Page:Tales from the Gulistan (1928).pdf/187

Story CXVIII

to a friend that I have chosen rather to be silent than to speak, because on most occasions good and bad words are scattered concurrently, but enemies perceive only the latter. He replied: "That enemy is the best [or greatest] who does not see any good."

The brother of enmity passes not near a good man except to consider him as a most wicked liar. Virtue is to the eyes of enmity the greatest fault; Sa'di is a rose, but to the eye of enemies a thorn. The world-illumining sun and fountain of light looks ugly to the eye of a mole.