Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

man carefully shun; but what depends on himself, to that let him studiously attend. All that depends on another gives pain: all that depends on himself gives pleasure.

Servility.

CCCCLXIII.

If there come into your assembly a man with a gold ring, in splendid apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment, and ye have respect to him that weareth the splendid apparel, and say, Sit thou here in a good place, and say to the poor man, Stand thou there, or, Sit under my footstool; have ye not been partial among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

If indeed ye fulfil the royal law, according to the scriptures, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself,'

[ocr errors]

ye do well. But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin.

Reputation.

CCCCLXIV.

If you are ashamed of a thing, do not do it. Birds when they fly leave only a sound: man passes, and his reputation follows him.

[blocks in formation]

A house of straw and laughter is better than a palace and weeping.

Seasonable Aid.

CCCCLXVI.

To him who gives thee immediately a drop of water, thou wilt give in exchange a vast fortune.

Riches.

CCCCLXVII.

If thirst of riches be abandoned, who is poor? While the satisfied man is rich in himself, the insatiable with a river of gold is still poor. As food is acquired by fowls in the air, and by beasts on earth, and fish in water, a man may in all places be rich. Mark the bounty of God! When the new-born babe falls from the mother, the breast streams for its support. He by whom flamingoes, green parrots, and peacocks are brilliantly attired, hath made provision for thee also.

CCCCLXVIII.

Contentment.

Smile not at the legend as vain, that once in holy hands a worthless stone became a heap of silver. Let thy alchemist be Contentment, and stone or ore shall be equal to thee. The infant, with heart untroubled by avarice, fills its little hand with sand, and knows not that silver has more worth. A small coin makes the beggar rich; but Ferídún was not satisfied with a kingdom.

CCCCLXIX.

Prosperity.

The goddess of Prosperity hastens voluntarily to inhabit the mansion of that brave man who lives contented, despatches his business, knows the difference of actions, is able to bear misfortunes, and is firm in friendship.

The goddess of Prosperity desires not to dwell with a lazy unemployed man.

Gain all you can, and what you gain keep with care; what you keep increase, and what you increase bestow on good works. The man who neither gives nor enjoys the wealth that every day increases, breathes indeed, like the bellows of a smith, but cannot be said to live.

Let a man remark the quick increase of a white ant's nest, and suffer no day to pass unfruitful in charity, study, and work.

CONDUCT OF LIFE.

Living with Others.

CCCCLXX.

An ill-conditioned man sneers at everything: one thing he ought to know, and knows not his own faults.

Vices and virtues the sons of mortals bear in their breasts mingled: no one is so good that no failing attends him, nor so bad as to be good for nothing.

The heart alone can buy the heart; the soul alone can discern the soul.

Happy is he whom others love; for all that mortals undertake requires the helping hand.

No man lacks everything, although his health be bad one in his sons is happy, one in his kindred; one in his abundant wealth, another in his good works.

:

The halt can ride on horseback, the one-handed drive cattle, the deaf fight and be useful.

Little are the sand grains (that make the earth); little are human wits: men are everywhere by halves. No disease is worse to a sensible man than not to be content with himself.

Home is still home, however homely, and sweet the crust shared with our kindred; but he who feasts at others' boards shall often bite a writhing lip.

Happiness.

CCCCLXXI.

Men driven by fear go to many a refuge, to mountains and forest, to groves, and sacred trees.

But that is not a safe refuge that is not the best refuge; a man is not delivered from all pains after having gone to that refuge.

Let us live happily, then, not hating those who

hate us.

.

Let us live happily, then, though we call nothing

our own.

Victory breeds hatred, for the conquered is unhappy. He who has given up both victory and

defeat, he, the contented, is happy.

Health is the greatest of gifts; contentedness the best riches; trust is the best of relatives; perfect repose (Nirvana) the highest happiness.

He who possesses virtue and intelligence, who is just, speaks the truth, and does what is his own business, him the world will hold dear.

CCCCLXXII.

Unproductive Force.

Of what use is wealth to him who neither gives nor enjoys it? What is strength to him who subdues

« AnteriorContinuar »