Contentment maketh a man rich—tell this to the avaricious2.
Pamper6 not thy body if thou be a man of sense, for in so doing dost thou seek thine own destruction.
Happy is that fortunate man who, in meditation10, prepares for the last journey by means of the knowledge of God.
If thou pay less attention to thy food than to worship thou mayest become an angel. First[81] cultivate the qualities of a man, then reflect upon the character of angels.
Eat in proportion to thy hunger; how can he give praises who scarce can breathe by reason of his gluttony?
He whose stomach is full is void of wisdom. The prey15 is entrapped16 in the snare17 because of its greed.
Story of the King of Khwarazm[27]
A covetous18 man paid an early morning visit to the king of Khwarazm, and twice prostrated19 himself to the ground before him.
“Tell me, O father,” his son inquired, “didst thou not say that Mecca was thy place of worship? Why didst thou to-day repeat thy prayers before the king?”
Contentment exalteth the head; that which is full of avarice comes no higher than the shoulder.
He who has wrapped up the volume of his avarice needs not to write to any one, “I am thy slave and servant.”
By begging wilt20 thou be driven from every assembly; drive it from thyself, so that no one may drive thee away.
Concerning the Evils of Over-eating
Some said to a pious21 man who was stricken with fever: “Ask for some conserve22 of roses from such a one.”
[82]
“Oh, friend,” he replied, “it were better to die in bitterness than to endure the affliction of his sour face.”
A wise man does not eat conserve of roses from the hand of one whose face has been soured by pride.
Pursue not that which thy heart desires, for the pampering23 of the body destroys the fires of life.
The gluttonous24 man bears the weight of his corpulence; if he obtain not food, he bears the weight of grief. It is better that the stomach should be empty than the mind.
In company with some religious mendicants I entered a date-grove in Busra. One of the party was a glutton. He, having girt his loins, climbed up a tree, and, falling headlong, died.
The headsman of the village asked, “Who killed this man?”
“Go softly, friend,” I answered; “he fell from a branch—’twas the weight of his stomach.”
The Amir of Tartary presented a silken robe to an elderly recluse, who, putting it on, kissed the hand of the messenger, and said: “A thousand praises to the king! Excellent is this splendid robe, but I prefer my own patched habit.”
[83]
If thou hast relinquished26 the world, sleep upon the bare ground—kiss it not before any one for the sake of a costly27 carpet.
Story illustrating28 the Evils of Avarice
To a poor man who had naught29 to eat but bread and onions, a foolish man remarked: “Go, wretched man, and bring some cooked meat from the public feast. Ask boldly and be not afraid of any one, for he who is modest must go without his share.”
Acting30 on this advice, the beggar put on his cloak and started off. The servants of the feast tore off his clothes and broke his arm.
Weeping, he cried: “Oh my soul! What remedy is there for one’s own actions? One seized by avarice becomes the seeker of his own misfortunes. After this, the bread and onions are good enough for me.”
A barley31 loaf procured32 by the exertions33 of one’s own arm is better than a loaf of flour from the table of the liberal.
Story of an Ambitious Cat
A cat who lived in the house of an old woman of humble34 circumstances wandered to the palace of a noble, whose slaves repulsed35 the animal with arrows.
[84]
Bleeding from many wounds, the cat ran off in terror, thus reflecting: “Since I have escaped from the hands of those slaves, the mice in the ruined hut of the old woman are good enough for me.”
Honey is not worth the price of a sting; better it is to be content with the syrup36 of dates than expose oneself to that.
God is not pleased with him who is not contented with his lot.
Story of a Short-sighted Man and his High-minded Wife
A certain child having cut its teeth, the father bent37 his head in anxious thought and said: “How can I obtain the bread and food of which the child will now have need?”
“Be not alarmed,” his wife replied, “for, until our child shall die, He who gave him teeth will send him bread. A rich man provides for his slave; why should not He who created the slave do likewise? Thou hast not the trust in God that the purchased slave reposes38 in his master.”
I have heard that in olden times stones became silver in the hands of saints. Think not that this is contrary to reason—when thou hast become contented, silver and stones will be as one to thee.
[85]
Say to the devotee who worships kings that a king is poorer than a darwesh.
A dinar satisfies a beggar; Faridun was but half content with the whole of the kingdom of Persia.
A beggar free from care is better off than a troubled king.
The villager and his wife sleep more happily than the king ever did in his palace.
Though one be a king and the other a cotton-carder, when they sleep in death the night of both becomes day.
When thou seest a rich man filled with pride, go and give thanks, O thou who art poor, that thou, praise be to God! hast not the power to inflict39 injury upon any one.
Story of a Holy Man who built a House
A holy man built a house as high as his own stature40. Some one said to him: “I know thee able to erect41 a better house than this.”
“Enough,” he cried, “what need have I of a lofty roof? This that I have built is high enough for a dwelling42 which I must leave at death.”
Set not thy house in the path of a flood,[28] O slave, for never will it be perfected.
Story of a Sheikh who became King
A certain king died, and, having no heir, bequeathed the throne to a venerable sheikh.[86] When the recluse heard the roar of the drums of empire, he desired no longer the corner of seclusion43. He led the army to left and right, and became so strong and valiant44 that he filled the hearts of the brave with fear.
