Month: August 2021

The marble placards a modern way of advertising

A large public quarter with many buildings from different periods was uncovered northwest of the bouleuterion (north of Bulbank). Buildings date back to the Roman and early Byzantine periods and the Middle Age.

The marble placards – a modern way of advertising

A theater was put up east of the fortified wall during the reign of Emperor Commodus (180-192). In addition to drama performances, it was probably fir for gladiator’s combats. Much later, when Christianity was adopted, a small chapel was built on the stage/arena. This is what Christians did at places where human blood was shed. In 2004-2005 the amphitheater of Serdica was localized 200 m east of the eastern gate. The amphitheater had been erected later. It functioned actively during the time of Diocletian (284-305) and Constantine the Great (306-337) and later. Constantine issued an edict prohibiting the bloody gladiator’s combats in the Eastern Empire, to which our lands pertained (325 AD). Wrestling w

A large public quarter with many buildings from different periods was uncovered northwest of the bouleuterion (north of Bulbank). Buildings date back to the Roman and early Byzantine periods and the Middle Age.

The marble placards – a modern way of advertising

A theater was put up east of the fortified wall during the reign of Emperor Commodus (180-192). In addition to drama performances, it was probably fir for gladiator’s combats. Much later, when Christianity was adopted, a small chapel was built on the stage/arena. This is what Christians did at places where human blood was shed. In 2004-2005 the amphitheater of Serdica was localized 200 m east of the eastern gate. The amphitheater had been erected later. It functioned actively during the time of Diocletian (284-305) and Constantine the Great (306-337) and later. Constantine issued an edict prohibiting the bloody gladiator’s combats in the Eastern Empire, to which our lands pertained (325 AD). Wrestling with wild beasts and any other entertainment, which did not involve the loss of human life, were allowed.

From Serdica originates a unique marble placard-plaque, inviting the local people to a grand show. Animals from different geographic zones are represented on it. In the center of the advertising placard there is a crocodile. It is quite possible that such an animal had been brought from distant lands for the inhabitants of the capital of Mediterranean Dacia province. Monkeys are also depicted, probably trained and used to amuse the audience. The tamer is “playing” with a bear put in a roundabout revolving around a vertical metal axis. A second tamer is wrestling with another bear. An acrobat is also represented who is about to jump with a long pole over an approaching bull. This attraction is believed to have taken place after the prohibition of gladiator’s combats in these lands and maybe before the Serdica Council in 343.

The Emperors decided to convene an Ecumenical Council in Serdica

Presbyter Arius came from Alexandria, Egypt, and preached that Christ was only a semblance of God and not part of the trinity God-Father-Holy Spirit. He was banished from these lands and sought shelter in Syria. There he found adherents among the priest-hood from the School of Antioch, who were inclined to see the world dialectically and were exponents of the revived Hellenism. Arius’ followers multiplied and this made Emperor Constantine I the Great (306-337) convene urgently an Ecumenical Council in IMicaea.

There Arianism was condemned as a doctrine and pronounced a heresy. Arius and his most faithful friends were exiled to Illyria. On the way they passed through Thrace, Moesia and Dardania. Large areas were “infected” with this teaching. Particularly Nicopolis ad Istrum, where Wulfila’s Goths lived, and Durostorum. There was need of urgent measures. Thus Constans mihrimah mosque, Emperor of the Western Empire, proposed to Constantius, ruler of the Eastern Empire, to convene an Ecumenical Church Council. Serdica was chosen for its venue. From the western regions came 300 bishops, whereas from the eastern only 76. The two groups quarreled immediately as those from the east wanted certain persons from the west-ern delegation to be banished. The bishops of Serdica and Cordova, Spain, did not assent and this brought on the schism. The eastern bishops left the council and held a counter-council in Philippopolis. Those

remaining in Serdica condemned them in default, and the controversy deepened fur-ther after this ecumenical council. Historian Sozomen wrote: “After this council, the east-ern and the western bishops no longer com-municated as men of the same creed, nor got together. The eastern restricted them-selves to Thrace, and the western to Illyria.”

