THE INTELLIGENT CORPSE A beggar in the graveyard cried: "Awake, my friend, be satisfied To live again and bear the weight Of poverty; for I of late Am weary grown; my heart is led To crave the comfort of the dead." The corpse was silent; he was sure 'Twas better to be dead than poor.   — From Bhartṛhari

‘Stop but a moment, friend, and rise and carry The burden of my weary poverty’ But the dead man, who would not change his peace For poverty, said nothing in reply.

“Rise up and bear one second's space Grim penury's awful load; Let me o'erwearied take thy place In Pluto's dark abode.”— A poor man thus a corpse bespake; The corpse, preferring death To want, would not its silence break For all his waste of breath.