e wary, and preserve the state
of thine own character, and leave sport and buffoonery to jesters and
courtiers."

XVI

One of my associates brought me a complaint of his perverse fortune,
saying, "I have small means and a large family, and cannot bear up with
my load of poverty. Often has a thought crossed my mind, suggesting, Let
me remove into another country, that in whatever way I can manage a
livelihood none may be informed of my good or bad luck."--(Often he
went asleep hungry, and nobody was aware, saying, "Who is he?" Often did
his life hang upon his lip, and none lamented over him.)--"On the other
hand, I reflect on the exultation of my rivals, saying, They will
scoffingly sneer behind my back, and impute my zeal in behalf of my
family to a want of humanity.--Do but behold that graceless vagabond who
can never witness the face of good fortune. He will consult the ease of
his own person and abandon to distress his wife and children.--And, as
is known, I have some small skill in the science of accounts. If,
through your respected interest, any office can be obtained that may be
the means of quieting my mind, I shall not, during the remainder of
life, be able to express my sense of its gratitude."

I replied, "O brother, the service of kings offers a twofold prospect--a
hope of maintenance and a fear for existence; and it accords not with
the counsel of the wise, under that expectation, to incur this risk.--No
tax-gatherer will enter the dervish's abode, saying, Pay me the rent of
a field and orchard; either put up with trouble and chagrin, or give thy
heartstrings to the crows to pluck."

He said, "This speech is not made as applicable to my case, nor have you
given me a categorical answer. Have you not heard what has been
remarked, 'His hand will tremble on rendering his account who has been
accessory to a dishonest act.--Righteousness will insure the divine
favor; I never met him going astray who took the righteous path.'--And
philosophers have said, 'Four orders of people are mortally afraid of
four others--the revenue embezzler, of the king; the thief, of the
watchman; the fornicator, of the eavesdropper; and the adulteress, of
the censor.' But what has he to fear from the comptroller who has a fair
set of account-books?--'Be not extravagant and corrupt while in office
if thou wishest that the malice of thy rival may be circumscribed on
settling thy accounts. Be undefiled, O brother, in thy integrity, a