The legend of Sofia

Today the three-nave basilica St. Sofia is a most frequented place by the inhabitants and guests of the capital. There are several legends about the construction of this Christian temple on part of the ancient necropolis of Serdica. However, one legend

stands out. Sofia was a beautiful young woman in the entourage of Emperor Constantine the Great (306-337). She fell ill and the doctors prescribed her to go to a place with fresh air and salutary mineral water. And since the Emperor was very fond of Serdica, the young woman went to this city. In time she died and her body was buried right here and the church was erected.

The earliest structure investigated by the archaeologists dates to the time of Constantius II, the son of Constantine the Great (a little after the middle of the 4th century). A chapel was built and decorated with nine mosaic panels. The central panel is of greatest interest. It represents a scene typical for the era, viz. the idea of the Garden of Eden with birds, cypresses and vines. Between the end of the 4th century and the time of Justinian (527-565) the church underwent three major repairs and destructions. During the Ottoman domination it was transformed into a mosque. Today the Basilica of St. Sofia is restored and its basement is still explored. It is open for worshipers and tourists.

‘Phiiippopofis was the finest of all cities, whose beauty shined from afar”

An ignorant man as silence

RULE XXXYI.

Nothing is so good for an ignorant man as silence; and if he was sensible of this, he would not be ignorant. When you possess not perfection and excellence, you had better keep your tongue within

your teeth. The tongue brings men into disgrace. The nut without a kernel is of light weight. A stupid man was training an ass, and spent all his time upon it. Somebody said, “0 blockhead, what art thou endeavouring to do? for this foolish attempt expect reprehension from the censorious. Brutes will not acquire speech from thee; learn thou silence from them.” Whosoever doth not reflect before he giveth an answer, will generally speak improperly. Either arrange your words as a man of sense, or else sit quiet like a brute.

RULE XXXVII.

Whenever you argue with another wiser than yourself, in order that others may admire your wisdom, they will discover your ignorance. When one manages a discourse better than yourself, although you may be fully inf

RULE XXXYI.

Nothing is so good for an ignorant man as silence; and if he was sensible of this, he would not be ignorant. When you possess not perfection and excellence, you had better keep your tongue within

your teeth. The tongue brings men into disgrace. The nut without a kernel is of light weight. A stupid man was training an ass, and spent all his time upon it. Somebody said, “0 blockhead, what art thou endeavouring to do? for this foolish attempt expect reprehension from the censorious. Brutes will not acquire speech from thee; learn thou silence from them.” Whosoever doth not reflect before he giveth an answer, will generally speak improperly. Either arrange your words as a man of sense, or else sit quiet like a brute.

RULE XXXVII.

Whenever you argue with another wiser than yourself, in order that others may admire your wisdom, they will discover your ignorance. When one manages a discourse better than yourself, although you may be fully informed, yet do not start objections.

RULE XXXVIII.

Whosoever associates with the wicked, will not see good. If an angel should keep company with a demon, he would learn terror, perfidy, and deceit. You cannot learn virtue from the wicked; the wolf practises not the tanner’s art.

Publish not men’s secret faults, for by disgracing them you make yourself of no repute.

RULE XL.

Whosoever acquired knowledge and did not practise it, resembleth him who ploughed but did not sow.

RULE XLI.

Obedience is not truly performed by the body of him whose heart is dissatisfied. The shell without a kernel, is not fit for store.

RULE XLII.

Not every one that is ready to dispute is quick in transacting business. A form may appear handsome under a sheet, but remove it and you find it a grand-mother.

RULE XLIII.

If every night was a night of power, many of such nights would be disregarded. If every stone was a Budukshan ruby, the ruby and the pebble would be of equal value.

It is not every graceful form that contains a good disposition: for virtue is in the mind, not in the appearance. You may know in one day from a man’s manner, to what degree of knowledge he has attained. However, be not secure against his mind; neit her be proud of your discovery, for a malignant spirit is not to be detected in many years.

Frequented by the quality of Sofia

There are about half a dozen cates in the town, which are frequented by the quality of Sofia. Towards five o’clock these cates are at their fullest, and by seven they are pretty well deserted. A lady is seldom seen in any of them. If one appears there by chance, you may be pretty sure she is a foreigner. The male customers drink beer or mastic, a native beverage resembling in taste a mixture of brandy and absinthe ; the spirit, however, is unadulterated and is not, I should say, very potent The native beer is flat and sour, but the German beer, which is called here prokesh, and which is manufactured in the country by German brewers, is fairly good lager.

