O tyrant, whether you dispense justice or inflict cruelty, at least listen to the plea of those who cry for help.

In this couplet, the lover addresses a cruel beloved or an unyielding ruler with raw, desperate vulnerability. The poet surrenders to their verdict—saying, 'Treat me with kindness or punish me as you please, but at least grant me the basic dignity of being heard.' It captures that painful moment where enduring cruelty hurts far less than the unbearable silence of simply being ignored.