Story No. 6

They call Sahban of Wa'il unmatched in eloquence, because he once spoke before a large gathering for a whole year and never repeated a single phrase; and whenever the same idea came up again, he expressed it in different words. Among the rules of conduct for a king's companions, this is one: However charming and sweet a saying may be, deserving of praise and full agreement, once you have said it, do not say it again, for when sweets are eaten once, that is enough.