The fables of Pilpay, a famous Indian phylosopher containing many useful rules for the conduct of humane life / made English and address'd to His Highness the Duke of Gloucester.

The Story of Dabschelim and Pilpay.

I Have learnt from Men of Wit and Learning, that in one of the Cities of India, that was the Metropolis of it, there reign'd a Prince, whose Ministers, Persons of clear Parts and deep Insight, by their Counsels rendred his Subjects happy, and still successfully brought to pass the just Designs of their Sovereign. He was a sworn Enemy of Oppression; nor could the Wicked gain their Ends in his Dominions, because they were always severely punished. This King was call'd by the Name of Dabsche∣lim, (a Name most proper for such a Prince, as signifying in their Language, a Great King)

His Puissance was such, that he undertook none but extraordinary Enterprises. His Army was compos'd of ten thousand Elephants; and as for valiant and experienc'd Soldiers he had 'em a∣bout him in great numbers, and his Treasures full to support 'em. All this render'd him for∣midable to his Enemies, and procur'd the Re∣pose of his People, of whom he took a particu∣lar care himself, hearing their Complaints and Differences with delight, composing their Quar∣rels, and making himself the Arbtitator of their Disputes, without any respect to his Grandeur and Magnificence. He never forsook the Inte∣rests of his People, but referr'd their Affairs to the Debates and Decisions of Men of Justice and Equity. After he had taken such good Order for the Government of his Dominions, he liv'd in Tranquility, and spent his Days with Hap∣piness and Content. One day that he had been entertain d with diverse Discourses upon seve∣ral Sciences, he laid himself down upon his Bed, to give some relaxation to his Mind: Which he had no sooner done, but he saw in a Dream a certain Figure full of Light and Maje∣sty, which spake to him these Words, You have done this day a good Action for the sake of God, and you shall be rewarded for it. To morrow, by break of day, get a Horseback, and ride toward the East, where you shall find an inestimable Treasure, by the means of which you shall exceed all other Men. Presently Dabschelim awoke, and set himself to consider of this vast Treasure.

By break of day he mounted one of his most beautiful Horses, which he order'd to be har∣ness'd with Saddles of Gold, and Bridles all Enamell'd, and away he rid directly East-ward.

He rode through several Inhabited places, and at length arriv'd in a Desert, where Viewing the Country, and casting his Eyes on every side, to discover his expected Happiness, he per∣ceiv'd a very high Mountain, that reach'd a∣bove the Clouds, at the Foot of which he spy'd a Cave obscure and dark, and black within as the Hearts of wicked Men. At the same time, he saw sitting without a Man, whose A∣spect alone sufficiently shew'd the austerity of his Life. The King had a great desire to ride up to him, when the old Man understanding his Intention, and breaking silence, Sir, said he, tho' my small Cottage be nothing like to your magnificent Palace, yet it is an Ancient Custom, for Kings, out of their Goodness, to come and visit the Poor. The looks of great Men cast down upon the Poor augment their Grandeur. Solomon in the midst of all his Glory and Magnificence vouchsaf'd to cast his Eyes upon the little Emets.

Dabschelim was pleas'd with the old Mans Civility, and alighted from his Horse, to dis∣course him; and after he had talk'd to him of diverse things, the King was going to take his leave of the old Man, who made him this Com∣plement; Sir, said he, 'tis not for a poor Man as I am, to offer any refreshment to so Potent a Prince as You are; But I have a Present, if your Majesty pleases to accept it, which has descended to me from Father to Son, and which is appointed for you. This Present is a Treasure which I have here by me; if your Majesty thinks it worth your Acceptance, com∣mand your Servants to seek for it. Dabschelim, hearing these Words, recounted his Dream to

the good old Man, who rejoic'd extreamly to find that his intentions were conformable to the Will of God.

