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CHAPTER VI
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 CONCERNING CONTENTMENT
 
He knows not God nor performs His worship who is not contented1 with his lot.
 
Contentment maketh a man rich—tell this to the avaricious2.
 
O irresolute3 one! be tranquil4, for grass grows not upon revolving5 stones.
 
Pamper6 not thy body if thou be a man of sense, for in so doing dost thou seek thine own destruction.
 
The wise acquire virtue7, and they that pamper their bodies are devoid8 of merit.
 
Eating and sleeping is the creed9 of animals; to adopt it is the manner of fools.
 
Happy is that fortunate man who, in meditation10, prepares for the last journey by means of the knowledge of God.
 
To him who knows not the darkness from the light the face of a demon11 is as that of a Houri.[26]
 
How can the falcon12 fly to the sky when the stone of avarice13 is tied to its wing?
 
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.
Story of a Glutton14
 
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.”
Story of a Recluse25
 
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?”
Discourse48 concerning Riches
 
The generous man may attain49 to perfection although he possess not gold.
 
Dost think that if a mean man became a Korah his sordid50 nature would be changed?
 
If he who trades in liberality obtain not bread, his nature remains51 yet rich.
 
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.
 
The miser56 who falls from position and wealth but seldom stands a second time upon his feet.
 
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.

