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Oppression in man’s soul doth latent sit And nought but lack of power concealeth it.
A man of sense no business undertakes, Until he sees the time therefor is fit.
The wise man’s tongue is in his heart, but in His mouth the heart of him who lacketh wit.
He who’s not greater than his wit is slain Of the least stress that unto him is writ.
Men may their lineage hide, but it appears Still in the things they do and they omit
Whoso in origin is aught but good, No word of good his lips shall e’er emit.
He is his peer in folly, to a fool Who doth the ordering of his deeds commit;
And who reveals his secret to the folk His enemies awakens unto it.
With his own business be a man content Nor mell with what concerneth him no whit.’
And he went on to admonish his brothers and enjoin them to justice and forbid them from oppression, doubting not but they would love him the better for his lavishment of good counsel upon them, and he trusted in them and entreated them with the utmost honour; but, for all his generosity to them, they only waxed in hatred and envy of him, till, one day, the two being together [alone], Nasir said to Mensour, ‘O my brother, how long shall we be subject to our brother Abdallah, and he in this estate of lordship and commandment? After being a merchant, he is become an Amir, and from being little, he is grown great: but we, we grow not great nor is there aught of rank or worth left us; for, behold, he laugheth at us and maketh us his assistants! What is the meaning of this? Is it not that we are his servants and under his commandment? But, what while he abideth on life, our rank will never be raised nor shall we be of any account; wherefore we shall not attain to our wish, except we slay him and take his good, nor will it be possible to take his good, save
