The laughable stories collected by Mâr Gregory John Bar Hebræ

34 THE LAUGHABLE STORIES OF BAR-HEBR/EUS.
"member of his household, that his friendship for thee
"may increase."
CLI. Another sage said, "Make not a friend of thy
"house the man whose relatives make him a stranger
"unto them, for they are better acquainted with him
"than thou."
CLII. Another sage was asked, "What is the [greatest]
"labour in the world.'"' And he replied, "That of the
"feeble man who multiplieth hope."
CLIII. Another sage said, "Freedom of speech di-
"minisheth honour, and it is bare of real love."
CLIV. Another sage said, "By gratitude gifts are
"made to abound, but by the cutting off of the same
"they also are cut off."
CLV. Another sage wrote to a certain man, saying,
"I have sent such and such an one to thee in order
"that thou mayest satisfy my wants through him, not
"because I would not condescend to come in person,
"but in order that he might help me to return thanks
"unto thee, and be a witness of thy excellent behaviour
"towards me."
CLVI. Another sage said, "Despise not the mean
"man who hath been useful to thee in becoming great."
CLV II. Another sage said, "Fools pay attention to
"the errors and lapses of the children of men, but they
"take no heed of their excellent qualities, even as flies
"are persistent in setting upon the ulcerated members
"of the body, but never upon the limbs which are
"healthy."
CLVIII. Another sage said, "When thou askest for
"a gift which is greater than thy position and it is not
"granted unto thee, blame thyself because thou didst
"not ask something proportionate to thy condition."