Chapter XXI

Blessed is he _that_ hath a full drum; and those that wait without the bazaars, they shall look _upon it_ with envy.

2 A little love warmeth the blood; but much _love_, it is a consuming fire.

3 Wherefore, beware of the damsel with ruddy locks. For if _it be_ so, assuredly she will devour thee up; but if it be _of_ henna, a draught of spring water will serve thee equally.

4 Beware of all women, and avoid thou them that _would_ undo thee.

5 For the ways of those do grow in artfulness; neither is there any _man_ that can stand up against them.

6 Now there is a certain woman, and she hath hair _of a_ length; it is like unto silk also, and the colour of it allureth the eye.

7 Verily, _that_ woman will contrive that thou shall loosen the pin _of it_. Yea, in thy clumsiness, thou shalt _bring it_ down.

8 For _it is_ a snare with which she seeketh to entrap thee; and the cunning of her maketh thee her tool in _the matter of_ thine own enticement.

9 List not to the voice of the tale-bearer, and the scandalmonger shalt thou abhor _with_ a great abhorrence.

10 For what hast thou _to do_ with virtue? And who art thou to prescribe thy neighbour's life?

11 Verily, rumour raceth like the wind; it groweth quicker than light _when_ the sun riseth. And scandal, it is the father of more children _than_ are.

12 Judge not a man according to the look of him, else shalt thou be many times deceived.

13 For the brightest button, is it the chief upon thy raiment? Nay, neither _doth_ it support thy necessary garment.

14 The young man, he loveth easily, _but_ at two score years he waxeth discreet.

15 The damsel, she loveth easily, _and_ at two score years she waxeth easier.

16 In the heat of the desert, then think of Hell, for _it is_ a pleasant thought that will comfort thee somewhat.

17 Thine enemy hurleth a missile. It cometh through the air for to _out_ thee. If thou art a fool, remove not from that place. But if thou art wise, then haste thee quickly away.

18 For every snail _hath_ its shell, and he getteth it on his back; but the laggard, he getteth _it_ in the neck.

19 Howbeit, it is not always the quick _man_ that goeth first over the top.

20 A damsel inclineth towards thee. She regardeth thee with soft eyes and _there is_ meaning in her glance.

21 Peradventure thou hast a blot upon the beauty of thy face _which_ annoyeth thee continually. Nevertheless, she will not see it.

22 At the largeness of thine ears, at the uprightness of thine hair, at thy teeth that _were_ made for thee, she will look at none of these.

23 But if thy pocket be empty, lo, she will see _them_ all. Neither will she forgive thee for being _what_ thou art.

24 Woe unto man that be born upon earth, neither is there any help _in him_ save only death.

25 For whosoever liveth his years in solitude, his old age _shall be_ full of desolation. But whosoever taketh unto himself a wife, that man's last days, they shall be an abomination unto him.

26 Take heed, my son, and hearken unto the words of Artemas, for there _are_ many that will give thee counsel, yet wisdom _cometh_ only from the few.