The laughable stories collected by Mâr Gregory John Bar Hebræ

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.
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."
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-
"iidence in thine enemy, even though he shew himself
"exceedingly gracious unto thee; for, behold, even