Ardshir Papakan

Now at Baghdad Ardshir assumed his seat
Upon the ivory throne and donned the crown
That maketh glad the heart, with girdle girt,
The sceptre of the Shahs in hand, the palace
Prepared. Thenceforth folk called him : " King of

kings,"

And no one knew him from Gushtasp. Whenas
He donned the crown of majesty he spake,
Victorious and glad, upon the throne
Thus: "Justice is my treasure in this world,
Which is reviving 'neath my busy hands,
A treasure this that none can take from me ;
Ill-doing 'tis that bringeth ill on men.
All-holy God, if I find favour with Him,
Will not begrudge to me this sombre earth.
The world is wholly under my protection,
My policy is to approve of justice.
None — friend or foe — must slumber with his heart
All care through act of any officer,
Or chief, or warrior-cavalier of mine :
This court is free to all, both foe and friend. "

The whole assembly blessed him and exclaimed : —
" Oh ! may thy justice make earth prosperous ! "

Where there were hostile chiefs he sent forth

troops

To bring them to submission or make known
The usage of the scimitar and throne.

Now when the Shah slew Ardawan, thus winning
The world, he took to wife the slain king's daughter
To tell him where her father's hoards were hidden.
There were two sons of Ardawan in Hind,
Companions in distress, and two in ward
With full hearts and with weeping eyes. The eldest
Of these : " Bahman — who was in Hindustan,
Perceiving that the realm was lost to him,
Chose a discreet and prudent messenger,
A youth who was possessed of ears to hear,
Gave him some poison secretly, and said : —
"Go to my sister, tell her : " Seek not thou
Our foe's affections, for in Hindustan
Thou hast two brothers, exiles both, and two
Bound in the prison-house of Shah Ardshir.
Our sire is slain, his sons are pierced, by arrows,
And thou, as it would seem, hast ceased to love us !
How can the Maker of the sky commend it ?
As thou wouldst queen it in Iran, and win
In this world the approval of the brave,
Take thou this mortal Indian bane and use it
Forthwith upon Ardshir.' "
The envoy came
At eve and gave the noble girl that message.
Her soul and heart burned for her brother's sake,
Her heart was all a-flame. She took the bane
To do his will. Now Shah Ardshir one day
Went forth to hunt and shoot the onager,
Returned at noon and visited the daughter
Of Ardawan. That moon-faced lady ran,
And proffered to the Shah a topaz cup
Full of cold water, sugar, and fine meal,
And mixed therewith the bane to please Bahman.
As Shah Ardshir received the cup it fell
Out of his hand and shivered on the ground.
The queen shook with affright, her heart was riven.
Her agitation made the Shah suspect,
Who, doubting what the turning sky would bring,
Enjoined a slave to fetch four fowls. They thought
That his surmise was false, but when the birds
Were put down to the meal they ate and died !
Thus certified the pious monarch summoned
An archimage — his minister — and said : —
" If thou shouldst seat a foe upon thy throne,
Who by thy kindness groweth so bemused
As rashly to lay hand upon thy life,
What is the punishment for one so raised,
How shall we remedy our own default ? "

The archimage replied : " If any subject
Attempt the world-lord's life thou must behead
The guilty and accept no other counsel."

Thereat the Shah commanded : " Make the daughter
Of Ardawan a corpse."

The archimage

Went out behind the queen, who quaked convicted,
But said : " O sage ! my day and thine will pass.
I cannot say thee nay if thou wilt slay me,
But : " I am now with child, and by Ardshir ;
So if 'tis right to cause my blood to flow,
And gibbet me on high, wait till my babe
Be born, then carry out the Shah's behest."

The shrewd archmage returned and told his master,
But he made answer : " Hearken not to her,
But do my bidding."
" 'Tis an evil day,"

The archimage reflected, "when such orders

Come from the Shah ! We all, both young and old,

Must die, and he is sonless ! Though he live
To count unnumbered years yet when he dieth

A foe will have his throne. Well may I dare
To substitute high policy for such
A feckless action. I will save her life.
I may induce him to repent or else
Can do his bidding when her child is born."

He got apartments ready in his palace
That he might tend her as his soul and body,
And told his wife : " I would not have a breath
Of air behold her."

Then : " I have," he thought,
" Foes and to spare, and doubts for good or ill
Attach to every one, so I will take
Such order that no slanderer shall foul
My stream."

He went his way and gelt himself,
Used cautery and drugs and bandages,
Then put his genitals in salt forthwith,
As swift as smoke enclosed them in a casket,
And sealed it up. With pallid face and groaning
He came before the lofty throne, laid down
The casket closed and sealed, and said : " Now let
The Shah entrust this to his treasurer
With an inscription thereupon to state
The matters appertaining and the date."

Now, when the time of birth drew near, the archmage
Told not the secret e'en to the air. The daughter
Of Ardawan brought forth a son — one ardent
And with the royal mien. The minister
Excluded all folk, named the babe Shapur,
And hid him seven years till he became
A king in looks, in mien, and Grace. It chanced
One day that the wazir drew near, perceived
Tears on Ardshir's face, and addressed him thus : —
" O Shah ! successful art thou yet thy soul
Is fed on care ! In this world thou hast gained
Thy full desire and cast thy foeman's head
Down from the throne. Now is the time for mirth
And quaffing wine, not for solicitude.

Earth's seven climes are'neath thy sway, and thine
Are troops and state and policy."

He answered : —

" O holy archimage and confidant !
Our scimitar hath justified the age,
Grief, travail, and distress have passed away.
My years amount to fifty-one, my hairs
Once musk are camphor, and my roses gone.
I ought to have a son before me now,
A joy of heart, a source of strength, a guide.
A sonless sire is like a sireless son,
And taken only to a stranger's breast.
A foe succeedeth to my crown and wealth,
And all my gains are travail, pains, and dust."

