Nushirwan III: The Story of Mahbud and Other Matters

This matter ended, I proceed to tell

The story of Mahbud, the minister.
Cease not from learning for a moment's spell,

And let not knowledge cause thy heart to err.
When thou shalt say : " My lust for wisdom I

Have satisfied and learned all needful lore,"
Fate playeth off some pretty trickery,

And putteth thee to discipline once more.
Now hearken to a rustic minstrel's lay,
Ta'en from the legends of a time long sped ;

I questioned him of ages past away,

And this is what of Nushirwan he said : —
He had an upright minister, a man
Of vigilance, who was his treasurer,
Whose heart was full of wisdom and whose rede
Was right, whose sole ambition was fair fame.
This man so well disposed was named Mahbud :

His soul and heart were full of good discourse.
He had two sons like jocund spring who served
Continually before the king, for he,

What time he was about to mutter prayer,
Or use the archimages' sacred twigs,
Ate only what Mahbud himself provided,
And trusted those two sons. He used to have
His kitchen in Mahbud's house and demeaned
Himself as guest, and that good, famed man's sons

Themselves brought in the great king's meal. The
nobles

Were wont to weep for envy of Mahbud
At court. There was a magnate, one Zuran,
Whose aspirations all were centred there.
He was an old man and Shah's chamberlain,
Conspicuous at feasts and audiences ;

His visage ran with tears the whole year through

In envy of Mahbud and his two sons.
'Twas his endeavour to incense the Shah
Against the doings of that holy man,
Yet failed to find an opening for slander
To set the monarch's mind against Mahbud ;
But how should — he that man of wisdom — know
That he possessed an enemy at court

Since never had he cause to pale one whit
For all the words and practice of that knave ?
A Jew, it happened, borrowed of Zuran
One day some money to employ in trade.
He came and went, his influence grew, and he
Became that gloomy soul's associate.
Thus, as familiar with the chamberlain,
He came to be at home about the court,
And there one day conversed in confidence
Of spells, of court, the monarch of the world,
Of magic, necromancy, and black arts,
Of crooked practices and villainy.
Zuran, attending to the Jew's discourse,
And hearing of the secrets of his craft,
Told his own secret to the Jew, and said : —
" Discourse not of it save with me alone.
Thou must perform a deed of sorcery,
And give the age its riddance of Mahbud,
Because he hath attained to such high state
That he will dominate the age itself.
He careth not for any. Thou wouldst say,
To put it shortly : He is Nushirwan.'
Now he — the world-lord — will not take of food
Save only at the hands of this man's sons,
Who hath become so great through royal favour
That heaven kisseth evermore his skirt."

The Jew replied : " This cause need not increase
Thy grief. What time the Shah and world-lord taketh
The sacred twigs mark well what meats are served,
And see if there be any milk therein.
Meet thou the serving-man and sniff the meats ;
'Twill serve if I but see the milk from far.
Then thou shalt see Mahbud and his two sons
No more alive. Though he be brass or stone
That eateth he will perish instantly."

Zuran attended to these words. His heart
Was freshened as he gazed upon the Jew ;
Whene'er he went to court the Jew went likewise ;
They had their secrets, joys, and feasts in common.
A season passed with matters in this stay :
The court was haunted by that evil teacher,
That court whereto each dawn Mahbud's two sons
Were wont to turn their steps so joyfully.
Behind the curtains of their noble father
There was a pious dame and well advised,
Who, when Shah Nushirwan desired some food,
Was wont to spread a golden tray for him,
And lay thereon three platters set with jewels ;
The whole was covered with a golden napkin.
And used to come before the exalted Shah,
Served by the two sons of the good Mahbud.
The food consisted of rose-water, milk.
And honey. Nushirwan would eat and sleep.
One day it happened that the two young men
Were going with the tray to Nushirwan ;
It was conveyed upon a servant's head
To whom 'twas usual to entrust the food.
Zuran, the chamberlain, beheld the tray
When coming to the palace of the Shah,
And with a smile addressed the two youths thus : —
" Ye trusty lieges of Shah Nushirwan !
Reveal for once the colour of these meats—
The Shah's repast — because they savour well :
Withdraw the silken cover just this once."
The young men readily displayed the food.
Zuran, who kept his distance, gazed thereon,
And in like manner did the Jew, who came,
When he had marked the colour of the meats,
And said thus to the chamberlain : " The tree
That thou hast planted cometh into fruit.
The two young men, both wise and vigilant,
Then carried in the tray to Nushirwan,
While after them Zuran came quick as dust,
And thus addressed the Shah, that noble man : —
" O Shah, the just, the favoured by the stars !
Touch not these meats till they be tasted first.
The cook hath mingled poison with the milk,
And may thine enemies partake thereof."

Shah Nushirwan, on hearing, turned his gaze
On those two youths whose mother was the cook —
A prudent dame affectioned of her kin.
They in their innocence and rectitude
Rolled up their sleeves. Howbeit when they ate
Some of that milk and honey thou hadst said : —
" Both have been stricken by an arrow." Both
Swooned on the spot and died there in the presence
Of Nushirwan ! The monarch of the world
Beheld, his cheeks like flower of fenugreek,
And gave commandment : " Let them raise in dust
The mansion of Mahbud, respecting none,
Upon that dust let them cut off his head,
And may he and his cook both cease to be."

None in the palace of Mahbud, and few
Among his kindred in the world, survived.
The Shah gave all his goods, his women, children,
And hoarded wealth, to spoil. In that affair
Zuran attained his wish, since Nushirwan
Was quit of that good man, and held the Jew
In high esteem who cloudward raised his head.
Heaven turned awhile with matters in this stay
While from the Shah right hid its face away.

The Shah, the world-lord, purposed, as it chanced,
To hunt the wolf and bade that many a steed,
Used in the chase, should pass before his eyes,
Scanned them, and saw the brand-mark of Mahbud.
His cheeks flamed at those Arab horses, love
Still had a place within him, and he burned.
He wept for pain and with heart sorely seared
Recalled to mind Mahbud, and thus he said : —
" How much the wicked Div made to transgress
That man of counsel and of high degree !
With that devotion and that rectitude
Why did his spirit seek the path of loss ?
The Master of the world alone can tell
The hidden truth beneath the outward show."

He thence departed to the hunting-ground,
Seared at his heart and followed by his men.
Upon the route he talked with all and cheered
His heart with words. He took full many a minstrel,
And with their fascinations docked the way.
Now as the Shah's chief minister and scribes
Were journeying with Zuran in company
Their converse ran on spells and magic arts,
On witchcraft and pernicious Ahriman.
The king said to the archmages : " Trouble not
Your hearts concerning sorcery, but let
Your talk be all of God and of the Faith :
Look not for marvels in black arts and magic."

