Nushirwan II: The Story of Buzurjmihr and of the Seven Banquets of Nushirwan

Now in the tale of Buzurjmihr will we
Reveal a cheerier visage. Do not deem
That there is naught but folly in a dream ;

Know that a dream may smack of prophecy,

And in especial when such visitings
Impress the clear mind of a king of kings.
The stars with sky and moon hold conference,

Their words are whispered and dispersed through

space,
And clear souls dreaming see the future thence

As fire is mirrored in the water's face.
One night Shah Nushirwan, the wise and shrewd,
That lucid spirit, lay asleep and dreamed :
A royal tree grew up before the throne,
And joyed his heart. He called for harp and wine
And minstrelsy, but on his throne of peace
And joy there sat with him a sharp-toothed boar,
Sat ready-dight for revelry and claimed
To quaff the wine from Nushirwan's own cup.
Sol rose in Taurus and the skylark's note
Was heard on all sides yet the monarch sat
Upon his throne in dudgeon at that dream.
They called the interpreter of dreams and held
A session of the magnates at the court.
The Shah narrated to those archimages,
The counsellors, his dream. The interpreter
Made no reply, he knew of no such case,

And one that pleadeth ignorance is excused.
The Shah, thus left unanswered by the sages,
Was instant what to do in his concern,
And sent to every side an archimage,
One enterprising, shrewd of heart, and wise.
He made each take a purse and entertained
High hopes from their return. In every purse
There were ten thousand drachms that every envoy
Might seek out some interpreter of dreams,
Some man of understanding, some adept,
To solve the world-king's dream and to reveal
The mystery, and then bestow on such

A full purse and the royal compliments.
So to all parts a veteran archmage went —

A prudent cavalier and man of lore.
One of these chiefs : " Azad Sarv — came to Marv,
Went through the town and saw an archimage,
Who taught the Zandavasta to some youths
With harshness, anger, and raised voice. The tallest,
An earnest student of the Zandavasta,
One whom they used to title Buzurjmihr,

Was poring lovingly upon the roll.
Azad Sarv turned his rein, drew near, and sought
An explanation of the great king's dream.

The scribe replied : " 'Tis not my business ;
The Zandavasta is my help to knowledge.

I teach these children but I do not dare
To breathe of aught beyond," but Buzurjmihr
Said blushing to his master, having heard
The envoy's words : " This quarry is for me ;
It is my business to interpret dreams."

His teacher bawled : " Hast thou thy roll by heart
That thou shouldst thus exalt thy neck in pride,
And set up as a dream-interpreter ? "

The envoy said to him : " O learned man !
He may possess this skill ; abash him not.

This youth's lot may be high through fortune's teaching,
Not thine."

The master wroth with Buzurjmihr
Cried: "Tell then what thou knowest," but he
answered : —

I will speak not till set before the Shah.

The envoy gave him money and a steed
With all things needful. They set off from Marv,
As pheasants pace 'neath roses, and discoursed
About the Shah his power, Grace, crown, and state
Till at the hour for provand and repose

They reached a spot with water, lighted down
Beneath a tree and, having eaten, rested.
While Buzurjmihr slept in the shade, his mantle
Drawn o'er his face, his noble way-mate saw,
Being still awake, a snake which drew away
The mantle from the sleeper, vehemently
Breathed over him from head to foot, then clomb
The tree. When that black snake had scaled the stem
The youth awoke, and when the serpent saw
The youth's discomfiture it disappeared
Amid the dusky boughs. The envoy stood
Astound, invoking oft the name of God,
And thought : " This wise youth will attain to great-
ness ! "
They left that wood, pushed on, and reached the

Shah.

The envoy hurried first before the throne
Of Nushirwan, and said : " Oh ! may thy fortune
Be ever young, O Shah ! From court I went
To Marv and roamed about as pheasant doth
Within a rosary. Amid the sages
I found a wise youth and have brought him hither
In haste."

He told withal what Buzurjmihr
Had said and of the portent of the snake.
The world-lord called and told the dream to him.
He heard, grew full of matter, and replied : —
" There is a youth disguised in women's garb
Within thy bower. Now put all strangers forth.
That none may know our purpose, and command
Thy ladies all to pass before thy presence
With measured tread, and then I will demand
Of that bold reprobate how came he thus
Within the Lion's lair, for God will show
The secret fact to be as thou hast dreamed."

The Shah put forth all strangers, closed the palace
Of king of kings, and bade the eunuchs bring,

As swift as smoke, the Idols dwelling there.
They came, those Idols of his bower, in all
Their perfumes, tints, and beauty. All these fair ones,
Exhaling jasmine, dainty, modest, passed
With leisured tread before him, but no man
Appeared among them, and like angry lion
Raged Nushirwan. Then said the interpreter : —
" This should not be ; there is a youth among them.
Bid them to pass a second time all bare,
And probe their practice to the uttermost."

The Shah spake thus : " Cause them to pass again,
And put away the veil of modesty."

They passed the second time and, when all thought
The dream an empty one, a youth appeared
Of cypress-stature and of kingly looks,
But quaking like a willow and despairing
Of his dear life. Now in the great king's bower
Were seventy girls, all noble Cypresses,
And one of them, with cheeks of ivory,
Was daughter to the governor of Chach.
The youth with jasmine-face and musk-perfumed
Had been her love at home. He followed her
Where'er she went and served her like a slave.
The Shah inquired of her : " Who is this man
So cherished by my slave, so favoured, young,
And daring, in the bower of Nushirwan ? "

" He is not," said the girl, " as old as I.

He is but young. One mother bare us both.
Our sire was different, our mother one.