Then thought that shrewd old man : " 'Tis time to

speak."

He said : " O Shah ! who cherishest thy lieges,
Magnanimous, shrewd-hearted, and supreme !
If thou wilt promise me to spare my life
I will remove my lord's distress."

The Shah

Replied : " O sage ! why shouldst thou fear for that ?
Say what thou knowest and enlarge thereon,
For what is better than a wise man's words ? "

He made reply : " Pure and shrewd-hearted Shah !
I gave a casket to thy treasurer :

Now let the Shah vouchsafe to ask for it-"

The Shah said to his treasurer : " He asketh
For that which he consigned to thy safe keeping.
Restore it that we may examine it,
And haply cease to live a life of care."

The treasurer produced and gave the casket
Back to the minister. The Shah inquired : —
" What is there in it under lock and seal ? "

He made reply : " The blood of mine affliction,
And parts of shame dissevered by the roots.
To me thou gavest Ardawan's own daughter
Until thou shouldst require her corpse of me.
I slew her not because she was with child,
And I feared God, but sacrificed my manhood,
When thou didst give that order, and cut off
My parts of shame that none might slander me,
Or plunge me into infamy. Thy son
Hath been in keeping of thy minister
Seven years. No other king hath son like him,
And his sole semblance is the moon in heaven.
In love I gave to him the name Shapur,
And may his fortune jubilate the sky.
His mother too is with him, educating
The prince her son."

The world's king marvelled at him,
Began to muse upon that child, then said : —,
" O shrewd of heart and well advised ! much toil

Hast thou endured ! I will not let it age
With thee. Select a hundred of his years,
Like him in face and stature, breast and limb,
And all in like garb, neither worse nor better.
Send them to play at polo on the ground,
And furnish balls. When those fair youths are there
My soul will yearn for love upon my child,
My heart will be a witness to the truth,
And make me know my son."

At break of day

The minister arrived and brought the boys
In dress, in stature, and in mien so like
As not to be distinguished. Thou hadst said : —
"A holiday is toward in the park,
And prince Shapur is in the thick of it,"
For when the youth began to play he bore
The ball off from the rest so that Ardshir,
On coming to the ground, accompanied
By young and old, and looking at the boys,
Could from his bosom heave a deep, cold sigh,
Could point his son out to his minister,
And say : " Behold a young Ardshir is yonder ! "

The counsellor replied : " O Shah ! thy heart
Hath testified to thine own son, but wait
Till yon fair children drive the ball anear thee."

Then Shah Ardshir bade an attendant : " Go,
And drive the ball from them that I may see
Which boy will come forth bravely midst the brave,
As though a lion, and bear off the ball
Before my very eyes, regarding none
Of all this company, for such will be,
Past doubt, my very son in blood and body,
In limbs and race."

The servant did his bidding,
And drove the ball before the cavaliers.
The boys as swift as arrows followed it,
But, when they neared Ardshir, came to a stand,
Albeit unwillingly. Shapur alone,
That Lion, still came on, seized, and bore off
The ball before his sire, and then, withdrawing,
Restored it to the boys. The Shah's heart joyed,
As when an old man groweth young again,
The horsemen raised the young prince from the ground,
And passed him on from hand to hand until
The king of kings could clasp him to the breast,

And bless the Judge of all. He kissed Shapur
On head and face and eyes, and said : " Such wonders
Should not be hidden. I ne'er dreamed of this,
For I presumed him slain just as God greatened
My kingship and increased my monuments
Within the world ! Thou canst not shun His bidding
Though thou shouldst raise thy head above the sun."

He called for gold and many precious stones
Out of his treasury. They poured them forth
And sifted musk and ambergris withal
Upon Shapur until his head was hidden
With gold, and none could see his face for jewels.
The Shah heaped gems too on his minister,
Set him upon a seat inlaid with gold,
And gave him wealth enough to furnish all
His house and halls. The Shah then bade the daughter
Of Ardawan to go in peace and joy
Back to the palace, pardoned all her fault,
And cleansed his Moon of rust. He had all men
Of parts within the city brought to teach
The boy to write the ancient tongue, to wear
The mien of royal haughtiness, to wheel
His steed in battle, and thus mounted show
His spear-point to the enemy, to quaff,
Give largess, entertain at feasts, array
The host, and all the toil and work of war.
He had a new die struck for all the coinage
Both gold and silver, large and small alike ;
On one side was his own name, on the other
That of his great wazir — one held in honour
As an experienced man and counsellor.
Both names appeared on documents. The Shah
Gave him the ring, the signet, and the rule,
Bestowed a treasure on the poor that lived
By labour, chose a site where brambles grew,
And made thereof a jocund seat, its name
Jund-i-Shapur, thus only known to fame.

Shapur grew cypress-tall and, since they feared
The evil eye, was ever with Ardshir,
Attending like wazir and minister.

The Shah had not a day's repose from warfare,
Or leisure to disport himself, for when
He had relieved a place of enemies

They rose elsewhere. He said : " I pray the Maker,
Both publicly and privily, that I
May hold earth free from foes and then become
A devotee."

His glorious minister

Replied : " O Shah, whose heart is bright, whose words
Are true ! dispatch we an ambassador
To Kaid of Hind who is a man of knowledge,
And good at need, can estimate high heaven,
And tell the door of joy, the road to ruin.
He will divine, accounting it no toil,
Nor asking guerdon for his answering.
If thou without a rival wilt possess
The seven climes."

