Page:Tales from the Gulistan (1928).pdf/288

The Gulistân

of the requirements for [becoming acceptable to] society is to attend to the affairs of thy household, and also at the house of God.

Tell thy tale according to thy hearer's temper, if thou knowest him to be biased to thee. Every wise man who sits with Mejnûn speaks of nothing but the story of Laila's love.

associating with bad people, although their nature may not infect his own, is supposed to follow their ways to such a degree that if he goes to a tavern to say his prayers he will be supposed to do so for drinking wine.

Thou hast branded thyself with the mark of ignorance when thou hast selected an ignoramus for thy companion. I asked some scholars for a piece of advice. They said: "Connect thyself not with an ignorant man, for if thou be learned, thou wilt be an ass in course of time, and if unlearned thou wilt become a greater fool."

meekness of the camel is known to be such that if a child takes hold of its bridle and goes a hundred farsakhs, it will not refuse to follow; but if a dangerous portion occurs which may