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Take thought nor haste to win the thing thou wilt; * Have ruth on

man for ruth thou may'st require: No hand is there but Allah's

hand is higher; * No tyrant but shall rue worse tyrant's ire!

The THIRD BEHEST is, Learn to be silent in society and let thine

own faults distract thine attention from the faults of other men:

for it is said:-In silence dwelleth safety, and thereon I have

heard the lines that tell us:-

Reserve's a jewel, Silence safety is; * Whenas thou speakest many

a word withhold; For an of Silence thou repent thee once, * Of

speech thou shalt repent times manifold.

The FOURTH BEHEST, O my son, is Beware of wine-bibbing, for wine

is the head of all frowardness and a fine solvent of human wits.

So shun, and again I say, shun mixing strong liquor; for I have

heard a poet say [FN#392]:-

From wine [FN#393] I turn and whoso wine-cups swill; * Becoming

one of those who deem it ill: Wine driveth man to miss

salvation-way, [FN#394] * And opes the gateway wide to sins that

kill.