A hedgehog once too up his abode by the side of a datepalm，whereon roosted a woodpigeon and his wife that had built their next there and lived a life of ease and enjoyment.So he said to himself，'This pigeonpair eateth of the fruit of the date tree and I have no means of getting at it；but needs must I find some fashion of tricking them.Upon this he dug a hole at the foot of the palm tree and took up his lodgings there，he and his wife；moreover，he built an oratory beside the hole and went into retreat there and made a show of devotion and edification and renunciation of the world.The male pigeon saw him praying and worshipping，and his heart was softened towards him for his excess of devoutness；so he said to him，'How many years hast thou been thus？'Replied the hedgehog，'During the last thirty years.''What is thy food？''That which falleth from the palm tree.''And what is thy clothing？''Prickles！ and I profit by their roughness.''And why hast thou chosen this for place rather than another？''I chose it and preferred it to all others that I might guide the erring into the right way and teach the ignorant！''I had fancied thy case，'quoth the woodpigeon，'other than this，but now I yearn for that which is with thee.'
Quoth the hedgehog，'I fear lest thy deed contradict thy word and thou be even as the husbandman who，when the seedseason came，neglected to sow，saying，'Verily I dread lest the days bring me not to my desire and by making hast to sow I shall only waste my substance！'When harvesttime came and he saw the folk earing their crops，he repented him of what he had lost by his tardiness and he died of chagrin and vexation.'Asked the woodpigeon，'What then shall I do that I may be freed from the bonds of the world and cut myself loose from all things save the service of my Lord？'Answered the hedgehog，'Betake thee to preparing for the next world and content thyself with a pittance of provision.'
Quoth the pigeon，'How can I do this，I that am a bird and unable to go beyond the datetree whereon is my daily bread？And even could I do so，I know of no other place wherein I may wone.'