سندبادنامه 137.15

137.15

بحن الزمان من رفغناه آرتفع ومن وضغناه آتضع ، ما پاذشاهان اثر روزگار وتأثیر قدرت کردگاریم ، هرکرا برداریم بلند شوذ ، وهرکرا فرو داریم پست گردذ ؛ وهمه عاقلان از امثال این ارتکاب صیانت ذات لازم شمرده اند ، وچون حادثهٔ‌ نازل شذه است ، وداهیهٔ‌ حادث گشته ، کی در امکان قدرت، ووطای وسع وطاقت نگنحذ ، برأی ثاقب ، وبدبیر صایب ، گرد آن غرض بر آمذه اند، وبلطایف حیل، وبدایع مویه ، خوذ را در جوار صون وپناه سلامت آورده ، وبا قاصد حان وحاسد سوزیان خوذ گفته :

'We are Time: whomever we elevate is raised high, and whomever we abase is brought low.' We kings are the trace of time
and the effect of the Creator's power: whomever we raise up becomes exalted, and whomever we bring
down becomes low. All men of intellect have deemed the preservation of oneself from committing such things
obligatory; and when a mishap has descended and a calamity has occurred that does not fall
within the bounds of ability, capacity, and strength, they have overcome that trouble by piercing counsel and accurate judgment,
and through subtle ruses and extraordinary laments have brought themselves into the shelter of protection
and the refuge of safety, having said to the assassin of life and the envious one who burns them: