230
speech.’ (A.) ‘It behoves a man to speak nought but good and kindness and to talk not of that which concerns him not; to leave detraction nor carry talk he hath heard from one man to his enemy, neither seek to harm his friend nor his enemy with his sultan and reck not of any, neither of him from whom he hopes for good nor of him whose mischief he fears, save of God the Most High; for, in truth, He is the [only] one who harmeth or profiteth. Let him not impute default unto any nor talk ignorantly, lest he incur the burden and the sin thereof before God and earn hatred among men; for know that speech is like an arrow, which, once discharged, none can avail to recall. Moreover, let him beware of confiding his secret to one who shall discover it, lest he fall into mischief by reason of its disclosure, after having relied upon its concealment; and let him be more careful to keep his secret from his friend than from his enemy; for the keeping a secret with all folk is of the performance of trust.’ (Q.) ‘Tell me how a man should bear himself with his family and friends.’ (A.) ‘There is no ease for a son of Adam save in good conduct; he should render to his family that which they deserve and to his brethren that which is their due.’ (Q.) ‘What should one render to one’s kinsfolk?’ (A.) ‘To one’s parents, submission and soft speech and affability and honour and reverence. To one’s brethren, loyal counsel and readiness to expend one’s good for them and assistance in their undertakings and grieving for their grief and joyance in their joy and closing of the eyes toward the errors that they may commit; for, when they experience this from a man, they requite him with the best they can command of good counsel and expend their lives in his defence; so, if thou know thy brother to be trusty, be lavish to Night dccccxiii.him of thy love and helpful to him in all his affairs.’ (Q.) ‘I see that brethren are of two kinds, brethren of
