Part 27

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"Would'st thou, know whose happy dwelling Fortune entereth unknown? His, who careless of her favour, standeth fearless in his own; His, who for the vague to-morrow barters not the sure to-day-- Master of himself, and sternly steadfast to the rightful way: Very mindful of past service, valiant, faithful, true of heart-- Unto such comes Lakshmi smiling--comes, and will not lightly part."

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"Be not haughty, being wealthy; droop not, having lost thine all; Fate doth play with mortal fortunes as a girl doth toss her ball."

"Worldly friendships, fair but fleeting; shadows of the clouds at noon; Women, youth, new corn, and riches; these be pleasures passing soon."

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"For thy bread be not o'er thoughtful--Heav'n for all hath taken thought: When the babe is born, the sweet milk to the mother's breast is brought.

"He who gave the swan her silver, and the hawk her plumes of pride, And his purples to the peacock--He will verily provide."

"Though for good ends, waste not on wealth a minute; Mud may be wiped, but wise men plunge not in it."

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"Brunettes, and the Banyan's shadow, Well-springs, and a brick-built wall, Are all alike cool in the summer, And warm in the winter--all."

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"Ah! the gleaming, glancing arrows of a lovely woman's eye! Feathered with her jetty lashes, perilous they pass thee by: Loosed at venture from the black bows of her arching brow, they part, All too penetrant and deadly for an undefended heart."

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"Beautiful the Koil seemeth for the sweetness of his song, Beautiful the world esteemeth pious souls for patience strong; Homely features lack not favour when true wisdom they reveal, And a wife is fair and honoured while her heart is firm and leal."

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"Friend! gracious word!--the heart to tell is ill able Whence came to men this jewel of a syllable."

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"Whoso for greater quits small gain, Shall have his labour for his pain; The things unwon unwon remain, And what was won is lost again."

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"Looking down on lives below them, men of little store are great; Looking up to higher fortunes, hard to each man seems his fate."

"As a bride, unwisely wedded, shuns the cold caress of eld, So, from coward souls and slothful, Lakshmi's favours turn repelled."

"Ease, ill-health, home-keeping, sleeping, woman-service, and content-- In the path that leads to greatness these be six obstructions sent."

"Seeing how the soorma wasteth, seeing how the ant-hill grows, Little adding unto little--live, give, learn, as life-time, goes."

"Drops of water falling, falling, falling, brim the chatty o'er; Wisdom comes in little lessons--little gains make largest store."

"Men their cunning schemes may spin-- God knows who shall lose or win."

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"Shoot a hundred shafts, the quarry lives and flies--not due to death; When his hour is come, a grass-blade hath a point to stop his breath."