After he had slain45 a number of his enemies, some others combined together against him and reduced him to such straits in his fortified46 town that he sent a message to a pious man, saying: “Aid me with thy prayers, for the sword and arrow do not avail.”
The devotee laughed and said: “Why did he not content himself with half a loaf and his vigils? Did not the wealth-worshipping Korah[29] know that the treasure of safety lies in the corner of retirement47?”
Generosity52 is the soil, and riches the seed that is sown; give, that the root may not be destitute53 of a branch.
Exert not thyself in the amassing54 of wealth, for evil is the smell of stagnant55 water; strive,[87] rather, to be generous, for running water becomes a flood.
If thou be a precious jewel,[30] grieve not, for Time will not pass thee by; it is the brickbat by the wayside that goes unheeded. Shavings of gold that fall from the scissors are searched for with a candle.
点击收听单词发音
1 contented | |
adj.满意的,安心的,知足的 | |
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2 avaricious | |
adj.贪婪的,贪心的 | |
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3 irresolute | |
adj.无决断的,优柔寡断的,踌躇不定的 | |
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4 tranquil | |
adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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5 revolving | |
adj.旋转的,轮转式的;循环的v.(使)旋转( revolve的现在分词 );细想 | |
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6 pamper | |
v.纵容,过分关怀 | |
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7 virtue | |
n.德行,美德;贞操;优点;功效,效力 | |
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8 devoid | |
adj.全无的,缺乏的 | |
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9 creed | |
n.信条;信念,纲领 | |
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10 meditation | |
n.熟虑,(尤指宗教的)默想,沉思,(pl.)冥想录 | |
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11 demon | |
n.魔鬼,恶魔 | |
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12 falcon | |
n.隼,猎鹰 | |
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13 avarice | |
n.贪婪;贪心 | |
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14 glutton | |
n.贪食者,好食者 | |
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15 prey | |
n.被掠食者,牺牲者,掠食;v.捕食,掠夺,折磨 | |
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16 entrapped | |
v.使陷入圈套,使入陷阱( entrap的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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17 snare | |
n.陷阱,诱惑,圈套;(去除息肉或者肿瘤的)勒除器;响弦,小军鼓;vt.以陷阱捕获,诱惑 | |
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18 covetous | |
adj.贪婪的,贪心的 | |
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19 prostrated | |
v.使俯伏,使拜倒( prostrate的过去式和过去分词 );(指疾病、天气等)使某人无能为力 | |
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20 wilt | |
v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎;(指人)疲倦,衰弱 | |
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21 pious | |
adj.虔诚的;道貌岸然的 | |
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22 conserve | |
vt.保存,保护,节约,节省,守恒,不灭 | |
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23 pampering | |
v.纵容,宠,娇养( pamper的现在分词 ) | |
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24 gluttonous | |
adj.贪吃的,贪婪的 | |
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25 recluse | |
n.隐居者 | |
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26 relinquished | |
交出,让给( relinquish的过去式和过去分词 ); 放弃 | |
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27 costly | |
adj.昂贵的,价值高的,豪华的 | |
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28 illustrating | |
给…加插图( illustrate的现在分词 ); 说明; 表明; (用示例、图画等)说明 | |
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29 naught | |
n.无,零 [=nought] | |
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30 acting | |
n.演戏,行为,假装;adj.代理的,临时的,演出用的 | |
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31 barley | |
n.大麦,大麦粒 | |
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32 procured | |
v.(努力)取得, (设法)获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 );拉皮条 | |
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33 exertions | |
n.努力( exertion的名词复数 );费力;(能力、权力等的)运用;行使 | |
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34 humble | |
adj.谦卑的,恭顺的;地位低下的;v.降低,贬低 | |
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35 repulsed | |
v.击退( repulse的过去式和过去分词 );驳斥;拒绝 | |
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36 syrup | |
n.糖浆,糖水 | |
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37 bent | |
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的 | |
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38 reposes | |
v.将(手臂等)靠在某人(某物)上( repose的第三人称单数 ) | |
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39 inflict | |
vt.(on)把…强加给,使遭受,使承担 | |
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40 stature | |
n.(高度)水平,(高度)境界,身高,身材 | |
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41 erect | |
n./v.树立,建立,使竖立;adj.直立的,垂直的 | |
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42 dwelling | |
n.住宅,住所,寓所 | |
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43 seclusion | |
n.隐遁,隔离 | |
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44 valiant | |
adj.勇敢的,英勇的;n.勇士,勇敢的人 | |
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45 slain | |
杀死,宰杀,杀戮( slay的过去分词 ); (slay的过去分词) | |
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46 fortified | |
adj. 加强的 | |
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47 retirement | |
n.退休,退职 | |
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48 discourse | |
n.论文,演说;谈话;话语;vi.讲述,著述 | |
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49 attain | |
vt.达到,获得,完成 | |
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50 sordid | |
adj.肮脏的,不干净的,卑鄙的,暗淡的 | |
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51 remains | |
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹 | |
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52 generosity | |
n.大度,慷慨,慷慨的行为 | |
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53 destitute | |
adj.缺乏的;穷困的 | |
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54 amassing | |
v.积累,积聚( amass的现在分词 ) | |
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55 stagnant | |
adj.不流动的,停滞的,不景气的 | |
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56 miser | |
n.守财奴,吝啬鬼 (adj.miserly) | |
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