Zuran said : " Live for ever, and may wisdom : "
Feed on thy words. All that they say of witchcraft
Is true, though this is known but to adepts.
If food have milk therein they by a look
Can from a distance turn it into bane."

On hearing this a bygone time recurred
To Nushirwan. He thought upon Mahbud,
And those two sons of his, and deeply sighed.
He looked upon Zuran but held his peace,
And quickly urged his prancing charger on.
His mind was in a fume with thought because
Zuran had been the foeman of Mahbud.
He said : "I know not what this miscreant
Had done upon the day whereon I slew
Mahbud, and that great house was overthrown.
Would that almighty God would make all plain,
And give my heart and brain tranquillity,
Because I spy this fellow's marks hereon,
And am fulfilled with sorrow for the past."

He journeyed on with sad and aching heart,
With lowering visage and with tearful eyes,
And, having reached the ending of the stage,
Set up his camp-enclosure by a stream.
Now when Zuran had reached the tent they cleared
The place of strangers and the converse ran
Upon the means of witching milk and honey.
" It is my favourite subject," said Zuran.

The Shah then questioned him about Mahbud,
And by what means his sons were done to death,
And heard the quaver in Zuran reply.
His crime became apparent. Nushirwan
Addressed him, saying : " Tell to me the truth,
Conceal it not and act not knavishly,
For knavery but causeth evil deeds,
And evil comrades will corrupt good hearts."

Zuran told all the truth, revealed the secret,
Threw all the blame upon the Jew, and made
As though he were possessed by grief and anguish.
The great king, having listened, fettered him,

And sent to that enchanter of a Jew,
As swift as smoke, a rider with two steeds.
Whenas the Jew had reached the lofty court
The exalted monarch questioned him with mildness,
And said : " Inform me how the matter went,
And lie not to me touching this affair."

The Jew asked for protection from the world-lord
If he revealed the mystery of black art,
And then told what Zuran had said with all
The matter of their secret conference.
The world-lord heard with wonder and convoked
The marchlords, potentates, and archimages,
And in their presence for the second time
Investigated every circumstance.
The evil-minded Jew told everything
Till naught was hidden from the chiefs. The Shah
Then bade the deathsman rear two lofty gibbets,
From each whereof a twisted lasso hung,
Before the palace-portal in the presence
Of all the host. The executioner
Haled to the gibbets and suspended there
Zuran on one, the Jew upon the other,
In savage wise. 'Neath showers of stones and arrows
They gave their heads up for bewitching milk.
Tread not the world for evil, for it will,
Past doubt, befall the practiser of ill.

The Shah long sought for kindred of Mahbud,

If so he might find one that had escaped,
And found one damsel of unsullied name,
And three men eminent and excellent.
To these he gave all that Zuran possessed,
As well as all the fortune of the Jew.
His soul kept burning on Mahbud's account,
And in the night he wept till it was day,
Would pray to God for pardon and pour forth
His heart's blood on his bosom. He bestowed
Much largess on the mendicants and made
His tongue moreover prayerful unto God
That He might pardon what was done amiss,
And call him not tyrannic and unjust.

The worshipper of God, the pure of heart,
Will in no evil doings bear a part,
For though ill actions are not hard to do,
Yet in the end the heart is sure to rue.
Although thy heart shall be a flinty stone,
Yet in the end its secret will be known,
And low soever as thy voice may be
Time also will reveal the mystery,
While, even if the world shall not regard,
Good done in secret is its own reward.
If thou art innocent and pure of rede
A portion in both worlds will be thy meed.

The matter of Zuran and of the Jew
Is done, to wisdom now thy praise is due.
Just though thou art here is no tarrying ;
Thy fame will be thy memory, O king !
The unjust sovereign, when all is done,
Will have but sepulchre and malison,
But if in heart thou dealest righteously
Know that the world hath gained new grace by thee ;
So if, O chief ! thou wilt have praise in death
Let wisdom be thy leaf that flourisheth.
Thus, through my words, though Nushirwan is dead,

His justice hath achieved fresh lustihead.
As soon as all the world acknowledged him
He used his greatness only to win praise,
Both great and small reposed in peace while wolf
And sheep were watered at one fount. The mighty
Did service to him and were fain to have
His name upon their diadems, the neck
Had respite from the clasp of habergeon,
The warriors loosed their coats of mail, the shoulder
Had ease from sparth and sword, and naught was heard
But sounds of mirth. None strove against the world-
lord,

The tribute and the taxes everywhere

Were paid. He took toil easily and loved

The gear of chase and riding-ground. He sat
Within his palace arabesqued with gold,
And uttered counsel even in his cups.
He built a city on the road to Rum
About two leagues in length. Within were mansions,
And halls and gardens, on one hand a river
And, on the other, heights. He built himself
A palace in the city with a hall
Of audience arabesqued with gold ; the vaulting
Was all in gold and silver, with the gold
Inlaid with divers kinds of precious stones.
He built a cupola of ebony
And ivory with figures of the same
And teak. Artificers from Rum and Hind,
Whoever was a master in his craft,
And had inherited his master's skill.
With all the illustrious artists of Iran.
As well as from the province of Nimruz,
He gathered in that city, for it was
At once a great seat and a place of trade.
The prisoners of war brought from Barbar,
From Rum, and from the parts laid desolate,

He furnished with a dwelling-house apiece,
And made the city one of aliens.
The Shah, the glory of the provinces,
Made of that city an attractive spot,
And, when complete, encircled it with hamlets.
The Shah provided tracts of arable ;
The soil was fruitful and the trees bore well.
He settled there the hostages from Luch,
Gilan, and other ravaged provinces,
Assigning occupation to each man,
And gave to each a helper if alone.
He furnished artisans, field-labourers,
And men to measure and survey the land,
Along with traders and with devotees,
With men of station and with underlings.
He decked that city as 'twere Paradise ;
The eye marked no unseemly spot therein.
He called the city by the name Sursan,
For world-lords take delight in festivals.
His only aim in public and in private
Was justice and the improvement of the world.
Since from the kingship time bare him away,
And made his crown another's to possess,
'Twill grant not thee an ever-during stay,
So purge thy heart of deeds of wickedness.
Know that this world is but a tricky show ;
Man keepeth nothing be it high or low.

