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A soldier in camp, on retiring to rest,

Does not sleep, as a woman at home does, undressed.
It behoves you, in secret, for war to prepare!

For the foe to attack you in secret will dare.

Taking care, is the business of men of good stamp ;
The advanced guard's the brazen defence of the camp.

Remarks

(ON PLOTTING AND MUTUAL QUARRELS).

Betwixt two malevolent men, of short hand,1·
To settle secure, does not wisdom command.
For should they, together, in secret conspire,
The short hands of both will extension acquire.
By deception, keep one of them fully employed:
Let the other's existence be quickly destroyed!
If an enemy makes his arrangements for strife,
With the sword of contrivance, deprive him of life!
To his enemy go, and your friendship declare !
For a dungeon would be like a shirt for his wear.
In your enemy's army, when factiousness shows,
You can let your own sword in its scabbard repose.
When wolves are determined each other to harm,
Betwixt them, the flock rests secure from alarm.
When your enemies, grappling each other, you find,
You may sit with your friends in composure of mind.

On aiming at Peace while engaged in War.

When you've flourished the sabre of battle on high,
On the pathway to peace keep, in secret, your eye!

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For subduers of hosts, who have helmets destroyed,
In secret seek peace, while in fighting employed.
In secret, the heart of the warrior entreat,
For, perhaps, he may fall like a ball at your feet.
When an enemy's general falls in your way,
Before you extinguish him, practise delay;
For it may be, that one of your leaders is found
In the enemy's circle, a prisoner bound.

And should you this sore-wounded captive have slain,
You never will see your own captive again.
The man who on captives gives vent to his hate,
Is not frightened that Time will himself captivate.
A person to succour poor prisoners strains,

Who himself shall have been, once, a captive in chains
If a leader should tender submission to you,
And you treat him politely, another comes, too.
If you secretly gather ten hearts to your aid,
It is better than hundreds of night-attacks made.

On the Treatment of a Foe who has become friendly.

Should a foe, of himself, to you friendliness show,
From his frauds you will never security know.
From the hatred he bears you, heart-wounded, he sighs
When thoughts of his "Love" and relations arise.

To the sweet words of enemies never attend!
They're the same as when poison with honey you blend.
He saves not his life from the enemy's blow,
Who looks on the man who informs as a foe.
That robber, his pearl in a bag will conceal,
When he sees all the people accustomed to steal.

The soldier who will not his leader obey,

You should never admit to your service and pay!
His former commander he failed to revere !

Of you, too, from malice, he will not show fear.
To bind him by promise and oath do not try !
But a watchman, in secret, despatch as a spy!
You must give to a novice a good deal of rein;
If you snap it, you never will see him again.
When a foe's land and fortress by war you obtain,
Hand him over to those who in dungeons have lain !
Since the prisoner's1 teeth in his heart's blood were stuck,
From the throat of the tyrant, the blood he will suck.
Seize the land for yourself, when you've cleared out the
foe,

And on all of the subjects, more freedom bestow!
For should he attempt to knock War's door again,

The people will tear ruin out of his brain.

And if on the citizens, harm you impose,

Do not shut the town gates in the face of your foes!
Do not say that the sword-wielding foe's at your gate;
For the enemies' friends in the city await.

In arranging for war with a foe, work with zeal !
Consider affairs; but your object conceal!
Divulge not your secret to each passer by ;
For I've oft seen a person hob-nob with a spy.
Alexander, who war upon Easterns once pressed,
Had the door of his tent, they say, facing the West.
When to march into Zāwilistān2 Băhmăn 3 meant,
He rumoured the left, by the right hand he went.
If you cannot your purpose from any one keep,

As a consequence, Wisdom and Knowledge will weep.

1 The prisoner who had to bear his own grief would revenge himself on his oppressor when he had the opportunity.

2 Zawilistan, a district of Persia.

3 Bǎhmăn, son of Asfandyar; the Artaxerxes of the Greeks.

Be gen'rous, and war and revenge from you fling!
And under your signet, the world you will bring.
When a work can be settled by kindness and peace,
Why should you rebellion and outrage release?

If you wish that your heart be not burdened with grief,
From their bonds, give the hearts of the wretched relief!
In the arm of a soldier, for strength do not seek!
Go and pray for a blessing from those who are weak!
The pray'rs of the weak who are hopeful and free,
Are more efficacious than man's arm can be.
Whoever seeks aid at a holy man's feet,

If he fought Faridun,1 would not suffer defeat.

1 Faridun, name of a celebrated king of Persia.

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To affairs of the spirit incline; if you've sense;
For the spirit remains when the body goes hence.
The man without knowledge, free-giving and grace,
Does not have in his body for conscience a place.
The person sleeps tranquilly under the ground,
Through whom, people sleeping in comfort are found.
Endure your own grief during life! for your friends
Will neglect you when dead, for their own selfish ends.
Gold and affluence give! while you have them in hand;
For after you die, they're not yours to command.

If

you wish not hereafter affliction to find,

Never let the afflicted escape from your mind!

You should scatter your treasure in bounty to-day ;

For to-morrow, the key will have passed from your sway.
In almsgiving, bear off your stores during life!
For no sympathy comes from a son and a wife!
Prosperity's ball, from the world he will bear,
Who carries away to the future a share.

In compassion, excepting my own nail's, alack!
Not a soul in this world thinks of scratching my back.
On the palm of your hand, all your wealth do not set!
Lest, to-morrow, you gnaw at the hand of Regret.
In concealing, the veil of the pious poor try!
For the curtain Divine hides from every eye.

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