Of fairness and the fair

As an observer of what’s currently happening around us in Sri Lanka, I was reminded of how Bertolt Bretch the creator of ‘The Caucasian Chalk Circle”, took on presenting his rascal of a Judge Azdak to us. English translation from the original German by Eric Bentley.

Late Henry Jayasena playing Azdak 

“All mankind should love each other
But bring an ax when you talk to your brother
What miracles of preaching
A good sharp blade can do
His honor of the high court knew
And understood it too!

When the sharks the sharks devour
Little fish will have their hour
Tis fishy to fix the scales of power
Thankfully, he's in the ivory tower
The poor man's magistrate…
Who's the man to seal your fate
The one, the only potentate
Who's the wise? Who's the great?
Who Can it be? Who can it be?
Azdak!”