Hear how the Khan and the Haitalians fought,
And since a fight is toward take thy mace.
Thus said the rustic bard, that noble one ;
Keep thou in mind what thou shalt hear from him : —
Of all the chiefs possessed of Grace and justice,
Of men of war, of treasure, and high birth,
Omitting Nushirwan, there was not one
To match the Khan of Chin in all the world.
All people from that realm to the Jihun
Paid homage to him as their sovereign.
That chief with troops, with treasure, and with crown.
Was camped on the Gulzaryun upon
The further side of Chach. Reports had spread,
Among the great men and throughout the world,
Of Nushirwan, his manhood, knowledge, Grace,
His greatness and imperial usages.
Then was it that the Khan, that prudent man,
Desired to win the friendship of the king.
He sat awhile with his own counsellors,
And all the men of name were gathered there.
In his desire for amity he sought
The counsel of the nobles and the priests,
Got ready presents that exceeded count —
All keepsakes worthy of a king's acceptance —
Of Ruman chargers and brocade of Chin,
Of thrones and crowns and swords and signet-rings ;
He got him ready five-score camel-loads
Of sundry trinkets that the land produced,
And bade his treasurer provide as largess
A hundred thousand of dinars of Chin.
He also brought and added to the present
Ten camel-loads of drachms out of his treasures.
He then chose out a man of eloquence
Among his chiefs — a wise and travelled man —
And called a scribe before him with command
To write a letter from the Khan of Chin
On silk, as was the custom of the country,
Profuse in courteous greetings to the Shah.
The envoy's way lay through the Haitalians' land —
A route beset by shaft and battleax —
Before whose ruler stood a host whose lines
From Sughd extended down to the Jihun.
That people's ruler hight Ghatkar the brave —
The most distinguished of their warriors —
Who when he heard of what the Khan had done,
And of his presents to the Iranian king,
Called from the host his veterans, discoursed
To them at large about the case, and said : —
" Ill hath befallen us from the stars. If now
The monarch of Iran and Khan of Chin
Negotiate and thus become good friends,
That friendship will hold menace for ourselves-,
And this our state be wasted on two sides.
We needs must make a foray and deprive
The envoy of his life."

He chose among

The troops a man of name, of rank, and prowess,
Such as befitted, gave up all that wealth,
The camels and the steeds caparisoned,
To plunder and cut off the envoy's head.
One horseman of those warriors of Chin
Escaped. Now when the tidings reached the Khan
His heart was filled with grief, his head with vengeance,
He marched an army from Kachar Bashi ;
No chief was left in Chin or in Khutan.
He let no scion of Afrasiyab,
Or of Arjasp, partake of rest and sleep.
They all marched forth to the Gulzaryun
With full hearts and with heads set on revenge.
The captain of the army of the Khan
Of Chin was Funj, who made dust reek to heaven.
At Chach the fury of the horsemen flushed
The waters of Gulzaryun rose-red.
Ghatkar heard of the doings of the Khan,
And chose an army from the Haitalians,
An army that obscured the sun, and called
For treasure, money, troops, and arms from Balkh,
Shaknan, Amwi, the Zam, Khatlan, Tirmid,
And Wisagird ; he gathered troops from all sides ;
From mount and waste, from sands and places bare,
They seethed like ants and locusts. When the Khan
Had passed the mighty river with his host,
With drums and lusty elephants, he massed
His powers round Mai and Margh ; the sun became
As dusky as a falcon's plumes. Bukhara
Was all fulfilled with mace and ax, for there
The ruler of the Haitalians was encamped.
Ghatkar had come forth with a mighty host,
And gathered all the native chiefs. The troops
Advanced from every quarter to the war,
And left the wind no way. What with the flashing
Of chieftains' swords and play of massive maces,
Thou wouldst have said : " Now iron hath a tongue,
And air a mace for its interpreter ! "
A wind arose, rose too the army's dust,
And light departed from the sun and moon.
Men of Kashan and Sughd were gathered there.
Tears filled the eyes of all — men, women, children —
As to the issue of that battlefield,
And whom the circling sun and moon would favour.
For one whole week those battle-loving hosts
Were opposites. On all sides lay the slain
In heaps, and dust and stones were cercis-like
With blood. So thick were spear, mace, sparth, and
sword
That thou hadst said: "The clouds are raining
stones ! "
The sun evanished in the reek ; dust filled
The eyes of eagles as they flew. It veered,
Upon the eighth day, 'gainst Ghatkar, the world

Was all bedarkened like night azure-dim,
The Haitalians were o'erthrown, irreparably
For years, the wounded scattered everywhere,
And all the march was full of slain and captives.
The living from their hearts invoked God's name,
And said to one another : " Ne'er have we
Seen such a stubborn fight. Good sooth ! yon host
Is not of men ; 'tis ill to look on them ;
They have the faces of wild beasts and divs,
And heed not right and wrong. Thou wouldst have
said : —

They know not what it is to flee away
From scimitar and spear, from mace and sword.'
They all have dragon-faces and could pierce
A mountain with their spears, they all have claws
Like pards and hearts insatiate of war
And strife, ne'er take the saddle off their steeds,
And think a battle naught. Their chargers batten
On thorns, their riders sleep not but are watchful ;
They pass the nights in foray and attack,
And hazarding their persons in the flames.
They know not food or sleep. Would that the Div
Would challenge them to fight ! We cannot strive
Against the Khan, and we must seek Iran.
If now Ghatkar will carry out our wishes
He will submit to Nushirwan, surrender
The Haitalians' land to him, and think no more
Of mace and sparth ; but if not we will choose
Some bold chief of the race of Khushnawaz,
Some man acceptable to Nushirwan,
One that can make our state renew its youth,
To tell the Khan's proceedings to the Shah.
The whole world praiseth Nushirwan, for he
Hath Grace, high bearing, destiny, and wisdom,
And wisdom is the cherisher of right.
He hath made Caesar tributary. None
Can strive with Nushirwan."

The Haitalians—

Men, women, children — were at one herein.
There was a high-born warrior of Chaghan,

Aspiring, youthful, fortunate, and just—
A man of wisdom, Faghanish by name,
Possessing troops and treasures of his own :
The chiefs and warriors called him to the throne.

Thereafter to the great king tidings came
About the Khan, who was a valiant chief,
The Haitalians and the warriors of that folk,
And how he had o'erthrown them in the fight ;
Moreover of the monarch of Chaghan,
Just seated by new fortune on the throne,
How he had taken that imperial seat,
And, while the brave and glorious warriors
Stood, one and all, before his throne, was ever
Engaged in consultation with his magnates.
The monarch of the world sat full of care
At these his wary emissaries' words,
Then in his palace had a hall prepared
For session, and the warrior-lieges came
With the high priest Ardshir, with Yazdagird,
The scribe, and with Shapur. These counsellors,
And sages, all held session at the throne
Of Nushirwan, who said : "Ye archimages
Experienced and ye ministers of state !
I have discomfortable news — accounts —

At once unpleasant and injurious —
About the Haitalians and what the Khan
Of Chin and marchlords of Turan have done.
Troops gathered past all count from Chach, from Chin,
Khutan and Turkistan. They bore their helms
And vengeful scimitars for one whole week,
And never once unsaddled. In the end
The Haitalians were discomfited and most
Were slain or wounded. With renown like theirs —
A folk whose world is mace and partisan—
'Tis wonderful that they were worsted thus :
Defend me from a foolish general !
Had but Ghatkar had prudence and good sense
The sky itself had routed not his host.
The Haitalians, since their land is thus distraught,
Have sought a man descended from Bahram Gur,
Have placed him on the throne as their new king,
And done obeisance to him, one and all.
The Khan is posted on this side of Chach
In all his pride with treasure, host, and crown ;
He is descended from Afrasiyab