The habitats of the cates pass their time smoking, reading papers, and playing cards; but general conversation is very rare. Indeed, a stranger in these cates cannot avoid being impressed by the extreme quiet and taciturnity of the customers. There is no loud talking, no disputing, no screaming at the top of the voice. Nobo

There are about half a dozen cates in the town, which are frequented by the quality of Sofia. Towards five o’clock these cates are at their fullest, and by seven they are pretty well deserted. A lady is seldom seen in any of them. If one appears there by chance, you may be pretty sure she is a foreigner. The male customers drink beer or mastic, a native beverage resembling in taste a mixture of brandy and absinthe ; the spirit, however, is unadulterated and is not, I should say, very potent The native beer is flat and sour, but the German beer, which is called here prokesh, and which is manufactured in the country by German brewers, is fairly good lager.

The habitats of the cates pass their time smoking, reading papers, and playing cards; but general conversation is very rare. Indeed, a stranger in these cates cannot avoid being impressed by the extreme quiet and taciturnity of the customers. There is no loud talking, no disputing, no screaming at the top of the voice. Nobody seems much to notice who comes in or who goes out. Everybody is intent on his own occupation, whether it is reading, smoking, or card-playing. In these respects the cates of Bulgaria and of the Levant are utterly unlike ; their only point of resemblance is that they are both shabby, dirty, and malodorous.

There is a good deal of card-playing at the caffs, and I believe that during the Russian era high play used to go on constantly in the chief hotels. But in as far as I could observe, the stakes played for at the caffs in the present day are not high ; and no great excitement is visible amidst the card-players.

Continental variations

The games most commonly played are bresch, cayenne, mis£re, and others of the many Continental variations of dummy whist. Billiards are played here, as in France, by the cannon game; but the element of luck supplied by pockets is provided for by a number of small ninepins being placed in the centre of the table. If, in addition to making a cannon, you hit down one or more of these ninepins, you score so many points in your favour in proportion to the number of ninepins knocked down.

Philippopolis seems fairly well satisfied

It is situated on the banks of a broad river, and it is the centre of one of the most fertile districts in the whole country. However, Philippopolis seems fairly well satisfied with things as they are, though a certain amount of jealousy of Sofia is entertained by its inhabitants, and there is, in consequence, a tendency on the part of its inhabitants to take an unfavorable view of the action of the Sofiote Government There is a powerful Anti-Stambouloff party here, which has papers of its own, and which is expected to influence the elections in this part of Bulgaria.

Even in the Turkish days, Philippopolis was a prosperous city, with—for Bulgaria—an unusual proportion of well-to-do citizens. There are a considerable number of roomy, well-built dwellings in the older parts of the town, which clearly date from periods long anterior to the War of Liberation. There are also all the usual signs of recent material progress. The boulevard leading from the station to the town is

It is situated on the banks of a broad river, and it is the centre of one of the most fertile districts in the whole country. However, Philippopolis seems fairly well satisfied with things as they are, though a certain amount of jealousy of Sofia is entertained by its inhabitants, and there is, in consequence, a tendency on the part of its inhabitants to take an unfavorable view of the action of the Sofiote Government There is a powerful Anti-Stambouloff party here, which has papers of its own, and which is expected to influence the elections in this part of Bulgaria.

Even in the Turkish days, Philippopolis was a prosperous city, with—for Bulgaria—an unusual proportion of well-to-do citizens. There are a considerable number of roomy, well-built dwellings in the older parts of the town, which clearly date from periods long anterior to the War of Liberation. There are also all the usual signs of recent material progress. The boulevard leading from the station to the town is lined on either side by handsome detached villas of the ordinary neo-Bulgarian order. In the streets old houses are being pulled down everywhere to make room for lofty, many-storied dwellings.

