Shapur son of Ardshir

To tell the kingship of Shapur be thine,
And hold discourse on festival and wine.

Whenas Shapur sat on the throne of justice,
And donned the heart-illuming crown, the sages,
Wise magnates, and archmages, met before him.
He thus harangued the noble gathering —
The great and understanding counsellors : —
" I am the lawful son of Shah Ardshir,
The utterer and layer up of knowledge.
Heed, all of you ! my bidding and be loyal,
Scan what I say and blame it if 'tis crude.
In mine experience as to good and ill
Two dispensations are conspicuous.
One is the Shah, the warden of the world,
And guardian of the wealth of high and low.
If he is just and fortunate 'tis clear
That wisdom watcheth over, helpeth, him,
And o'er the dark clouds will exalt his head.
His whole quest is for justice, and for knowledge
That maketh music in his soul. The other
Is whosoever manfully essayeth

To compass wisdom and is wise in knowing
That it is God to whom his thanks are due.
Blest is the sage that knoweth God ; the wise
Is worthy of the kingship ; gold is worthless
In wisdom's stead. The man that is content
Is well to do ; the avaricious heart
Is but a house of smoke. The more the greed
The more the care, so strive to shun its fruits.
Incline to peace and things of good report,
And flee the ill-disposed, for little wits
Will grasp at others' goods. I love you more
Than there are stars to glitter in the sky ;
The customs of the exalted Shah Ardshir
Assuredly will I confirm to you,
And take a thirtieth only from the thanes
To pay my soldiers somewhat. I have weal,
An ample treasure, courage, manliness,
And constancy. We covet no man's goods,
For they turn friends to foes. The way is open
For you to us. We love the suppliant.
We will send agents everywhere, search shrewdly
The world's affairs, and ne'er ask other blessings
Than those which men invoke from God on me."
Rose high and low, prepared their tongues to make
A fair reply, called praises down on him,
And scattered emeralds on his crown. The customs
Of Shah Ardshir revived withal, and then
Both young and old joyed in that regimen.

Then tidings spread : " The throne of king of kings
Is occupied no more, wise Shah Ardshir
Hath died and left Shapur the throne and crown."
The battle-cry went up in all the coasts,
And hubbub from Kaidafa unto Rum.
When news reached Shah Shapur he made him ready
Troops, flags, and drums, and led toward Palawina
A flying column with no baggage-train.
An army that bedimmed the sun with dust
Marched from Kaidafa, and a host withal

From Palawina 'neath a paladin
Hight Bazanush, a noble cavalier
Of ardent soul, a chief and lasso-thrower
Prized by the Caesars. When from those two hosts
Rose tymbal-din came from the Ruman centre
An eager warrior, from the Iranian
A famous chieftain hight Garshasp the Lion ;
What man or lusty elephant could match
That valiant cavalier in battle-tide ?

These two engaged and strewed the stars with dust,
Used all their skill, but neither could prevail.
Then clashed the hosts together mountain-like ;
Rose their drum-roll and shoutings. Bold Shapur
Bestirred him at the centre. At the din
Of trump and Indian bell thou wouldst have said
That heaven shook ; the earth rocked, and the air
Was full of dust, the war-spears gleamed like fire,
And all the men of wisdom called on God.
Amid the central host brave Bazanush,
All sorrowful of heart, was taken captive,
While of his Rumans were ten thousand slain
At Palawina in the ranks of war,
And twice eight hundred taken prisoners ;
Those warriors' hearts were full of sore distress.
Then Caesar sent a well-instructed envoy
To ask Shapur, the son of Shah Ardshir : —
" How much blood wilt thou pour out for dinars ?
What wilt thou say to our just Judge and Guide
When questioned at the Day of Reckoning ?
How make excuse to Him who giveth all ?
Add not to our distress for I will pay
The wonted tribute, will submit, dispatch
Abundant hostages of mine own kin,
And, if thou wilt withdraw from Palawina,
Will send thee in addition what thou wilt."

Shapur remained till Caesar sent to him
The tribute in ten ox-hides of dinars
Of Caesar's coinage with much wealth besides —
A thousand male and female Ruman slaves,
And countless splendid pieces of brocade.

Shapur abode a week in Palawina,
Then leaving Rum he journeyed to Ahwaz,
And there he built a city named Shapur Gird :
He finished it upon the day of Ard.
It took a year besides much toil and treasure.
He built a city for the prisoners
From Rum and filled it with inhabitants ;
The district is the gate of Khuzistan,
And in the great high-way whereby all pass.

He built himself a city too in Pars,
Great, fair, and wealthy, and the ancient fortress
Of Nishapur, they say, without forced labour.
He carried Bazanush about with him,
And heeded him. Now there was at Shushtar
A stream so broad that fish could cross it not.
He said to Bazanush : " If thou hast skill
Make over this a bridge as 'twere a rope,
For we return to dust but it will bide
Firm through the science of its architect.
'Twill be a thousand cubits long ; request
Whate'er thou needest from my treasury.
Employ thou to some purpose in this land
The skill of Ruman engineers and, when
The bridge is finished, come and be my guest
For life in mirth and safety, and afar
From evil and the hand of Ahriman."

Brave Bazanush began the work and built
The bridge in three years' space, then left Shushtar
And set his face to hurry to his home.
Shapur was just, in counsel well approved,
His star exalted and his throne unmoved.

When thirty years and two months had gone by
The Grace and glory of the Shah were spent.
He called Urmuzd. " The freshness of my face,"
He said, " is sere ; be vigilant, be world-lord,
And ever rule with justice, but beware
Of putting trust in sovereignty ; peruse
Both day and night the volume of Jamshid ;
Do only what is just and good ; be thou
The lowly's shelter and the mighty's Grace ;
Toy little with dinars, be bounteous, just,
And glorious ; exclaim not at slight ills
If thou wouldst have good fortune as thy friend,
And keep in mind my counsels, every whit,
As I myself possess them from Ardshir."

He spake, the colour paled upon his cheek.
The heart of that wise man grew full of anguish.

What can this Wayside Hostel do for thee ?
Wouldst hug renown ? Wouldst fill thy treasury ?
A narrow coffin will be all thy spoil,
Some worthless one will batten on thy toil,
Thou wilt be clean forgotten by thy sons,
Thy nearest kinsfolk and companions,
The heritage wherein thou'lt have thy share
Is that of malediction, for where'er
Bezoar is the poison too is there.
Turn then to God and multiply His praise,
Who feedeth thee and guideth all thy ways.