On hearing this the Shah
Chose him a high-born youth of ready wit
To go as envoy to the sage of Hind,
With many steeds, with gold, and silk of Chin,
And said to him : " Go to the sage and say : —
" O man of fortune and of truthful speech !
Find from the stars when I shall rest from war,
And win me full possession of the realm,
For if I must be evermore in toil
I will not be so lavish of my treasure.' "

The envoy came to Kaid with gifts and largess,
And gave the message of the king of kings,
Explaining all. Kaid greeted him, grew grave,
Turned to his arts, brought forth his astrolabe,
Observed the stars, and placed upon his lap
An Indian planisphere to ascertain
High heaven's purpose touching peace, success,
Woe, and mishap, and then informed the envoy : —
" I have discerned the fortunes of Iran,
And of the Shah. If he will blend with his
The offspring of Mihrak, son of Nushzad,
The Shah will sit in peace upon his throne,
And need not send his armies anywhither,
His wealth will wax, his travail wane. Depart.
Weigh not these two realms' feud. Iran will prove
Conformable when this hath been achieved,
And he will compass all his heart's desire."

He gave the envoy gifts, and said : " My sayings
Must not be hidden. If he shall obey,
High heaven will give him cause to prize my
words."

The envoy went back to the Shah and told
What he had heard from noble Kaid, whereat
Ardshir was vexed, his visage grew like gall.
He answered : " God forbid that I should see
Descendants from Mihrak and bring my foe
Out of the street inside my house to war

Against my realm ! Woe for my lavished treasure,
Mine expeditions sent, and labours borne !
Mihrak hath but one daughter left, and none
Hath seen her. I will bid men search for her
In Rum, in Hind, in Chin, and in Taraz,
And when I find her I will have her burned,
And make the dust lament for her with tears."

He sent one skilful in pursuit of foes,
And horsemen also, to Jahram. Now when
The daughter of Mihrak heard this she fled,
And lay concealed within a house ten months.
While she was hidden with a village-chieftain,
Who held her in high honour, she grew up
Like some straight cypress and increased in wisdom,
In Grace, and beauty ; not a peer had she ;
The realm had not so tall a cypress-tree.

Within a little while the monarch's fortune
Grew bright. He went to hunt at dawn one day
With wise Shapur. The horsemen ranged around,
And cleared the plain of game. A spacious seat
Appeared afar with garth, park, hall, and palace.
Shapur rode on until he reached the village,
And halted at the mansion of the chief.
There was a pleasant garth inside the walls,
A verdant spot, and when the youth went in
He saw a maiden like the moon, who plied
A wheel and bucket at a well. Now when
She saw Shapur she came and showered blessings : —
" Be happy, smiles and joy be thine, and all

Thy years unscathed ! Thy courser is athirst,
No doubt, and all the water in the village
Is brackish, but in this well cold and sweet.
With thy permission I will water him."

Shapur replied: "What words are these, fair

maid !

I have attendants ; they shall draw the water."
The maiden turned her back upon the youth ;
She went apart and sat beside a stream.
He bade a servant : " Bring a bowl and draw."

The attendant heard and ran; rope, wheel, and

bucket

Were there, but when the bucket sank and filled
It rose not though he strove with knitted brows,
So heavy was it. Chidingly Shapur
Came up, and said to him : " Why, thou half woman !
Did not a woman work rope, wheel, and bucket ?
She pumpeth what she will but thou art pumped,
And askest help ! "

He took the rope himself,
But found the work severe. Discovering
The bucket's weight he praised that fair-cheeked

maid,

And said : " Good sooth, she is of royal race
To raise a bucket of such weight as this ! "

When he had drawn the bucket up the damsel
Came and saluted him most graciously,
And said : " Live happily while time endureth.
May wisdom ever be thy monitor.
The virtue of Shapur, son of Ardshir,
Could doubtless turn the water in the well
To milk ! "

He said to that sweet-spoken maid :—
" How know'st thou, moon-face ! that I am Shapur ? "

She answered him : " Full often have I heard
This saying from the lips of truthful men : —
" The brave Shapur is like an elephant
In strength, as bounteous as the river Nile,
In height a cypress, with a frame of brass,
And like Bahman in all.'

He said : " O moon-face !
Tell truly what I ask. Declare thy stock,
Because thy mien is royal."

She replied : —

" The daughter of the village-chieftain I,
From whom I get my comeliness and strength."

" Lies never pass with princes," he rejoined,
" A tiller of the soil would not possess
A moon-faced daughter, fair, all scent and hue."

" O prince," she said, " when life is guaranteed me,
I will inform thee fully of my birth,
Safe from the anger of the king of kings."

He said : " Revenge on friends is not a plant
That groweth in our garden, so say on,
And fear not me or our just, noble Shah."

" The very truth is that I am," she said,
" The daughter of Mihrak, son of Nushzad.
A pious person brought me as a child,
And gave me to this worthy village-chief;
So now, for fear of the illustrious Shah,
I draw the water and do other chars."

Shapur took up his lodging there and, when
The village-chief was waiting on him, said : —
" Give me, with Heaven as witness, this fair maid."

The village-chief accorded his desire
With all the rites of those that worship Fire.

It came to pass that soon that straight-stemmed

Cypress,

Like blossom, came to fruit. Shapur conveyed her
To his own palace from the chieftain's house,
And cherished her like some ripe quince. Now when
Nine months had passed that Moon-face bare a son,
The image of his sire. Thou wouldst have said : —
" Asfandiyar hath come again or famed
Ardshir, the cavalier." The prince, his sire,
Named him Urmuzd, for he was like a cypress
Midst herbs, and after seven years possessed
No equal in the world. His parents hid him,
And never let him go abroad to play.

Once when Ardshir went hunting for a week,
As did Shapur withal, Urmuzd escaped
Unnoticed, weary of his tasks, and ran
Forth to the riding-ground of Shah Ardshir,
A lasso in one hand and in the other
Two shafts, with other boys with balls and sticks,
Just as the world-lord with his retinue,
And with his shrewd high priest, came from the chase.
When he was nigh the ground one of the youths
Smote strongly and awry so that the ball
Rolled near the Shah. None followed it, the boys
Stopped short, balked in their game, except Urmuzd
Who, rushing like a blast before the Shah,
Bare off the ball before his grandsire's face,
Amid the soldiers' hue and cry, and shouted,
So that the conquering Shah was all amazement : —
" The sticks, the riding-ground, and pluck are mine,
And mine it is to battle with the brave ! "

Thus to the archmage said Ardshir : " Inquire
About the lineage of this noble youth."

