barks at
you it does not trouble you much, and you go your own way. You must
deal in this manner with such men, because they are like dogs who
assault others without any provocation.

'When you perceive that a man's nature is to say "Yes" when you say
"No," and "No" if you say "Yes," compare him to an ass, because when
you approach him he recedes, and when you move away he will move
towards you. You must put up with your donkey, and neither separate
from him nor insult him. Deal in the same way with such a person.

'When you perceive a man searching out the weaknesses or shortcomings
of people, compare him to a fly, which settles on a carcase, and then
gluts itself with the vilest parts of it, such as the rotten flesh and
the filthy offal.

'When you observe a Sultan taking the lives, and confiscating the
property of his subjects, consider him to be a lion, and be on your
guard that he does not injure you.

'When you see a wicked man full of tricks and boastings, compare him
to a fox.

'If you happen to meet with a tale-bearer who foments enmity among
friends, consider him to be a "Zeriban," which is a small beast of
fetid smell, so that when two persons fall out with each other, the
Arabs say that "a Zeriban has passed between them." It is, indeed, the
peculiarity of this animal that an assembly disperses when it enters,
accordingly it is driven off as soon as perceived, and a tale-bearer
ought to be dealt with similarly.

'When you observe that a man loathes to listen to intelligent
conversation, and hates meetings of learned men, but is fond of
gossip, all kinds of nonsense, and scandals of society, compare him to
the May-bug, which delights in impure exhalations, and loves
dunghills, but hates the perfumes of musk or of roses, which actually
kill it when sprinkled upon it.

'If you meet an individual displaying a great deal of piety outwardly,
but always intriguing to acquire property, to enrich himself by
unrighteous means, and to cheat widows and orphans, consider him to be
a wolf:

"The wolf is so devout;
You see him on his knees,
He nicely prays and sighs.
But when his game is near,
He falls upon it speedily
And tears it all to pieces."

'When you discover a liar consider him to be like a dead man, who can
give no information, and with whom no one can associate. A liar may
also be compared to an ostrich which buries all its eggs in the sand,
but leaves one upon