The art collector

An art collector passed a beggar in the street:
‘Beggar!’, he said, ‘I expect nothing from you but wisdom!’
And tossed him a coin.
Now the beggar did not know who the man was, nor that he kept a painting beneath his coat. So he replied:
Once there was a man who went to an auction and paid a princely sum for a piece of music. When he got home he hung the manuscript on his wall. Another man went to a concert and heard the music out loud. Which man was richer?
‘That’s easy!’, said the art collector
‘The one who heard the music!’
The beggar continued:
If music is water, then it can tolerate anything but being kept still.
Now, who would go to a concert, and having enjoyed the sound, offer to pay a princely sum for the lead violin.
‘Only a fool!’, said the collector, ‘That I would never do!’
Then why do you guard your heart, said the tramp.
Why do you not give freely what was freely given to you?
As I am cold, what value the ten thousand things
But the way we feel?
The art collector did not reply
But pulled his coat and went away
Satisfied with the wisdom he had bought.