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Chinese.
Mencius.
"The Four
Books.'

All things are contained complete in ourselves. There is no greater joy than to turn round on ourselves and become perfect.

The human figure and colour possess a divine
nature, but it is only the sage who can fulfil what his
nature promises.

The superior man's nature consists in this, that
benevolence, justice, propriety, and wisdom, have their
root in his heart, and are exhibited in his countenance.
They shine forth in his face and go through to his
back. They are manifested in his four members.
His errors are like the eclipses of the sun and
His errors all men see, and his reformation all

moon.

men look for.

Wherever the superior man passes, renovation takes place. The divine spirit which he cherishes above and below, flows on with influence in heaven and earth.

DCXXXIX.

Heb.
Ecclesiastes.

comp.

Circumstance.

I saw under the sun

That the race is not to the swift,
Nor the battle to the mighty;

Nor yet riches to men of understanding,
Nor yet favour to men of skill:

For time and chance happeneth to them all.
He who observeth the wind will not sow,

And he who regardeth the clouds will not reap.

In the morning sow thou thy seed,

And in the evening withhold not thy hand:
Thou knowest not which will prosper, this or that,
Or whether both will be alike good.

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SORROW AND DEATH.

Shadows.

DCXL.

Sadi.

Ab.

Vines hold not their clusters all the year; now are they fruitful, and now they shed their leaves like tears. Persian. Like the sun, the pure are clouded. On them the Bostán. envious crowd may hurl its hate; but it is as sparks falling on the clear stream-the sparks perish, the water goes shining on. Fear not the dark, friend; perchance the Water of Life may be found in the dark abyss of SOITOW. Let not thy gloom end in despair; for night is pregnant with the day.

In Suna my child's life passed away. How can I tell the sadness of that hour! It is not strange the rose should spring up from the earth where so many roselike forms sleep. In my agony I longed to behold once more my buried child, and tore the heavy stone from above its form. Then fear seized upon me, and a little voice came from beneath the shroud, Dost thou feel terror amid this darkness? Let then thy life brighten it. If thou wouldst have thy grave as light as day, let the lamp of life fed by virtue descend with thee to illumine it I'

DCXLI.

Amir Khusrau, court poet and

librarian to Julal-ud-din.

Vinilgy.
A.C. 1288.

Sorrow.

He who has seen no evil and sorrow
May not become king on the plain of gladness.
He whose soul is not pierced with a diamond
Is still unworthy a royal crown.

DCXLII.

Persian.
Sádi.
Gul.

comp.

Heb.
Ps.

Sorrow.

Destiny will not be altered by our uttering a thousand lamentations and sighs, nor by our praises.

O brother who art in distress! be not disheartened; for God hath many hidden mercies. Repine not at the versatility of fortune; for patience is bitter, but the fruit is sweet.

Dejection.

DCXLIII.

As the hart panteth after water-brooks,
So panteth my soul after thee, O God.

My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God:
When shall I go and behold the face of God?
My tears are my food day and night,

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While daily it is said to me, Where is thy God?' These things I remember, and pour out my soul within me.

Deep calleth to deep at the sound of thy waterspouts :

All thy waves and thy billows pass over me.
Why art thou bowed down, O my soul?
And why art thou disquieted within me ?
Hope thou in God, that I shall yet praise him,
The health of
my countenance and my God.

The Teaching of Pain.

DCXLIV.

comp.

The reed bewailed departed bliss and present woe: Sufi. Torn untimely from my native banks, my heart is Maulavi. torn, that through me may sound the notes that charm and par. the grave and gay. Who that hears my strains knows the secret of my bleeding heart.' Not fruitless was the pain of the reed which made it melodious. And thou, brave heart, arise; be free of every chain, though blazing with gold; be nobly bold; follow the true bride of thy life, though her name be Sorrow. Let the shell perish that the pearl may appear. Men may not know the secret of thy sad life, but through a pierced heart must be breathed the strain of love and hope which shall enrapture human souls.

DCXLV.

Sorrow.

Persian.

Grief, not mirth, is my ware. Why dost thou wish to know its price? I know that thou wilt not shikebi. buy it, and that I shall not sell it.

Instability.

DCXLVI.

That opinion is contemptible which considers those things to be enduring which are not enduring.

The acquisition of wealth is like the gathering of an assembly for dancing; its expenditure is like the breaking up of that assembly.

Wealth is perishable: let those who obtain it immediately practise those virtues which are imperishable.

10th cent.

Hindu.
Cural II.

Hindu.
Cural II.

The day which shines as if real, the wise see it as a saw cutting down life.

Let virtuous deeds be done quickly, before the cough comes, making the tongue silent.

The world possesses the greatness of one who yesterday was and to-day is not.

Multitudinous thoughts occupy unwise minds, not knowing that they shall live another moment.

It seems as if the soul had taken shelter in a body, but not attained a home.

Renunciation.

DCXLVII.

Whatever thing a man has renounced, by that thing he cannot suffer pain.

He who destroys the pride which says 'I,' 'mine,' passes into a world which is above the gods. When desire ceases, instability disappears.

Sorrow and Death.

Burmese.
Buddhagosha's son.
Parables.
Ab.

(Capt. Rogers.)

DCXLVIII.

A Hindu girl named Kiságotamí gave birth to a When the boy was able to walk by himself, he died. The young girl carried the dead child clasped to her bosom, and went from house to house, asking if any one would give her medicine for it. Some regarded her as mad; but a wise man said, 'My good girl, I cannot cure your son, but I know of a doctor who can attend to it. You must go to Pará Taken; he can give medicine.' Kiságotamí went to him, and said, 'Lord and Master, do you know any medicine that will be good for my boy?' Pára Taken said, I know

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