There is naught wrong between us. He assumed
This kind of habit, for through modesty
He did not dare to look upon the Shah.
Oh make it not a pretext that my brother
From shamefastness before thee veiled his face."

The Shah said to the youth : " Thou worthless dog !
Both race and family are smirched by thee."
He frowned. He was amazed at that young pair,
Then bade in wrath the executioner : —
" Let the dust hide them."

So he haled them back
Behind the curtains of Shah Nushirwan,
And hung them there — a warning to the rest.
The Shah gave that interpreter of dreams
Purse, steeds, and robes, and, wondering at his know-
ledge,

Observed his sayings. They inscribed his name
Among the counsellors, the archimages.
Thus prospered Buzurjmihr, and circling heaven
Showed him its face, while ever day by day
His fortune greatened, and the Shah's heart joyed
In him exceedingly.
That heart was full

Of right ; the Shah was cultured, heart and brain.
He had residing at his court archmages,
And sages understanding in all knowledge.
Three score and ten — all men of eloquence —
Were lodged and entertained continually.

He used, when not engaged with justice, largess,
Festivity or war, to question them,
And deck his heart with knowledge. Buzurjmihr,
Though still a youth, was eloquent and shrewd
And fair to look upon, surpassing all
The famed archmages, readers of the stars,
And sages, in his knowledge, and became
Exalted over those philosophers.
None was so learned in astrology.
In leechcraft he excelled and spake with ease
Of conduct, government, and policies.

The board was spread one day. The Shah com-
manded : —
" Bid the archmages come, the learned, the curious.
The eloquent, the prudent, and observing."
The archmages vigilant of heart, the chiefs
That were accomplished in all knowledge, came,
And, having feasted, called for wine and drank
Until their spirits rose, not bringing wisdom
To disrepute but to refresh their souls.
The prudent Shah said to those men of lore :—
" Display the hidden knowledge that ye have ;
Let every one possessed of understanding
Within his heart hold forth and pleasure me."
The wise men bold and mighty in discourse
Set loose their tongues in presence of the king,
Both young and old, as he required of them.
When Buzurjmihr had listened to their words,
And noted that the Shah held knowledge dear,
He rose, did reverence, and said : "Just judge !
Be earth the bondslave of thine ivory throne,
Heaven lustrous with the (Glory of thy crown.
If now the Shah shall bid his slave unlock
His tongue then I will speak although unworthy,
And, in respect of knowledge, least of all.
No wise man can be blamed for having loosed
His tongue in presence of Shah Nushirwan."
The monarch looked upon the sage and said :—
What reason can there be for hiding knowledge ? "
The youth forthwith displayed his mastery,
And spread light round him while his eloquence
And counsels fixed the archimages' hearts.
He first displayed his gifts in praise of God,
And then proceeded : " One whose mind is clear
Will utter much in little ; hasty folk
Are talkative and tedious. When fools' talk
Endureth long the speaker is despised.
Seek worth and not addition, for the world
Is fleeting, and we are but sojourners.
Were our days to endure for evermore
The world would have too many candidates.
While here below humanity is best,
And knowledge in that view will not gainsay thee.
Our inward light we owe to righteousness,
And we must weep o'er darkness and chicane.
The heart of every one is slave to passion,
Which differeth with each, and in the world
Each hath his humour ; it is well that thou
Conform therewith. All foremost in affairs
Still will be scheming and endeavouring more,
But sages, scholars, and the inly blest
Dwell here below and set their hearts above.
Vex not thyself about the unattained ;
'Tis toil of body and distress of soul.
He that is strong will act straightforwardly,
But lies and double-dealing come of weakness.
If thou lack knowledge silence is the jewel,
While if thou art in love with thine own knowledge
Debate will take that wisdom out of thee.
Rich is the man that hath not greed, and blest
Is he that hath not covetise for mate.
Humanity is brother unto wisdom,
Which is as 'twere the crown upon the soul.
To have a sage for mortal enemy
Is better for thee than a fool for friend.
The man content is rich ; he putteth greed
And care in bonds. Thou wilt give ear to sages
If thou art humble in thy wish to learn.
When one is masterful in counselling

Men falter not in action. Let the man
That hath forgot his knowledge hold his tongue.
When thou hast wealth in hand with gold and silver,
And steeds caparisoned, in daily cost
Be neither close nor lavish. Choose the mean,
And let thine only guide be rectitude.
The wise man keepeth foes afar, and they
Become his servants. Know thou, he that doth
His best will win in war. Speak not vain words,
For from that fire ensueth naught but smoke.
Spend not thy thoughts upon what ne'er can be,
Because with water thou canst pierce not iron.
A king if he be learned is humble too
Though knowledge make him great and powerful.
He that acknowledgeth God's handiwork
Hath passed the ills of fortune ; he will serve
God more and more, cast out the Div's suggestions,
Refrain himself from what should not be done,
Afflict not those that should be unafflicted,
And in the last resort incline to God,
Who is our Nourisher and Fosterer."