Upon this, the King commanded his Ser∣vants to search for the Treasure round about the Cave, and in a little time they discover'd what they sought for; and shew'd the King several Chests and Coffers full of Gold, Sil∣ver and Jewels. But among the rest of the Chests there was one of a smaller size which was bound about with several Bars of Iron, and environ'd with several Padlocks, the Keys of which were not to be found, notwithstanding all the Care and Diligence that was us'd to seek 'em out. This increas'd the Kings Curiosity: There must be somthing, said he, within this little Casket, much more precious than Jewels, since it is so strongly, and so heedfully Barr'd and Lockt. Presently a Smith was sent for, and the Casket being broken open, there was found within it another small Trunk of Gold, set all o∣ver with precious Stones, and within that, another lesser Box, which the King order'd to deliver'd into his hands. So soon as this little Box was o∣pen'd, he found therein a piece of white Sattin, upon which were written some Lines in the Syriac Language. Dabschelim was astonish'd at the Accident, and in great perplexity to know what the words might signifie. Some said, it was the name of the Owner of the Treasure: Others, that it was a Talisman or some Charm for the Preservation of the Treasure. But af∣ter every one had deliver'd his Opinion, 'twas the Kings Pleasure that inquiry should be made for some Person who was able to Interpret the meaning of the Lines. At length after long

search a Person was found who understood Foreign Languages, who after he had read the Writing, Sir, said he to the King, This Writing contains a great many Exhortations, which are these that follow.

I, King Houschenk, have dispos'd of this Treasure for the Great King Dabschelim, un∣derstanding, by divine Revelation, Him to be the Person for whom it is design'd. But among the Precious Stones, I have conceal'd my last Will and Testament, by way of Instruction, and to let him know that it is not for Men of Reason and Understanding, to be dazl'd with the luster of glittering Treasures. Riches are but borrow'd Conveniences; which are to be repay'd to our Successours. The Pleasures of this World, that are so Charming, however are not Eternal This Testament is an Abridg∣ment to regulate the Conduct of Kings, and he must be a Wise Prince who follows these In∣structions. Who ever shall despise 'em and re∣fuse to follow 'em, according to what is con∣tain'd under these fourteen Heads, let him be assur'd of losing his Empire.

The First Admonition is, that he never discard his Domestic Servants at the Sollicitation of another. For he that is near the Person of a King shall never want persons who will be al∣ways envious and jealous of his Happiness; who when they see that the King has any Affection for him, cease not by a thousand Calumnies to render him odious to his Master.

The Second is, that he never suffer in his Company Flatterers nor Backbiters, for they are always seeking occasions of Disturbance.

'Tis better to Exterminate such People, than to let 'em be a trouble to Human Society.

The Third, that he always preserve his Mi∣nisters and Grandees in a right Understanding one of another, to the end they may Unani∣mously labour the Preservation of the State.

The Fourth, that he never trust to the submis∣sions of his Enemies. The more affection they testifie, and the louder Protestations they make of their service, the more their Artifices are to be mistrusted. There is no relying upon the Friendship of an Enemy: He is to be shun'd, when he approaches with the Countenance of a Friend, as dry Wood shuns a well kindl'd Fire.

The Fifth, when a Man has once acquir'd what he has diligently sought after, he ought to preserve it carefully, seeing we have not every Day the same opportunity to gain it, and when we have not preserv'd what we have acquir'd, we have nothing left us but the Vexa∣tion to have lost it. We cannot fetch the Ar∣row back which we have once let fly, tho' we should eat our Fingers for madness.

The Sixth is, that we never ought to be two hasty in Business, but on the other side, before we put any enterprize in Execution, it be∣hoveth us to weigh and Examin what we are are going to do. Things done in hast and with a precipitate Rashness, come to a Mis∣chievous Conclusion. A Man may do that which was never done before, but he repents in vain who has done amiss.

The Seventh is, that He never despise Good Counsel and Prudence: If there be a necessity for him to make Peace with some Enemies,

to deliver himself out of their Hands, let him do it without delay.

