A4095/McEnglish/174 (updated: 31.05.2024, 13:13)
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who was saved from that he feared; and who kept his promise to the one enemy with whom he had reconciled. Tell me about the nature of truce
and how that is sought. Mc4 4 The Philosopher said: “Not all instances of enmity, amity,
and hatred become firm and endure. Much affection turns into hatred
and much hatred turns into love and affection, as motives and conditions change;
5 Mc5 5 and so a man of reason and intelligence prepares for all such arising events a natural judgment
regarding that which ensues with an enemy—and there is no issue with the feelings of a friend. Mc6 6 A man of reason is not
hindered by an enmity toward his enemy from approaching him and soliciting
aid, if he desires him to avert a scary matter, and so he applies judgment in creating connection
and reconciliation; Mc9 9 for he who sees [a fitting] judgment for that and acts upon it to attain his need ... Mc10 10 An
10 example of this is the parable of the rat and the cat, who put their disagreements aside, when such judgment proved sensible to them,
and in their agreement was the wellbeing of them both and rescue from
dire difficulty.” Mc11 11 “And how was that?” said the King. Mc12 12 “The claim goes,” said the Philosopher,
“that, in the land of Sarandīb, there was a tall tree, and at its foot there was
the burrow of a rat called Farīdūn and the den of a cat named Rūmī. Mc13 13 Hunters,
15 at times, passed by that place, seeking to hunt wild game. One such huntsman
came by, one day, set his snares, and Rūmī fell into them. Mc14 14 “The rat came out
wanting to eat something, yet all the while cautious, turning around, surveying; upon seeing
the cat trapped in the snares, he rejoiced. Mc15 15 He then turned behind him and saw that a mongoose
had tracked him; and looking over his head, [he saw] an owl, atop a tree, watching him. And so, he feared—that if he turned
20 back, the weasel would jump on him; that if he moved left or right, the owl would take him;
and that if he stepped forward, the cat was right in front of him. Mc16 16 “‘This is trouble which has besieged me’ said the rat
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