Now at that goodly speech of Buzurjmihr
The doctors all grew fresh of countenance,
Rose in the presence of the king of kings,
And proffered praise anew. The company
Were all astound at Buzurjmihr. that one
So young should rise so high. The world-lord mar-
velled

At him. then summoned the chief registrars,
And bade them set his name first on the roll :
His fortune shone forth like the sun in heaven.
Again the archmages entered on discourse,
While all the sages were in wonderment :
The youth set loose his tongue, for he was pure
Of heart and of an ardent soul, and thus
He said : " We must not even in our thoughts
Turn from the king, the righteous judge, for he
Is as the shepherd and we are the sheep ;
Again, we are the earth, he is high heaven.
We must not quit our fealty to him,
Must not renounce his way and ordinance,
But joy when he is glad, if we are fain
To proffer to him all the age's due,
Diffuse his excellences in the world,
But keep his confidence inviolate.
Presume not thou upon his dignity,
For e'en the lion's heart is frayed by fire.
We should call e'en a mountain that despised
His bidding foolish-hearted and light-witted.
All evil and all good come from the Shah,
From him come bond and dungeon, crown and throne.
The world hath from his love its worth and Grace,
While at his wrath our livers seethe within us.
The crowned head is the Grace of God, the sage
Hath joy and mirth therefrom. Of Ahriman
Is he that joyeth not ; his heart and brain
Are cultured not with knowledge."

They gave ear

To what the young man said, and those outworn
Revived in soul. With tongues and mouths all praise
That mighty convocation went its ways.

A se'nnight passed. That king of ardent heart
Convoked the wise and shelved the world's affairs
Because he wished to hear the words of sages—
Those that were worthy to be called to court,

And were approved by knowledge to the Shah.
They came, the wise in utterance, both young
And elders of experience. With the doctors
Of ardent soul fared youthful Buzurjmihr,
The exalted one. These doctors sage and shrewd
Sat near the lofty throne and turned their looks
On Buzurjmihr because at him the face
Of Nushirwan grew bright. One of the wisest
Then questioned him concerning fate and fortune : —
What is their character and who ordained them ? "

He answered : " One aspireth, being young.
He toileth night and day, and yet his path
Is dark and narrow and his conduit low,
While some mere dolt will sleep on fortune's throne,
And rose-trees scatter roses over him.
Such is the character of fate and fortune,
No toil avoideth their apportionment ;
The World-lord, the All-wise, our Fosterer,
Hath fashioned thus the star of destiny."

Another said : " What man attaineth greatness ?
To whom is high estate the most becoming ? "

He said : " The man that hath the better know-
ledge
Of what is good and putteth it in practice."

Another said : " What is there best in us ?
Who from the world is worthiest of good ?

He answered : " Gentleness, munificence,
With magnanimity and courteousness.
The humble man who boweth down his neck ;
His hand will give, expecting no return ;
He toileth and by toil would win the world,
And keepeth step with Fellow way-farers."

" What is the special virtue of the sage,"
Another said, " in moments of dispute ? "

He answered : "To discern when he is wrong,
And modify his methods and his views."

Another one inquired : " How should one act
To make existence more endurable ? "

He thus made answer : " Whensoe'er the heart
Is fraught with wisdom there is gladness too.
Then will the man both give and take aright,
And shut the door of fraud and knavery,
Will pardon faults whene'er he hath the power,
And not be hasty or irascible."

Another asked of him : " Among the folk
Who is best able to command himself ? "

He said : " The man that is not led by passion
Away from nobleness and native worth,
And likewise he that can command his weakness,
Aware that evils follow on excess."

Another said : "Is there aught anywhere
More excellent than bounty and good nature ?
Who bringeth speedily his crop to fruit,
And furnisheth two springtides in a year ? "

" One," thus he made reply, " that all unasked
Doth deck his soul with generosity,
But one that hath the praise of the receiver
Regard him not as giving but as trading."

One said : " What are the adornments of a man,
And which is noblest ? "

Buzurjmihr replied : —

" He that is bounteous toward a worthy object ;
He towereth like a cypress in a garden,
And never withereth, but one unworthy,
Though he be set in musk, will savour not ;
No flower will grow upon that arid thorn.
To question of the dumb or of the deaf,
Though thou art justified, is profitless."

" Within this Wayside Inn," another said,
" The sage is not exempt from pain and trouble.
How shall we act that we may win fair fame,
And so begin that nobly we may end ? "

He answered : " Keep from sin ; treat all the world
As though it were thyself ; what thou mislikest
Inflict not on another — friend or foe."

Another said : " Which sayest thou of the twain
Is better — labour moderate or great ? "

He answered thus : " From wisdom's standpoint

thought

Alone is worthy. If thou needest fruit
Toil in proportion to the work in hand."

" If we must weep o'er those that are to blame,"
Another asked, " who can deserve our praise ? "

He answered thus : " Whoever hath the most
Of hope and fear and awe of holy God."

Another said : " O thou illustrious
In wisdom and whose head out-toppeth heaven !
What is the goodliest destiny for me
From this exalted and unstable sky ? "

That man of eloquence made answer : " His

Who is secure and is exempt from need ;
Him fortune treateth with benevolence
So long as he is just in all his ways."

" What is the knowledge," asked another one,
" Whereby I may be happy in the world ? "

He' answered thus : " That of the patient man,
Who holdeth in contempt the impudent,
And his whose brain is not perturbed by wrath,
And who, though wroth, will wink at others' faults."

Another asked : " What man is he, O sage !
That winneth the approval of the wise ? "

Said Buzurjmihr : " The man whom wisdom

feedeth.

Who mourneth not the lost but giveth up
His darling to the dust without regret,
Pain, or dismay, rejecteth empty hopes
Like willow's fruit, is always glad and gay,
And careless of the processes of time."

Another said : " What are the faults of kings
Whereby the hearts of righteous men are saddened

He answered : " Wise men say that there are four
The first is terror of the foe in fight ;
The second being niggardly in giving ;
The third rejecting wise advice in war ;
The fourth is hastiness of temperament,
And sleeping not upon their purposes."