And from Arjasp, and dreameth of Iran.
His triumph o'er the army of Ghatkar
Exalteth him in head above the sun.
It is not well for us that we should be
At one in such a story with the Khan.
Kashan, the land wherefrom this folk of Chin
Derive their strength, pertaineth to our realm.
Our subjects are oppressed by them and yield
To them their persons, boundaries, and treasure ;
What are your views herein, and how shall we

Deal with the Turkmans and the Khan of Chin ? "
The prudent magnates rose and made reply,

First praised the Shah, and said : " O fortunate

And prescient Shah ! all the Haitalian march

Is very Ahriman, the folk thereof
Are double-faced and hostile to our coast.
They merit any ill that they may get,
Although the Shah is right to speak them fairly.
Had we no grievance, nothing to avenge
In their case save the blood of Shah Piruz,
That noble man whom suddenly they slew,
And such a king — the lustre of the world !
May they joy not one day, for right from wrong
Resulteth never. Such is God's requital :
Ill cometh on the heads of all ill-doers.
Now if the Shah referreth to the Khan
As one vindictive with an ancient grudge,
It may be that he hath ill counsellors —
Some tearful scions of Afrasiyab.
Success too may have heartened him : no marvel
If thou dost fear him. As for the Haitalians,
And for Ghatkar's host, neither think nor trouble
Concerning them, but let thy shrewd mind turn
To what the kindred of Afrasiyab

And of Arjasp, and what the Khan, who now
Is stablished on our bank, are doing. Thou art
The world's exalted king, both soul and wisdom
Derive their light from thee, and he is blest
Whom wisdom nourisheth. Thou art more wise
Than this great concourse and thou hast no need
Of sage or counsellor. The crown and throne

Become Thee best of all the world, for thou
Hast Grace divine and might, thou fortunate !

Still if the Shah shall go to Khurasan
He' will have cause to tremble for his realm.
Hosts ever and anon will come from Rum,
On seeing that our land is left unkinged,
Exact revenge upon the Iranians,
And leave not to Iran or field or -Fell.
None yet hath set his foot upon our land,
Or meditated evil on this realm
Yet if the Shah show fight the crocodiles
Will stir not in the streams for fear of him."
On hearing what they said of peace and war
That master of the world agnized full well
The feeling that those sages had at heart —
That none of them had any wish for war,
Preferring rather feasts and pleasuring —
And answered : " God be praised, whom I revere
In both worlds, that Iran through quiet, sleep,
And feasting, hath forgotten how to fight !
Preferring peaceful times and banquet-hall
Ye have become indifferent to war ;
Yet ease should follow toil, the body's travail
Hath treasure for its fruit ; so in God's strength
Will we at this month's end prepare to march.
I will lead forth a host to Khurasan,
Will summon troops from all the provinces —
The men of name and warriors — and bind
The drums upon the lusty elephants.
I will not leave Haitalian or Khan
To call down blessings on Iranian soil,
But I will weed the world of all the wicked,
And by my largess and mine equity
Regenerate the realm."

The nobles marvelled,

Applauded him, excused themselves, and said : —
" Triumphant Shah, endowed with Grace and justice !
Oh ! may this age rejoice in thy commands.
We chiefs are all thy thralls and bow our heads
To thy behest and counsel. When the king
Shall bid us fight he will not find us wanting."

So when the Shah sat with his counsellors
The conclave held debate a while thereon.
Thus was it till the new moon rose and sat
On its new throne. They saw the moon withal
Upon the Shah's own face, and acclamations
Rose from his court. Whenas the shining Lamp
O'ertopped the mountains, and the earth resembled
A golden saddle-cover, thou hadst said : —
" They have set a topaz cup upon a robe
Of lapis-lazuli." A shout and blare
Of trump arose. They bound the kettledrums
Upon the elephants, the soldiers trooped
To camp, and with them went the tymbal-players.
Then Yazdagird, the scribe, came to the court
With counselling archmages and Ardshir.
They wrote a letter unto every province,
To every man of name and every chief :—
" The Shah hath marched forth with the host to war.
So out of loyalty forgo your feastings."

The Shah bade send a letter to the Khan,
He offered greetings too to Faghanish,
And marched an army forth from Mada'in
That covered all the world except the sea ;
Earth was all troops from mountain unto mountain,
And at their centre was the world-lord's flag.
The monarch led forth to Gurgan a host
That hid the sun. He rested for a space
O'er mount and meadow to pursue the chase.

The Shah took counsel with his troops what while

The abode at Sughd. which everywhere
Was like a sea with kinsmen of Arjasp
And of Afrasiyab. The Khan said : " Earth
Will not support this host and throne of mine.
I will lead hence the army to Iran.
And onward to the cities of the brave,

Will bear the very dust away to Chin,
And set the heaven warring with the earth.
I will allow not any to possess
Crown, throne, or kingship, dignity or fortune."

Such was the language that he held awhile,
Ambitioning the world with troops and fame,
Until the tidings came about the Shah,
How he had marched forth from Iran in state,
Of his victorious fortune and his might,
And how his army stretched from sea to sea.
The Khan was troubled when he heard the news
That stayed his purposed inroad, and he sat
In anxious conclave with his counsellors.
The great men of the army were assembled,
And he addressed his minister : " We cannot
Afford to blink these tidings. Nushirwan,
I hear, hath reached Gurgan and spread the realm
With troops. Good sooth, he hath not news of us,
Or hath a witless head. Mine army stretcheth
From Chin to the Jihun, the world is 'neath
The glory of my crown. I needs must go
And face him in the fight. Delay will shroud
The lustre of my name. Himself he deemeth
The limit and that none is king but he.
Now shall he learn of mine own warriorship,
For I will face him with the cavaliers
Of Chin."

A wise man thus addressed the Khan : —
" O monarch of the earth ! think not to fight
Against the Shah, and give not to the winds
Thy realm and host. None of the kings, unless
His heart and counsel lour, ambitioneth
The Shah's seat, for none hath his Grace and fortune
The moon in heaven hath not such a mien.
He claimeth tribute both from Hind and Rum,
Wherever there is wealth or peopled land.
He is the lord of crown, the ornament
Of throne, the conquering master of the world,
And fortunate."

