On the Excellence of Contentment
which reached in the evening a locality very dangerous on account of thieves. The people of the caravan trembled in all their limbs, but he said: "Fear nothing, because I alone am able to cope with fifty men, and the other youths [of the caravan] will aid me." These boastful words comforted the hearts of the caravan people, who became glad of his company, and considered it incumbent upon themselves to supply him with food and water. The fire of the young man's stomach having blazed into flames, and deprived his hands of the bridle of endurance, hunger made him partake of some morsels of food and take a few draughts of water, till the Dêv[1] of his interior was set at rest, and he fell asleep. An experienced old fellow who as in the caravan said:
"O ye people! I am more afraid of this guard of yours than of the thieves; because there is a story that a stranger had accumulated some dirhems but could not sleep in the house for fear of the Lûris.[2]
"Accordingly he invited one of his friends to dispel the terrors of solitude by his company. He spent several nights with him, till he became aware that he had money, and took it, going on a journey after spending it. When the people saw the stranger naked and weeping the next morning, a man asked: 'What is the matter? Perhaps the thief has stolen those dirhems of thine?'
"He replied: 'No, by Allah! The guard has stolen them.' I never sat secure from a serpent till I learnt what his custom was. The wound from a foe's tooth is severe who appears to be a friend in the eyes of men. How do you know whether this man is not one fo the band of thieves, and has followed us as
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