Persian Literature, Volume 2, Comprising The Shah Nameh | Page 8

and experience
have remarked that it behooves us to guard against the wrath and fury
of kings, whose noble thoughts are chiefly occupied with important
affairs of state, and cannot endure the importunate clamors of the
vulgar.--The bounty of the sovereign is forbid to him who does not
watch a proper opportunity. Till thou canst perceive a convenient time
for obtruding an opinion, undermine not thy consequence by idle
talk.--The king said, "Let this impudent beggar and spendthrift be
beaten and driven away, who in a short time dissipated such a sum of
money, for the treasury of the Beat-al-mal, or charity fund, is intended
to afford mouthfuls to the poor, and not bellyfuls to the imps of the
devil.--That fool who can illuminate the day with a camphorated taper
must soon feel a want of oil for his lamp at night."
One of his discreet ministers said: "O king, it were expedient to supply
such people with their means of subsistence by instalments, that they
may not squander their absolute necessaries; but, with respect to what
your majesty commanded as to coercion and prohibition, though it be
correct, a party might impute it to parsimony. Nor does it moreover
accord with the principles of the generous to encourage a man to hope
for kindness and then overwhelm him with heartbreaking
distrust:--Thou must not open upon thyself the door of covetousness;
and when opened, thou must not shut it with harshness.--Nobody will
see the thirsty pilgrims crowding towards the shore of the briny ocean;

but men, birds, and reptiles will flock together wherever they can meet
a fresh water fountain."
XIV
One of the ancient kings was easy with the yeomanry in collecting his
revenue, but hard on the soldiery in his issue of pay; and when a
formidable enemy showed its face, these all turned their
backs.--Whenever the king is remiss in paying his troops, the troops
will relax in handling their arms. What bravery can he display in the
ranks of battle whose hand is destitute of the means of living?
One of those who had excused themselves was in some sort my
intimate. I reproached him and said, "He is base and ungrateful, mean
and disreputable who, on a trifling change of circumstances, can desert
his old master and forget his obligation of many years' employment."
He replied: "Were I to speak out, I swear by generosity you would
excuse me. Peradventure, my horse was without corn, and the housings
of his saddle in pawn.--And the prince who, through parsimony,
withholds his army's pay cannot expect it to enter heartily upon his
service."--Give money to the gallant soldier that he may be zealous in
thy cause, for if he is stinted of his due he will go abroad for
service.--_So long as a warrior is replenished with food he will fight
valiantly, and when his belly is empty he will run away sturdily_.
XV
One of the vizirs was displaced, and withdrew into a fraternity of
dervishes, whose blessed society made its impression upon him and
afforded consolation to his mind. The king was again favorably
disposed towards him, and offered his reinstatement in office; but he
consented not, and said, "With the wise it is deemed preferable to be
out of office than to remain in place.--Such as sat within the cell of
retirement blunted the teeth of dogs, and shut the mouths of mankind;
they destroyed their writings, and broke their writing reeds, and
escaped the lash and venom of the critics."--The king answered: "At all
events I require a prudent and able man, who is capable of managing
the state affairs of my kingdom." The ex-minister said: "The criterion,

O sire, of a wise and competent man is that he will not meddle with
such like matters.--The homayi, or phoenix, is honored above all other
birds because it feeds on bones, and injures no living creature."
A Tamsil, or application in point.--They asked a Siyah-gosh, or
lion-provider, "Why do you choose the service of the lion?" He
answered: "Because I subsist on the leavings of his prey, and am secure
from the ill-will of my enemies under the asylum of his valor." They
said: "Now you have got within the shadow of his protection and admit
a grateful sense of his bounty, why do you not approach more closely,
that he may include you within the circle of select courtiers and number
you among his chosen servants?" He replied, "I should not thus be safe
from his violence."--Though a Guebre may keep his fire alight for a
hundred years, if he fall once within its flame it will burn him.--_Procul
à Jove, procul à fulmine_. It on one occasion may chance that the
courtier of the king's presence shall pick up a purse of gold, and