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 contented Gvxzof     
adj.满意的,安心的,知足的
参考例句:
  • He won't be contented until he's upset everyone in the office.不把办公室里的每个人弄得心烦意乱他就不会满足。
  • The people are making a good living and are contented,each in his station.人民安居乐业。
2 avaricious kepyY     
adj.贪婪的,贪心的
参考例句:
  • I call on your own memory as witness:remember we have avaricious hearts.假使你想要保证和证明,你可以回忆一下我们贪婪的心。
  • He is so avaricious that we call him a blood sucker.他如此贪婪,我们都叫他吸血鬼。
3 irresolute X3Vyy     
adj.无决断的,优柔寡断的,踌躇不定的
参考例句:
  • Irresolute persons make poor victors.优柔寡断的人不会成为胜利者。
  • His opponents were too irresolute to call his bluff.他的对手太优柔寡断,不敢接受挑战。
4 tranquil UJGz0     
adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的
参考例句:
  • The boy disturbed the tranquil surface of the pond with a stick. 那男孩用棍子打破了平静的池面。
  • The tranquil beauty of the village scenery is unique. 这乡村景色的宁静是绝无仅有的。
5 revolving 3jbzvd     
adj.旋转的,轮转式的;循环的v.(使)旋转( revolve的现在分词 );细想
参考例句:
  • The theatre has a revolving stage. 剧院有一个旋转舞台。
  • The company became a revolving-door workplace. 这家公司成了工作的中转站。
6 pamper y4uzA     
v.纵容,过分关怀
参考例句:
  • Don't pamper your little daughter.别把你的小女儿娇坏了!
  • You need to pamper yourself and let your charm come through.你需要对自己放纵一些来表现你的魅力。
7 virtue BpqyH     
n.德行,美德;贞操;优点;功效,效力
参考例句:
  • He was considered to be a paragon of virtue.他被认为是品德尽善尽美的典范。
  • You need to decorate your mind with virtue.你应该用德行美化心灵。
8 devoid dZzzx     
adj.全无的,缺乏的
参考例句:
  • He is completely devoid of humour.他十分缺乏幽默。
  • The house is totally devoid of furniture.这所房子里什么家具都没有。
9 creed uoxzL     
n.信条;信念,纲领
参考例句:
  • They offended against every article of his creed.他们触犯了他的每一条戒律。
  • Our creed has always been that business is business.我们的信条一直是公私分明。
10 meditation yjXyr     
n.熟虑,(尤指宗教的)默想,沉思,(pl.)冥想录
参考例句:
  • This peaceful garden lends itself to meditation.这个恬静的花园适于冥想。
  • I'm sorry to interrupt your meditation.很抱歉,我打断了你的沉思。
11 demon Wmdyj     
n.魔鬼,恶魔
参考例句:
  • The demon of greed ruined the miser's happiness.贪得无厌的恶习毁掉了那个守财奴的幸福。
  • He has been possessed by the demon of disease for years.他多年来病魔缠身。
12 falcon rhCzO     
n.隼,猎鹰
参考例句:
  • The falcon was twice his size with pouted feathers.鹰张开羽毛比两只鹰还大。
  • The boys went hunting with their falcon.男孩子们带着猎鹰出去打猎了。
13 avarice KeHyX     
n.贪婪;贪心
参考例句:
  • Avarice is the bane to happiness.贪婪是损毁幸福的祸根。
  • Their avarice knows no bounds and you can never satisfy them.他们贪得无厌,你永远无法满足他们。
14 glutton y6GyF     
n.贪食者,好食者
参考例句:
  • She's a glutton for work.She stays late every evening.她是个工作狂,每天都很晚才下班。
  • He is just a glutton.He is addicted to excessive eating.他就是个老饕,贪吃成性。
15 prey g1czH     
n.被掠食者,牺牲者,掠食;v.捕食,掠夺,折磨
参考例句:
  • Stronger animals prey on weaker ones.弱肉强食。
  • The lion was hunting for its prey.狮子在寻找猎物。
16 entrapped eb21b3b8e7dad36e21d322e11b46715d     
v.使陷入圈套,使入陷阱( entrap的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He was entrapped into undertaking the work. 他受骗而担任那工作。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He felt he had been entrapped into marrying her. 他觉得和她结婚是上了当。 来自辞典例句
17 snare XFszw     
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
参考例句:
  • I used to snare small birds such as sparrows.我曾常用罗网捕捉麻雀等小鸟。
  • Most of the people realized that their scheme was simply a snare and a delusion.大多数人都认识到他们的诡计不过是一个骗人的圈套。
18 covetous Ropz0     
adj.贪婪的,贪心的
参考例句:
  • She is envious of Jane's good looks and covetous of her car.她既忌妒简的美貌又垂涎她的汽车。
  • He raised his head,with a look of unrestrained greed in his covetous eyes.他抬起头来,贪婪的眼光露出馋涎欲滴的神情。
19 prostrated 005b7f6be2182772064dcb09f1a7c995     
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
参考例句:
  • He was prostrated by the loss of his wife. 他因丧妻而忧郁。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • They prostrated themselves before the emperor. 他们拜倒在皇帝的面前。 来自《简明英汉词典》
