In the time of my childhood I went out with my father during the Id Festival, and in the tumult of the mob got lost. I cried in fear, when my father suddenly pulled my ear, and said: “Several times did I tell thee not to take thy hand from the skirt of my robe.” A child knows not how to go alone; it is difficult to travel on any road unseen. Thou, poor man, art as a child in thine endeavours; go, hold the skirt of the virtuous. Sit not with the base, but fasten thy hand to the saddle-straps of the pious. Go, like Sadi, glean the corn of wisdom so that thou mayest store a harvest of divine knowledge. STORY OF ONE WHO BURNED HIS HARVEST In the month of July, a certain man stored his grain and set his mind at ease concerning it. One night, he became intoxicated and lighted a fire, which destroyed his harvest. The next day he sat down to glean the ears of corn, but not a single grain remained in his possession. Seeing him thus afflicted, some one remarked: “If thou didst not wish for this misfortune, thou shouldst not in folly have burned thy harvest.” Thou, whose years have been wasted in iniquity, art he who burns the harvest of his life. Do not so, O my life! Sow the seeds of religion and justice, and throw not to the winds the harvest of a good name. Knock at the door of forgiveness before thy punishment arrives, for lamentation beneath the lash is of no avail. DISCOURSE ON REPENTANCE He who supplicates the Deity by night will not be shamed on the Day of Judgment. If thou art wise, pray for forgiveness in the night for the sins that thou hast committed in the day. What is thy fear if thou hast made thy peace with God? He closes not the door of forgiveness upon them that supplicate Him. If thou art a servant of God, raise thy hands in prayer; and if thou be ashamed, weep in sorrow. No one has stood upon His threshold whose sins the tears of repentance have not washed away. CHAPTER X CONCERNING PRAYER Come, let us raise our hands in prayer, for to-morrow they will be powerless in the dust. Think not that he who supplicates before the Door of Mercy, which is never shut, will turn away in hopelessness. O Lord, regard us with compassion, for sin has entered among thy servants. O gracious God! by Thy bounty have we been sustained; to Thy gifts and lovingkindness have we become habituated. Since in this life Thou hast ennobled us above all things created, hope of similar glory have we in the world to come. O God, humiliate me not by reason of Thy greatness; make me not ashamed by reason of my sins. Let no one prevail over me, for it is better that I should suffer punishment from Thy hand. Let it suffice that I am ashamed in Thy presence; make me not ashamed before my fellow-men. If the shadow of Thy mercy fall upon me, mean is the dignity of the sky before mine eyes. If Thou give to me a crown, I will raise my head: exalt me, so that no one may cast me down. A WORSHIPPER’S LAMENT