217 br br What hidden sweetness there is in this emptiness of the belly! br Man is surely like a lute, no more and no less; br For if, for instance, the belly of the lute becomes full, no br lament high or low will arise from that full lute. br If your brain and belly are on fire through fasting, because of br the fire every moment a lament will arise from your breast. br Every moment you will burn a thousand veils by that fire; you br will mount a hundred steps with zeal and endeavor. br Become empty of belly, and weep entreatingly like the reed br pipe; become empty of belly, and tell secrets with the reed pen. br If your belly is full at the time of concourse, it will bring Satan br in place of your reason, an idol in place of the Kaaba. br When you keep the fast, good habits gather together before br you like slaves and servants and retinue. br Keep the fast, for that is Solomon’s ring; give not the ring to br the div, destroy not your kingdom. br Even if your kingdom has gone from your head and your army br has fled, your army will rise up, pennants flying above them. br The table arrived from heaven to the tents of the fast, by the br intervention of the prayers of Jesus, son of Mary. br In the fast, be expectant of the table of bounty, for the table of br bounty is better than the broth of cabbages.