638 THE POPULAR SCIEXCE MOXTHLY. 



Life sees the dark hand. 



2sot the bright gift which she offers; 



So shudders before love the heart 



As if threatened with destruction, 



For where love awakes, there dies 



The I, the dark despot : 



Let him die in the night, 



And breathe thou free in morning red." 



In the year 1060 a prince, living on the southern shores of the 

 Caspian Sea, wrote and gave to his son a book, called the book of 

 Kabus. This gift was to represent better things than gold and lordlv 

 station. I translate, as before, from a German rendering : 



Know, my son, that this world which God created, he created according to 

 his purpose. He did not create it in vain, but that his justice and excellence 

 might be known : and he adorned it with the measures of his wisdom, for he 

 knew well that beauty is better than ugliness, and wealth than poverty; that 

 existence is preferable to non-existence, and abundance to destitution. Obey 

 God and serve him this is the first commandment which man has to fulfill. 

 At the same time also honor thy parents. He who highly esteems his kindred 

 highly esteems himself. From whomsoever thou mayst have sprung, know 

 this, that it is better to be renowned for virtue than for inheritance. Hc/ior is 

 based upon understanding and good habit, not upon birth and fortune. Speak 

 alwavs courteouslv, that vou mav hear courteous answers. The replv for fools 

 is silence. Guard thyself against uttering falsehood: seek to be known and 

 celebrated for the reliability of thy word. Under all circumstances forget not 

 God in thy youth. Since it is indispensable to the great that they should be 

 instructed from the very foundations of every subject, and since no one can 

 derive profit from any art before he is acquainted with the hidden mysteries of 

 the same, so consider, at first, the highest and most excellent of all sciences, the 

 science of religion. Religion is a tree whose root is faith in one God and whose 

 branches are the laws ; knowledge of the one and of the other secures temporal 

 and eternal advantage. Apply yourself, therefore, my son. to the science of 

 religion, for this is the trunk of the tree of which the other sciences are but 

 branches." 



The prince now gives advice so practical, so wise, as to be worthy 

 of application by all sons at all times : 



' My son. dost thou desire to become a preacher, remember, when thou art 

 about to ascend the pulpit and to preach, quarrel and wrangle not with those 

 who sit beneath. Speak everything as thou wiliest, only have care that all be 

 truth and no error. Speak elegantly and fluently, and hesitate not, but speak 

 according to thy heart's desire. From pride, deception, from a sensual life, 

 remain free. Know this, that what of good actions thou practicest thy people 

 will also perform. 



"Dost thou desire to become a judge, then must thou be courageous, sharp- 

 sighted, quick of comprehension, and a man of sound judgment. Thou must 

 know what thy case has before it and behind it : thou must be a judge of men. 

 Thou must know the habits of every class of men, thou must see into their fail- 

 ings. Give to each cause much investigation and, reflection, and after thou hast 



