Maxim 81

  A sage was asked: 'Of so many notable, high and fertile trees

which God the most high has created, not one is called free, except

the cypress, which bears no fruit. What is the reason of this?' He

replied: 'Every tree has its appropriate season of fruit, so that it

is sometimes flourishing therewith, and looks sometimes withered by

its absence; with the cypress, however, neither is the case, it

being fresh at all times, and this is the quality of those who are

free.'

        Place not thy heart on what passes away; for the Tigris

        Will flow after the Khalifs have passed away in Baghdad.

        If thou art able, be liberal like the date tree,

        And if thy hand cannot afford it, be liberal like the cypress.