THE GRAND SECRET OF HUMAN HAPPINESS. 293 
speed ; wearing yourself out with internal fires ; besides run¬ 
ning the danger of bursting up, by destroying the escape-pipe 
of your courage. Take it easy, Yusef—that’s the true philos¬ 
ophy of life.” 
Yusef (a little confused).—“ But what is ease ? A sitting- 
hen takes it easy; it’s her business—she likes it ; she has a 
natural propensity for sitting. A mud-turtle basks in the 
sun ; it suits him ; he feels comfortable ; he doesn’t like run¬ 
ning ; his legs are too short. A snail travels slowly ; he’s a 
slow coach; he takes it easy, because he can’t take it fast; 
he carries his house on his back, and it makes no difference 
where he goes or how long it takes him ; he’s always at home. 
But, do you think, 0 General, that I, Yusef Badra, renowned 
in history and in song throughout Syria, could take it easy if 
I were alone upon a desert, with six armed Bedouins bearing 
down upon me ?” 
General (thoughtfully).—“Why, no, Yusef—I don’t see 
that you could well take it easy under those circumstances. 
In fact I rather think you’d take it fast. I’m tolerably cer¬ 
tain that I would where the odds were so great against me. 
This is an extreme case, however.” 
Yusef (proudly).—“ That’s the beauty of it—there’s where 
the principle lies. I couldn’t stand it, you see. If there 
was only one Bedouin, I might sit still, and let him strike 
me the first blow, for pastime ; but six !—six to one ! No, 
sir, I couldn’t take it easy in the common sense—I’d have 
to kill ’em; rip ’em up, gut ’em, scatter their brains on the 
four winds of heaven: Every man takes his ease in a dif¬ 
ferent way, according to his capacity, inclination, or courage. 
The coward takes his ease in peace; the brave man in war. 
My ease lies in blood—human blood, sir. When I wallow 
in it, I feel comfortable and happy—I’m perfectly easy then, 
only I want more—-that’s the only difficulty ; I always want 
more ; if it wasn’t for that I’d be the happiest man living.” 
General. —“Certainly a very unfortunate propensity, as 
regards its operation upon the rest of mankind. Happily, we 
are differently organized, as you say; for if we all took our 
ease in killing, the world would be pretty easy before long.” 