Mahommedan cemetery

The shops are the best, and contain the most varied assortments of goods, of any I have seen in Bulgaria. There is a fine public garden, laid out by the municipality on the site of an old Mahommedan cemetery in the heart of the town, the removal of which was one of the first corporate acts of the city after it had obtained its independence. The public schools, of which I have written elsewhere, are, as buildings, equal or superior to any I have ever seen in England. The Free Public Library is an institution of which any Western city might well be proud. It is located in the building which was designed for the National Assembly of Eastern Roumelia.

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE BULGARIAN STATE

In the year 680 the Byzantine Emperor Constantine IV Pogonatus launched a massive attack, by land and sea simultaneously, against the Proto-Bulgarians and the Union of seven Slav tribes in Moesia. Asparouh, however, defeated his army and moved southwards as far as the Balkan Range. There he built his fortified camp of Pliska (not far from today’s town of Shoumen) and concluded an agreement with the chiefs of the seven Slav tribes for waging a joint struggle against the common enemy – the Byzantine Empire. This was not an agreement difficult to conclude, for Proto-Bulgarians and Slavs had known each other for quite a long time. They had been neighbours at the time of‘Great Bulgaria’ and some of them had entered both the Hunnish Tribal Union and the Avar Khaganate. In order to check a further penetration of Proto-Bulgarians southwards, the Byzantine Emperor signed a peace treaty with Asparouh in the beginning of 681, recognizing of-ficially the birth of the Bulgarian, or m

In the year 680 the Byzantine Emperor Constantine IV Pogonatus launched a massive attack, by land and sea simultaneously, against the Proto-Bulgarians and the Union of seven Slav tribes in Moesia. Asparouh, however, defeated his army and moved southwards as far as the Balkan Range. There he built his fortified camp of Pliska (not far from today’s town of Shoumen) and concluded an agreement with the chiefs of the seven Slav tribes for waging a joint struggle against the common enemy – the Byzantine Empire. This was not an agreement difficult to conclude, for Proto-Bulgarians and Slavs had known each other for quite a long time. They had been neighbours at the time of‘Great Bulgaria’ and some of them had entered both the Hunnish Tribal Union and the Avar Khaganate. In order to check a further penetration of Proto-Bulgarians southwards, the Byzantine Emperor signed a peace treaty with Asparouh in the beginning of 681, recognizing of-ficially the birth of the Bulgarian, or more precisely, of the Slav-Bulgarian state.

Europe with Asia

The new state spread between the Danube, the Black Sea, the Balkan Range and the Timok River to the west. It gradually enlarged its territory and came to occupy some time later the centre of the Balkan Peninsula. The land was beautiful and fertile, but very unquiet, for it was the crossroads of important routes linking the north with the south, Europe with Asia. In times of peace riches flowed in via the ‘Old Road’, which was also called ‘Apia Trajana’, ‘The Military Road’, ‘The Diagonal Road’; intensive trade and cultural exchange was carried out which contributed to the country’s rapid progress.

The periods of peace, however, were shorter than those of war. Unlike the newly- created West-European states, which had emerged and developed upon the ruins of the Roman Empire and which were later reached by the barbarian waves after the latter had broken their crests, Bulgaria had had the impertinence to emerge in the very heart of the well-preserved Eastern Roman Empire and had to pay dearly for her impertinence. The powerful Empire looked down on the unin-vited newcomers and spared no effort in its attempts to throw them back to the other side of the Danube or to assimilate them in the way it had done before with numerous other barbarian tribes. This forced the Bulgarians to wage exhausting life-and-death wars in the course of centuries for their free national existence.

Military might of the Ottoman Empire

Their plans fortunately coincided with the interests of the Balkan people who were in dire need of a powerful ally, capable of breaking the military might of the Ottoman Empire. Thousands of Bulgarian patriots took part in the resistance struggles of Serbs and Greeks, as well as in the wars waged by Russia against Turkey. Scores of thousands of Bulgarians were forced to emigrate in the wake of every Russian military campaign on the Balkans, particularly the one of 1829, in order to save themselves from reprisals. Most of those refugees settled in Russia.

