◆ SpookStack

THE DIVINE INSTRUCTIONS - b J 8. The hedrt of the vain is troubled while it seemeth content; his ~~” cares are greater than his pleasures. . - 9. His solicitude cannot rest with his bones, the grave is not deep 4 enough to hide it; he extendeth his thoughts beyond Eis being: he be- speaketh praise, to be paid when he is gone; but whosoever promiseth it, ; deceiveth him. ‘ ~ 10. As the man who engageth his wife to remain in widowhood, tha: she disturb not his soul; so is he who expecieth that his praise shall teach his ears beneath the earth, or cherish his heart in its shroud ; 11. Lo well whilst thou livest; but regard not what is said of it. Content thyself with deserving praise, and thy posterity shall rejoice in hearing it. ; . 12. As the butterfly who seeth not his own colors, as the jasmine which feeleth not the scent it casteth around it; so is the man who ap- peareth gay, and biddeth others to take note of it, 13. “To what purpose,” saith he, “is my vesture of gold, to what end are my tables filled with dainties, if no eye gaze upon them, if the world knew it not?” Give thy raiment to the naked, and thy food unto the hungry; so shalt thou be praised, and feel that thou deserveth it. 14. Why bestoweth thou in every man the flattery of unmeaning words? Thou knowest, when returned thee, thou regardest it not. He knoweth he lieth unto thee, yet he knoweth thou will thank him for it. Speak in sincerity, and thou wilt hear with instruction. . 15. The vain delighteth to speak of himself; but he seeth not that =". others like not to hear him. - + 16. If he hath done anything worth praise, if he possesseth that _ which is worthy of admiration, his Joy is to proclaim it, his pride to hear it reported. The desire of such a man defeateth itself. Men say not: “Behold, he hath done it,” or “See, he possesseth it,” but “Mark bow proud he is of it.” ° 17. ‘The heart of man cannot attend at once to many things. He : who fixeth his soul on show, loseth reality. He pursueth bubbles, which ‘ break in their flight, while he treads to earth what would him honor. . ‘CHAPTER XLI HOLY INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE PROPHET INCONSTANCY 1 Roature a: be te ete —ae! Mire i. Nature urgeth thee to inconstancy, O man! Therefore guard thyself at all times against it. a . 2. Thou art, from the womb of thy mother, various and wavering, from the loins of thy father’ inheritest instability. How then shalt thou be firm? 3. Those who gave thee a body, furnished it with weakness: but He who gave thee a soul, armed thee with resolution. Employ it, and thou art wise, be wise, and thou art happy. © , 4 Let him who doeth well, beware how he boasteth of it, for rarely - ‘$3 tt of his own will. '_ 3. ‘Ig not the event of an impulse, from without, born of uncertainty, ~ * enforced by accident, dependent, on somewhat else? To thee, and to . accident, is due the praise. ‘