20 wilt oMNz5     
v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎;(指人)疲倦,衰弱
参考例句:
  • Golden roses do not wilt and will never need to be watered.金色的玫瑰不枯萎绝也不需要浇水。
  • Several sleepless nights made him wilt.数个不眠之夜使他憔悴。
21 pious KSCzd     
adj.虔诚的;道貌岸然的
参考例句:
  • Alexander is a pious follower of the faith.亚历山大是个虔诚的信徒。
  • Her mother was a pious Christian.她母亲是一个虔诚的基督教徒。
22 conserve vYRyP     
vt.保存,保护,节约,节省,守恒,不灭
参考例句:
  • He writes on both sides of the sheet to conserve paper.他在纸张的两面都写字以节省用纸。
  • Conserve your energy,you'll need it!保存你的精力,你会用得着的!
23 pampering 02c53488e446442c68ed39d5e01ab5f1     
v.纵容,宠,娇养( pamper的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • But you need to make an appointment because these people are usually very busy pampering pets. 但是你需要先预约,因为这些人通常都在忙于照顾宠物们。 来自超越目标英语 第2册
  • He had been pampering, and coaxing, and indulging that individual all his life. 他一生都在姑息、迁就、纵容那家伙。 来自辞典例句
24 gluttonous Leazj     
adj.贪吃的,贪婪的
参考例句:
  • He is a gluttonous and lazy guy.他是个好吃懒做之徒。
  • He is a selfish, gluttonous and lazy person.他是一个自私、贪婪又懒惰的人。
25 recluse YC4yA     
n.隐居者
参考例句:
  • The old recluse secluded himself from the outside world.这位老隐士与外面的世界隔绝了。
  • His widow became a virtual recluse for the remainder of her life.他的寡妻孤寂地度过了余生。
26 relinquished 2d789d1995a6a7f21bb35f6fc8d61c5d     
交出,让给( relinquish的过去式和过去分词 ); 放弃
参考例句:
  • She has relinquished the post to her cousin, Sir Edward. 她把职位让给了表弟爱德华爵士。
  • The small dog relinquished his bone to the big dog. 小狗把它的骨头让给那只大狗。
27 costly 7zXxh     
adj.昂贵的,价值高的,豪华的
参考例句:
  • It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
  • This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用,左不过贵了些。
28 illustrating a99f5be8a18291b13baa6ba429f04101     
给…加插图( illustrate的现在分词 ); 说明; 表明; (用示例、图画等)说明
参考例句:
  • He upstaged the other speakers by illustrating his talk with slides. 他演讲中配上幻灯片,比其他演讲人更吸引听众。
  • Material illustrating detailed structure of graptolites has been etched from limestone by means of hydrofluoric acid. 表明笔石详细构造的物质是利用氢氟酸从石灰岩中侵蚀出来。
29 naught wGLxx     
n.无,零 [=nought]
参考例句:
  • He sets at naught every convention of society.他轻视所有的社会习俗。
  • I hope that all your efforts won't go for naught.我希望你的努力不会毫无结果。
30 acting czRzoc     
n.演戏,行为,假装;adj.代理的,临时的,演出用的
参考例句:
  • Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她,她只是假装的。
  • During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代,她的表演生涯黯然失色。
31 barley 2dQyq     
n.大麦,大麦粒
参考例句:
  • They looked out across the fields of waving barley.他们朝田里望去,只见大麦随风摇摆。
  • He cropped several acres with barley.他种了几英亩大麦。
32 procured 493ee52a2e975a52c94933bb12ecc52b     
v.(努力)取得, (设法)获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 );拉皮条
参考例句:
  • These cars are to be procured through open tender. 这些汽车要用公开招标的办法购买。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • A friend procured a position in the bank for my big brother. 一位朋友为我哥哥谋得了一个银行的职位。 来自《用法词典》
33 exertions 2d5ee45020125fc19527a78af5191726     
n.努力( exertion的名词复数 );费力;(能力、权力等的)运用;行使
参考例句:
  • As long as they lived, exertions would not be necessary to her. 只要他们活着,是不需要她吃苦的。 来自辞典例句
  • She failed to unlock the safe in spite of all her exertions. 她虽然费尽力气,仍未能将那保险箱的锁打开。 来自辞典例句
34 humble ddjzU     
adj.谦卑的,恭顺的;地位低下的;v.降低,贬低
参考例句:
  • In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见,他将在选举中获胜。
  • Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。
35 repulsed 80c11efb71fea581c6fe3c4634a448e1     
v.击退( repulse的过去式和过去分词 );驳斥;拒绝
参考例句:
  • I was repulsed by the horrible smell. 这种可怕的气味让我恶心。
  • At the first brush,the enemy was repulsed. 敌人在第一次交火时就被击退了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
36 syrup hguzup     
n.糖浆,糖水
参考例句:
  • I skimmed the foam from the boiling syrup.我撇去了煮沸糖浆上的泡沫。
  • Tinned fruit usually has a lot of syrup with it.罐头水果通常都有许多糖浆。
37 bent QQ8yD     