The Khan took fitting order,
On hearing this, and asked his shrewd adviser : —
" What aspect hath this matter to the wise ?
Two points confront us which we may not shun,
And cannot readily pass o'er in silence :
If war with him is toil and nothing more
There is no better course than spending treasure.
Dinars can not be used to purchase raiment,
Or food or carpetings when war is toward,
But can procure peace, provand, fair attire,
And carpetings. Let all afraid of ill
Spurn drachms and be at ease."

Then from the host

He chose ten fluent speakers apt for parle ;
A learned man of Chin too wrote a letter,
All compliments, decked like his idol-houses,
And to the king's court those ten prudent horsemen
Set forth with much to say. Now when men brought
The news to Nushirwan he decked the palace
Of king of kings, then bade to raise the curtain,
And introduce the envoys joyfully.
The ten went in before the king, and took
With them the letter, offerings, and gifts.
The world-lord, when he saw, received them well,
Inquired about the Khan and made them sit.
They bent their heads before him to the ground,
And gave the message of the Khan of Chin.

There was a letter written in that tongue
On silk, and this the envoy laid before
The scribe. When Yazdagird began to read it
The company were filled with wonderment
Thereat. It first of all invoked the blessing
Of God, the All-just, upon the king of earth,
Next manifested forth the eminence,
Wealth, army, arms, and greatness of the Khan,
And thirdly said : " Faghfur of Chin himself
Acclaimeth me, unasked bestowed upon me
His daughter, and his host is mine to bid.
'Tis for the presents that I sent the Shah,
Which the Haitalians stopped upon the way,
That I came forth from Chach to take revenge,
To take the crown and treasure from Ghatkar,
So came from the Gulzaryun that all
The waters of Jihun grew red with blood,
For when in Chin news reached us of the Shah,
I praised the teller of his victories,
His manliness, his wisdom, modesty,
And learning, and in secrecy desired
All friendship with the monarch of the world."

Now when the Shah discovered from the letter
The power, the might, and purpose of the Khan,
They made a lodging ready for the envoys,
Praised and made much of them. Whene'er the board
Was spread for feast and revelry the king
Invited them, and for a month they shared
With him the hall, the banquet, and the chase.
One day he held his court upon the plain,
The air was darkened with the horsemen's dust,
And all the marchlords with their golden girdles,
Men of Baluch and Gil with golden bucklers,
Attended in a body at that court,
Attended to do service to the Shah,
And brought three hundred steeds caparisoned
With gold, and scimitars with golden scabbards.
Swords, double-headed darts, and javelins glittered :
Thou wouldst have said : " Gold is compact with iron."
Upon one elephant, whose back was all
Housed in brocade, they set a turquoise throne,
Nile-blue, and bruit and stir filled earth and air,
Enough to deafen even the best of ears.
The ambassadors from Barda', Hind, and Rum,
From every sovereign and peopled realm,
And from the spear-armed horsemen of the desert,
Went in a body to the king who thus
Proved to the men of Chin : " Mine is the sway,
Mine from the sun down to the Fish's back."
Air was all stir and dust of horsemen, earth
All armature of war. They made mock-battle
Upon the plain whereon there sallied forth
The warlike cavaliers and wheeled awhile
In pride with sparth and arrow, mace and bow.
The plain was full of spear and javelin-men,
And here were foot, there horse. The envoys, sent
From every clime by every chief and ruler,
Astonied at his host and equipage,
His countenance, his glory, and address,
Held talk with one another, saying thus
In whispers : " This is an exalted Shah !
He seeketh honour, showeth horsemanship,
Displayeth to the warriors of the host
His spear-point, and the skill that he hath shown us
We ought to lay to heart that on returning,
Each to our king, we may remember it,
And say : None, young or old, hath seen one like
Shah Nushirwan.' ;
They told to the world's king
The sayings of the ambassadors in private.
He bade his treasurer bring upon the field
His battle-gear, had body-armour brought,
With helm and mail, and bade undo the buckles.
No lusty warrior, though broad of breast,
Could lift the breastplate even from its place !
The Shah alone had chest and neck to bear
The body-armour, mace, and morion.
There was no archer in the host like him,
And no such warrior among the nobles.
Like some fierce elephant he sought the field
With ox-head mace in hand and under him
A fiery steed ; his stature 'mazed the throng.
A shout rose and the blast of clarions,
While bells resounded from the elephants' backs,
And drummers with their cymbals led the way ;
Earth was in travail 'neath the horses' hoofs.
The king of kings, helmed on an armoured steed,
Wheeled to the left and right. The ambassadors
Applauded him and louted to the ground.
The world-lord sought his palace from the plain,
And all the chieftains followed in his train.

The Shah then bade a scribe come with Ardshir,
The high priest, and the scribe drew up on paper
A royal letter in the olden tongue.
He bathed his pen's two cheeks with ambergris,
And first gave praises to the Judge of all—
The Maker of the sky, height, depth, and love : —
" We all are thralls, He is the King of kings,
And wisdom beareth witness to His might.
No breath can pass, no emmet tread the ground,
Unless by His command. Him have I prayed
To further, if He will, my benison
Upon the Khan. Now, first, for what thou saidest
About the Haitalians : " They have girt up,
As I have told to thee, their loins for ill ;

They have shed blood unjustly, wantonly,
And have been taken in their proper toils : '
The evil-doer, though of lion's strength,
Must not be bold with God. Though these men bare
Themselves like leopards thou hast conquered them.
Again, for what thou said'st about thy treasure,
Host, puissance of Faghfur, his throne and crown :
The sage is not at one with him that speaketh
Of his own greatness. Never hast thou seen

The crown and throne of greatness, and the host
And march of Chach to thee are wonderful.
All greatness is a question of degree :
What star is higher than all other stars ?
Such is the language to be held with one
That seeth not treasure, army, march, or travail.
The mighty of the world have seen or heard,
If they have seen not, me, that I account not
The sea of Chin as water, and that mountains
Flee from my wrath. Earth is my treasury,
My care extendeth over sea and land.
Now, in the third place, thou wouldst be my friend,
And hast at heart to make with me a league.
Since thou art fain to feast I will not fight,
For no one e'er preferreth fight to feast,
And furthermore a wise man never seeketh
To fight against a man of high renown,
Still less with one compact of war, no laggard
Upon the day of battle, used to strife,
In battle-time requiring no instructor,
And one that in the fiercest of the mellay
Is as heart-calm as when enthroned and crowned.
May He that made the world be thine ally,
Thy crown and signet still continue bright.
They sealed this with the Shah's seal, gave new

