the traveller's despair.

Lucman, the fabulist and philosopher, happened to be among them. One of
the travellers spoke to him, saying, "Direct some maxims of wisdom and
admonition to them; perhaps they may restore a part of our goods; for it
were a pity that articles of such value should be cast away." He
answered: "It were a pity to cast away the admonitions of wisdom upon
them!" From that iron which the rust has corroded thou canst not
eradicate the canker with a file. What purpose will it answer to preach
to the gloomy-minded infidel? A nail of iron cannot penetrate into a
piece of flint.

Perhaps the fault has been on our part (in not being charitable), as
they have said:--"On the day of thy prosperity remember the bankrupt and
needy, for by visiting the hearts of the poor with charity thou shalt
divert calamity. When the beggar solicits alms from thee, bestow it with
a good grace; otherwise the tyrant may come and take it by force."

* * * * *

XX

They asked Lucman, the fabulist, "From whom did you learn manners?" He
answered, "From the unmannerly, for I was careful to avoid whatever part
of their behavior seemed to me bad." They will not speak a word in joke
from which the wise cannot derive instruction; let them read a hundred
chapters of wisdom to a fool, and they will all seem but a jest to him.

XXI

They tell a story of an abid, who in the course of a night would eat ten
mans, or pounds, of food, and in his devotions repeat the whole Koran
before morning. A good and holy man heard this, and said, "Had he eaten
half a loaf of bread, and gone to sleep, he would have done a more
meritorious act." Keep thy inside unencumbered with victuals, that the
light of good works may shine within thee; but thou art void of wisdom
and knowledge, because thou art filled up to the nose with food.

XXII

The divine favor had placed the lamp of grace in the path of a wanderer
in forbidden ways, till it directed him into the circle of the
righteous, and the blessed society of dervishes, and their spiritual
co-operation enabled him to convert his wicked propensities into
praiseworthy deeds, and to restrain himself in sensual indulgences; yet
were the tongues of calumniators questioning his sincerity, and saying,
He retains his original habits, and there is no trusting to his piety
and goodness.--By the means of repentance thou mayest get delivered from
the wrath of God, but there is