RECORDS OF THE MORAL MAXIMS OF THE LORD LOQMÂN.

Loqmân said to his son Thârân: ‘Be always patient and truthful; subject thy passions to thy principles, and never commit forbidden acts. Be abstemious in this world, despise misfortunes, and love nothing more than the bliss of eternal salvation. Be content with little and satisfied with thy daily nourishment predestined for thee, and covet not riches, that thou mayest remain free from sensuality. Be hungry of victuals, but filled with wisdom; speak not uncivilly to anyone, but meditate a great deal, and consider silence to be thy duty, that thou mayest remain free from the evil consequences of loquacity. When people praise thee for something which exists not in thy nature, do not suffer thyself to be deceived, because by foolish words a potsherd will never be transmuted into a pearl. Quarrel not with superiors, despise not inferiors, and ask not help from fools. Do not work for the loss of thy own, and the gain of the property of others. Thy property is that which thou accumulatest for the next world, and not that which thou leavest to others for an inheritance. Oh, my son! take refuge with God—w. n. b. e.—from bad and wicked women; and be on thy guard from good women, because all their ways tend to evil. If thou desirest to tie the knot of brotherhood with anyone, that he may be of use to thee in hardship and distress, select him for a friend and brother whom thou findest equitable, even under the provocation of anger, or else be on thy guard. Do not allow thyself to be influenced by suspicions, because then no one will be thy friend. Be affable, open, sincere, easy in transactions, and not morose, because thus thou wilt cement amity. It is more easy for princes to die than to govern flagitious men. When kings are misers, they leave a bad name behind; it is, nevertheless, better to spend little judiciously than to expend much with prodigality.’