Gold is tested by fire; a well-born man by his conduct; an honest man by his behavior. A brave man is tested in a time of panic; a self-possessed man in times of poverty; and friends and foes in times of calamity and danger. Decay destroys beauty; ambitious hopes destroy patience; death destroys life; envy destroys righteousness; anger destroys prosperity; keeping company with the base destroys good conduct; lust destroys modesty; and pride destroys everything. Prosperity is born of good deeds, grows through activity, takes deep root through skill, and gains stability through self-control. Wisdom, good birth, self-control, knowledge of the scriptures, valor, reticence, giving according to one's means, and gratitude — these eight qualities lend radiance to their possessor. But, O sovereign, there is one gift that alone can unite all these qualities; for when a king honors a particular man, royal favor can cause all these attributes to shed their splendor upon that favorite.