The archmage asked. None knew, or would not say.
" Take up the youth and bring him," said the king.

The archmage went and raised him from the dust,
Then bare him to the Shah of noble men,
Who said : " Illustrious child ! what is thy stock ? "

He answered in loud tones : " My name and race
Should not be hidden : thy son's son am I —

Shapur's — born from the daughter of Mihrak."

The monarch of the world was in amaze
Thereat, smiled, mused, bade come Shapur, and asked
Questions past count. Shapur, that noble man,
Was terrified, his heart was sorrowful,
His cheek was wan. The great Shah smiled on him,
And said : " Hide not thy child ; we need a son,
And whencesoe'er he cometh, it is well,
Since, so they say, he is a prince's child."

Shapur replied : " Be blest and with thy looks
Sustain the world ! He cometh from my loins,
And he is named Urmuzd ; he shineth like
A tulip midst the grass. I have awhile
Concealed him from the king until the fruit-tree
Should bring forth fruit. The daughter of Mihrak
Bare this illustrious child, who is my child
Beyond all doubt."

Then, while his father listened,
He told at large what happened at the well.

Ardshir rejoiced to hear the tale and went
Back to the palace with his minister,
Embraced that darling child, then sought his throne.
He had a golden ante-throne prepared,
And bade bring torque and golden coronet
Wherewith they decked the young child's head, then

fetched

Both gold and jewels from the treasury,
And heaped them till the boy's head disappeared,
Whereat his grandsire drew him from the heap,
Bestowed the gold and jewels on the poor,
And still more splendid presents on the sages,
Decked with brocade the Fire-fanes and the hall
Wherein were held Nauruz, and Sada-feast,
Made ready with his lords a banquet-house,
Placed minstrels everywhere, and then addressed
The land's wise chieftains : " Never should one slight
The sayings of a learned astrologer,
For thus said Kaid of Hind : " Ne'er will thy fortune,
Thy throne, thy realm, thy crown, thy treasure, host,
Thy royal diadem, thy Grace, and state,
Be glad and jocund till the families
Of thee and of Mihrak, son of Nushzad,
Shall be conjoined in blood.' For eight years now
The sky hath blessed our wishes. Ever since
Urmuzd was added to my peace the world
Hath granted what I would, earth's seven climes
All have been ordered, and my heart hath had
Its will of fortune."

All his underlings
Gave him thenceforth the style of : " King of kings."

Now hear and learn the wisdom of Ardshir,

Who toiled, gave virtue vogue, and everywhere
Spread love and justice. As his forces grew

At court he sent his agents to all parts
To say : " Let none of you that hath a son
Allow him to grow up in ignorance,
But teach him horsemanship and how to fight
With mace and bow and shafts of poplar-wood."
A youth, when trained to strength and grown
efficient,

Would come up from his province to the court,
The Shah's famed court, and then the muster-master
Would have him registered and give him quarters.
These young recruits, when war broke out, went forth
Commanded by some paladin, some archmage
Among the officials anxious to excel,
One to each thousand youths. He went with them
To note their dispositions — cowardly,
Or too infirm for war — and to report
On all by letter to the king of kings,
Who when he had perused it and received
The messenger, would have a robe of honour
Of what was choicest in the treasury
Prepared for those that showed accomplishment ;
But non-effectives carried arms no more.
Thus grew his troops so many that they passed
The purview of the stars, and men of counsel
Received promotion at his hands. A herald
Used to make circuit of the host, proclaiming : —
" Ye men of name and warriors of the Shah !
Whoe'er hath sought for favour in his sight,
And washed earth with the blood of valiant men,
Shall have from me a royal gift and leave
His fame as his memorial."

He ordered

The whole world with his troops, a shepherd he
With soldiers for his flock.

He kept a st-aff
Of experts in his public offices,

Committing naught to those incompetent.
They made a point of style and penmanship,
And when one showed superiority,
And when his principal reported it,
The king of kings increased for him his pay.
The second-rate served not the Shah himself,
But gave assistance to his officers ;
He only kept the scribes that were adepts,
And, when he saw such, he would praise them, saying : —
" A scribe that filleth up the treasury,
And by his talent lesseneth toil, availeth
State, host, and subjects pleading for redress.
The scribes are as the sinews of my soul,
And monarchs in disguise."
When governors

Went to their provinces he used to charge them : —
" Hold money vile and sell no man for pelf,
Because this Hostel bideth not with any,
But seek for wisdom and all righteousness ;
Let greed and madness be afar from thee,
And take none of thy kith and kin ; the troops
That I have given thee are friends enough.
Give largess monthly to the poor, but naught
To foes. If by thy justice thou shalt make
Thy province prosper thou wilt prosper too
And joy in justice, but if any poor
Sleep there in fear thou sellest thine own soul
For gold and silver."

