meritorious act." Keep thy inside unencumbered with victuals, that the
light of good works may shine within thee; but thou art void of wisdom
and knowledge, because thou art filled up to the nose with food.


XXII

The divine favor had placed the lamp of grace in the path of a wanderer
in forbidden ways, till it directed him into the circle of the
righteous, and the blessed society of dervishes, and their spiritual
co-operation enabled him to convert his wicked propensities into
praiseworthy deeds, and to restrain himself in sensual indulgences; yet
were the tongues of calumniators questioning his sincerity, and saying,
He retains his original habits, and there is no trusting to his piety
and goodness.--By the means of repentance thou mayest get delivered from
the wrath of God, but there is no escape from the slanderous tongue of
man.--He was unable to put up with the virulence of their remarks, and
took his complaint to his ghostly father, saying, "I am much troubled by
the tongues of mankind." The holy man wept, and answered, "How can you
be sufficiently grateful for this blessing, that you are better than
they represent you?--How often wilt thou call aloud saying, The
malignant and envious are calumniating wretched me, that they rise up to
shed my blood, and that they sit down to devise me mischief. Be thou
good thyself, and let people speak evil of thee; it is better than to be
wicked, and that they should consider thee as good."--But, on the other
hand, behold me, of whose perfectness all entertain the best opinion,
while I am the mirror of imperfection.--Had I done what they have said,
I should have been a pious and moral man.--_Verily, I may conceal myself
from the sight of my neighbor, but God knows what is secret and what is
open_.--There is a shut door between me and mankind, that they may not