Rumi's Masnavi - Oh, many a punishment inflicted on a poor fellow is more meritorious than (a gift of) bread and sweetmeat,

Oh, many a punishment inflicted on a poor fellow is more meritorious than (a gift of) bread and sweetmeat, 2600

For sweetmeat (when eaten) unseasonably causes yellow bile, (whereas) slaps purge him of wickedness.

Give the poor fellow a slap in season: it will save him from beheading (afterwards).

The blow is really inflicted because of (his) evil disposition: the stick falls on the dust (in the garment of felt), not on the felt (itself).

Every Bahrám (emperor) has a banquet(-hall) and a prison: the banquet is for the sincere (friend) and the prison for the half-baked (churl).

(If) a sore wants lancing and you apply a poultice to it, you will (only) establish the pus in the sore, 2605

So that it will eat away the flesh underneath: (the result) will be a half (a mere fraction) of profit and fifty losses.”

Dalqak said, “I am not saying, ‘Let (my offence) pass’; I am saying, ‘Take some care to investigate.’

Hark, do not bar the road of patience and deliberation: be patient, reflect for a few days.

In (the course of) deliberation thou wilt hit upon a certainty, (and then) thou wilt chastise me with a sure conviction (of knowing the truth).”