Ch 04 On The Advantages Of Silence Story 05

Galenus saw a fool hanging on with his hands to the collar of a learned man and insulting him, whereon he said: ‘If he were learned he would not have come to this pass with an ignorant man.’

       Two wise men do not contend and quarrel  
       Nor does a scholar fight with a contemptible fellow.  
       If an ignorant man in his rudeness speaks harshly  
       An intelligent man tenderly reconciles his heart.  
       Two pious men keep a hair between them untorn  
       And so does a mild with a headstrong man.  
       If however both sides are fools  
       If there be a chain they will snap it.  
       An ill-humoured man insulted someone.  
       He bore it and replied: ‘O man of happy issue,  
       I am worse than thou canst say that I am  
       Because I know thou art not aware of my faults as I am.