If thou wilt listen to advice...

If thou wilt listen to advice, padshah, There is none better in all books than this: 'Entrust a business to an intelligent man Although it may not be his occupation.' Maxim 6 Three things cannot subsist without three things: property without trade, science without controversy and a country without punishment. Speak sometimes in a friendly, conciliatory, manly way Perhaps thou wilt ensnare a heart with the lasso.

Sometimes speak in anger; for a hundred jars of sugar Will on occasion not have the effect of one dose of colocynth. Maxim 7 To have mercy upon the bad is to injure the good; to pardon tyrants is to do violence to dervishes. If thou associatest and art friendly with a wretch He will commit sin with thy wealth and make thee his partner.

Admonition 1 The amity of princes and the sweet voice of children are not to be trusted, because the former is changed by fancy and the latter in the course of one night. Give not thy heart to a sweetheart of a thousand lovers, And if thou givest it, thou givest that heart for separation. Admonition 2 Confide not to a friend every secret thou possessest. How knowest thou that he will not some time become thy foe?

Inflict not every injury thou canst upon an enemy because it is possible that one day he may become thy friend. Admonition 3 Reveal not thy secret to any man although he may be trustworthy, because no one can keep thy secret better than thyself. Silence is preferable than to tell thy mind To anyone; saying what is to remain unsaid. O simpleton, stop the source of the spring. When it becomes full, the brook cannot be stopped.

Maxim 8 A weak foe, who professes submission and shows friendship, has no other object than to become a strong enemy. It has been said that as the friendship of friends is unreliable, what trust can be put in the flattery of enemies? Admonition 4 Who despises an insignificant enemy resembles him who is careless about fire. Extinguish it today, while it may be quenched, Because when fire is high, it burns the world. Allow not the bow to be spanned By a foe because an arrow may pierce.

Admonition 5 Speak so between two enemies that thou mayest not be put to shame if they become friends. Between two men contention is like fire, The ill-starred back-biter being the wood-carrier. When both of them become friends again He will among them be unhappy and ashamed. To kindle fire between two men Is not wise but is to burn oneself therein.