The dictum of BUZURJAMEHR: Buzurg, son of Bokhtagan was asked, "Which is the thing which covers indolence." "Aye" he said, "Wisdom, which gives beauty to it." They said, "If a person has got no wisdom?" He said, "Then property, which will cover it." They said, "But if there is no property?" He said, "His friends will earn respect for him." They said, "But if he has got no friends to earn respect for him?" He said, "If a person is indolent then he must preserve silence" They said, "But if he does not observe silence?" He said, "Then sudden death is better for him than that he should remain, in the world of the living." This passage has been repeated at page 123 with a slight difference. There the interrogator is Kisra Anushirvan, and the question is, which thing is the best for a man who is indolent. Buzurg replies, "Wisdom, with which he may be happy." (p, 4.)
There is mention of several authors and books similar to Kalileh wa
Dimneh with the names of their authors including Sahal Ibn Harun, Ibn
Rayhani, Al Katib. (p. 30.)
Says Ismai: In the alphabet of the Romans there is no zad and among the Persians there is no tha. (p. 36)
A longish definition and description of oratory by Ibn ul Mukaffa. (p. 64.)
Ibn Mukaffa again referred to. (p. 65.)
Instances of Arabic poetry in which Persian words and phrases are intermingled e.g., garden for unuk (neck); av sard for cold water, &c. (p. 79.)
[There are several other instances where the Persian words are there, but the copyist and possibly also the editor, do not seem to have understood the Kasida and the editor observes in a marginal note that, the text is corrupt, G.K.N.]
PART II.
Mention of Sahal Ibn Harun. (p. 37.)
Mention of Persia, (p. 53.)