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的
参考例句:
  • He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
  • We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。
38 reposes 1ec2891edb5d6124192a0e7f75f96d61     
v.将(手臂等)靠在某人(某物)上( repose的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • Below this stone reposes the mortal remains of his father. 在此石块下长眠的是他的父亲的遗体。 来自辞典例句
  • His body reposes in the local church. 他的遗体安放在当地教堂里。 来自辞典例句
39 inflict Ebnz7     
vt.(on)把…强加给,使遭受,使承担
参考例句:
  • Don't inflict your ideas on me.不要把你的想法强加于我。
  • Don't inflict damage on any person.不要伤害任何人。
40 stature ruLw8     
n.(高度)水平,(高度)境界,身高,身材
参考例句:
  • He is five feet five inches in stature.他身高5英尺5英寸。
  • The dress models are tall of stature.时装模特儿的身材都较高。
41 erect 4iLzm     
n./v.树立,建立,使竖立;adj.直立的,垂直的
参考例句:
  • She held her head erect and her back straight.她昂着头,把背挺得笔直。
  • Soldiers are trained to stand erect.士兵们训练站得笔直。
42 dwelling auzzQk     
n.住宅,住所,寓所
参考例句:
  • Those two men are dwelling with us.那两个人跟我们住在一起。
  • He occupies a three-story dwelling place on the Park Street.他在派克街上有一幢3层楼的寓所。
43 seclusion 5DIzE     
n.隐遁,隔离
参考例句:
  • She liked to sunbathe in the seclusion of her own garden.她喜欢在自己僻静的花园里晒日光浴。
  • I live very much in seclusion these days.这些天我过着几乎与世隔绝的生活。
44 valiant YKczP     
adj.勇敢的,英勇的;n.勇士,勇敢的人
参考例句:
  • He had the fame of being very valiant.他的勇敢是出名的。
  • Despite valiant efforts by the finance minister,inflation rose to 36%.尽管财政部部长采取了一系列果决措施,通货膨胀率还是涨到了36%。
45 slain slain     
杀死,宰杀,杀戮( slay的过去分词 ); (slay的过去分词)
参考例句:
  • The soldiers slain in the battle were burried that night. 在那天夜晚埋葬了在战斗中牺牲了的战士。
  • His boy was dead, slain by the hand of the false Amulius. 他的儿子被奸诈的阿缪利乌斯杀死了。
46 fortified fortified     
adj. 加强的
参考例句:
  • He fortified himself against the cold with a hot drink. 他喝了一杯热饮御寒。
  • The enemy drew back into a few fortified points. 敌人收缩到几个据点里。
47 retirement TWoxH     
n.退休,退职
参考例句:
  • She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
  • I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。
48 discourse 2lGz0     
n.论文,演说;谈话;话语;vi.讲述,著述
参考例句:
  • We'll discourse on the subject tonight.我们今晚要谈论这个问题。
  • He fell into discourse with the customers who were drinking at the counter.他和站在柜台旁的酒客谈了起来。
49 attain HvYzX     
vt.达到,获得,完成
参考例句:
  • I used the scientific method to attain this end. 我用科学的方法来达到这一目的。
  • His painstaking to attain his goal in life is praiseworthy. 他为实现人生目标所下的苦功是值得称赞的。
50 sordid PrLy9     
adj.肮脏的,不干净的,卑鄙的,暗淡的
参考例句:
  • He depicts the sordid and vulgar sides of life exclusively.他只描写人生肮脏和庸俗的一面。
  • They lived in a sordid apartment.他们住在肮脏的公寓房子里。
51 remains 1kMzTy     
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹
参考例句:
  • He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
  • The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。
52 generosity Jf8zS     
n.大度,慷慨,慷慨的行为
参考例句:
  • We should match their generosity with our own.我们应该像他们一样慷慨大方。
  • We adore them for their generosity.我们钦佩他们的慷慨。
53 destitute 4vOxu     
adj.缺乏的;穷困的
参考例句:
  • They were destitute of necessaries of life.他们缺少生活必需品。
  • They are destitute of common sense.他们缺乏常识。
54 amassing hzmzBn     
v.积累,积聚( amass的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • The study of taxonomy must necessarily involve the amassing of an encyclopaedic knowledge of plants. 分类学研究一定要积累广博的植物知识。 来自辞典例句
  • Build your trophy room while amassing awards and accolades. 建立您的奖杯积累奖项和荣誉。 来自互联网
55 stagnant iGgzj     
adj.不流动的,停滞的,不景气的
参考例句:
  • Due to low investment,industrial output has remained stagnant.由于投资少,工业生产一直停滞不前。
  • Their national economy is stagnant.他们的国家经济停滞不前。
56 miser p19yi     
n.守财奴,吝啬鬼 (adj.miserly)
参考例句:
  • The miser doesn't like to part with his money.守财奴舍不得花他的钱。
  • The demon of greed ruined the miser's happiness.贪得无厌的恶习毁掉了那个守财奴的幸福。


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