Hâroon came down from the mountain on which the tomb stood, and ordered the road to be made inaccessible to future curiosity. He searched for, and found, in the place described, the gold, the arms, and the jewels bequeathed to him by Noosheerwân, and sent them to Bagdad.
Among the rich articles found was a golden crown, which had five sides, and was richly ornamented with precious stones. On every side a number of admirable lessons were written. The most remarkable were as follows:--
"Give my regards to those who know themselves.
"Consider the end before you begin, and before you advance provide a retreat.
"Give not unnecessary pain to any man, but study the happiness of all.
"Ground not your dignity upon your power to hurt others."
"Take counsel before you commence any measure, and never trust its execution to the inexperienced.
"Sacrifice your property for your life, and your life for your religion.
"Spend your time in establishing a good name; and if you desire fortune, learn contentment."
"Grieve not for that which is broken, stolen, burnt, or lost.
"Never give orders in another man's house; and accustom yourself to eat your bread at your own table.
"Make not yourself the captive of women."
"Take not a wife from a bad family, and seat not thyself with those who have no shame.
"Keep thyself at a distance from those who are incorrigible in bad habits, and hold no intercourse with that man who is insensible to kindness.
"Be guarded with monarchs, for they are like fire which blazeth but destroyeth.
"Be sensible to your own value; estimate justly the worth of others; and war not with those who are far above thee in fortune."
"Be envious of no man, and habituate not thyself to search after the faults of others.
"Make it a habit to be happy, and avoid being out of temper, or thy life will pass in misery.
"Respect and protect the females of thy family.
"Be not the slave of anger; and in thy contests always leave open the door of conciliation.
"Never let your expenses exceed your income.
"Plant a young tree, or you cannot expect to cut down an old one.
"Stretch your legs no further than the size of your carpet."
The caliph Hâroon-oor-Rasheed was more pleased with the admirable maxims inscribed on this crown than with all the treasures he had found. "Write these precepts," he exclaimed, "in a book, that the faithful may eat of the fruit of wisdom." When he returned to Bagdad, he related to his favourite vizier, Jaffier Bermekee, and his other chief officers, all that had passed; and the shade of Noosheerwân was propitiated by the disgrace of Hoosein-ben-Sâhil (who had recommended despoiling his tomb), and the exemplary punishment of the servant who had committed the sacrilegious act of taking the ring from the finger of the departed monarch.