“O heedless child of lust, weep thou tears of blood.
If a saint eat poison, honey-like ’tis food.”
The original expression for “saint,” here, is: “a man of heart.”
[211] Canonical “responsibility” falls on all of sane mind and adult age.
[212] See note to dist. No. 33 of the present poem.
[213] Qur’ān vii. 112, &c.
[214] By a “perfect man” a saint is intended; as by “imperfect,” here and before, an ordinary mortal is depicted.
[215] Qur’ān vii. 203; xlvi. 28. By “ear” and “tongue” a learner and a teacher are symbolised.
[216] A hazardous assertion. See Anecdotes, Chap, iii., Nos. 2, 5, 7, &c.
[217] A proverbial expression, like: “All’s well that ends well.“