grape and the pomegranate, and then tells stories and proverbs "from the
books of the Arabs."

A man said to a sage, "Thou braggest of thy wisdom, but it came from me."
"Yes," replied the sage, "and it forgot its way back."--Who is the worst
of men? He who is good in his own esteem.--Said a king to a sage, "Sweet
would be a king's reign if it lasted forever." "Had such been your
predecessor's lot," replied the wise man, "how would you have reached the
throne?"--A man laid a complaint before the king; the latter drove the
suppliant out with violence. "I entered with one complaint," sighed the
man, "I leave with two."--What is style? Be brief and do not repeat
yourself.--The king once visited a nobleman's house, and asked the
latter's son, "Whose house is better, your father's or mine?" "My
father's," said the boy, "while the king is in it."--A king put on a new
robe, which did not become him. "It is not good to wear," said a
courtier, "but it is good to put on." The king put the robe on him.--A
bore visited a sick man. "What ails thee?" he asked. "Thy presence," said
the sufferer.--A man of high lineage abused a wise man of lowly birth.
"My lineage is a blot on me," retorted a sage, "thou art a blot on thy
lineage."--To another who reviled him for his lack of noble ancestry, he
retorted, "Thy noble line ends with thee, with me mine begins."--Diogenes
and Dives were attacked by robbers. "Woe is me," said Dives, "if they
recognize me." "Woe is me," said Diogenes, "if they do not recognize
me."--A philosopher sat by the target at which the archers were shooting.
"'Tis the safest spot," said he.--An Arab's brother died. "Why did he
die?" one asked. "Because he lived," was the answer.--"What hast thou
laid up for the cold weather?" they asked a poor fellow. "Shivering," he
answered.--Death is the dread of the rich and the hope of the
poor.--Which is the best of the beasts? Woman.--Hide thy virtues as thou
hidest thy faults.--A dwarf brought a complaint to his king. "No one,"