All that came to court
On state affairs, or to require redress.
Were met by trusty henchmen of the Shah,
And asked about the royal governors : —
" Are they just men or covetous ? Do any
Lie wronged by them ? What learned men are there ?
Are any faint through want ? Would any be
Of service to the Shah as being old
And veteran, or devout ? The king of kings
Saith : " Let my toils and treasure gladden none
Except the men of wisdom and of lore,
For what is better than one wise and aged ?
I seek experienced men and youths approved,
And patient, for if youths are wise and apt
To learn they fittingly replace the old.' "
As often as his host went forth to war
He acted prudently and cautiously,
And chose some scribe — a wise, learned, heedful man —
And charged him with a courteous embassage
Lest there be unjust strife. The envoy used
To visit the Shah's foe to learn his case,
And list to him if he were wise and held
War's sorrows, toils, and ills calamities.
If so he would have presents from the Shah,
With grant, with patent, and remembrances ;
But if he had a wrathful head, a heart
Revengeful, and blood boiling in his liver.
The Shah would give the host a donative,
That no one might be malcontent, appoint
Some paladin aspiring, watchful, wise,
And placable, and therewithal a scribe —
A man of precedent and mastery—
To keep watch that the soldiers did no wrong ;
Then mounted on an elephant a man,
Whose voice could reach two miles, thus to proclaim : —
" Ye chieftains of the fray, brave, famed, and bold !
No harm must come on poor or rich and noble.
Pay for your provand at each stage and earn
My subjects' thanks, and let God's worshippers
Touch not another's goods. Whoe'er shall show
The foe his back his outlook will be gloomy,
Because his grave will be at hand, or chains
Will gall his neck and breast, or else his name
Will be struck off the roll, and he himself
Will feed on dust and on dark dust repose."

Then he would charge the captain of the host : —
" Be neither slack nor rash to attack, keep always
The elephants in front and push out scouts
Four miles. Be instant, when a fight is toward,
To go among the troops, bid them remember
Both who and what they are, why in the field : —
" They are a hundred horsemen to our one,
And yet their hundred to our one are few !
For every one of you, both young and old.
I shall receive a present from Ardshir.'
When cavaliers advance upon both sides
Let not thy warriors, in their eagerness
To fight, press on till they expose the centre,
However large the host. Dispose thy left
Against the foe's right wing that all may have
A chance of fighting and array thy right
Against his left. Let all look to their baggage.
The centre must stand fast, let no one there
Advance a foot ; but if the opposing centre
Advance, advance thine own. When thou hast

triumphed

Forbear to shed the blood of foes in flight,
While, if they ask for quarter, grant it them,
And be not vengeful. When thou seest the foe
Retreat, haste not to quit thine own position,
Or deem thyself secure from ambuscade,
But, once thou art assured, see that thou heed not
Another's words. Bestow the spoil on those
That sought the fray and bravely washed their hearts
Of love of life, and bring withal all captives
Without fail to my court. I will erect them
A city where a thorn-brake stood. As thou
Wouldst live unvexed and scathless turn in naught
From these my counsellings, and in thy triumphs
Incline to God because He is past doubt
Thy guide."

Whenever there arrived an envoy
From any part, Rum, Turkistan, or Persia,
The marchlords got to know it, for they held
Such things of moment ; lodging was provided,
This was the business of the governors,
With provand, raiment, and no stint of carpets,
Upon the route. They would inform themselves
As to the envoy's business with the Shah,
And then a scribe upon a noble beast
Would go to Shah Ardshir that troops might meet
The envoy. Then the conquering Shah would have
His throne made ready and attendants ranked
On either side thereof in cloth of gold,
Would have the envoy summoned to the presence,
Seat him beside the throne, greet him, and learn
His business good or ill, name, and repute,
His views of right and wrong, about his land,
About its customs, king, and armaments,
Conduct him to a palace with the state
That was befitting an ambassador,
And furnish what he needed, then invite him
To feast and revel, seat him by the throne,
Would take him out on royal hunting-days,
Escorted by a countless retinue,
Dismiss him with the forms due to an envoy,
And fashion him a monarch's robe of honour.

He sent withal archmages to all parts —
Men wise and shrewd and kindly — to build cities,
And lavish wealth thereon, that every man
Resourceless, homeless, and estranged from fortune,
Might have a living and a dwelling-place,
And thus increase the number of his subjects.
So his good name is current now as then
Upon the lips and in the thoughts of men,
And one sole monarch in the world we find
That now recalleth lost Ardshir to mind,

And mine 'tis living glory to bestow

Upon him. May his end all goodness know.

The Shah had many secrets, for he kept
His agents everywhere. Whene'er the rich
Grew poor the Shah would help him, if informed,
And leave him prosperous with fertile lands,
Home, slaves, and underlings, arranging all
Without the city's ken, and put his children,
If they had talent, in the charge of tutors.
In every quarter of the towns were schools,
With colleges for worshippers of Fire.
He suffered none to want save such as kept
The fact a secret, and his custom was
To go at daybreak to the public ground,
Where all that sought redress could come, and there
Judged subject and friend's son impartially.
His justice made the whole world prosperous,
And all his subjects' hearts rejoiced in him.

When any king to justice is allied,
In time's despite his footprints will abide.

Observe the policy of this brave chief,
Who, thou wouldst say, engrossed all excellence.
His agents, wise and watchful officers,
Went through the world. Where any land lay waste,
Or streams ran low, he took the taxes off;
No holding was too mean for his regard.
If any thane was poor, and losing all,
The Shah supplied both implements and cattle.
And let him not be ousted from his home.

Now hear, O king ! the sayings of this sage
And make the world as bright as in his age ;
As thou untroubled and unvexed wouldst be,
And pile up wealth not gained injuriously,
Seek that thy subjects may be unvexed too,
And have from all the praises justly due.