Another one inquired : " What man is faultless,
And what is there to blame in noble men ? "

" We call one upright," thus said Buzurjmihr,
" When wisdom beareth witness to his words,
While those that seek by cunning and injustice
To shine are blamed for falsehood and deceit.
Between them is the man of violence,
Abusive, with his head fulfilled with strife,
And who, though meek and humble with the king,
Yet madly persecuteth holy men."

Another said : " What kind of character
Will profit him that seeketh not mishap ? "

" The speaker of the truth is true in all
His deeds," he answered, " governeth his tongue,
Is modest, and soft-voiced amidst of clamour.
Best is the sage who holdeth it unmeet
To banish wisdom for the sake of passion."

Another sage inquired : " Who is the man
That can without mishap transact affairs,
Tend his own life, and profit kith and kin ? "

He thus made answer : " He that from the first
Hath known and sought the door of holy God —
The Source of thy thanksgivings and thy Refuge,
The Lord of day and night, of sun and moon.
Moreover heartily he must obey
The Shah's behests in public and in private,
Tend his own person dearly and shut fast

Thereon the door of travail and of greed,
Must care for his own kindred, feed the poor,
And give his children teachers, for the world
Must not be trusted to the ignorant,
And when a son is docile to command
'Tis for the father to make much of him."

" What is the place an upright son should hold,"
Another asked him, " in his sire's esteem ? "

He thus made answer : "In his father's eyes
A glorious son is dear as life itself :
The father's name abideth after death
Because the son will say : My father taught me.' '

Another asked : " What dost thou see in riches
To grace the heart ? "

He made reply : " The man
Of wealth is honoured though the wealth is vile ;
But there is much that is bound up therewith,
Take heed that thou misprize not these my words,
For, first, whate'er thou hast a mind unto
Will by its nature show if thine be good ;
And, next, for thee to have and not employ
Is to treat stones and royal gems as one."

" Among the kings with fame and lofty crown,"
Another said, " whom callest thou the best ? "

" That king," he made reply, " with whom the good
Dwell safely while the bad quake at his voice :
The earth reposeth underneath his throne."

Another said : " What maketh a man rich,
And who in this world is distressed and poor ? "

He thus replied : " The man that is content
With what the Master of high heaven bestoweth,
While for the man whom fortune favoureth not
There is not any evil worse than greed."

The famous men were full of wonderment
At him and lauded him with one consent.

A se'nnight passed. The eighth day with the dawn
The all-conquering Shah sat on his throne and sum-
moned

Before him all the men of understanding,
The wise and eloquent, who all discoursed
At large, but truly none much pleased the Shah,
Who after said to Buzurjmihr : " Unveil
Thy shamefast face."

That fluent sage set loose
His tongue, displayed his varied lore, and first
He blessed the Shah, and said : " Be this crowned head
Victorious," adding : " None becometh great
Unless he shun the pathway of mishap.
If thou wouldst rise to greatness by thy knowledge
Thou needest wisdom in thy choice of words.
In quest of fame one must be brave, the age

Rejecteth faint-hearts. If thou seek'st the throne
Accomplishments are needed since the bough
That putteth forth its green must bear thee fruit.
When folk make question of accomplishments
'Tis vain to cite mere aptitude, for that,
With these to seek, is not approved and worthless.
In dealing with this point a wise man said : —
If roses savour not forbear to speak
Of colour ; none in fire a stream will seek.'
A king is all the richer for his bounty,
And hath no credit for his secret treasures.
If thou hast claimed attainments justify
What thou hast fairly spoken by thy deeds.

The sage is happy being fed by heaven
With wisdom, and the man of simple heart

Because 'tis free from all deceit fulness.
In this world wisdom is a trusty tree.
And the great king's heart is its first of fruits.
Thou wilt be easy if thou art content,
But practise greed and thou wilt quake therefor.
Do not thy kindness in the sight of men,
For thou wilt have small kindness in return.
Good fortune favoureth the open-hearted,
And he is blest who beareth patiently.
Still if a man would rise he must be furnished
With certain things to aid him in the struggle.

First rede and erudition ; secondly,
A ripe experience ; thirdly, friends to help
In time of action and to estimate
The chances every way for good and ill,
And to be profitable afterward
In every-day life and emergencies.
He needeth, fourthly, rectitude and wisdom
To purge his heart of falsehood and of fraud,
And, fifthly, if thou art possessed of strength
Toil with thy body ; greatness will result.
The strong unless they labour ne'er will reach
The height of their desires, but over-toil,
Know, endeth in despair. I will set forth
The five characteristics of the sage,
Which to observe involve him not in trouble,
With seven too of the fool, and 'tis no marvel
If he be irked thereby : and, to begin.
No sage is vexed at loss or prematurely
Is glad, for disappointment will perturb him.
He counteth not upon the unattained
So as to break his heart if he should miss it.
He neither hopeth that which ne'er can be,
Nor saith : " The willow-bough will bring forth fruit.
When at his ease from travail and from ill
He recketh of the future, wherefore when
Time bringeth hardship on him he will prove
Beforehand and not slack in enterprise.
The fool's way, as I said, is sevenfold :
His wrath is kindled with the innocent,
His treasure opened to the unworthy man
Without return of meed or recompense,
While, thirdly, he is an ingrate to God,
And is not wise and cognizant of good,
But, fourthly, talketh loudly of himself
To every one and, fifthly, is involved
In pain and loss through his own feckless words ;
He trusteth, sixthly, to untrusty folk,
Expecting thorns to bear him painted silk,
And, lastly, uttereth lies in argument,
Endeavouring to shine by impudence.
Know this, O thou exalted sovereign !
That no man getteth aught but harm from ill.
When any one is mute in company
That silence is melodious to the heart.
By hearing some one wise and eloquent
Thou wilt get provand for thy body, counsel
And prudence for thy heart. Forget not thou
Such words because they crown the throne of knowledge,
If thou wouldst bring that knowledge into bearing
Release thy jewel from its case by speech,
And if thou wouldst extend thy fame draw forth
Thy tongue as 'twere a falchion from its sheath ;
But if thou boldest session with the unwise
The under then will have the upper hand.
By knowledge are the soul and heart illumed ;
See thou go not about to compass lies.
When one of eloquence is holding forth
Abide his words, be not impatient ;
Thou mayst get wisdom from his utterances,
And afterwards repeat what thou hast heard.
Use not thy wisdom as a means of gain
Though not to do so may result in hardship.
With heart and tongue in an accord of right
The door of loss is barred on every side.
Oh ! may the heart of Nushirwan, the Shah,
Be open to instruction evermore."

