Admonition 18

  Who has power over his foe and does not slay him is his own enemy.

        With a stone in the hand and a snake on a stone

        It is folly to consider and to delay.

  Others, however, enounce a contrary opinion and say that it is

preferable to respite captives because the option of killing or not

killing remains; but if they be slain without delay, it is possible

that some advantage may be lost, the like of which cannot be again

obtained.

        It is quite easy to deprive a man of life.

        When he is slain he cannot be resuscitaied again.

        It is a condition of wisdom in the archer to be patient

        Because when the arrow leaves the bow it returns no more.