In Rum and Chin, in Turkistan and Hind,
The world grew as 'twere Ruman silk to him,
Both toll and tax came in continually
From all lands, none opposing him. He summoned
The nobles of Iran and set those worthy
Upon the royal throne, then rose and made
Oration to them well and graciously : —
' " O chieftains of the state, ye that are wise
And prudent ! know that swiftly turning heaven
Assaileth not through justice nor embraceth
Through love, but setteth whom it will on high,
And then consigneth him to sorry dust ;
His name alone surviveth, all his toils
Go with him to oblivion ; one whose aims
Are good may leave a good name, naught besides.
Now as for thee, Urmuzd ! thy lot will be
As holy God approveth. Turn and open
Thyself to Him who is the Lord of all,
And multiplieth good. From every ill
Take shelter with the Ruler of the world,
For ill and good are in His power, and He
Will make all hardship easy to thee, give
A bright heart to thee, and victorious fortune.
Judge first by mine experience and perpend
Mine own past good and evil while still fresh.
When I took refuge with the Lord of all
My heart was gladdened by the crown and throne.
I rule the seven climes for so seemed good
To His authority. From Rum and Hind
I take a tribute, and the world hath grown
Like Ruman silk to me. Thanks be to God,
Who gave me strength, exalted star, and favour

From Sol and Saturn ; yet who knoweth how
To praise Him worthily or give Him worship
Proportioned to His work so that He may
Be mindful of my service and set forth
His greatness and omnipotence ? And now
What from our sense of justice — our delight —
We purpose we will tell. Although one tenth
From all communities is due to me,
As thane and archimage will testify,
I ask it not, I give it back to you —
The tithe on land and impost on the flocks —
Except the tithe on increase which the agent
Will pay into our treasury. The tithe,
That erst I took, and impost less or more,
I have employed on useful works and kept
A countless host at court. I sought your good,
Your safety, and the abatement of the Faith
Of Ahriman. Clasp, all ! your hands to God,
Be diligent and break not His behest,
Who is the Lord and Giver of all things,
The Artist of the sky above, the Helper
Of the oppressed ; but glory not o'er others
By reason of His favour, nor thereby
Deceive thy heart, for pride will have a fall.
Where are the men whose crowns erst frayed the
clouds ?
Where those whose quarry was the mighty lion ?
They, all of them, are couched on dust and brick,
And he is blest that sowed but seed of good.
List, all of you that are within my realm !
To these my final counsels. Now will I
Point out to you five courses that will profit.
Far more than throne and treasury, so list,
Ye young and old ! the words of famed Ardshir.
The man who knoweth that the Just One is
Will worship holy God and Him alone.
Again, misprize not knowledge, whether thou
Be liege or lord, and, thirdly, be assured
That wise men ne'er forget, and, fourthly, know
That fear of doing wrong availeth more
Than gibbet, bonds, and dungeon. Fifthly, none
Approveth of a slanderer's words. To these
I add one counsel more, a counsel better
Than eyes and life and goods : blest is the man
That maketh this world prosper, is the same
In public and in private, and moreover
Soft-spoken, modest, wise, and cordial.
Spend not thy money for the sake of show,
Or waste it foolishly on vanities,
Else there will be no profit, none will praise,
Nor holy men approve, but choose the mean,
Maintain it, and the wise will call thee prudent.
Again, there are five ways of making bright
Thy Faith and conduct, and of furthering
Thy comfort and thy joy, for in their honey
There is no bane to harm thee. First of all,
Seek not to pass by greed or pains the lot
Assigned to thee by God ; the man content
Is rich, for each spring's blooms have borne him fruit.
Next, break the neck of greed, and tell no secret
Before the women. Thirdly, court not war
And strife, for they bring toil and anguish. Fourthly,
Seclude thy heart from grief and be not troubled
O'er ills not come, and, fifthly, meddle not
With things irrelevant, for know that they
Are not thy quarry. Hear ye all ! my counsel,
My profitable speech ; 'twill be right dear
To all men's hearts, for they will get thereby
Security from loss. Pause not from learning
If thou wouldst fire thy mind. If thou hast children
Have them instructed and cut short their play.

Heed, all ! my words and pains on your behalf.
Let all the just and shrewd of heart break not
Their mutual intercourse, and compass ye
Heart's peace in four ways good and profitable :
First, fear, respect, and reverence holy God
That He may be thy Helper and thy Guide ;
Next, rule thyself and look to thine own skirt,
Take God's commands to heart and tender them
Like thine own body ; thirdly, make the right
Plain and ban fraud and falsehood; fourthly, swerve
not

In thought or action from the Shah's behest,
But love him like thyself so that thy face
May clear at his command. Confine thy heart
To loyalty to him, let not thy soul
Swerve from his bidding, love him as thy life,
Perceiving that his justice guardeth thee.
The cares of royalty are with the Shah,
He seeketh the world's gain and not its loss.,
If, knowing that his marchlords and his troops
Afflict his realm, he interveneth not
He is no world-lord, and the crown of kingship
Befitteth him not ; he hath blacked out his patent
As king of kings, his Grace is gone. Know this :
An unjust monarch is a ravening lion
Upon the pasture-land ; so is the subject
That heedeth not with diligence and pains
The Shah's command ; his life will be all grief
And toil, and never will he reach old age
Within this Hostelry. If thou hast need
Of goodness and of greatness thou wilt win them
Not by thine avarice and arrogance.
May all my subjects' hearts be glad, and may
The world too prosper 'neath my righteous sway."

When Shah Ardshir resumed his seat, an elder,
By name Kharrad, one just in word and thought,
Advanced before the throne, thus saying : " O king !
Be blest while time endureth, ever glad,
And of victorious fortune. May realm, crown,
And throne rejoice in thee. Thou hast attained
To such an eminence that bird and beast
Rank at thy throne, before it and behind.
Exalted over all that wear the crown
Art thou — the greatest man in all the world.
Who can describe thy justice ? Thou art based
On justice and on greatness. More and more
We offer up our praise and thanks to God
That we live in thy days and are thy lieges
In all things, eager to behold thy face,
And yearning for thy gracious words and love.
Mayst thou be safe as we are safe through thee,
And ne'er may we break fealty. Thou hast barred
To us and to our peers the foe's approach
From Hind and Chin, and rapine, war, and tumult
Have passed away ; the shouts of enemies
Reach not our ears. Remain for ever happy,
And let archmages bear the toils of state.
No king is wise as thou, no thought transcendeth
Thy counsel, and thou so hast founded justice
Within Iran that it will glad our sons.
Thy words have grown so potent that thy counsels
Make old men young, and all the nobles here
Joy in thee and thy justice. Thou increasest
The stock of wisdom by thy deeds, the world
Hath been illumed by sight of thee. Thou art
A robe of honour God-bestowed on fortune,
On girdle, crown, and throne. Still may the Shah

Continue loved and just ; the world hath not
A king like thee in mind. The world is safe
By reason of thy might and Grace, and blest
Are they beneath the shadow of thy wings.
For ever be thy seat upon the throne,
The world beneath thy word and will alone."

