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On the Effects of Education poverty fallen into complete profligacy, throwing away their precious reputation to the wind of dishonour! With hunger the power of abstinence cannot abide; poverty snatches the reins from the hands of piety."

Whilst I was uttering these words, the Dervish lost the bridle of patience from his hands, drew forth the sword of his tongue, caused the steed of eloquence to caper in the plain of reproach, and said: "Thou hast been so profuse in this panegyric [of wealthy men] and hast talked so much nonsense that they [i.e. the rich] might be supposed to be the antidote [to poverty] or the key to the store-house of provisions; whereas they are a handful of proud, arrogant, conceited, and abominable fellows intent upon accumulating property and money, and so thirsting for dignity and abundance that they do not speak [to poor people] except with insolence, and look [upon them] with contempt. They consider scholars to be mendicants, and insult poor men on account of the wealth which they themselves possess, and the glory of dignity which they imagine is inherent in them. They sit in the highest places, and believe they are better than anyone else. They never show kindness to anybody, and are ignorant of the maxim of sages that he who is inferior to others in piety, but superior in riches, is outwardly powerful, but in reality a destitute man. If a wretch on account of his wealth is proud to a sage, consider him to be the podex of an ass, though he may be a perfumed ox."

I said: "Do not think it allowable to insult them, for they are possessors of generosity."

He rejoined: "Thou art mistaken; they are slaves of money. Of what use is it that they are like bulky clouds and rain not, like the fountain [of light] the sun, and shine upon no one? They are mounted on the steed of ability, but do not use it; they would not stir a step for God's sake, nor spend one dirhem