"Then it is that common sense demands that the state his three propositions as follows:
"First: High summits attract lightning.
"Secondly: Here is a giant tree.
"Thirdly: I'm going to avoid its proximity because it will surely be dangerous.
"If he acted otherwise; if, in spite of his knowledge of the danger, he took shelter under the branches of the gigantic tree, exposing himself to be struck by lightning, one could, in this case, only reproach him with imprudence and lay the blame to the lack of common sense which allowed him to perform the act that logic condemned."
Now the old Nippon speaks to us of the means to employ, that we may avoid pronouncing too hasty judgments, which are always, of necessity, weakened by a too great indulgence for ourselves and at the same time too great a severity for others.
"I was walking one day," said he, "on the shores of a lake, when I discovered a man sitting at the foot of a bamboo tree, in an attitude of the greatest despair.
"Approaching him, I asked him the cause of his grief.
"'Alas!' said he to me, 'the gods are against me; everything which I undertake fails, and all evils crush me.
"'After the one which has just befallen me only one course of action is left to me, to throw myself in the lake. But I am young, and I am weeping for myself before resolving to take such a step.'