An archimage of subtle intellect
Then asked : " What are the good and seemly things
That give a man a lustre in the world,
And quittance from the troubles of the time ? "

He answered thus : " Whoe'er attaineth wisdom
Will gain thereby the fruitage of both worlds."

" But if he hath not wisdom," said the archmage,
" Since wisdom is God's radiant robe of honour ? "

Said Buzurjmihr : " Then knowledge is the best,
The learned is mighty midst the men of might."

" But if," the archmage said, " he hath not sought
That stream and never bathed his soul therein ? "

Thus Buzurjmihr replied : " The warrior
Must count his body as a worthless thing,
And if he striveth in the day of battle,
And layeth foemen's heads upon the dust,
He will be cherished in the great king's heart,
For ever happy and in good command."

" But if one is not valiant," said the archimage,
Nor seeketh after knowledge, law, and Faith ? "

Then Buzurjmihr replied 'Twere well : that death
Should set the helm of darkness on his head."

Another asked : " How shall we act that all
Of us may eat the fruitage of the tree
Set by the sage within the garth of spring,
And walk moreover underneath its shade ? "

Said Buzurjmihr : " The man that barreth up
His tongue from evil vexeth not his soul,
And rendeth not in talk another's skin.
He will be likewise friends with all the folk,
All troubles will be smoothed away for him,
And enemy and friend will be as one."

Another asked him, saying : " Are the men
That shun the way of failure great or good ? "

Thus Buzurjmihr replied : " An evil deed
Is like a tree that beareth evil fruit.
Thus if a man speak gently with his tongue
But little harshness will befall his ear,
For know it is the tongue that troubleth men ;
So if thou wouldst be easy weigh thy words.
The man of few words and a loyal subject
Hath only one fit post — before the throne.
Moreover he escapeth ills not come,
As bird or beast escapeth from the net,
While furthermore he triumpheth o'er evil,
Is self-controlled and wise exceedingly.
He leaveth well alone and troubleth not
The inoffensive, letteth no good 'scape him,
And counteth not upon the days to come.
He shunneth foe with more than quarry's speed,
And cleaveth unto friend like shaft and feather.
For any pleasure that will end in grief
The man of wisdom hath but little yearning.
Put ease and indolence afar from thee,
Take pains and make a feast of toil ; without it
Thou wilt win not addition in the world ;
There is no treasure for the indolent.
May this world live in Nushirwan, be he
Its world-lord ever and his fortune young."

They held discourse at large upon this theme :
The hearts of those grown drowsy were awakened.
The archimages, magnates, and shrewd sages
Blessed Buzurjmihr and gave the Shah great praise,
Then went rejoicing on their several ways.

Two se'nnights passed away and then the Shah
Relinquished public business for a day,
And bade the archimages and great men
Assemble at the palace with the sages.
He asked about the body and its birth,
About wrath, peace, the intellect, and justice, -.
About the sovereignty, the crown, and power,
And how good fortune doth begin and end.
He questioned those archimages and inquired
Concerning that which pleased him. When the others
Had spoken as their knowledge was, but failed
To gratify the Shah, he next addressed
Himself to Buzurjmihr and said : " Bring forth
The splendid jewel from its hiding-place."

Then Buzurjmihr gave praises, saying thus : —
" O Shah most loving and serene of heart !
Know that in all the world no king like thee
For justice, understanding, crown, and throne,
For Grace and mien, for counsel and for fortune,
Hath set the diadem upon his head.
The king that exerciseth self-control
Will be at rest from vengeance and from war
Because to shun unwarrantable deeds
Is better than to get a sorry heart.
How goodly is the saying of the sage : —
" Self-discipline is goodly in a king.'
In seasons of dispute he feareth God,
Inclineth not to vengeance and to prowess,
And maketh wisdom ruler of his passions
When he is choleric. A monarch's thoughts
Should not displease the Master of the world
Through whom he doth discern 'twixt good and

evil,

And seeketh Paradise as virtue's meed.
A tongue truth-speaking and a reverent heart
Will be his glory in the world for aye,
While every one that is his counsellor
Will be a man of weight among the people,
Be eloquent, serene of heart, and just,
And give to small and great alike their due
According to the measure of their states.
The man that is the servant of the Shah
Should not be damnified on that account,
And while a monarch holdeth sages dear
His crown will be exalted ; but if he
Shall take the counsel of the ignorant
He will bring down his crown's head underfoot,
For knowledge frighteneth the fool away,
Who in his ignorance is combative.
The world-lord, whose informants are all wise,
Aware of what is going on at court,
And able thus to foil the malcontent,
Will be still glorious. None must sleep aggrieved
Lest ill befall the Shah from that mishap,
Who should ban him deserving chastisement,
The misbegotten and the ill-disposed,
Lest such should trouble those that are offenceless.
All captives in the prisons of the Shah,
The guilty and the innocent alike,
Should be enlarged by the decree of God,
Who thus directed in the Zandavasta.
If one be an ill-doer black and base