lustre

To royal crown and throne, prepared a robe
Of honour, as the royal usage is,
And bade the envoys come before the Shah,
Who gave them verbal messages withal
In further explication of the letter.
The envoys well content then left the palace,
Set forth with acclamations on their way,
And came with tongues all praise before the Khan,
That world-experienced one put all folk forth ;
His minister attended at his throne.
The Khan called in the envoys and inquired
At large of them concerning Nushirwan,
First of his sense, his knowledge, and his counsel,
His mien, his conversation, and his stature ;
And secondly : " How many troops hath he,
And who of them hath crown and signet-ring ? "
Inquired about his rule, if just or not,
About his realm, his treasure, host, and crown.
The spokesman of the envoys loosed his tongue,
And answered touching all that he had seen.
He told the Khan : " Account not Nushirwan,
O king ! as one inferior to thyself.
A hundred ages see but few like him
For leadership, for statesmanship, and favour.
At home, at feast, at war, and at the chase
We never looked on such a sovereign.
In height he is a cypress-tree, in strength
An elephant ; his hand is like the Nile
For bounty ; throned he is a trusty sky,
In battle-tide a baleful crocodile.
When he is wroth he roareth like a cloud ;
The mighty lion quaileth at his voice,
But gentle is it when he revelleth,
And his warm utterances ravish hearts.
In state and throne he is the blest Surush ;
He is a royal and fruit-bearing Tree.
The whole folk of Iran compose his host,
And are the adorers of his diadem.
What time he holdeth court upon the plain

The world itself containeth not his troops.
His mace-men all have golden belts and all
His ministers decore and Grace divine.
As for the steps up to his ivory seat,
His elephants, thrones, armlets, torques and crowns,
No one in all the world can estimate
His state except the almighty Judge of all.
Although his foeman were an iron mount
'Twould be a needle's eye before his wrath.
Let him that is aweary of his life
Wax fierce and counter Nushirwan in strife ! "

On hearing this the Khan turned wan and like
The flower of fenugreek, his heart grew full
Of terror at the words, his brain was rent
By his solicitude. He sat in dudgeon
With his advisers, and he thus addressed
That noble company : " Ye men of wisdom !
What is our rede herein ? Who can be more
Concerned and hurt than I by this mischance ?
He must not conquer in the fight or all
Our fame will turn to infamy."

The sages

Took cognisance of all the affair and spake,
Suggesting divers lines of policy.
Then said the Khan : " Our policy is this—
To send a pledge of good faith to the Shah,
To take a deeper view and to arrange
That he shall be affined to me. I have
Full many a daughter in my ladies' bower —
All crowns upon the heads of noble dames —
And I will wed one to the king of kings,
And thus cut short my cares in that regard.
If we make blood-relationship with him
None will advise him to our detriment.
On his side it will be a joy and honour,
While war with any other is a jest."

The chiefs approved the counsel of the king,
And cried : " That is the course."

He chose three men

Of rank out of the host, men that could speak,
And grasp an answer. He unlocked his hoards
Of coin and said : " Why should we treasure jewels
Save to win fame, shun shame, or occupy
In largess, feasting, and expedient ? "

He had a gift made ready such as none,
Or great or small, e'er had beheld, and calling
A well experienced scribe declared his mind.
He first of all gave praises to the Maker,
All-wise, all-powerful, and all-sustaining,
The Lord of Saturn and of Sun and Moon,
The Lord of victory and mastery,
Who asketh from his slaves but righteousness,
And brooketh not that justice should be balked : —
" His blessing be upon the Iranian king,
The Lord of scimitar, of mace, and helm,
The Lord of understanding, crown, and throne,
And dowered by the God of victory
With fortune and content. The king of kings,
Of royal race, wise, weighty, learned, and just,
Is ware that men, albeit great and noble,
Fain would be dear in other men's regard.
Now when my sage ambassadors, the men
That are both mine associates and allies,
Had come back from thy court to mine and told me
At large about the Shah — his justice, wisdom,
Good fortune, crown, pre-eminence, and throne —

His Grace divine caused to arise in me
A great desire to shadow 'neath his wings.
Now naught is dearer than our own heart's blood,
And prudent children and our hearts are one ;
So let him, if he will, demand of me
One of my stainless daughters — her that is
Most gentle, fair, discreet — and she in sooth
Shall profit him, the marches of Iran
And Chin shall meet, our worship be the more."

This was all written out on silk of Chin,
And carried with the seal to the wazir.
The Khan selected from among his kin
Three men of noble rank and eloquence,
And they departed from the exalted court
Iran-ward to the exalted Shah who, when
He heard thereof, prepared his crown and sat
Upon his royal throne of ivory.
So those three men of prudence and high rank
Arrived before the exalted throne. They brought
Three turbans, of dinars some thirty thousand,
And laid them as a gift before the Shah.
The gifts of gold and silver, the brocade
Of Chin, made earth more brilliant than the sky.
Now When the envoys duly had been seated
They called down blessings in their native tongue,
And then the Shah's chief minister prepared

Fit lodging for them. Heaven revolved one night,
And when the bright sun rose above the mountains
The Shah sat down upon the turquoise throne,
And set a crown of jewels on his head.
He ordered that the archmages and the chiefs
Should sit in conclave with the famous sages,
And said thus : " Bring and lay before the scribe
The letter writ on silk."

The nobles all
Sat round while Yazdagird drew near the Shah,
And read the letter which amazed the throng,
Such good will, fair excuse, and compliment
Were patent in the utterance of the Khan.
All those illustrious and prudent chiefs
Began to praise the king : " Thanks be to God,
With whom our refuge is, that He hath set
Upon the state a Shah endowed with Grace,
With victory, and majesty, a Shah
Good, kind, and prudent, one that is in fight
A mighty, raging elephant, in feast
A gallant host. All foes are underlings
Of thine, if they be worthy of that title.
We all were fearful of this power from Chach,
And of the Khan, who hath both crown and treasure,
By the imperial Grace is now our friend,
And seeketh with the Shah affinity.
One that is wise among the warrior-chiefs
Will tender peace and justice. Since the Khan
Is ware that he can not withstand the Sahh
He seeketh for affinity to him.
There should be no delay in this affair,
For such affinity disgraceth none.
His troops extend from Chin up to Bukhara,
And all the chiefs are under his protection."
Now when the Shah heard what those sages said —
Those magnates and archmages shrewd of heart —
They cleared the hall of strangers and then brought
The ambassadors in haste before the Shah.
The king of kings received them graciously,
And set them near the throne. Those chosen men
Of Chach beheld the chief in all his pomp
Of troops, wealth, crown, and gave their master's
message,
Protesting that their words were true. The Shah,
When he had heard the fervent words thus uttered
In gentle accents by the chiefs of Chin,

Replied : " The Khan is great, wise, worshipful.,
Desireth kinship with us through his child,
And illustrateth thus his own good will.
The man whom understanding maketh wise
Will look upon affairs with wisdom's eye ;
We will take order, will advise us well,
And make response to all that he hath said
On this condition — that the Khan of Chin
Shall give our heart the liberty of choice.
I will dispatch a wise man who shall look
On all his women-folk and shall select
The most illustrious and dear to him,
See what her own maternal grandsire was,
And her own quality of royal birth.
When what we name shall have been done the Khan
Will have performed his portion of the pact."

