Pursue not that which thy heart desires, for the pampering of the body destroys the fires of life. The gluttonous man bears the weight of his corpulence; if he obtain not food, he bears the weight of grief. It is better that the stomach should be empty than the mind. STORY OF A GLUTTON In company with some religious mendicants I entered a date-grove in Busra. One of the party was a glutton. He, having girt his loins, climbed up a tree, and, falling headlong, died. The headsman of the village asked, “Who killed this man?” “Go softly, friend,” I answered; “he fell from a branch—’twas the weight of his stomach.” STORY OF A RECLUSE The Amir of Tartary presented a silken robe to an elderly recluse, who, putting it on, kissed the hand of the messenger, and said: “A thousand praises to the king! Excellent is this splendid robe, but I prefer my own patched habit.” If thou hast relinquished the world, sleep upon the bare ground—kiss it not before any one for the sake of a costly carpet. STORY ILLUSTRATING THE EVILS OF AVARICE To a poor man who had naught to eat but bread and onions, a foolish man remarked: “Go, wretched man, and bring some cooked meat from the public feast. Ask boldly and be not afraid of any one, for he who is modest must go without his share.” Acting on this advice, the beggar put on his cloak and started off. The servants of the feast tore off his clothes and broke his arm. Weeping, he cried: “Oh my soul! What remedy is there for one’s own actions? One seized by avarice becomes the seeker of his own misfortunes. After this, the bread and onions are good enough for me.” A barley loaf procured by the exertions of one’s own arm is better than a loaf of flour from the table of the liberal. STORY OF AN AMBITIOUS CAT A cat who lived in the house of an old woman of humble circumstances wandered to the palace of a noble, whose slaves repulsed the animal with arrows. Bleeding from many wounds, the cat ran off in terror, thus reflecting: “Since I have escaped from the hands of those slaves, the mice in the ruined hut of the old woman are good enough for me.” Honey is not worth the price of a sting; better it is to be content with the syrup of dates than expose oneself to that. God is not pleased with him who is not contented with his lot. STORY OF A SHORT-SIGHTED MAN AND HIS HIGH-MINDED WIFE A certain child having cut its teeth, the father bent his head in anxious thought and said: “How can I obtain the bread and food of which the child will now have need?” “Be not alarmed,” his wife replied, “for, until our child shall die, He who gave him teeth will send him bread. A rich man provides for his slave; why should not He who created the slave do likewise? Thou hast not the trust in God that the purchased slave reposes in his master.”