Bulgarian officer serving

During the Russo-Turkish war of 1828-1829, Georgi Mamarchev, a Bulgarian officer serving in the Russian army, made an attempt to organize a general uprising in Bulgaria, but his attempt failed. The preparations for a mass uprising continued, however, and in 1835 an armed uprising, known under the name of Velcho’s Conspiracy, broke out in Turnovo under the leadership of Velcho the Glazier a

Their plans fortunately coincided with the interests of the Balkan people who were in dire need of a powerful ally, capable of breaking the military might of the Ottoman Empire. Thousands of Bulgarian patriots took part in the resistance struggles of Serbs and Greeks, as well as in the wars waged by Russia against Turkey. Scores of thousands of Bulgarians were forced to emigrate in the wake of every Russian military campaign on the Balkans, particularly the one of 1829, in order to save themselves from reprisals. Most of those refugees settled in Russia.

Bulgarian officer serving

During the Russo-Turkish war of 1828-1829, Georgi Mamarchev, a Bulgarian officer serving in the Russian army, made an attempt to organize a general uprising in Bulgaria, but his attempt failed. The preparations for a mass uprising continued, however, and in 1835 an armed uprising, known under the name of Velcho’s Conspiracy, broke out in Turnovo under the leadership of Velcho the Glazier and Captain Grandfather Nikola. During the same year a spontaneous peasant revolt broke out in North- Western Bulgaria, caused by the refusal of the local authorities to apply the agrarian reform and by their ar-bitrary actions. This revolt was followed by three uprisings in succession in the same region — in 1836, 1841 and 1850.

The one in 1850 was particularly massive. It was preceded by a secret general meeting of delegates from four districts, which specified the aims of the struggle, the date of the up-rising and the way in which they were to proceed. The rebel detachments, led by Tsolo Todorov, Ivan Koulin, Petko Marinov, Purvan Vurbanov, Captain Krustyu and others, numbered a total of some 20,000 men. They blocked the numerous Turkish garrisons in Vidin, Lom and Belogradchik and established control over the villages in the region. The insurgents were routed by the regular troops which were not late in arriving, but the government of the Sultan was forced to take measures for curbing the arbitrariness of the local authorities and beys.

Military might of the Ottoman Empire

Their plans fortunately coincided with the interests of the Balkan people who were in dire need of a powerful ally, capable of breaking the military might of the Ottoman Empire. Thousands of Bulgarian patriots took part in the resistance struggles of Serbs and Greeks, as well as in the wars waged by Russia against Turkey. Scores of thousands of Bulgarians were forced to emigrate in the wake of every Russian military campaign on the Balkans, particularly the one of 1829, in order to save themselves from reprisals. Most of those refugees settled in Russia.

Bulgarian officer serving

During the Russo-Turkish war of 1828-1829, Georgi Mamarchev, a Bulgarian officer serving in the Russian army, made an attempt to organize a general uprising in Bulgaria, but his attempt failed. The preparations for a mass uprising continued, however, and in 1835 an armed uprising, known under the name of Velcho’s Conspiracy, broke out in Turnovo under the leadership of Velcho the Glazier a

Their plans fortunately coincided with the interests of the Balkan people who were in dire need of a powerful ally, capable of breaking the military might of the Ottoman Empire. Thousands of Bulgarian patriots took part in the resistance struggles of Serbs and Greeks, as well as in the wars waged by Russia against Turkey. Scores of thousands of Bulgarians were forced to emigrate in the wake of every Russian military campaign on the Balkans, particularly the one of 1829, in order to save themselves from reprisals. Most of those refugees settled in Russia.

Bulgarian officer serving

During the Russo-Turkish war of 1828-1829, Georgi Mamarchev, a Bulgarian officer serving in the Russian army, made an attempt to organize a general uprising in Bulgaria, but his attempt failed. The preparations for a mass uprising continued, however, and in 1835 an armed uprising, known under the name of Velcho’s Conspiracy, broke out in Turnovo under the leadership of Velcho the Glazier and Captain Grandfather Nikola. During the same year a spontaneous peasant revolt broke out in North- Western Bulgaria, caused by the refusal of the local authorities to apply the agrarian reform and by their ar-bitrary actions. This revolt was followed by three uprisings in succession in the same region — in 1836, 1841 and 1850.

