13. The courtiers of king Nourshivan consulting with him on important business, when the king had spoken, one of them assented to his opinion, against the rest. Being asked the cause, he said, _Human affairs depend on chance, not on wisdom: and, if we err with the king, who shall condemn us?_ ... 17. A king saying to a Dervise, “Do you never think on me?” was answered, _Yes: but it is when I forget God_. 18. A Dervise, in a dream, saw a king in paradise, but a religious in hell, and thought that, upon enquiring the cause, he was told, _The king used to keep company with Dervises; and the Dervise with kings_. 19. LOCMAN, the sage, being asked, where he learned virtue, he answered, _Of the vicious, for they taught me what to shun_. 20. Abu Hurura used often to visit MUSTAPHA, who one day said to him, _O Abu Hurura, visiting seldom feeds love and friendship_. 21. SADI, being taken prisoner by the Franks, or Christians, was redeemed for ten pieces of gold, by one, who also gave him his daughter in marriage, with one hundred pieces of gold as a dower. The lady, being a termagant, once reproached him with this; and he said, _Yes, I was redeemed for ten pieces, and made a slave for a hundred_. 22. Some wicked men using a religious very ill, he went to an old dervise, and complained much. The elder told him, _Son, our habit is that of patience. Why do you wear it, if it does not fit you?_ 23. A sage seeing a strong man in a passion, asked the cause, and being told that it was on account of an affronting word, he exclaimed, _O strong man, with a weak mind! who could bear an elephant’s load, yet cannot bear a word_. 24. A lawyer gave his daughter, who was very deformed in marriage to a blind man. A celebrated oculist coming to the place, the lawyer was asked why he did not employ him for his son-in-law? To which he answered, _Why should I endeavour to procure the divorce of my daughter?_ 25. Ardeschir enquiring of a physician, how much food was necessary for a day? was answered, eight ounces. Ardeschir said, “How can so little support a man?” The physician replied, _That will support him; if he takes more, he must support it_.... 27. A robber said to a beggar, “Art thou not ashamed to stretch out thy hand to all for a piece of copper?” The beggar answered, _It is better to stretch it out for a piece of copper, than have it cut off for a piece of gold_. 29. SADI being about to purchase a house, a Jew came up and said, “I am an old neighbour, and know the house to be good and sufficient. Buy it by all means.” Sadi answered, _The house must be bad if thou art a neighbour_.... 31. An old man being asked, why he did not take a wife, answered, _I do not like old women: and a young woman, I judge from that, can never like me_. 32. A courtier sent a foolish son to be educated by a sage. He made no progress, and some time after the sage brought him back, saying, _This boy will never be wiser; and he has even made me foolish in teaching him_.