A Tale of Childhood

I still remember my father's time, may mercy rain on him at every moment, when I was a child, he bought me a slate and notebook, and he bought me a golden ring. Suddenly a peddler tricked the ring off my hand for the price of a single date. A small child doesn't know a ring's worth, so with a little sweet you can take it away. You too never knew the value of your life, throwing it away on sweet pleasures. On Judgment Day the good will rise to the heights, lifted from the depths of dust up to the stars. But your head will hang low with shame, as your own deeds circle around you. Brother, feel shame for any wicked act that will disgrace you before the eyes of good people. On that day when deeds and words are questioned, even the steadfast prophets tremble with dread. In a place where even the prophets grow fearful, what excuse do you have for your sin? Come, tell me. Women who devote themselves willingly to worship surpass men who lack virtue. Aren't you ashamed of your manhood, when women outdo you in devotion? Women, for a certain valid reason, must at times set aside their worship, but you sit idle like a woman with no excuse. Go, you who are less than a woman, and don't boast of manhood. What place have I for fine speech? Onsori, the king of poets, said it best: «Once you stray from what is right, you turn crooked; what kind of man is one who is less than a woman?» Suppose you have pampered yourself with luxury and delight, and in the meantime made your enemy strong. A man once raised a wolf cub, and when it was grown, it tore its master apart. As he lay down giving up his life, one eloquent tongue told him to his face: You raise such a darling enemy, didn't you know you'd inevitably suffer its bite? Didn't Satan mock us, saying nothing but evil comes from these humans? How I grieve at the evils within our own souls, for I fear Satan's suspicion may prove true. Since that cursed one delighted in our defeat, God cast him out for our sake. How can we lift our heads from this disgrace and shame, when we are at peace with him and at war with God? A friend rarely looks your way when your face is turned toward the enemy. If you want a friend you can benefit from, you must not obey the enemy's orders. A friend has the right to grow distant from anyone who takes the enemy as a housemate. Don't you know a friend will hardly set foot inside when he sees the enemy living in the house? With base silver, what do you hope to buy, that you would cut your heart from the love of Joseph? If you have any sense, don't turn from the friend, so that the enemy cannot even dare to look at you.