CVII

The beggar whose end is good is better off than the king whose end is evil:—­That sorrow which is the harbinger of joy is preferable to the joy which is followed by sorrow.

CVIII

The sky enriches the earth with rain, and the earth gives it dust in return.  As the Arabs say:  “What the vessels have, that they give.”—­If my moral character strike thee as improper, do not renounce thine own good character.

CIX

The Most High God discerns and hides what is improper; my neighbor sees not, and is loud in his clamor:—­God preserve us! if man knew what is hidden, none could be safe from the animadversion of his neighbor.

CX

Gold is got from the mine by digging into the earth; and from the grasp of the miser by taking away his life:—­Misers spend not, but watch with solicitude:  expectation, they say, is preferable to waste.  Next day observe to the joy of their enemies, the gold remains, and they are dead without the enjoyment of that hope.

CXI

Such as deal hard with the weak will suffer from the extortion of the strong:—­It is not every arm in which there is strength that can wrench the hand of a weak man.  Bring not affliction upon the hearts of the feeble, lest thou may’st fall under the lash of the strong.

CXII

A wise man, where he meets opposition, labors to get through it, and where he finds quiet he drops his anchor, for there safety is on one side, and here enjoyment in the middle of it.

CXIII

The gamester wants three sixes, but he throws only three aces:—­The pasture meadow is a thousand times richer than the common, but the horse has not his tether at command.

CXIV

The dervish in his prayer is saying:  “O God, have compassion on the wicked, for to the good thou hast been abundantly kind, inasmuch as thou hast made them virtuous.”

CXV

Jemshid was the first person who put an edging round his garment, and a ring upon his finger.  They asked him:  “Why did you bestow all the decoration and ornament on the left hand, whilst the right is the superior?” He answered:  “Sufficient for the right is the ornament of being right.”  Feridun commanded the gilders of China that they would inscribe upon the front of his palace:  “Strive, O wise man, to make the wicked good, for the good are of themselves great and fortunate.”

CXVI

They said to a great and holy man:  “Notwithstanding the superiority that the right hand commands, who do they wear the ring on the left hand?” He replied:  “Are you not aware that the best are most neglected!  He who casts our horoscope, provision, and fortune, bestows upon us either good luck or wisdom.”