CEYLON BRANCH — ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 159 



The drunkard, destitute and in abject poverty, yet thirsty 

 and led thereby to drink intoxicating liquors like water, 

 will increase his debts, and rapidly destroy his family. 



He who sleeps by day and rises at night, who is con- 

 stantly inebriated and attached to lewd women, cannot re- 

 main in his own house. 



The young man who says It is too hot ; it is too cold ; it 

 is too late, by neglecting his business will come to poverty. 



But he, who disregardful of heat or cold, performs his 

 manly duties, will not cease to be prosperous. 



Four classes of persons, Gahapati, bear the semblance of 

 friends while they are the reverse : The self interested man ; 

 the man of ^mcn profession ; the flatterer and the spend- 

 thrift. 



In four ways the self interested man, while professing to 

 be a friend, may be known to be the reverse : he takes away 

 your property ; he gives little and expects much in return ; 

 he acts from fear (and not from affection) and he sees only 

 his own advantage. 



In four ways the man of much profession while bearing 

 the semblance of a friend may be known to be the reverse. 

 He will appear to be interested respecting past circumstan- 

 ces, or respecting those which are future ; he will be pro- 

 fuse in unprofitable compliments, but he will forsake you 

 in the hour of need. 



In four ways the flatterer, while professing to be a friend 

 may be known to be the reverse : he approves of your vices, 

 and he approves of your virtues ; he praises you while pre- 

 sent, and reviles you when absent. 



In four ways the spendthrift while professing to be a 

 friend may be known to be the reverse : He is a friend if 

 you frequent taverns, or wander about the streets at night; 

 if you visit the theatres, or frequent gaming houses. Thus 

 spake Bagawa. The excellent one having stated this, the 

 teacher further said : 



The friend who takes away your property, or who abounds 

 in profession, or who is a sycophant, or a spendthrift, 



These four the wise man does not regard to be friends, 

 but removes from them as he would from a path beset with 

 eminent dangers. • 



Gahapati, by these four marks the faithful friend may be 

 known : He assists in time of need ; he is a friend in adver- 

 sity as well as in prosperity : he gives judicious advice ; 

 and manifests affection towards you. 



