First, going; gold, next; third, the path thou hast to seek.
These all have sundry enemies and deadly foes,
Who’ll lie in ambush, each, if he thy purpose knows.
If thou ‘Adieu’ to only one or two shouldst call,
Remember: ‘Two’s a secret; three is none at all.’155
If fast together thou shouldst bind birds, two or three,
They’ll quiet lie on earth, nor strive themselves to free.
Men hold it best to ask for counsel in wide terms.
Beware; and wrangle not with perverse pachyderms.
The Prophet covertly men’s counsel used to seek.