifully built farmer working as a ketmen in the field was depicted masterfully. It would be difficult to better convey the shine of drops of sweat on his tanned forehead, the tension of the veins of his muscular arms.
- No! This artist is not talented! - Mushfiqi said stubbornly. “If I had to portray your Majesty’s subject, I could do it better!”
The indignant padishah put a brush, paints, paper in front of Mushfiki - Paint! But if your drawing turns out worse than this, you will receive seven slaps from me!
- I obey! - said Mushfiqi and quickly got to work.
Under Mushfiqa’s brush, a skinny monster appeared on paper, with thin, crooked legs like a scientist’s, hunched over and dull-eyed.
“What is this?” the padishah exclaimed indignantly. “Enough!” Turn your cheek!
- Sovereign! - Mushfiqi was indignant. - Don’t you see that my drawing is much better? But am I to blame that during the years of your just reign in the fields you couldn’t find a healthier and stronger farmer than this?
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru