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A king keeps watch over his country against thieves, favourites, and people of low quality; he should then keep a guard over the revenues of the country: a king should keep a careful watch over these four.

A king in his domain should not exact a tax in excess of what is customary; if he does, there is the dissatisfaction of the people and the diminution of the treasure.

To a king there is a good result if his army is marched to battle in autumn or during the rains: certain wise men have said that there cannot always be victory nor always defeat.

If there be the destruction of an enemy, it is productive of merit: this destruction of the enemy is a source of general happiness to the king.

If the king's destiny be bad, he should send to the wars a minister with good fate for the destruction of the enemy; if good, he should not abandon his own prosperity: when an elephant is discovered, what need searching for its foot marks?

Men of distinction, although they do not try, obtain their wishes promptly when the time arrives, just as boa-constrictors without effort come upon the place where food is to be obtained.