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135 135 Chapter 9 Unseemly Conversations and Crooked Contestations169 It would be well to provide here an example of the kind of conversations that used to take place among this company. Thus we declare: Once, when this company of ours had gathered, the cup was on its rounds, joy unconfined, the chastest among them in speech and most dogged in debate posed the following question: “Which person, in your opinions, is the best-off and has the greatest peace of mind?” Replied the one with cup in hand, “He who’s in this same state as I, holding his vessel high.” The first told him, “It is not so at all, nor is it he on whom men may agree, for his condition’s one that will not last and his joy, it follows, will soon be past. Moreover, it rests on but a partial proof, is but a part of a greater truth, of which the rest remains to be considered —namely there’s no denying that imbibing wine can make a man ill and stop him from eating his fill, which is why it’s called qahwah;170 no man can use it regularly without disaster.” Another now declared, “He who enjoys the greatest peace of mind is the emir when on his sofa he sits at ease, a party of servants and scions at his knees. His living comes to him without a care, for his Provider relieves him of any effort regarding daily fare. When he takes himself off to his harem, he closets himself with the most gorgeous of women on the softest of beds (and how true the words of him who said, ‘There’s nothing more wonderful than to bed on a comfortable bed’!). What’s more, with a different dish each day his table’s laid, in soft garments he’s arrayed, his orders are obeyed, his judgment never gainsaid.” Another then declared, “That’s not how things are. The truth from that is far. The emir never sees his wife but his head’s full of strife, his heart with worries rife, for he’s always thinking how he’s 1.9.1 1.9.2 136 136 ‫ة‬ ��‫ي‬ �‫ن‬ ��‫ا‬�‫ح‬ � ‫ت‬ �‫ا‬�‫ش‬ ��� ‫ق‬ � � � ‫ا‬�‫ن‬ �‫م‬�‫و‬�� * ‫ة‬ ��‫ي‬ �‫ن‬ ��‫ا‬�‫�خ‬ � ‫ت‬ �‫ا‬‫ور‬�� ‫ا‬�‫ح‬ � ‫م‬� ‫ي‬ � � ‫ف‬ � � � ‫�د‬‫ق‬ ��‫ت‬ �‫ن‬ �‫م‬� * ‫ه‬�‫ل‬��‫ع‬ � ‫ف‬ ��‫�ي‬� ‫ا‬�‫م‬�‫ي‬ � ‫ف‬ � � � ‫م‬�‫ه‬ � ‫ن‬ �‫م‬� ‫د‬‫و‬�‫ص‬� �‫ر‬‫م‬� ‫ك‬��‫ل‬� � ‫ذ‬ � ‫ع‬ �‫م‬�‫و‬�‫ه‬�‫و‬�� * ‫ه‬�‫ن‬��‫و‬�‫ل‬�� ّ‫خ‬ � �‫ب‬ �‫ي‬ �� ‫�ف‬ � � ‫م‬�‫ه‬ �‫ي‬ �‫ط‬ �� � ‫ع‬ � ‫�ي‬ �‫و‬�� * ‫ه‬�‫ن‬��‫و‬� ‫ن‬ ��‫و‬� ‫خ‬ � �‫ي‬ � ‫ف‬ �� � � ‫ك‬‫ر‬‫�د‬‫ي‬ �� ‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫و‬�� ‫اده‬� ‫ل‬�‫ب‬ �� ‫ر‬‫ي‬ �� ‫�غ‬ � ‫ة‬ ��‫ي‬ ��‫�ؤ‬��‫ر‬ ‫ى‬ � ّ‫ن‬�‫�م‬ ‫ت‬ � ‫�ي‬‫و‬�� * ‫ه‬�‫ل‬� � ‫ح‬ �‫ا‬�‫ت‬ �‫�ي‬� ‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫و‬�� ‫ر‬ ‫ف‬ ��‫س‬��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ّ ‫د‬‫و‬�‫ي‬ � َ ‫ل‬� � ‫ه‬�‫ن‬��‫ا‬‫و‬�� * ‫ه‬�‫ل‬�� ّ ‫�م‬‫ع‬ �‫ت‬ �‫�ي‬� ‫ا‬�‫م‬�‫ب‬� ‫ه‬�‫ي‬ �‫ل‬��‫ع‬ � ‫ق‬ � �‫ي‬ ��‫ر‬‫ط‬ �� � ‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ف‬ ��‫س‬�� ‫ت‬ ��‫ع‬ �‫�ي‬� ‫�ن‬‫م‬� ‫ط‬ �� �‫ب‬ � ‫�غ‬ � ‫�ي‬ �‫و‬�� * ‫ا‬� ‫ل‬�‫ل‬�� ْ ‫ه‬ � َ ‫ب‬ � َ ‫�س‬� ‫�ض‬� �‫ر‬ ‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫ا‬ ‫ى‬ � ‫�ف‬ � � ‫ى‬ � ‫ش‬ ���‫م‬�‫ي‬ � ‫�ن‬‫م‬� ‫ح��س�د‬ �‫ي‬ � ‫و‬�‫ه‬ � ‫ف‬ � � � * ‫ه‬�‫ل‬��‫م‬�‫ا‬ ‫ب‬ �‫�ه‬‫ا‬‫ر‬ ‫ه‬‫لل‬‫ا‬ ‫ق‬ � � ‫ل‬��‫خ‬ � � ‫ع�د‬ �‫�س‬�‫ا‬ ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬ * ‫د‬‫ا‬�‫ش‬ ���‫ر‬‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ل‬�‫ه‬��‫ا‬‫ا‬�‫ي‬ �� ‫ا‬�‫ع‬ �‫م‬ �‫س‬�� ‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬� ‫ق‬ � � �‫و‬�� ‫د‬‫ا‬� ّ‫ق‬ ��‫ن‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫�ض‬� � ‫ع‬ �‫ب‬ �� ‫م‬ �‫ا‬�‫ق‬ ��‫ف‬ � � � * ‫ا‬� ‫ل‬� َ ‫ل‬�� َ‫ض‬ �� � ‫ق‬ � � � ‫ا‬ ‫�ز‬ ‫ر‬‫ا‬ ‫�ن‬‫م‬� ‫ل‬�‫�ك‬ � �� ‫ا‬�‫ي‬ �� ‫و‬�‫ه‬ � ‫ف‬ � � � * ‫ه‬�‫ت‬ �‫ع‬ � ‫ض�ي‬ �� �‫و‬�� ‫ه‬‫ر‬ ‫ا‬�‫ق‬ ��‫ع‬ �‫ب‬ �� ‫ل‬� ‫غ‬ �� � ‫ش‬ ���‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫�ن‬‫ع‬ � ‫�غ‬ ّ ‫ر‬ ‫ف‬ ��‫�ت‬�‫و‬�� * ‫ه‬�‫ت‬ �‫ع‬ �‫م‬�‫و‬�‫ص‬� � ‫ى‬ � ‫�ف‬ � � ‫ه‬�‫ب‬ ��‫ا‬� ‫ت‬ �‫ك‬ � ��� ‫م‬ � ‫�ز‬‫ل‬� � ‫ى‬ �‫�ج‬ �‫ا‬�‫ي‬ ��‫د‬��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ي‬ � ‫ڡ‬ � � ‫م‬�‫ه‬ �‫ي‬ �‫ن‬ �‫غ‬ � � ‫�ي‬ �‫و‬�� * ‫س‬��‫ا‬�‫ك‬ � � �‫ل‬�� ‫ا‬ ‫ر‬ ‫ا‬�‫م‬�‫ص‬� � َ ‫ا‬ ‫�ن‬‫م‬� ‫ح‬ � ‫ف‬ ��‫ط‬ �� �‫ي‬ �� ‫ء‬ ‫آ‬ ��‫ع‬ �‫د‬ ‫ه‬�‫ن‬ �‫ع‬ � ‫م‬�‫ه‬ � ‫ض‬ �� �‫و‬�‫ع‬� ‫�ي‬ �‫و‬�� * ‫س‬��‫ا‬�‫ن‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫م‬ � ‫ث‬ � * ‫ب‬ �‫ك‬ � �� ‫ا‬‫ر‬ ‫ب‬ �‫ر‬ ‫ا‬�‫ش‬ ��� ‫ل‬�‫�ك‬ � �� ‫آ‬ � ‫ل‬�‫ي‬ �� ‫ق‬ � � � ‫ا‬� ‫م‬� ‫ك‬ �� ‫و‬�‫ه‬ � ‫ف‬ � � � * ‫ب‬ �‫ئ‬��‫ا‬�‫ج‬ � � ‫ن‬ �‫ل‬��� ‫ا‬ ‫�ن‬‫م‬� ‫م‬�‫ه‬ �‫ي‬ ��‫د‬��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫م‬� ‫ب‬ �‫ك‬ � �� ‫ر‬‫�ي‬‫و‬�� * ‫س‬��‫ا‬‫ر‬‫ب‬ ��‫ن‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫�ن‬‫ع‬ � ‫�ض‬� � ‫ع‬ �‫ب‬ �� ‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫ق‬ ��‫ف‬ � � � * ‫ر‬ ِ ‫ش‬ ��� ُ‫ن‬ � ‫و‬�� ‫ا‬ ‫ق‬ � � ‫ل‬��‫خ‬ � � ‫ل‬�� ‫ا‬ ‫ت‬ �‫ا‬�‫م‬� ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬‫و‬�� * ‫ر‬‫�م‬ ُ ‫ع‬ �‫و‬�� ‫ا‬ ‫ن‬ �‫و‬�‫ك‬ � � �‫ل‬�� ‫ا‬ ‫ب‬ �‫ر‬ ‫خ‬ � � ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬ ‫ك‬��‫ل‬� � ‫ذ‬ � ‫ع�د‬ �‫ب‬ �� ‫ه‬�‫ي‬ �‫ل‬��‫ع‬ � ‫ا‬�‫م‬� ‫س‬��‫ا‬�‫ن‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ى‬ � � ‫ا‬‫ر‬ ‫ا‬ ‫ذ‬ �‫ا‬ ‫ه‬�‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫ث‬ �‫م‬�‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫ب‬ �‫�ه‬‫ا‬‫ر‬‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬� ‫ف‬ � � � * ‫د‬‫ا‬‫ل��س�د‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫�ن‬‫م‬� ‫ل‬� � ‫و‬� ‫�ق‬�‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ا‬ ‫�ذ‬ �‫�ه‬ ‫ا‬�‫م‬� * ‫د‬‫ا‬�‫ش‬ ���‫ر‬‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ى‬ � �‫و‬�� ‫ذ‬ � ‫�ن‬‫م‬� ‫ش‬ ���‫ي‬ ��‫ع‬ �‫�ي‬� ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬ ‫ه‬�‫س‬�� ‫ف‬ ��‫ن‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ة‬ � ‫ء‬ ‫آ‬ ��‫ن‬��‫د‬��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ َ ‫�ض‬� �‫�ير‬ ‫م‬ � ‫�ل‬ � * ‫م‬�‫ه‬ � ‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫غ‬ � � ‫ش‬ ���‫ا‬�‫ب‬ �� ‫ي�ن‬ ��‫ل‬��‫غ‬ � � ‫�ت‬ ‫ش‬ ���‫م‬� * ‫م‬�‫ه‬ � ‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫م‬�‫ع‬ � ‫ا‬ ‫ى‬ � ‫ل‬��‫ع‬ � ‫ي�ن‬ ��‫ل‬��‫ب‬ � ‫�ق‬�‫م‬� ‫ا‬�‫ك‬ � � � ‫�ي‬‫ر‬ ‫ش‬ ��� ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬�‫ك‬ � �� ‫و‬�‫ل‬� � ‫د‬‫و‬�‫ي‬ �� ‫ل‬�‫ب‬ ��� * ‫م‬ � ‫ه‬�‫�د‬ ‫ف‬ � � �‫ر‬ ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫ا‬ ‫�ن‬ّ ‫ي‬ ��‫ح‬ � ‫ت‬ � ‫ي‬ ��‫و‬�� * ‫م‬ � ‫ه‬�‫ه�د‬ � ‫�ج‬ �‫و‬�� ‫م‬�‫ه‬ � ‫ب‬ �‫ع‬ �‫�ت‬� ‫ى‬ � ‫ل‬��‫ع‬ � ‫ح‬ � ‫ي‬ �‫ر‬ ‫ت‬ ��‫س‬��‫ي‬ �‫و‬�� * ‫م‬ � ‫ه‬� ّ ‫د‬�‫ك‬ � �� ‫ه‬�‫ي‬ ��‫�ن�ز‬ ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬�‫ك‬ � ��‫ا‬ ‫ذ‬ �‫ا‬ ‫ا‬ ‫�ذ‬ �‫�ه‬ * ‫م‬�‫ه‬ � ‫ت‬ ��‫ا‬�‫ن‬��‫و‬�‫ص‬� � ‫م‬� ‫ي‬ � ‫ڡ‬ � � ‫ا‬�‫ك‬ � � � ‫�ي‬‫ر‬ ‫ش‬ ��� ‫ن‬ �‫و‬�‫ك‬ � � �‫�ي‬ ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬ ‫�ن‬‫م‬� ‫ى‬ � � ‫ر‬‫ح‬ �‫ا‬ * ‫م‬�‫ه‬ �‫ب‬ ��‫ا‬�‫ع‬ �‫�ت‬�‫ا‬ ‫ي‬ � ‫ڡ‬ � � ‫م‬�‫ه‬ � ‫ل‬� � ‫ة‬ ��‫ي‬ ��‫�ؤ‬��‫ر‬ ‫�د‬‫ن‬ �‫ع‬ � ‫ه‬�‫ل‬� � ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬ ‫م‬ � ‫ث‬ � * ‫ى‬ � ‫ع‬ � ‫و‬�‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ط‬ �� �‫ب‬ ��‫ا‬� ‫ض‬ �� � * ‫ى‬ � ‫ع‬ �‫��س‬‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ق‬ � � �‫د‬‫ا‬�‫ص‬� � * ‫س‬�� ‫ن‬ ��‫ق‬ ��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫م‬ � ‫ي‬ �‫ر‬‫ك‬ � �� * ‫س‬�� ‫ف‬ ��‫ن‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ا‬ ‫ذ‬ �‫ا‬ ‫ا‬�‫م‬�‫ي‬ �‫�س‬� ‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫و‬�� * ‫ت‬ �‫ا‬‫ر‬‫��س‬‫ح‬ � َّ ‫ى‬ � � َ ‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫ت‬ �‫ا‬‫ر‬ َ ‫��س‬ َ ‫ح‬ �‫و‬�� * ‫ت‬ �‫ا‬� ّ ‫�ص‬ � ُ‫غ‬ � � َ ‫ل‬� � ‫م‬ � ‫ه‬�‫�اد‬ ‫ل‬ � � ‫و‬�� ‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫م‬�‫ه‬ � ‫ئ‬ ��‫ا‬�‫س‬�� ‫ن‬ � ‫ع‬ �‫م‬� ‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫ج‬ � �‫ر‬‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫�ن‬‫�م‬‫م‬� ‫ه‬‫ر‬‫ي‬ �� ‫�غ‬ � ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬‫و‬�� * ‫ه‬�‫ع‬ � ‫ف‬ ��‫ن‬ �‫م‬�‫ر‬‫ي‬ �� ‫�غ‬ � ‫�ن‬‫م‬� ‫ى‬ � � ً ‫��س�د‬ ‫ب‬ �‫�ه‬‫ا‬ ‫ذ‬ � ‫ه‬�‫ن‬ � َ ‫�م‬ِ‫س‬ �� ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬ ‫ى‬ � � ‫ا‬‫ور‬�� * ‫ة‬ ��‫ع‬ �‫م‬�‫و‬�‫ص‬� � ‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ى‬ � ‫�ف‬ � � ‫ا‬� ‫ل‬�‫خ‬ � � * ‫ب‬ �‫ر‬ ‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫ا‬ ‫�غ‬ ‫و‬�‫ل‬��‫ب‬ �� ‫ى‬ � ‫ل‬��‫ع‬ � ‫ه‬�‫ن‬ �‫م‬�‫ر‬‫�د‬ ‫ق‬ � � � ‫ا‬ * ‫ب‬ �‫ع‬ �‫ت‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫ه�د‬ � ‫�ج‬ � ‫ل‬�� ‫ا‬ ‫م‬�‫ه‬ � ‫ع‬ � ‫ا‬�‫ج‬ � �‫ا‬‫و‬�� * ‫ب‬ �‫�ص‬ �‫ن‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬‫و‬�� ّ ‫د‬�‫ك‬ � � �‫ل‬�� ‫ا‬ ‫م‬ � ‫ه‬�‫ا‬‫و‬� ‫ض‬ �� �‫ا‬ * ‫ه‬�‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫ق‬ ��‫م‬� ‫ب‬ �‫�ص‬ �‫و‬� ‫ت‬ �‫�س‬�‫ا‬ ‫�ن‬‫م‬� ‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫ق‬ ��‫ف‬ � � � * ‫ب‬ �‫ر‬‫ع‬ �‫و‬�� ‫م‬ � ‫ج‬ � � ‫ع‬ � ‫�ن‬‫م‬� ‫ه‬‫لل‬‫ا‬ ‫ق‬ � � ‫ل‬��‫خ‬ � �‫ر‬ ‫�ئ‬‫ا‬�‫س‬�� ‫ه‬�‫ي‬ �‫ل‬��‫ع‬ � ‫ح‬ � ‫ل‬��‫ط‬ �� � ‫�ص‬ �‫ا‬ ‫ا‬�‫م‬�‫م‬� ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬�‫ب‬ �� ّ ‫ى‬ � � ‫ر‬‫ح‬ � ‫ه‬�‫ه‬ �‫ب‬ � ‫ش‬ ���‫ا‬ ‫�ن‬‫م‬�‫و‬�� ‫ب‬ �‫�ه‬‫ا‬‫ر‬‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬� ‫ف‬ � � � * ‫ي�ن‬ ��‫ب‬ �‫م‬ ‫�ل‬ � ‫ا‬ ‫ق‬ � � ‫ح‬ � ‫ل‬�� ‫ا‬‫و‬�‫ه‬� ‫ى‬ � � ‫ر‬‫�م‬‫ع‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫�ذ‬ �‫�ه‬ * ‫ه‬�‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬� ‫ق‬ � � � ‫ا‬�‫م‬ ‫�ل‬ � ‫ح‬ �‫ا‬�‫ت‬ ��‫ر‬‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫ي‬ � ‫ڡ‬ � � ‫ع�د‬ �‫ق‬ ��‫�ي‬� ‫ر‬ ‫ج‬ � �‫ا‬�‫ت‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬‫و‬�‫ه‬� ‫ا‬� ً‫ش‬ ���‫ي‬ ��‫ع‬ � ‫س‬��‫ا‬�‫ن‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ع�د‬ �‫�س‬�‫ا‬ ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬ ‫ى‬ � ‫ل‬�� ‫ر‬‫ه‬ � ‫ظ‬ � �� �‫ي‬ �� ‫ا‬�‫م‬� ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬‫و‬�� * ‫ي�ن‬ ��‫ي‬ � ‫�ق‬� ‫ش‬ ���‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ع‬ �‫م‬� ّ ‫ع�د‬ � ُ ‫�ي‬� ‫ا‬�‫م‬� ‫ة‬ �‫د‬��‫ح‬ �‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫ة‬ ��‫ع‬ � ‫ا‬�‫س‬�� ‫ى‬ � ‫�ف‬ � � ‫ة‬ �� ‫ظ‬ � �� � َّ ‫ل‬��‫غ‬ � � ُ ‫م‬ ‫�ل‬ � ‫ا‬ ‫ه‬�‫ن‬��‫ا‬�‫م‬�‫ي‬ � َ ‫ا‬�‫ب‬ �� ‫ب‬ �‫س‬��‫ك‬ � � �‫ي‬ � ‫ف‬ � � � * ‫ه‬�‫م‬�‫و‬�‫ي‬ �� ‫�ن‬‫م‬� ‫ت‬ �‫ا‬�‫ع‬ � ‫ا‬�‫س‬�� ‫�ض‬� � ‫ع‬ �‫ب‬ �� ‫ه‬�‫ت‬ ��‫و‬� ‫ن‬ ��‫ا‬�‫ح‬ � * ‫ا‬�‫ق‬ ��‫�ئ‬�‫ا‬�‫ش‬ ��� ‫ه‬‫و‬��‫ر‬‫ك‬ � � �‫م‬ ‫�ل‬ � ‫ا‬‫و‬�� * ‫ا‬�‫ق‬ ��‫ف‬ � � � ‫ا‬�‫ن‬�� ‫ه‬�‫م‬�‫ا‬� ‫ل‬�‫ك‬ � �� ‫ر‬‫�ي‬‫ر‬‫ك‬ � � �‫ت‬ �‫ب‬ �� ‫ه‬�‫ت‬ �‫ع‬ �‫ل‬��‫س‬�� ‫�ن‬‫م‬� ‫��س�د‬‫ا‬�‫ك‬ � � �‫ل‬�� ‫ا‬ ‫ل‬�‫ع‬� � ‫ج‬ � �‫ي‬ � * ‫ه‬‫ر‬‫ه‬ � ‫ش‬ ��� ‫ى‬ � ‫�ف‬ � � ‫ه‬�‫ق‬ �� ‫ف‬ ��‫ن‬ �‫�ي‬� 3،9،1 4،9،1 [3.138.102.178] Project MUSE (2024-04-26 16:57 GMT) 137 137 Unseemly Conversations and Crooked Contestations been betrayed over his wealth, cheated by his agents of his pelf. His income’s consumed by his court, which yet finds fault. He places his affairs under their sway and yet they betray. He treats them with generosity and yet they accuse him of illiberality. In addition, they watch every step he takes, criticize him for every move he makes. He’d love to travel, but has to stay, longs to see new lands but can never have his way. He’s jealous of those who walk aimlessly hither and yonder and looks with envy on all who whimsically wander.” Now rose another to criticize, saying, “Listen now, all you who’re wise. The happiest of God’s creation is the monk who remains in his cell to read, who from work on his land or in his village is freed; he eats of what others labor to earn, providing prayers in overflowing measure in return (so relieving them of any need for light, in the darkness of the night), and he takes his steed from among whatever beasts to their lot may be counted, so that he is, as the saying has it, ‘Fed, watered, and mounted.’ Thus equipped, it matters not to him whether the world flourish or go to pot, mankind be resurrected or left to rot.” One of those wise men then said, “These words are far from true. The monk and his like, should they see men setting forth on their labors, occupied in their endeavors, are far from happy to be reduced to living off their toil, taking their ease at the expense of others’ exhausting labor on the soil, idly waiting till they bring him their gifts. On the contrary, he’d rather take on a part of their chores than be a partner in what they’ve set aside as stores (this if he be of blameless soul and noble stock, honest in his striving, his conscience not ad hoc). Nay more—on seeing men with their wives and children he suffers agonies and sorrows too great to tell, especially when, alone in his cell, he sees his plumpness...

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