The face of earth should be relieved of him,
For while his evil day continueth
He will bring ruin on the homes of men.
The world-lord must rejoice in faith and right
So long as he is in the world as Shah.
'Tis his to cleanse it from the wicked Div
In public and in private by the sword.
The king that ruleth his troops well will be
Untroubled by the griefs of suppliants.
When thou art wary of thy foes in counsel
Thine evil-wishers will lose heart. Man all
The breaches of the realm ere war betide.
Whenas the Shah is blamed for anything
Reproach too falleth on the crown and throne,
Through grief the wish is to be quit of him,
And to make wisdom testify thereto.
Let grow the love thou bearest to thy son,
Who is as 'twere the reflex of thy face
In water. Teach him wisdom and good sense,
And seek but to illuminate his soul.
Unlock for him the portal of thy treasures ;
He must have no cause to bewail himself,
And when he putteth forth his hand to wrong
There is no need to break the prince's heart.
Recall him to the way with gentleness,
And keep a hold upon him from the first.
If in his heart thou find hostility
It is an ill weed ; pluck it from his plot,
For if it bideth 'twill grow strong and fill
The garden of the sovereignty with tares ;
But when the atheling hath Grace and sense
He Must not hear the words of evil speakers ;
Still when the hand can reach the miscreants
Haste not to bloodshed save at God's command.
Destruction cometh on the royal crown
Through rascal-ministers and wicked wives.
Give fools a hearing, but when they propose
An unjust action do not thou consent,
'Tis needful to fulfil all righteousness,
And clear thine own heart of perversity.
The sole adornment for the mighty Shah
Is right, for 'tis the Div that causeth wrong.
Now when the Shah shall hearken to these. words
He in his heart will witness unto wisdom,
The crown will call down blessings on the king,
The throne of empire be confirmed to him,
Both will rejoice in him, his foes despair
Of fortune ; while this restless sky revolveth
His good name will be his memorial.
Now may the accomplished soul of Nushirwan
Be young while day endureth."

At his words

The assembly was amazed, compared with them
The counsels of the wise seemed lustreless.
When Nushirwan had listened to this speech
His greatness greatened great although it was.
The counsels given filled his eyes with tears :

He filled the speaker's mouth with lustrous pearls.
Then from the palace with their lips all praise
The company departed on their ways.

Thus seven days passed away. Upon the eighth,
Whenas the world-illuming sun blazed forth,
Put off its robe of lapis-lazuli,
And decked the world with golden-hued brocade,
The king of kings sat with the archimages,
The veterans, and officers of state —
Ardshir, the high priest and the chief of nobles,
Shapur and Yazdagird, the scribe, the men
Of science and the readers of the stars,
The wise, the enlightened, and the eloquent.

The youthful Buzurjmihr, the orator,
Came to the presence of Shah Nushirwan,

And did obeisance to his sovereign,
Who joyed at him and thus addressed the sages : —
" Who wotteth aught whereby the Faith of God
May be confirmed, the royal throne kept scathless ? "
Thereat the high priest loosed his tongue amid

The chiefs and said : " The justice of the Shah
Will cause his Grace, his crown, and throne to shine,
And when it openeth his treasury-door
His high renown will last when he is dead.
Moreover he should purge his tongue of lies,
And seek not lustre in the world by guile.
Next he will be both just and merciful,
And make his throne the glory of the age.
Then too the head of the illustrious Shah
Should be not wrathful with an erring liege,
And, fifthly, he will speak so that his fame
In this world never will grow obsolete ;
He will speak truth in all things small and great,
And never derogate in any thing.
He will esteem withal as his own fortune
The servant of his throne. If wise in words
His speech will be convincing, and his heart
Ne'er satiate of learning and consuming
His brains with thought. All men are set at large
By wisdom and have little cause to wail
At fortune. Wisdom nourisheth the souls
Of sages, wisdom pointeth out the way
To those that seek. Tear not thy heart, O Shah !
I in wisdom's path, for wisdom fostereth
Fame and a noble end. Base and a fool
Is he that ever said : I am the man.
Because there is no peer to me in knowledge.' '

Then Yazdagird, the scribe, spake thus and said : —
" O wise and wisdom-loving Shah ! in Shahs
It is a thing unseemly to shed blood,

Or suffer trifles to disturb the heart.
Moreover when the king is light of wit
He putteth hand to matters thoughtlessly,
While, further, he is hasty with the wise,
And all the more so through his ignorance.
When lust for vengeance hath possessed his heart
The Div is the associate of his soul ;
So too a judge's words, if he be hasty,
Lead not to fair results. The warrior,
Moreover, that is fearful of his life
In battle-time, not of disgrace, and he
Whose heart, though he be rich, is mean and narrow,
Were better hidden underneath the ground.
Authority becometh not a beggar,
Since he himself becometh not high rank.
A guileful elder is a hateful thing,
And after death his soul will be in fire.
When any youth is slack in business
The heart of fortune will grow sick of him,
Disease will make him prematurely old,
And may his vigour and his spirit cease."

