صفحة 789 من 1116

Then said I, "Do leave off talking about what concerneth thee

not: indeed thou hast straitened my breast and distracted my

mind." Quoth he, "Meseems thou art a hasty man;" and quoth I,

"Yes ! yes! yes!" and he, "I rede thee practice restraint of

self, for haste is Satan's pelf which bequeatheth only repentance

and ban and bane, and He (upon whom be blessings and peace!) hath

said, 'The best of works is that wherein deliberation lurks;' but

I, by Allah!