White Hyacinths to feed my soul. August flowers

"If I had but two loaves of bread
I would sell one of them
& buy White Hyacinths to feed my soul."- Elbert Hubbard (1856-1915)

Naughty Elbert seems to be para-phrasing;
"If, of thy mortal goods, thou art bereft,
And from thy slender store two loaves
alone to thee are left,
Sell one & from the dole,
Buy Hyacinths to feed the soul"
- Muslihuddin Sadi,
13th Century Persian Poet