have heard that the heroes on the path of God will not distress the
hearts of their enemies. How canst thou attain this dignified station
who art at strife and warfare with thy friends?

The loving kindness of the righteous, whether before your face or behind
your back, is not such that they will censure you when absent, and offer
to die for you when present.--Face to face meek as a lamb, behind your
back like a man-devouring wolf. Whoever brings you, and sums up the
faults of others, will doubtless expose your defects to them.


V

Some travelling mendicants had agreed to club in a body and participate
in the cares and comforts of society. I expressed a wish that I might be
one of the party, but they refused to admit me. I said: "It is rare and
inconsistent with the generous dispositions of dervishes to turn their
faces from a good-fellowship with the poor, and to deny them its
benefits, for on my part I feel such a zeal and good-will, that in the
service of the liberal I am likely to prove rather an active associate
than a grievous load.--_Though not one of those who are mounted on the
camels, I will do my best, that I may carry their saddle-cloths_."

One of them answered and said: "Be not offended at what you have heard,
for some days back a thief joined us in the garb of a dervish, and
strung himself upon the cord of our acquaintance.--How can people know
what he is that wears that dress? The writer can alone tell the
contents of the letter." In consequence of that reverence in which the
dervish character is held, they did not think of his profligacy and
admitted him into their society. The outward character of the holy is a