If news come that the king has imposed a fine upon the Moslems, he (the policeman) waxes big and exultant;60
گر خبر آید که شه جرمی نهاد ** بر مسلمانان شود او زفت و شاد
And if news come that the king has shown mercy and has generously taken off that (penalty) from the Moslems,
ور خبر آید که شه رحمت نمود ** از مسلمانان فکند آن را به جود
A mournfulness falls upon his soul thereat: the policeman hath a hundred such depravities.
ماتمی در جان او افتد از آن ** صد چنین ادبارها دارد عوان
He (the lover) was bringing the policeman into the prayer (of benediction), because such solace had come to him from the policeman.
او عوان را در دعا در می‌کشید ** کز عوان او را چنان راحت رسید
He (the policeman) was poison to all (others), but to him (he was) the antidote: the policeman was the means of uniting that longing lover (with the object of his desire).
بر همه زهر و برو تریاق بود ** آن عوان پیوند آن مشتاق بود
Hence there is no absolute evil in the world: evil is relative. Know this (truth) also.65
پس بد مطلق نباشد در جهان ** بد به نسبت باشد این را هم بدان
In (the realm of) Time there is no poison or sugar that is not a foot (support) to one and a fetter (injury) to another—
در زمانه هیچ زهر و قند نیست ** که یکی را پا دگر را بند نیست
To one a foot, to another a fetter; to one a poison and to another (sweet and wholesome) like sugar.
مر یکی را پا دگر را پای‌بند ** مر یکی را زهر و بر دیگر چو قند
Snake-poison is life to the snake, (but) it is death in relation to man.
زهر مار آن مار را باشد حیات ** نسبتش با آدمی باشد ممات
The sea is as a garden to the water-creatures; to the creatures of earth it is death and a (painful) brand.
خلق آبی را بود دریا چو باغ ** خلق خاکی را بود آن مرگ و داغ