Mainyo-i-Khard 59

The sage asked the spirit of wisdom

thus: 'Of mankind which are more conversant with good and evil?'

The spirit of wisdom answered

thus: 'Of mankind he whose sojourn and business are with the bad, and they provide him a name for good repute and goodness, is the man more conversant with good.

And he whose sojourn and business are with the good, and they provide him a name

'Because it is said, (7, 8) that whoever joins with the good brings good with him, and whoever joins with the bad brings evil-(9) just like the _ wind which, when it impinges on stench, is stench,

and when it impinges on perfume, is perfume,-

it is, therefore, notorious,

that he whose business is with the good receives good,

and he whose business is with the bad receives evil;

but, even then, both are to be considered as an experiment (aûzmâyisnŏ).'