The Laughable Stories Collected by Mar Gregory John

PROFITABLE SAYINGS OF THE INDIAN SAGES.
'^CVIII. It IS said that when any man belonging to
the Indians is dying, his friends arm themselves and
go to his door, and say unto [the door-keeper], "Shew
*'us who hath slain thy friend that we may kill him."
And when he replies, "He that slayeth him is invincible
*'and invisible,", they say, "Grieve not then overmuch
"about that which neither thou nor we are able to
"withstand;" and thus are they wont to comfort the
mourners.
t/ CIX. A certain Indian sage used to say, "The wound
"of a sharp weapon may be quickly healed, but the
"wound caused by words is incurable."
u^ ex. Another Indian sage said, "The lusts of this
"world are like unto the waters of the sea, for however
"much a man drinketh thereof, his thirst increaseth."
CXI. Another Indian sage said, "Learning addeth
"unto the wisdom of the wise man, and folly [addeth
"unto the folly] of the fool, even as the sun addeth
"sight unto healthy eyes, and doeth harm unto those
"which are diseased."
CXII. Another Indian sage said, "Put not thy con-
"fidence in thine enemy, even though he shew himself
"exceedingly gracious unto thee; for, behold, even