426 The Zafarndmah. [No. 5. 



The Zafarnamah : a Dialogue between Aristotle and Buzurjumihr. — 

 Translated from the Persian by Bdbu Narasinha Datta. 



Buzurjumihr. — How should one's life be spent? 



Aristotle. — In endeavouring to gratify the hearts of others ; for God 

 is pleased with him, who endeavours to please others. 



B. — How can one be said to please another's heart? A. — By 

 submitting one's self to the will of God; as one cannot please a 

 king without obtaining the good opinion of his dependents, so God is 

 not pleased with one unless he be good to his creatures. 



B. — What should one's occupation be? A. — The acquisition of 

 knowledge. 



B. — What is the effect of the acquisition of knowledge ? A. — The 

 acquisition of knowledge makes mean, great ; poor, rich ; stupid, acute. 



B. — How can the right path be known? A. — By the light of 

 knowledge. 



B. — How is the way to heaven secured? A. — By conquering one's 

 passions. 



B. — How can one conquer them ? A. — By eating little. 



B. — How can one live by eating little ? A. — By lessening one's 

 food by degrees every day. 



B. — What is meant by the world ? A. — All that is fleeting and 

 useless for the future. 



B. — How can one procure honor? A. — By eating little, talking 

 little, and injuring little ; for the wise have said, " Little eaters are less 

 injurious than much eaters." 



B. — Upon whom is hardship to be imposed ? A. — Upon one's 

 ownself. 



B. — What is that thing which being sown in one place is reaped at 

 another ? A. — Doing good in this world, of which the fruit is enjoyed 

 in the next. 



B. — How can one please God ? A. — By pleasing his parents. 



B. — Whom should one consult ? A. — The wise. 



B. — Who is wise ? A. — He who, after hearing much and thinking 

 judiciously, says little. 



B. — When should one speak ? A. — When no one else is speaking. 



