A voice from above answered: 'Raise your eyes, I am sitting up here in
the Sack of Wisdom, and in a short time I have learnt so much that the
wisdom of the schools is as air compared to mine. Soon I shall be
quite perfect, and shall come down and be the wisest of all mankind. I
understand the stars and signs of the heavens, the blowing of the
winds, the sand of the sea, the healing of sickness, the power of
herbs, birds, and stones. If you were once inside, you would feel what
wonders flow from the Sack of Knowledge.'
When the Student heard this he was astonished, and said: 'Blessed be
the hour when I met you, if only I too might get into the sack for a
little.'
The other answered, as though unwillingly: 'I will let you in for a
little while for payment and kind words, but you must wait an hour, as
there is something rather difficult which I must learn first.'
But when the Student had waited a little, he grew impatient and
entreated permission to get in, so great was his thirst for knowledge.
Then the Man in the sack pretended to give in, and said: 'In order
that I may get out of the sack you must let it down, then you can get
in.'
So the Student let it down, undid the sack and released the Prisoner,
and said: 'Now pull me up as fast as possible'; and he tried to get
into the sack and stand upright in it.
'Stop,' said the other. 'That won't do.' And he packed him in head
first, tied it up, and slung up the Disciple of Wisdom, dangling him
in the air, and said: 'How are you, my dear fellow? You will soon feel
wisdom coming upon you, and will have a most interesting experience.
Sit still till you are wiser.'
Thereupon he mounted the Student's horse, and rode off, but sent some
one in an hour to let him down again.