1.77. Sovereignty

“What is sovereignty in the world?
What ranks as the best of goods?
What in the world is a rusty sword?
What in the world is considered a plague?

“Whom do they arrest when he takes away?
And who, when he takes away, is dear?
In whom do the wise take delight
When he returns again and again?”

“Mastery is sovereignty in the world;
A woman ranks as the best of goods;
In the world anger is a rusty sword;
Thieves in the world are considered a plague.

“They arrest a thief when he takes away,
But an ascetic who takes away is dear.
The wise take delight in an ascetic
When he returns again and again.”