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Part 30

Indian Poetry · Edwin, Sir Arnold — chapter 30 of 33 · ~431 words · public domain

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"Wrath of kings, and rage of lightning--both be very full of dread; But one falls on one man only--one strikes many victims dead."

"All men scorn the soulless coward who his manhood doth forget: On a lifeless heap of ashes fearlessly the foot is set."

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"Simple milk, when serpents drink it, straightway into venom turns; And a fool who heareth counsel all the wisdom of it spurns."

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"A modest manner fits a maid, And Patience is a man's adorning; But brides may kiss, nor do amiss, And men may draw, at scathe and scorning."

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"Serving narrow-minded masters dwarfs high natures to their size: Seen before a convex mirror, elephants do show as mice."

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"Elephants destroy by touching, snakes with point of tooth beguile; Kings by favour kill, and traitors murder with a fatal smile."

"Of the wife the lord is jewel, though no gems upon her beam; Lacking him, she lacks adornment, howsoe'er her jewels gleam!"

"Hairs three-lakhs, and half-a-lakh hairs, on a man so many grow-- And so many years to Swarga shall the true wife surely go!"

"When the faithful wife, embracing tenderly her husband dead, Mounts the blazing pyre beside him, as it were a bridal-bed; Though his sins were twenty thousand, twenty thousand times o'er-told, She shall bring his soul to splendour, for her love so large and bold."

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"Counsel unto six ears spoken, unto all is notified When a King holds consultation, let it be with one beside."

"Sick men are for skilful leeches--prodigals for poisoning-- Fools for teachers--and the man who keeps a secret, for a King."

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"With gift, craft, promise, cause thy foe to yield; When these have failed thee, challenge him afield."

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"The subtle wash of waves do smoothly pass, But lay the tree as lowly as the grass."

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"Ten true bowmen on a rampart fifty's onset may sustain; Fortalices keep a country more than armies in the plain."

"Build it strong, and build it spacious, with an entry and retreat; Store it well with wood and water, fill its garners full with wheat."

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"Gems will no man's life sustain; Best of gold is golden grain."

"Hard it is to conquer nature: if a dog were made a King, 'Mid the coronation trumpets he would gnaw his sandal-string."

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