at men intrude upon thy most private
moments. Steersman, let not thy boat run aground. Nourisher [of men],
let not men die. Destroyer [of men], let not men perish. Shadow, let not
men perish through the burning heat. Place of refuge, let not the
crocodile commit ravages. It is now four times that I have laid my
complaint before thee. How much more time shall I spend in doing this?"

This peasant came a fifth time to make his complaint, and said, "O my
lord steward, the fisherman with a _khut_ instrument ..., the fisherman
with a ... killeth _i_-fish, the fisherman with a harpoon speareth the
_aubbu_ fish, the fisherman with a _tchabhu_ instrument catcheth the
_paqru_ fish, and the common fishermen are always drawing fish from the
river. Observe! Thou art even as they. Wrest not the goods of the poor
man from him. The helpless man thou knowest him. The goods of the poor
man are the breath of his life; to seize them and carry them off from
him is to block up his nostrils. Thou art committed to the hearing of a
case and to the judging between two parties at law, so that thou mayest
suppress the robber; but, verily, what thou doest is to support the
thief. The people love thee, and yet thou art a law-breaker. Thou hast
been set as a dam before the man of misery, take heed that he is not
drowned. Verily, thou art like a lake to him, O thou who flowest
quickly."

This peasant came the sixth time to lay his complaint [before Rensi],
and said, "O my lord steward ... who makest truth to be, who makest
happiness (or, what is good) to be, who destroyest [all evil]; thou art
like unto the satiety that cometh to put an end to hunger, thou art like
unto the raiment that cometh to do away nakedness; thou art like unto
the heavens that become calm after a violent storm and refresh with
warmth those who are cold; thou art like unto the fire that cooketh that
which is raw, and thou art like unto the water that quencheth the
thirst. Yet look round about thee! He who ought to make a division
fairly is a robber. He who ought to make everyone to be satisfied hath
been the cause of the trouble. He who ought to be the source of healing
is one of those who cause sicknesses. The transgressor diminisheth the
truth. He who filleth well the right measure acteth rightly, provided
that he giveth neither too little nor too much. If an offering be
brought unto thee, do thou share it with thy brother (or neighbour), for
that which is given in charity i