When Buzurjmihr had heard these goodly words,
And had adorned his brain with wisdom's lore,
He said : O Shah whose face is like the sun's !
May shining heaven be at thy dispose.
Know this : that men of wisdom will sustain
Their souls with knowledge since the hearts of stones
And mountains sorrow o'er the ignorant,
For none respecteth him. He knoweth not
End from beginning, fame from infamy.
The common folk, still more the wisdom-seekers,
Despise the doings of such men as these —
The lying judge unhonoured by the sage ;
The general who guardeth well his treasure,
And is abandoned by his toil-worn troops ;
The sage that feareth not to do amiss
If he can have enjoyment therewithal :
The leech that aileth ; how can he cure others ?
The mendicant that braggeth of his wealth
While that whereof he talketh is but naught ;
A Shah who letteth not his people rest,
Or sleep at night, disquieting their hearts,
And yet when favouring breezes blow on thee
Assumeth all the merit for himself ;
A choleric sage who eyeth others' goods,
And lastly he that counselleth a fool,
Or giveth the indolent authority.
They that lack wisdom and acquire it not
Win have occasion to repent their words.
The heart of any man, my gracious lord !
That hath not wisdom wrestleth with desire
In such wise as a flame devoureth brimstone,
Or maketh provand of a bed of reeds.
Long live the heart of Nushirwan, may he
Have this world's chiefs his servitors to be."

The Shah allowed another week to pass,
Then issued orders to prepare the court,
Came and assumed his seat upon the throne
Of gold, with armlets, crown, and golden girdle. (
And on the other Yazdagird the scribe,
While round him were the other archimages,
The chiefs, and Buzurjmihr the eloquent
To whom the Shah : Why keep the jewels hidden
Those words which are a profit to the soul,
And make the unprized man of high estate
The speaker's treasure is not minished,
While 'tis a pleasure to the listener."

Thus spake the archimage to Buzurjmihr : —
" O thou more famous than the turning sky !
Know'st thou the thing whose more will harm, whose

less
Will strengthen thee ? "

He thus made answer, saying : —
" By eating less thou wilt be easier
In body and withal feed up thy soul,
But by too much well-doing wilt advance
Thy rival."

Then said Yazdagird, the scribe : —
" O man of eloquence and heedful mind !
What are the heart's three secret blemishes
Which men retain although they need them not ? "

He answered : "In the first place thou must purge
Thy heart of all censoriousness, for none
In this world publicly or privily
Is free from fault. A chieftain, jealous of thee,
Will weep on growing thine inferior,
While, thirdly, he that is a slanderer —
The man of double face — endeavoureth
To raise dust e'en from water."

Then the archmage

Inquired : " O thou that art supreme in knowledge !
None in this world is franchised from desire,
Which may be hidden or exposed to all.
Supposing ways to gratify it open,
So that 'tis manifestly in one's power,
In my case which way will advantage me,
And which result in travail, pain, and loss ? "

He answered thus and said : " The ways are twain,
And thou canst journey either at thy choice,
One is the way of rashness, full of ill,
The other that of wisdom and well-doing,
And therein wisdom is the guide for thee —
A fact that is beyond all questioning.
God's robe of honour is upon the sage ;
Observe what man is worthy of that gift.
No one will purchase one of giant strength
Devoid of wisdom. In defect thereof
It is not well to live, for God is witness
That wisdom is the very life of life.
The man that hath acquired a base of knowledge
Is fitted for the warfare and the struggle.
First, let thy knowledge make thee turn to God,
Who is and who will be for evermore.
By faith in Him thou hast thy heart's desire,
And hast attained the goal whereto thou spedest.
Another point of knowledge is that thou
Shouldst use discretion in the choice of food.
Strive after purity in food and raiment,
And thus uphold the ordinance of God.
When thou hast need to earn thy daily bread
Run not to misers for their help and treasure,
But let thy choice be of some business
Whose reputation will not sink repute.
Make to thyself a friend of some great man,
Who can assist thee when thou art in straits.
Be silent when thou art in company
If thou wouldst win the praise of every one.
But if thou speak'st speak that which hast learned,
And branded on thy liver. Weigh thy words,
Not the dinars within thy treasury,
For to a wise man treasures are but vile.
When thou art speaking let thy tongue be shrewd,
Make it thy shaft and let thy bow be wisdom.
Be not imprudent when a fight is toward,
But guard thy body from the enemy,
And when he hath arrayed the host against thee
Be prudent and preserve thy self-control.
When thou beholdest thine antagonist
Thy face must pale not. Thou wilt be victorious
If thou art prompt, but slackness will undo thee.
Be wary as thou urgest on thy steed,
And watch the weapons of thine opposite.
If he is eager do not turn away,
And choose thee prudent fellow-combatants ;
But strive not and have sense to quit the fight
On finding that thou art no match for him.
Thus tender too thy body when thou eatest ;
Food should not harm thee ; eating much will do it,
While taking little will increase thy strength.
Make not thyself a carfax at thy meals,
But always leave off with an appetite.
Use wine but use it for refreshment only,
For drunkards hear no praise from any one.
If thou adore God thou wilt be commended,
The world will be a head and thou the eye.
Let all thy converse be of the Creator
With adoration for the base thereof.
Profoundly watch the occasion when to act,
And when to take repose by night and day.
Select the mean in every enterprise,
In making peace as well as waging war.
All wind and water blent with dust art thou ;
Forget not thou the way of holy God.
Think more about thy worship than thy meals ;
Be still a novice though the law is old ;
Incline to good ; acknowledge benefits ;
Attribute all to Him who made the world ;
Prefer not lust to wisdom and advice,
Or wisdom will regard thee not thenceforth ;
Go not about to compass wickedness,
But being wise adorn thyself with virtues.
He that is good in public and in private
Is most to be commended in the world.
Teach to thy son the business of the scribe
That he may be as life to thee and thine,
And as thou wouldest have thy toils bear fruit
Grudge not instructors to him, for this art
Will bring a youth before the throne and make
The undeserving fortune's favourite.
Of all professions 'tis the most esteemed,
Exalting even those of lowly birth.
A ready scribe who is a man of rede
Is bound to sit e'en in the royal presence,
And, if he be a man of diligence,
Will have uncounted treasure from the Shah,
While if endowed with fluency and style
He Will be studious to improve himself,
Use his endeavours to be more concise,
And put his matter more attractively.
The scribe hath need to be a man of wisdom,
Of much endurance and good memory,
A man of tact, accustomed to court-ways,
A holy man whose tongue is mute for evil,
A man of knowledge, patience, truthfulness,
A man right trusty, pious, and well-favoured.
If thus endowed he cometh to the Shah
He cannot choose but sit before the throne."

