THE THREE ESTATES OF THE REALM 269 besides other great and respectable men, formed the second class and were denominated Ahl-i Sa'adat (good men), since respect, obedience, and honour paid them, as well as association with them, secure eternal pros- perity and enable men to rise to exalted rank and dignity. " Virtue is the gift of God ; It is not in the power of the mighty man to obtain it j If thou wouldst obtain fortune, Associate thou with virtuous men." Those who possessed beauty and elegance, those who were young and most lovely, and those who were clever musicians and sweet singers composed the third class, and the appellation of Ahl-i Murdd (people of pleasure) was conferred upon them, because most people take great delight in the company of such young men of rosy cheeks and sweet voices, and are pleased by hearing their songs and the delightsome sound of musical instru- ments, such as the harp, the sackbut, and the lute. " The hope of the heart of lovers Is never realized but when they meet them of rose-hued cheeks ; He who delighteth in songs and music Hath the gates of happiness opened for himself." The wise king also divided the days of the week according to a similar classification, and appointed one day for each of these three classes. Thus, Saturdays and Thursdays were fixed for pious men, and visits were received on those days from literary and religious folk. On these two days the tree of the hope of this