The Eighth is, to avoy'd the Company of Dissemblers, and never to hearken to their glozing Speeches; for seeing that in their Bo∣soms they carry nothing but the Plants of Eni∣mity, they can never bring forth the Fruits of real Friendship.

The Ninth is, to be merciful, and never to punish his Servants for a slight Fault committed through Infirmity. For a Merciful Prince up∣on Earth, is an Angel in Heaven. They ought to consider the Weakness of Men, and in cha∣rity and goodness to conceal their Defects. Subjects have always committed Faults, and Kings have always pardon'd 'em, when they have only committed the Faults of Subjects.

The Tenth is, not to procure the Harm of any Person; on the other-side, we ought to do our Neighbour all the Good we can. If you do Good, Good will be done to you; But if you do Evil, the same will be Measur'd to you.

The Eleventh is, not to seek after any thing that may be contrary to his Dignity. There are many Persons who let alone their own Affairs, and intrude themselves into other peo∣ples Business, and at last do nothing at all. The Crow would needs learn to Fly like the Partridge, and it was a way of Flying, which he could never attain; and so he forgot his own.

The Twelfth is, to be of a Mild and Affable Humour. Mildness in Society is like Salt in Victuals; as Salt seasons and gives a relish to our Meat, the other gives Content to every

Body: The Sword of Iron is not so sharp as the Sword of Mildness; it vanquishes Invinci∣ble Armies.

The Thirteenth is, to have Faithful Ser∣vants, and never to admit of Knaves and De∣ceivers. By this means the Kingdom will be safe, and the Kings Secrets will never be reveal'd.

The Fourteenth and the last is, never to be disturb'd at the Accidents of this World. A Man of Spirit and Resolution suffers all manner of Adversities, and relies upon the Providence of God. A Fool minds nothing but his Pastime and his Pleasures.

There are several Stories upon every one of these Heads, which if the King will be pleas'd to hear, he must go to the Mountain Serandib, which was the Mansion of our Father Abraham, and there all his Doubts and Difficult Questions will be unfolded, and his intentions accom∣plish'd. God grant us Peace.

When the Learned Man had done reading, Dabschelim embrac'd him, and having receiv'd back again the piece of Sattin, which he took with great respect, he ty'd it about his Arm, say∣ing at the same time, I was promis'd a Worldly Treasure, and I have found a Treasure of Se∣crets. God has favour'd me with Plenty of his Blessings; and presently he order'd the Gold and Silver to be distributed to the Poor, to the end his Charity might be serviceable to procure the repose of King Houschenk's Soul; and ha∣ving so done, he return'd to his Capital City, and went to his Palace, where all that Night he did nothing but ruminate upon the Journey which he was to make to Serandib.

The next Morning by Sun-rise, Dabschelim sent for two of his Principal Ministers, in whom he had a great Confidence. To them he disco∣ver'd his Dream, and what had afterwards be∣fallen him, and told 'em he had a great desire to take a Progress to Serandib. I have a∣long time, said he to 'em, taken this course to Advise with my Counsel before I undertook any of my Enterprises, and now I am willing to refer my self wholly to your Judgments, what you think fitting for me to do upon this Occasion. The two Ministers desir'd the Remainder of the Day and the Night follow∣ing, to examin the Affair, and after due Con∣sideration to return their Answer. Dabschelim granted their Request, and the next Day they came to wait upon the King, and every one being seated in their Places, so soon as the King had made 'em the sign to speak, the Grand Visir fell upon his Knees and thus began.

Sir, In my Opinion this Journey will be more painful than profitable, because that Person who undertakes long Journeys renounces at the same time all manner of Repose. Your Majesty is not Ignorant of the Dangers and Hazards to which the Roads are Subject. 'Tis not then for a Man of Discretion to change his Quiet and Ease for Labour and Disturbance; it rather behoves him to call to Remembrance the Fable of the Pigeon that would needs be a Traveller, and the Dangers which he met with.