Whenas the king had listened to these words
His heart grew fresh as roses in the spring,
And he addressed the high priest thus : " Go to,
Give Buzurjmihr advancement. Claim for him
A robe of honour fitted for his state;
And money : he hath made our hearts elate." :.

A se'nnight passed, the Sun lit up his crown,
And came and sat upon the ivory throne,
Together with the high priest, the grandees,
The world-aspiring and shrewd-hearted sages,
With Sada and with Yazdagird, the scribe,
And as their leader the astute Bahman.
Then spake the Shah to Buzurjmihr and said : —
" Adorn our hearts and show to us the way.
Speak truth about me as thou knowest it,
And seek not this world's honours by deceit.
How should men give obedience to my hest,
Observe my counsels, and act loyally ?
Speak at thine ease and speak without reserve :
Dress not plain words with colour and with scent."

Thus Buzurjmihr, the shrewd, said to the Shah :—
" O more exalted than the azure vault !
The service of the monarch of the earth
Is, saith the sage, the path-way of the Faith.
The orders of the Shah brook no delay,
Because the Shah's heart never must be straitened,
And every one that is his enemy
Is in his soul the liege of Ahriman.
The heart that loveth not the monarch's person
Should forfeit brain and skin. Know that the Shah
Is the world's peace, and when thou dost aright
He will advance thee. Both for good and ill
The power is his, he taketh not revenge,
And injureth none. Wish not his son to fill
His room but hold his dear face as thy life.
Want never findeth entrance to the soil
Of states whose monarch is their well-beloved.
His Grace will fend thee from all ill, for why

His fortunes nurse all virtue. When a king
Hath God's Grace on his face the world's heart laugheth
For joy. As thou partakest of his favours
Strive ever to give ear to his commands.
If thou shalt grow disloyal, e'en in thought.
That moment fortune will abandon thee.
If he associate with thee be not proud,
And if he banish thee revile him not.
Mark that a subject toiling for his king
Will in the toil find treasure and renown.
He that shall praise the monarch is of God,
And he that is of God will praise the monarch.
The liege must neither weary of his work,
Nor yet be slack in fight, must keep concealed
The counsel of the Shah and tell it not
To sun and moon. One that is slack to do
The Shah's commands doth outrage to himself.
Accursed are the blossoms of the tree
That scattereth naught but leaves o'er crown and
throne.

Calumniate not his lieges to the Shah,
Or thou wilt minish thine esteem with him :
Great liars get small lustre in kings' eyes.
Let no one utter in the royal presence
Words that are not conformable with wisdom :
But. if the Shah shall ask thee, speak, not losing
Thy credit with him by loquacity,

Because there is- more knowledge in the world

Than ears can hear in public and in private.
He whom the monarch of the world misprizeth.
That soul will be in pain for evermore,
While he will be in high esteem on whom
The Shah's'.- lips smile. If he shall show thee favour
Hug not thyself, old servant though thou be,
For, though thy service may have lasted long,
Know that thou art not indispensable,
And if he favoureth another man
'Tis doubtless one as loyal as thyself.
If he shall be displeased with thee in aught
Make thine excuses ere thou drawest breath,
And if thou wottest naught of thine offence
Lay bare thy heart in presence of the Shah,
While if thou hast a grievance in thy heart
Break it but show not unto him thy face,
Lest by God's Grace he should discern thy secret,
Discern thy heart perverse and clouded mind.
Thereafter thou wilt get no good of him,
Not hearken to his accents warm with love.
Account the Shah's court as a sea where lieges
Are sailors, and accomplishments are vessels
With words for anchors and with wits for sails.
A wise man, who is voyaging o'er that sea,
Will make his sails robust because they are
A source of strength and shelter to himself.
The accomplished man, whose wisdom is to seek,
Should tread not on the portal of the Shah.
Although the Shah should be a mount of fire
Still would his servants find existence good,
For if such fire burn at the time of wrath
It will but shine the more when gratified.
The Shah at whiles is milk and honey, whiles
A biting bane. His acts are like the sea ;
The moon is bright in heaven at his behest.
One getteth from the sea a pinch of sand,
Another hath the pearl within the shell.
Be all the world alive in Nushirwan,
And circling heaven aye subject to his will,
For he doth head the monarchs of the world,
And ornament the empire with all good."

To Buzurjmihr's oration Nushirwan
Gave heed, heart-joyed to look on him. The king
Was wont to give his largess on this wise :
If he said : " Good ! " the largess was four purses,
But whensoe'er he said : " Good ! very good ! "
The gift amounted in that case to forty,
And when the treasurer reckoned with the Shah
Each purse was taken at ten thousand drachms.
The king of kings had said : " Good ! very good ! "
A speech equivalent to all that coin.
The treasurer brought with visage sunny-clear
The purses full of drachms to Buzurjmihr.