Dînâ-î Maînôg-î Khirad: Chapter LV

1. The sage asked the spirit of wisdom (2) thus: 'Wherefore is he who is an ill-natured man no friend of the good, nor an untalented man of a talented one?' 3. The spirit of wisdom answered (4) thus: 'For this reason, because he who is an ill-talented 2 man is at [all] 3 times in fear of the talented, (5) lest "they should trouble 4 us by their skill and talent, and, owing to that circumstance, shame may come upon us before the good and our opponents." 6. 'And the ill-natured are no friends of the good for this reason, because there is a time for their annihilation and destruction by the hands of the good.' 97:2 L19 has 'untalented.' 97:3 K43 omits 'all,' and its text may be translated thus:—'because the position of him who is an ill-talented man is in danger from the talented.' 97:4 Reading aê rangênd. Nêr. has the doubtful reading airôzinend, 'they enlighten,' and also several other variations, so as to produce the following meaning:—'lest "these enlighten others by the skill and talent which are not mine," and shame come upon him before the good and his helpmates.'