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 November, 1873.] THE NALADIYAR. 329 anvil, will forsake him, just as the tongs leave the iron in the forge ; but those who are truly worthy of being called friends will adhere to him in dis¬ tress, as the rod by which it is turned adheres to the metal in the furnace. 9. 0 thou who art adorned by a cool and fragrant garland ! when relations have partaken of the prosperity of their relatives, if they partake not also of their adver¬ sity until death, is there anything they can do for them in the other world ? 10. Delicious curry (yellow as the cat’s eye), when eaten alone in the house of those who love us not, will be as the nvirgosa. When living in the house of those who are like us and love us, cold water and grass-seed will be as nectar. Chapter 22.—The choice of friends, 1. Friendship with the wise, whose intelli¬ gence divines our thoughts, is like eating a sugar¬ cane from the top (as its sweetness increases more and more) ; connexion with persons with¬ out sweetness of disposition is like eating it from the opposite end (the flavour decreasing by de¬ grees). 2. Some accept (the highborn as friends) merely on the ground that such, remembering their high birth, will not act inconsistently—not, O lord of the fair hills, from which the birds flee on the approach of the gold-coloured torrent! because the minds of such are known. 3. Avoid¬ ing the friendship of those who resemble ele¬ phants, seek the friendship of those who resemble dogs; for an elephant will kill his driver whom he has known for a long time, but a dog will wag his tail while the spear thrown at him is still in his body. 4. Men cleave not to those to whom their hearts cleave not, within a short space of time ; but will the friendship which cherishes the memory of those who are intertwined with one's heart be abandoned, though they are absent from us for a long time ? 5. When affection continues affection, then is friendship preserved, like the flower on the stalk, which, being full-blown, closes not again. Those who resemble the lotus, which, having once blown, closes again its petals, know neither affection nor friendship, (j. Those who are at the bottom in (the scale of) friendship are like the areca-tree; those others who are in the middle are like the cocoanut-tree. The friendship of those who have experience of the past is like the palmyra-tree, (whose uses are) difficult to reckon. Such are at the top (in the scale). 7. Even vegetable curry served in the water that rice has been boiled in will be as nectar if a man accept it kindly. To eat the abundance of the unfriendly, though it be white rice flavoured with meat and rich seasoning, is (to eat) the kanjira-fruit. 8. Though they adhere to one in friendship as closely as the small toes of a dog to one another, yet of what benefit is the love of those who do not help one even to the extent of the leg of a fly ? Therefore, though the friendship of those who, like the channel which fructifies the rice-field, be ever so far away, we must nevertheless go to obtain ! it. 9. It is better to be without the love of those who are without sincerity. Death is preferable to an incurable disease. To kill him at once is more desirable than to vex a man so that he be¬ comes sore at heart, and to abuse is better than to praise one for that which we do not possess. 10. To join oneself to many, and strive many days and examine dispositions, and take (for friends) those who are worthy, is proper. Even with a deadly serpent, to associate and afterwards to part from it will be painful. Chapter 23.—The bearing with the faults of others. When those we love greatly, and esteem as virtuous, prove otherwise, this ought carefully to be concealed, for rice in the grain has a husk, water, foam, and flowers some unseemly leaves. 2. Though it buret the bank whenever they would stop it, they will not be angry with good water. Those who live desiring good water will repeatedly draw it up. Men will not be angry, but be patient concerning the friendship of those whom they themselves have courted, though these persons act towards them with constant hate. 3. Though they do evil exceed¬ ingly, is it not fitting to be patient with one’s friend? 0 lord of the lofty hills where the beautiful winged insects hum over the vanegated /i*o?ya-flowers! the forbearance of one is the friendship of both. 4. 0 lord of the wave¬ resounding shore where bright-rayed pearls are thrown ap by the rolling billows, and where float swift-sailing ships! if friends, from whom it is difficult to separate, possess not virtuous dispo¬ sitions, they are as a fire kindled to burn our hearts. 5. Even though they do what is dis¬ agreeable, one should preserve as gold those who ought not to be forsaken. Daily do men seek for fire and keep it in their house, though it has consumed both their good house and gold. G. Is it right utterly to abandon friends, who ought