II.33The Knowledge of Indications
Who knows the sign, and reads unuttered thought, the gem is he,
Of earth round traversed by the changeless sea.
The minister who by looking (at the king) understands his mind without being told (of it), will be a perpetual ornament to the world which is surrounded by a never-drying sea.
Undoubting, who the minds of men can scan,
As deity regard that gifted man.
He is to be esteemed a god who is able to ascertain without a doubt what is within (one's mind).
Who by the sign the signs interprets plain,
Give any member up his aid to gain.
The king should ever give whatever (is asked) of his belongings and secure him who, by the indications (of his own mind) is able to read those of another.
Who reads what's shown by signs, though words unspoken be,
In form may seem as other men, in function nobler far is he.
Those who understand one's thoughts without being informed (thereof) and those who do not, may (indeed) resemble one another bodily; still are they different (mentally).
By sign who knows not sings to comprehend, what gain,
'Mid all his members, from his eyes does he obtain?
Of what use are the eyes amongst one's members, if they cannot by their own indications dive those of another ?.
As forms around in crystal mirrored clear we find,
The face will show what's throbbing in the mind.
As the mirror reflects what is near so does the face show what is uppermost in the mind.
Than speaking countenance hath aught more prescient skill?
Rejoice or burn with rage, 'tis the first herald still!
Is there anything so full of knowledge as the face ? (No.) it precedes the mind, whether (the latter is) pleased or vexed.
To see the face is quite enough, in presence brought,
When men can look within and know the lurking thought.
If the king gets those who by looking into his mind can understand (and remove) what has occurred (to him) it is enough that he stand looking at their face.
The eye speaks out the hate or friendly soul of man;
To those who know the eye's swift varying moods to scan.
If a king gets ministers who can read the movements of the eye, the eyes (of foreign kings) will (themselves) reveal (to him) their hatred or friendship.
The men of keen discerning soul no other test apply
(When you their secret ask) than man's revealing eye.
The measuring-rod of those (ministers) who say "we are acute" will on inquiry be found to be their (own) eyes and nothing else.