Thou, who the marrow of the tale wouldst win !
Divorce thy heart from this old Wayside Inn,
Which hath seen many like to thee and me
But with none resteth ; whatsoe'er thou be —
King or attendant — it will outstay thee,
For be thou drudge, or lord of crown and throne,
Thou hast to pack thy baggage and be gone.
The sky will melt thee, though of iron mould,
And favour thee no more when thou art old ;
So when the charming Cypress bendeth low,
And when the dark Narcissi overflow,
When cheeks of cercis take a saffron hue,

And he is grave anon that erst was gay,
Then, since souls slumber not as bodies do,

Bide not alone, thy mates are on their way.
Be thou a monarch or of subject birth
Thou'lt have no dwelling-place save darksome earth.
Where are the chieftains with their crowns and thrones,

The cavaliers of fortune ever bright ?
Where are the sages and the warlike ones,

The princes and the leaders in the fight ?
On pillows made of bricks and dust they rest,
And he that sowed but seed of good is blest.
A great exemplary is king Ardshir,
So bear in mind my tale when thou shalt hear.

Aged eight and seventy years the watchful world-lord
Grew sick ; he knew that death was drawing nigh,
That his green leaf would wither, so he summoned
Shapur, addressed him counsel past compute,
And said : " Be mindful of my charge, but hold
The words of evil speakers merely wind.
When thou hast heard my sayings practise them,
Discerning haply worth from worthlessness.
I with the scimitar of justice righted
The world and honoured men of noble birth.
That done, the earth waxed but mine own life waned
When I had toiled and sweated much, and treasures
Had multiplied to me. So now I leave
The travail and the pleasure all to thee.
We are in turn exalted and abased,
Such is the process of the circling sky,
Which whiles afflicteth, whiles affecteth, us !
Now fortune is a vicious steed, and scath
Will wreck thee in prosperity, anon
A horse well trained whose neck is arched for thee
In all good will. Know, son ! that this false Hostel
Hath terrors even for the happy man.
Be heedful of thine own and wisdom's case
If thou wouldst 'scape ill days. When monarchs honour
The Faith then it and royalty are brothers,
For they are mingled so that thou wouldst say : —
" They wear one cloak.' The Faith endureth not
Without the throne nor can the kingship stand
Without the Faith ; two pieces of brocade
Are they all interwoven and set up
Before the wise. The Faith doth need the Shah,

The Shah, were Faith to seek, would not be praised.
Each needeth other, and we see the pair
Uniting in beneficence. The man
Of Faith will carry off both worlds when he
Shall prove a lord of counsel and of wisdom.
Whenas the great king watcheth o'er the Faith,
Call it and kingship brothers ; when he vexeth
The pious, call him impious. Disallow
In Faith the slanderer of pious kings.
What said the man approved and eloquent ?
" The Faith, if thou considerest, is the brain
Of Justice.'

Three things vex the royal throne :
The first one is the unjust sovereign,
The second, the exalter of the worthless
Above the worthy, and the third is he
That weddeth treasure and is instant still
For more. Be thine aim bounty, Faith, and wisdom,
And let no lie pass current for it darkeneth
A man's face ; ne'er will he be great and famous.
See that thou heed not treasure, for dinars
Involve mankind in toil. If greed of treasure
Possess the great king he will vex his subjects,
For where the thane's wealth is there is the Shah's
Who, whatsoe'er the toil and pain may be,
Should guard it for him and should bring to fruit
His travail's bough. Strive to put wrath away,
And boldly blink the faults of other men.
If thou art wroth thou wilt repent withal,
So, when they make excuse, seek how to salve them.
Whene'er the Shah is wroth the good misprize him,
And since he is to blame in seeking ill
He should adorn his heart with good. If once
Thou sufferest fear to come within thy heart
The counsels of thy foes' hearts will prevail.
Be boundless too in bounty; if thou canst,
I My son ! esteem not wealth. He should be king
The limit of whose bounty is the sky.
Whenever trouble is a monarch's lot
Let him hold counsel with his archimages,
Let him inquire too of the right and wrong
Thereof, and lay the matter up at heart.