The one in 1850 was particularly massive. It was preceded by a secret general meeting of delegates from four districts, which specified the aims of the struggle, the date of the up-rising and the way in which they were to proceed. The rebel detachments, led by Tsolo Todorov, Ivan Koulin, Petko Marinov, Purvan Vurbanov, Captain Krustyu and others, numbered a total of some 20,000 men. They blocked the numerous Turkish garrisons in Vidin, Lom and Belogradchik and established control over the villages in the region. The insurgents were routed by the regular troops which were not late in arriving, but the government of the Sultan was forced to take measures for curbing the arbitrariness of the local authorities and beys.

King Boris succeeded

After 1935 King Boris succeeded in concentrating the whole state power in his hands and an open monarcho fascist dictatorship was established in the country. After the outbreak of the Second World War, which faced Bulgaria with the question “whereto?’, serious debates broke out in the bourgeois camp which ended in the defeat of the faction in favour of Britain and France, and on March 1, 1941 the fascist government of Professor Bogdan Filov placed Bulgaria’s signature under the Tripartite Pact. Hitler’s troops used Bulgaria’s territory to complete the occupation of Yugoslavia and to strike in the back the Greek Army which was fighting courageously against the Italian aggressors.

Historical experience, however, had taught even the Bulgarian fascist circles a lesson, and they tried to engage the country as little as possible in the military actions of their allies. It is impossible, however, to sell one’s soul to the devil and to remain righteous. At first the B

After 1935 King Boris succeeded in concentrating the whole state power in his hands and an open monarcho fascist dictatorship was established in the country. After the outbreak of the Second World War, which faced Bulgaria with the question “whereto?’, serious debates broke out in the bourgeois camp which ended in the defeat of the faction in favour of Britain and France, and on March 1, 1941 the fascist government of Professor Bogdan Filov placed Bulgaria’s signature under the Tripartite Pact. Hitler’s troops used Bulgaria’s territory to complete the occupation of Yugoslavia and to strike in the back the Greek Army which was fighting courageously against the Italian aggressors.

Historical experience, however, had taught even the Bulgarian fascist circles a lesson, and they tried to engage the country as little as possible in the military actions of their allies. It is impossible, however, to sell one’s soul to the devil and to remain righteous. At first the Bulgarian troops occupied only the territories where the majority of the population was Bulgarian, territories within San Stefano Bulgaria. Gradually, under German pressure, they had to occupy parts of Greece and Serbia, in order to fight against the powerful resistance movement there. In December 1941 the Bulgarian government got officially involved in the war by declaring ‘symbolic war’ on Britain and the USA. Restrained by the proverbial attachment and gratitude of the Bulgarian people to Russia, however, the only thing that the fascist clique never dared to do was to send troops to the Eastern Front.

Bulgaro Soviet pact

Besides the pro-Western and profascist groups in the country which were fighting after the beginning of the war for dictating the country’s foreign policy orientation, a third group became manifest, under the leadership of the Bulgarian Communist Party. This group was in favour of closeness with the Soviet Union and resolute resistance against the Nazi aggression. At the end of 1940 the communists succeeded in organizing a genuine popular movement in support of the Soviet proposal to sign a Bulgaro Soviet pact of friendship and mutual assistance. The government was showered with petitions, signed by tens of thousands of people, to accept the hand extended in friendship by the USSR. But it was afraid of taking such a step and rejected the proposal.

King of Arabia commanded his ministers

TALE XXV

A King of Arabia commanded his ministers to double the stipend of some one, because he wras constant in his attendance and always attentive to Ills duty, whilst the rest of the courtiers were dissipated in their manners and negligent of their business. A man of penetration hearing this, remarked, that the high ranks of servants in the court of Heaven are conferred in the same manner.

If a person is vigilant in the service of a monarch during two days, on the third day he will certainly be regarded with kindness. The sincere worshippers entertain expectation that they shall not return from the threshold of God unrewrarded bulgaria tours. Obedience insures greatness, whilst disobedience leads to a repulse: whosoever possessetli the qualities of righteousness, placeth his head on the threshold of obedience.

