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　reproach　and　disgrace　were　sore　upon　him；　this　passed　to　his　posterity　after　him；　wherefore　God　sent　prophets　and　apostles　and　gave　them　scriptures　and　they　taught　us　the　divine　ordinances　and　expounded　to　us　what　was　therein　of　admonitions　and　precepts　and　made　clear　to　us　the　way　of　righteousness　and　what　it　behoved　us　to　do　and　what　to　leave　undone。　Now　we　are　endowed　with　ableness　（173）　and　he　who　acts　within　these　limits　（174）　attains　＇felicity＇　and　prospers；　whilst　he　who　transgresses　them　and　does　other　than　that　which　these　precepts　enjoin；　sins　and　is　mined　in　both　worlds。　This　then　is　the　road　of　good　and　evil。　Thou　knowest　that　God　can　all　things　and　created　not　lusts　for　us　but　of　His　pleasure　and　will；　and　He　manded　us　to　use　them　in　the　way　of　lawfulness；　so　they　might　be　a　good　to　us；　but；　when　we　use　them　in　the　way　of　sin；　they　are　an　evil　to　us。　So　what　of　good　we　pass　is　from　God　the　Most　High　and　what　of　evil　from　ourselves　（175）　His　creatures；　not　from　the　Creator；　exalted　be　He　for　this　with　great　exaltation！'　（Q。）　'I　understand　that　which　thou　hast　expounded　to　me　concerning　God　and　His　creatures；　but　tell　me　of　one　thing；　concerning　which　my　mind　is　perplexed　with　extreme　wonderment；　and　that　is　that　I　marvel　at　the　sons　of　Adam；　how　careless　they　are　of　the　life　to　e　and　at　their　lack　of　taking　thought　thereto　and　their　love　of　this　world；　albeit　they　know　that　they　must　needs　leave　it　and　depart　from　it；　whilst　they　are　yet　young　in　years。'　（A。）　'Yes；　verily；　and　that　which　thou　seest　of　its　changefulness　and　perfidious　dealing　with　its　children　is　a　sign　that　fortune　will　not　endure　to　the　fortunate；　neither　affliction　to　the　afflicted；　for　none　of　its　people　is　secure　from　its　changefulness　and　even　if　one　have　power　over　it　and　be　content　therewith；　yet　needs　must　his　estate　change　and　removal　（176）　hasten　unto　him。　Wherefore　man　can　put　no　trust　therein　nor　profit　by　that　which　he　enjoyeth　of　its　painted　gauds；　and　knowing　this；　we　know　that　the　sorriest　of　men　in　case　are　those　who　are　deluded　by　this　world　and　are　unmindful　of　the　world　to　e；　for　that　this　present　ease　they　enjoy　will　not　pensate　the　fear　and　misery　and　horrors　that　will　befall　them　after　their　removal　therefrom。　Thus　are　we　certified　that；　if　the　creature　knew　that　which　will　betide　him　with　the　ing　of　death　and　his　severance　from　that　which　he　presently　enjoyeth　of　delight　and　clearance；　he　would　cast　away　the　world　and　that　which　is　therein；　for　we　are　assured　that　the　next　life　is　better　for　us　and　more　profitable。'　'O　sage；'　said　the　prince；　'thou　hast　with　thy　shining　lamp　dispelled　the　darkness　that　was　upon　my　heart　and　hast　directed　me　into　the　road　I　must　travel　in　the　ensuing　of　the　truth　and　hast　given　me　a　lantern　whereby　I　may　see。'

Then　rose　one　of　the　learned　men　who　were　present　and　said；　'When　the　season　of　Spring　eth；　needs　must　the　hare　seek　the　pasture　as　well　as　the　elephant；　and　indeed　I　have　heard　from　you　both　such　questions　and　solutions　as　I　never　before　heard；　but　now　let　me　ask　you　of　somewhat。　What　is　the　best　of　the　goods　of　the　world？'　'Health　of　body；'　replied　the　prince；　'lawful　provision　and　a　virtuous　son。'　（Q。）　'What　is　the　greater　and　what　the　less？'　（A。）　'The　greater　is　that　to　which　a　lesser　than　itself　submitteth　and　the　less　that　which　submitteth　to　a　greater　than　itself。'　（Q。）　'What　are　the　four　things　in　which　all　creatures　concur？'　（A。）　'Meat　and　drink；　the　delight　of　sleep；　the　lust　of　women　and　the　agonies　of　death。'　（Q。）　'What　are　the　three　things　whose　foulness　none　can　do　away？'　（A。）　'Folly；　meanness　of　nature　and　lying。'　（Q。）　'What　is　the　best　kind　of　lie；　though　all　kinds　are　foul？'　（A。）　'That　which　averteth　harm　from　its　utterer　and　bringeth　profit。'　（Q。）　'What　kind　of　truthfulness　is　foul；　though　all　kinds　are　fair？'　（A。）　'That　of　a　man　glorying　in　that　which　he　hath　（177）　and　boasting　himself　thereof。'　（Q。）　'What　is　the　foulest　of　foulnesses？'　（A。）　'When　a　man　boasteth　himself　of　that　which　he　hath　not。'　（178）　（Q。）　'Who　is　the　most　foolish　of　men？'　（A。）　'He　who　hath　no　thought　but　of　what　he　shall　put　in　his　belly。'

