Story 19

  I asked an illustrious man for the reason of the tradition:

Account as an enemy the passion which is between thy two loins. He

replied: 'The reason is because whatever enemy thou propitiatest

becomes thy friend, whereas the more thou indulgest in a passion,

the more it will oppose thee.'

        Man attains angelic nature by eating sparingly

        But if he be voracious like beasts he falls like a stone.

        He whose wishes thou fulfillest will obey thy command

        Contrary to passion, which will command, when obeyed.