TALE XXVI

They tell a story of an oppressor, who purc

TALE XXV

A King of Arabia commanded his ministers to double the stipend of some one, because he wras constant in his attendance and always attentive to Ills duty, whilst the rest of the courtiers were dissipated in their manners and negligent of their business. A man of penetration hearing this, remarked, that the high ranks of servants in the court of Heaven are conferred in the same manner.

If a person is vigilant in the service of a monarch during two days, on the third day he will certainly be regarded with kindness. The sincere worshippers entertain expectation that they shall not return from the threshold of God unrewrarded bulgaria tours. Obedience insures greatness, whilst disobedience leads to a repulse: whosoever possessetli the qualities of righteousness, placeth his head on the threshold of obedience.

TALE XXVI

They tell a story of an oppressor, who purchased firewood from the poor by force, and gave it gratuitously to the rich. A judicious man passing that way said, “You are a snake that bites every one you see; or an owl that destroys every place where you sit: although your injustice may pass unpunished amongst us, it will not escape the observation of that God to whom all secrets are revealed. Injure not the inhabitants of this world, that the sighs of the oppressed may not ascend to Heaven.” The oppressor was displeased at his words, frowned on him, and took no further notice of him, until one night, when fire, issuing from the kitchen, caught the stock of wood and consumed all his goods, when his soft bed became a seat of warm ashes.

It happened that this same judicious person passing by, and hearing him say to his friends, “I know not from whence this fire fell upon my house,” replied, “From the smoke of the hearts of the poor.” Beware of the groans of the wounded souls, since the inward sore will at length break out; oppress not to the utmost a single heart, for a single sigh has power to overset a whole. On the crown of Kaikusrou was the following inscription: ‘For how many years during what space of time shall men pass over my grave? As the kingdom came to me by succession, in like manner shall it pass to the hands of others?’

The mountains nor in the deserts

The rich man is not a stranger, neither in the mountains nor in the deserts: wherever he goes he pitches his tent and takes up his quarters: whilst he who possesses not the comforts of life, but is destitute of the means of supporting himself, is a stranger, and unknown in his native country. Secondly. A learned man, who on account of his sweet speeches, powerful eloquence, and store of knowledge, wherever he goes, is universally sought after and respected. The presence of a wise man resembles pure gold, because whither soever he go- eth, they know his intrinsic value and consequence.

An ignorant son of a rich man is like leather-money passing current in a particular city, hut which, in a foreign country, no one will receive for any thing.—Thirdly. The beautiful person, to whom the hearts of the virtuous are inclined, set a high value on his high company, and consider it an honour to do him service. According to the saying, ‘ A little beauty is preferable to great wealth?

The rich man is not a stranger, neither in the mountains nor in the deserts: wherever he goes he pitches his tent and takes up his quarters: whilst he who possesses not the comforts of life, but is destitute of the means of supporting himself, is a stranger, and unknown in his native country. Secondly. A learned man, who on account of his sweet speeches, powerful eloquence, and store of knowledge, wherever he goes, is universally sought after and respected. The presence of a wise man resembles pure gold, because whither soever he go- eth, they know his intrinsic value and consequence.

An ignorant son of a rich man is like leather-money passing current in a particular city, hut which, in a foreign country, no one will receive for any thing.—Thirdly. The beautiful person, to whom the hearts of the virtuous are inclined, set a high value on his high company, and consider it an honour to do him service. According to the saying, ‘ A little beauty is preferable to great wealth? A beautiful person is the balm for a wounded heart, and is the key of the locked door. The beautiful person, wheresoever he goes, meets with honour and respect, even if his father and mother should tarn him out with displeasure.

I saw a pencoltt’s feather in the leaves of a Koran. I said, ‘ I consider this an honour much greater than your quality deserves.’ He replied, ‘ Be silent; for whosoever has beauty, wherever he puts 1 ids foot, doth not every one receive him with respect? The son, who is endowed with elegance and beauty, careth not for his father’s anger. He is a rare pearl, let him not remain in the parent shell; and of a precious pearl, every one will be the purchaser.—Fourthly. A sweet singer, who, with the throat of David, arrests the waters in their course and suspends the birds in their flight; consequently, by the power of this perfection he captivates the hearts of mankind in general, and the religious are desirous of associating with him.