The envoys called down praises, saying thus : —
" The Khan of Chin rejoiceth in the Shah,
And were his ladies' bower a cloud of jewels
He would withhold it not from Nushirwan.
Select among the sages one to go
Before the Khan whose ladies shall not fail
In that one's sight their faces to unveil."

The king of kings heard what they said ; the age,
Outworn, revived for him. He called a scribe.
Spake of the Khan at large, and bade indite
An answer couched in choice and gracious terms.
He first gave praises to almighty God,
" The World-lord, Conqueror, and Nourisher.
The world is 'stablished by His ordinance ;
He is our Guide to good. He giveth worth
To whom He will and from abasement raiseth
Such to high heaven, the while another man
Is left in luckless case because unfavoured
By Him to Whom I own that thanks are due
For every blessing, and of Whom my heart
Is fearful when I do amiss. I would
That life should cease within my heart if I
E'er should desist from hope and fear in Him.
The worshipful ambassador hath come,
And brought a gracious message from the Khan.
Heard have I what was said about a league,
And of the virtuous daughters of his house :
My heart would joy to be allied to him,
And in especial through his own chaste child.
Lo ! I have sent to thee a prudent man,
A man whose mind esteemeth wisdom dear.
On coming he will tell thee all my views
As touching this alliance first and last.
Mayst thou for ever have a reverent mind,

Be happy-hearted and our warm friend still."
The writer, when the pen was out of work,
Embellished all the paper, rolled it up,
And, when the last tears of the pen were dry,
Affixed a seal of musk. The Shah bestowed
A robe of honour on the ambassadors,
Such as amazed the company, and chose
A wise old chief, by name Mihran Sitad,
And five score famed Iranian cavaliers,
All men renowned, discreet, and eloquent,
And said thus to Mihran Sitad : "Go forth
Glad and triumphant, and with love and justice.
Be thine the fluent tongue of chiefs, be wisdom

Thy guide, thy heart all lovingkindliness.
Scan well the women's quarters of the Khan,
And throughly search out all their good and ill.
They must not fool thee with a mere display
Of countenance, of grace, and ornament.
The Khan hath many daughters stately, tall,
And crowned, behind his curtains, and of these
The offspring of his slaves are not for me,
Although they have a king to father them ;
Look thou for one that is both meek and good,
Whose mother is descended from the Khans.
If she hath gifts according to her birth
She will rejoice the world and live in joy."

Mihran Sitad, when he had heard, invoked
Much blessing on the crown and throne, and left
The portal of the world-illuming Shah
At a propitious season on the day
Khurdad. News of his coming reached the Khan,
Who sent out troops to welcome him, and when
He reached the presence of the Khan he kissed
The ground and proffered praise. On seeing him
That world-aspiring king received him well,
Assigning him an honourable room,
But, being much concerned at the affair,
Withdrew to the apartments of the queen,
Declared to her the words of Nushirwan,
Spake of his treasures and his host, and : " This
Shah Nushirwan," he told her, " is still young,
And wary, and his fortune is young also.
Fain am I to bestow on him a daughter
To magnify our worship in his sight.
One such I have, concealed behind the veil —
A Crown upon the head of lady-hood,

The fairest of the fair throughout the world,
And many a chief hath sought her at my hands.
I love her so that never would I cease
To gaze upon her face. I have four others—
The offspring of my slaves, themselves both slaves
And handmaids, clever girls — and one of them
Will I bestow on him, and rest from warfare,
And from dispute'

The queen replied to him :—

" None in the world will oust thee, thou'rt so wise ! "

In such discourse they passed the night away
Until the sun ascended o'er the mountains,
And then Mihran Sitad arrived, drew near
The throne, and gave the letter. When the Khan
Had read he smiled upon the union
And goodly choice proposed, gave up the key
That oped his ladies' bower, and said : "Go look
On what is hidden there."

Four trusty slaves
Came to accompany Mihran Sit ad,
Who, when he heard the Khan, went with the key
And them withal. He oped the doors. They entered,
The slaves protesting to him : " Never star
And sun and moon have seen the sight that thou
Art on thy way to see ! "

The, ladies' bower

Was Paradise adorned — all Suns and Moons
And goodly havings — while upon the throne
Five fay-faced maidens sat crowned and arrayed
In treasures, save the daughter of the queen,
Who wore no crown or bracelet, torque or jewel,
But only had on her a well-worn robe,
And for a crown her musky locks divine.
Her cheeks were made not up : she only wore
What God had given her — a Cypress she,
Surmounted by a new moon that diffused
A lustre o'er the new throne where she sat.
Now when Mihran Sit ad came and beheld
He saw none like to her, and, being shrewd
Of heart and counsel, knew that king and queen
Were fooling him. The damsel used her hands
As kerchief for her eyes. Mihran Sitad
Grew wroth anew and told the slaves : " The Shah
Hath many a bracelet, crown, and throne, and I
Choose her that lacketh crown and ornament,
For These will make her still more beautiful.
I came to show discretion in my choice ;
I came not to procure brocade of Chin."

The queen replied : " Old man ! thou speakest not
One gracious word and art not well advised
If thou preferrest such a child as this
To these princesses who are gracious, fair,
And wise, have reached a marriageable age,
And kindle hearts — girls tall as cypress-trees,
With cheeks like spring and very well aware
Of all the worship that is due to kings."

Mihran Sitad said : " If the Khan shall act
Unfairly in this matter let him know
That Nushirwan, the monarch of the world,
Will term me an old knave. The one that sitteth,
All unadorned by bracelet, torque, and crown,
Upon the ivory throne best pleaseth me ;
But. if' your Highnesses will not consent,

With your permission I will go my ways."

The queen observed his words. His policy
And conduct made her muse. The crafty envoy
Then left Her. went back to the Khan, and told
All that had passed. The Khan saw him perturbed,
And knew : " This shrewd old man is great and apt
For delicate affairs

The prudent king

Sat with his counsellors, put forth the throng,
And, when the place for conclave had been cleared.
The readers of the stars who bore in hand
Their Ruman astrolabes, the mighty men,

And all the chiefs, attended. Then the Khan
Commanded every loyal liege to mark
The aspect of the sky. The sages scanned
The stars to find out how the Khan should act,
And as to his alliance with the Shah,
And at the last said thus : " Let not, O king !
Thy heart be vexed by evil any whit,
Because this matter can but end in good,
And time will count thy foemen's counsels ill.
This is the purpose of high heaven herein—
The horoscope and prosperous event —
That from the daughter of the Khan and from
The Shah's loins a throne-gracing prince will come ;
The country of Iran, the men of name
And worth in Chin, his praises shall proclaim."

