When fails my wealth no friend will deign befriend, ✿ And when it waxeth all men friendship show:
How many a foe for wealth became my friend, ✿ Wealth lost, how many a friend became a foe!
Asked Ali, “What more?” And Majd al-Din answered, “O my son, take counsel of those who are older than thou and hasten not to do thy heart’s desire. Have compassion on those who are below thee, so shall those who are above thee have compassion on thee; and oppress none, lest Allah empower one who shall oppress thee. How well saith the poet:—
Add other wit to thy wit, counsel craving, ✿ For man’s true course hides not from minds of two:
Man is a mirror which but shows his face, ✿ And by two mirrors he his back shall view.
And as saith another:[[259]]—
Act on sure grounds, nor hurry fast,
To gain the purpose that thou hast
And be thou kindly to all men
So kindly thou’lt be called again;