" On days when thou art purposing to hunt,
And use the binding hawk, mix not thy pleasures,
As wine and feast with open air and chase ;
Wine maketh heavy as all leaders know.
Abandon such pursuits when foes appear,
Spend money freely, edge the swords, and summon
The troops of all the realm. Defer not thou
The day's work to the morrow and seat not
An evil counsellor beside the throne.
Search not the hearts of common folk for truth,
For from such questing loss will come to thee,
And if they bring ill tidings hearken not,
Nor grieve ; they worship neither God nor king,
And clutching at their feet thou hast their heads.
Such are the common people, but mayst thou
Be ever wise. Fear those that compass ill
In secret, for this straiteneth the world.
Tell naught to confidants for they have theirs,
And thou wilt meet thy sayings in the fosse,
Or find them spread abroad, and when thy secrets
Are common talk the sages will lose patience,
Thou wilt be wroth, the sage that calmeth thee
Will call thee light of head Seek not for faults
In others, that will manifest thine own,
While if thy wisdom be o'er swayed by passion
The sage will count thee not a man at all.
The Shah and worldlord should be wise that he
May be benevolent to every one.
If any man is rash and insolent,
Prone to accuse and to calumniate,
Let such have no place near to thee although
One of thy counsellors. When thou art Shah
Lay down revenge and wrath if thou wouldst have
The praises of the pious. He that sitteth
Upon the throne of state should be a wise,
God-fearing man. Be not a chatterer,
Nor make a show of sanctimoniousness
In others' eyes. Hear what men say, lay up
The best, and note what pleaseth thee ; weigh well
Thy words to sages, being complaisant
And bright to all ; scorn not the poor that beg ;
Seat not an adversary on a throne ;
Forgive the penitent, requiring not
Revenge for what is passed ; be just to all,
And cherish all ; the bounteous, patient man
Is blest. What time the foe doth flatter thee
Through fear, array the host, bind on the tymbals,
And go forth to the fight while he is shrinking,
And weak of hand ; but if he seeketh peace
And right, and harboureth, as thou perceivest,
No mischief in his heart, take tribute from him,
Seek not revenge, and save his face. Adorn
Thy heart with knowledge ; that hath worth ; that
know
And practise. Thou wilt be beloved if bounteous,
And famed if wise and just. Keep thy sire's charge
In mind and leave a like one to thy son.
As I have given my son his heritage,
And injure none thereby, do ye transmit it;
Take not the spirit of my words amiss.
Now when five hundred years have passed away,
Thy dynasty will end, for thy descendants,
And others of thy kin, will turn aside
From this my charge, depart from rede and knowledge
Not heeding the monitions of the wise,
But, faithlessly neglectful of my charge,
Be unjust, harsh, and tyrannous, oppress
Their subjects, scorn the pious, don the robe
Of wickedness, and grow up in the Faith
Of Ahriman. Then will be loosed what we
Have bound, this Faith that we have fulled be fouled,
This rede and charge of mine will come to naught,
My country seem all desolate. I pray
The Maker of the world, who knoweth both
The hidden and the manifest, to guard you
From every evil and that all your deeds
May win fair fame. God's blessing and our own
Shall be upon the man whose warp is wisdom,
Whose woof is justice, who in these regards
Attempteth not to break my charge or striveth
To turn my honey into colocynth.
Two score years and two months have passed since I
Assumed the crown of kingship. I possess
Six cities, all in pleasurable climes,
And all of them well-watered. I have named
One Khurra-i-Ardshir ; its airs are all
Musk-perfumed and its streams run milk ; the second
Is titled Ram Ardshir ; thence reached Pars ;
The third Urmuzd Ardshir, whose airs would make
An old man young — the lustre of the province
Of Khuzistan ; it hath folk, trade, and water.
Another one is Birka-i-Ardshir,
Well stocked with gardens, pools, and rosaries,
And two are in the district of Baghdad
And the Farat, and rich in cattle, springs,
And grass — foundations both, as thou mayst say,
Of Shah Ardshir. Bear them in mind when thou
Hear'st aught concerning me.

I have prepared

My baggage for the charnel-house. Bestow
My bier and take my seat. In this world I
Have borne great toils in public and in private.
Rejoice my soul with justice and be glad,
And conquering, on the throne."

He spake, and fortune
Grew dark. Woe for his head and throne and crown !

The fashion of this jocund world is thus :

It will not make its secrets known to us.
Blest is the man who greatness ne'er hath known,
And hath no need to vanish from the throne.
Thou strivest, winning wealth in every way,
But man and wealth abide not in one stay ;
Dust in the end is wedded to us all,
Our cheeks must be enshrouded by a pall.
Come bear we all a hand good to fulfil,
And tread not this unstable world for ill.
Oh well is he that taketh cups of wine
To toast the Shahs — those men of Faith divine —
For, as his cup of wine is slowly drained,
He droppeth off with ecstasy attained.

To Him who made it let all praise ascend ;

The Maker of space, time, and earth is He ;
From Him are the beginning and the end,

From Him are passion and tranquillity :
He made the starry heavens, earth, and time
The great and little of the world are His,

From worthless stubble to the throne sublime
All things bear witness to us that He is.

Call none but Him the Author of the whole,
Whose ken naught open or concealed can shun,

Who showered blessings on Muhammad's soul,
And on his comrades also, every one.

They all were holy men and continent ;

None can compute the words which erst they said ',
Now by us too let countless words be spent

In thanking Him by whom the world was made.

Praise we the crown too of the king of kings,
Whose throne doth cause the moon itself to shine,

World-lord Mahmud, the source whence largessings
And bounties spring, and who hath Grace divine.

Brave, bounteous, dowered with Grace, and just is he.
The age hath grown all joyful 'neath his sway —

The lord of peace, of crown, and treasury,
The lord of scimitar, of ax, and fray.

Our gracious world-lord, conscious what is meant
By merit, thanketh God through whom his hold

Is on the crown. Wise, fair, and eloquent
Is he, in years a youth, in wisdom old.

His Grace compelleth rain from Jupiter,
We sport beneath the shadow of his wings,

In fight he maketh heaven his echoer,
He scattereth jewels at his banquetings.
When he is wroth the mountains melt away,
The welkin quaketh o'er the dust below ;
His sires were Shahs and monarchs ere his day,
And sun and moon toy with him as they go.
May his renown last ever, may he see
Till his last day increasing happiness.
I head my story with his eulogy,
His majesty, his conduct, and address.
Throughout the world I witness his renown ;
Until the end may good attend him still ;
His mien hath given lustre to the crown,
And fortune been his breastplate 'gainst all ill.
Throughout the world all men of Faith divine,
And all the kings, rejoice in him alone,
Whose glorious fortune maketh heaven to shine,
For earth but baseth his illustrious throne.
He is a mighty Elephant of bale
In fight and at the feast a faithful sky,
For there, since his bright projects never fail,
Each billow of his ocean runneth high.
Earth's monarchs are his quarry in the chace,
Wild beasts and cattle in his peace abide,
In battle-days the whizzing of his mace
Dissundereth lion's heart and leopard's hide.
May his head flourish, justice fill his heart,
And with the world his head and crown ne'er part.