plunder. Behold a religious man, who threw a
patched cloak over his shoulders; he made the covering of the Cabah the
housing of an ass. So soon as he got out of the sight of the dervishes,
he scaled a bastion of the fort and stole a casket. Before break of day
that gloomy-minded robber had got a great way off, and left his innocent
companions asleep. In the morning they were all carried into the
citadel, and thrown into a dungeon. From that time we have declined any
addition to our party, and kept apart to ourselves, _for there is safety
in unity, but danger in duality or a multitude_.--When an individual of
a sect committed an act of folly, the high and the low sunk in their
dignity. Dost thou not see that one ox in a pasturage will cast a slur
upon all the oxen of the village?

I said: "Let there be thanksgiving to a Deity of majesty and glory that
I am not forbid the benefits of dervishes, notwithstanding I am in
appearance excluded from their society; and I am instructed by this
narration, and others like me may profit by its moral during their
remaining lives.--From one indiscreet person in an assembly a host of
the prudent may get hurt. If they fill a cistern to the brim with
rose-water, and let a dog fall into it, the whole will be
contaminated."

VI

A zahid was the guest of a king. When he sat down at table he ate more
sparingly from that than his appetite inclined him, and when he stood up
at prayers he continued longer at them than it was his custom; that they
might form a high opinion of his sanctity.--I fear, O Arab! that thou
wilt not reach the Caabah; for the road that thou art taking leads to
Turkistan, or the region of infidels.

When he returned home he ordered the table to be spread that he might
eat. His son was a youth of a shrewd understanding. He said: "O father,
perhaps you ate little or nothing at the feast of the king?" He
answered, "In his presence I ate scarce anything that could answer its
purpose!" Then retorted the boy, "Repeat also your prayers, that nothing
be omitted that can serve a purpose." Yes, thy virtues thou hast exposed
in the palm of thy hand, thy vices thou hast hid under thy arm-pit. Take
heed, O hypocrite, what thou wilt be able to purchase with this base
money on the day of need or day of judgment.

VII

I remember that in my early youth I was overmuch religious and vigilant,
and scrupulously pious and abstinent. One night I sat up in attendance
on my father, o