Then　said　Shimas；　'O　king；　verily　thou　art　our　king；　but　we　desire　that　thou　assign　the　kingdom　to　thy　son　after　thee；　and　we　will　be　thy　servants　and　subjects。'　So　the　king　exhorted　the　learned　men　and　others　who　were　present　to　remember　that　which　they　had　heard　and　do　according　thereto　and　enjoined　them　to　obey　his　son's　mandment；　for　that　he　made　him　his　heirapparent；　so　he　should　be　the　successor　of　the　king　his　father；　and　he　took　an　oath　of　all　the　people　of　his　empire；　doctors　and　braves　and　old　men　and　boys；　that　they　would　not　oppose　him　＇in　the　succession＇　nor　transgress　against　his　mandment。

When　the　prince　was　seventeen　years　old；　the　king　sickened　of　a　sore　sickness　and　came　nigh　unto　death；　so；　being　certified　that　his　last　hour　was　at　hand；　he　said　to　the　people　of　his　household；　'This　is　a　mortal　sickness　that　is　upon　me；　wherefore　do　ye　summon　the　grandees　and　notables　of　my　empire；　so　not　one　of　them　may　remain　except　he　be　present。'　Accordingly；　they　made　proclamation　to　those　who　were　near　and　made　known　the　summons　to　those　who　were　afar　off；　and　they　all　assembled　and　went　in　to　the　king。　Then　said　they　to　him；　'How　is　it　with　thee；　O　king；　and　how　deemest　thou　for　thyself　of　this　thy　sickness？'　Quoth　Jelyaad；　'Verily；　this　my　sickness　is　mortal　and　the　arrow　＇of　death＇　hath　executed　that　which　God　the　Most　High　decreed　against　me：　this　is　the　last　of　my　days　in　this　world　and　the　first　of　my　days　in　the　world　to　e。'　Then　said　he　to　his　son；　'Draw　near　unto　me。'　So　he　drew　near；　weeping　sore；　that　he　came　nigh　to　wet　the　bed；　whilst　the　king's　eyes　brimmed　over　with　tears　and　all　who　were　present　wept。　Quoth　Jelyaad；　'Weep　not；　O　my　son；　I　am　not　the　first　whom　this　inevitable　thing　betideth；　nay；　it　is　mon　to　all　that　God　hath　created。　But　fear　thou　God　and　do　good；　that　shall　forego　thee　to　the　place　whither　all　creatures　tend。　Obey　not　thy　lusts；　but　occupy　thyself　with　the　praises　of　God　in　thy　standing　up　and　thy　sitting　down　and　in　thy　sleep　and　thy　wake。　Make　the　truth　the　aim　of　thine　eyes；　this　is　the　last　of　my　speech　with　thee　and　peace　be　on　thee。'

Then　he　bequeathed　him　the　kingdom　and　the　prince　said；　'O　my　father；　thou　knowest　that　I　have　never　ceased　from　obedience　unto　thee　and　mindfulness　of　thine　injunctions；　still　carrying　out　thy　mandment　and　seeking　thine　approve；　for　thou　hast　been　to　me　the　best　of　fathers。　How；　then；　after　thy　death；　shall　I　depart　from　that　whereof　thou　approvest？　After　having　fairly　ordered　my　bringing　up；　thou　art　now　about　to　depart　from　me　and　I　have　no　power　to　bring　thee　back　to　me；　but；　if　I　be　mindful　of　thine　injunctions；　I　shall　be　blessed　therein　and　great　good　hap　will　betide　me。'　Quoth　the　king；　and　indeed　he　was　in　the　last　agony；　'Dear　my　son；　cleave　fast　unto　ten　precepts　which　if　thou　observe；　God　shall　profit　thee　herewith　in　this　world　and　the　next；　and　they　are　as　follows。　When　thou　art　angered；　curb　thy　wrath；　when　thou　art　afflicted；　be　patient；　when　thou　speakest；　be　truthful；　when　thou　promisest；　perform；　when　thou　judgest；　do　justice；　when　thou　hast　power；　be　merciful；　deal　generously　by　thy　governors　and　lieutenants；　five　those　that　transgress　against　thee；　be　lavish　of　good　offices　to　thine　enemy　and　withhold　thy　mischief　from　him。　Observe　also　other　seven　preceptor　wherewith　God　shall　profit　thee　among　the　people　of　thy　realm；　to　wit；　when　thou　dividest；　be　just；　when　thou　punishest；　oppress　not；　when　thou　makest　an　engagement；　fulfil　thine　engagement；　hearken　to　those　that　give　thee　loyal　counsel；　abstain　from　contention；　enjoin　thy　subjects　to　the　observance　of　the　divine　laws　and　of　praiseworthy　usages；　do　equal　justice　between　the　folk；　so　they　may　love　thee；　great　and　small；　and　the　froward　and　corrupt　of　them　may　fear　thee。'

Thn　he　addressed　himself　to　the　amirs　and　doctors；　who　were　present　when　he　appointed　his　son　to　be　his　successor；　saying；　'Beware　of　transgressing　the　mandment　of　your　king　and　neglecting　to　hearken　to　your　chief；　for　in　this　lies　ruin　for　your　country　and　sundering　for　your　union　and　hurt　for　your　bodies　and　perdition　for　your　goods；