Till a third part of the night was gone, (he kept putting) one foot forward and one foot backward (hesitating and asking himself), “Shall I beg or shall I lie down to sleep with my lips dry?”
پای پیش و پای پس تا ثلث شب ** که بخواهم یا بخسپم خشک‌لب
How that person arrived at Cairo and at night came out into the street to play the mendicant and beg, and how he was arrested by the night-patrol and after having been soundly beaten succeeded through him in gaining his object. “And it may be that ye loathe a thing though it is better for you”; and as God most High hath (also) said, “God will surely vouchsafe after hardship ease”; and as God most High hath said, “Lo, with hardship goeth ease”; and as he (the Prophet), on whom be peace, hath said, “O year of drought, become severe, and then thou wilt pass away.” And the whole of the Qur’án and all the Revealed Books confirm this.
رسیدن آن شخص به مصر و شب بیرون آمدن به کوی از بهر شبکوکی و گدایی و گرفتن عسس او را و مراد اوحاصل شدن از عسس بعد از خوردن زخم بسیار و عسی ان تکرهوا شیا و هو خیر لکم و قوله تعالی سیجعل الله بعد عسر یسرا و قوله علیه‌السلام اشتدی ازمة تنفرجی و جمیع القرآن و الکتب المنزلة فی تقریر هذا
Suddenly the night-patrol seized him and, unable to restrain his anger, beat him with fist and cudgel.4255
ناگهانی خود عسس او را گرفت ** مشت و چوبش زد ز صفرا تا شکفت
As it happened, the people (of the city) had suffered losses in those dark nights from (the depredations of) night-thieves.
اتفاقا اندر آن شب‌های تار ** دیده بد مردم ز شب‌دزدان ضرار
They were nights of alarm and disaster, and the police were searching for the thieves with all their might,
بود شب‌های مخوف و منتحس ** پس به جد می‌جست دزدان را عسس
(So much so) that the Khalífa said, “Cut off the hand of any one who roams about by night, even if he is a kinsman of mine.”
تا خلیفه گفت که ببرید دست ** هر که شب گردد وگر خویش منست
The king had terrified the police with threats, saying, “Why are you (so) merciful to the thieves?
بر عسس کرده ملک تهدید و بیم ** که چرا باشید بر دزدان رحیم
For what reason do you believe their blarney or why do you accept gold (bribes) from them?”4260
عشوه‌شان را از چه رو باور کنید ** یا چرا زیشان قبول زر کنید
To show mercy to thieves and any sinister-handed (noxious) person is to inflict blows and have no mercy on the weak.
رحم بر دزدان و هر منحوس‌دست ** بر ضعیفان ضربت و بی‌رحمیست
Beware, from sympathy with a particular (offender) do not let him go unpunished: do not consider his sufferings, consider the sufferings of the public.
هین ز رنج خاص مسکل ز انتقام ** رنج او کم بین ببین تو رنج عام
Amputate the snake-bitten finger to prevent (worse) mischief: keep in view the infection and (consequent) destruction of the (whole) body.