The Khan, on hearing this, was glad of heart,
Smiled too the sunlike queen. When they had purged
Their hearts of artifice they set the envoy
Before them and told all that he should know
About the queen's child kept secluded thus,
Whom from her sire Mihran Sitad received
On the victorious king of kings' behalf.
The deputy received, the Khan bestowed,
The only daughter that the queen had borne.
The handmaids came with gifts, came joyfully
Before the king, and afterwards a treasure,
Comprising goods of all sorts, was prepared-
Dinars, gems, torques, and crowns, a turquoise litter,
An ivory throne, and one of aloe-wood
From Hind, with gold and divers jewelry
Inlaid, and with each throne a royal crown ;

A hundred horses and a hundred camels,
The horses saddled and the camels bearing
Brocade of Chin, and forty tapestries
Of cloth of gold enriched with emeralds.
Of carpets too he laid a hundred loads
On camels, and brought forth three hundred handmaids,
And saw that all were mounted for the journey,
Each with a flag in hand — the use in Chin.
The Khan, victorious of fortune, bade
To set up on an elephant a throne
Embossed with gold and silver all incrusted
With gems unworn, and rear a flaunting flag
That made the ground all viewless with brocade.
It took a hundred men to carry forth,
And raise, that standard skyward from the plain.
A litter tricked out with brocade and gold
Contained the maiden Gem. Three hundred hand-
maids,

All blithe of heart and bright of countenance,
Accompanied that moon-faced one. He sent
His daughter to the Shah with troops for escort,
And forty eunuchs to precede the slaves,
And march before her with rejoicing hearts.
The preparations over, came the scribe,
And brought with him rose-water, musk, and silk.
The Khan then wrote a letter like the Artang,
All illustration, colour, scent, and beauty,
And first of all gave praises to the Maker,
Lord of the world, all-watchful and all-seeing : —

He fashioned all things by divine decree
To guide His servants to predestined ends.
My crown is the Iranian king of kings.

Not for my daughter's sake have I desired
A league with him, but hearing from the wise,
The great men and the wary-hearted priests,
About his Grace, his majesty, and throne,
I sought for intercourse and league with him
Because so just a ruler girdeth not
His loins in all the world, or one so great
In manhood, victory, and mastery,
In Grace, mien, throne, and crown, while holy God
Sustaineth him with justice and with knowledge,
With Faith and wisdom. Lo ! we have dispatched,
According to our rites, our very Eye
To Nushirwan the Shah, commanding her
To serve him as his slave when she shall pass
Behind his curtains. From his Grace and insight
She will learn wisdom and acquire his ways
And usages. May wit and fortune guide thee,
Be majesty and knowledge thy supports."

They set the seal upon that musk of Chin,
And gave the letter to the ambassador
With compliments. The Khan prepared for him
A robe of honour past all precedent
As given by the great ones of the world
In public or in private to an envoy.
The Khan gave presents also to the suite,
And made them happy with dinars and musk.
He travelled with his daughter and the goods,
The beasts and elephants caparisoned,
Until he reached the bank of the Jihun,
And poured his heart's blood from his eyes the

while ;

He thence betook him homeward with full heart
And, in his daughter's stead, had pain for comrade ;
Howbeit he delayed till they had crossed,
And reached dry land upon the further side.
When tidings came about Mihran Sitad
The folk presented gifts and offerings,
And all with one consent called blessings down
Upon the Shah and on the chief of Chin.
With hearts rejoiced with largess and with gifts,
And all disposed for hospitality
And amity, the folk decked road and city,
And showered drachms upon the royal bride.
Toward Amwi and Marv's unwatered ways
All earth was like a pheasant's plumes, and thou
Hadst said of all the journey to Bastam am,
And to Gurgan : " The earth saw not the sky
For decorations and triumphal arches
In waste and town wherethrough the progress lay."
Men. women, children, from the palaces,
Met where that Idol brought from Chin would pass,
Showered on her escort drachms from overhead,
And sifted o'er them musk and ambergris.
The scents were mixed on salvers, and the world
Was full of din from trump and kettledrum.
The horses' manes were drenched with musk and
wine,
And sweets and drachms were scattered under-foot,
While through the din of rebeck, harp, and pipe,
There was no room on earth for rest and sleep.
Now when the Idol reached the royal bower,
And Nushirwan had looked within the litter,
He saw a Cypress with the orbed moon
Above it and upon the moon a crown
Of ambergris. There was another too
Of musky coils joined chain-wise, link on link,
The links entrammelled, plaited daintily,
And curiously entwined like civet ring-work
Upon a rose's petal, while beneath
The ring-work shone the planet Jupiter.
Shah Nushirwan was all astound thereat,
And o'er her oft invoked the name of God,
Assigned her a fit dwelling for her own,
And they made ready for that Moon a throne.

When of Iran and of the Iranian king

News reached the Khan of Chin, and of the joy
Wherewith his child had been received, and how
The alliance caused good cheer and happiness,
He gave up Sughd and Samarkand and Chach,
And sent his crown on to Kachar Bashi.
Now when the hosts of Chin had left these states
The Shah sent marchlords thither. He renewed
The world by equity, and old and young
Could sleep upon their backs. All everywhere
Called blessings down on him with hands upraised
To heaven : O Ruler over space and time !
Keep in Shah Nushirwan this justice still,
And turn the ills of fortune from his life,
For by his Grace divine and majesty
Both public ills and private have been banned.
What time he reached Gurgan to hunt none saw
The Khan's face smile ; the cavaliers of Chin
Forwent their food and sleep, and none off-saddled ;
Three hundred thousand Turkman troops dispersed
Instead of striving and of combating ;
There is no need to string the bow, for none
Of Chin, or small or great, remaineth here,
Such were the Grace divine and royal mien
Wherewith the savage Lion sought the chase ;

Such were his reputation and his star

That fortune was the comrade of his throne."

Then from the regions lying 'twixt Amwi.
Chach, and Khutan, the nobles met and said : —
" These spacious regions full of pleasances,
Of riding-grounds, of palaces, and halls,
From Chach and the Tarak to Samarkand
And Sughd are wholly waste — the home of owls.
They of Chaghan, Shiknan. Khatlan, and Balkh,
Have all experienced dark and bitter days.
Great are our pain and sorrow when we name
Bukhara and Kharazm, Amwi and Zam.
Once none gat rest and sleep, so tyrannous
And cruel was Afrasiyab ! Howbeit
We found deliverance when Kai Khusrau
Came, and the world had peace from bickering.
Then when Arjasp gained lustihead these marches
Were filled with anguish and calamity,
But when Gushtasp marched from Iran to battle
Arjasp perceived no tarrying-place, and then
The world had quiet from his enterprises.

May heaven ne'er befriend him ! Afterwards,
What time Narsi became the chief, these coasts
Were full of misery, but when Shapur,
Son of Urmuzd, usurped, and when Narsi
Discerned not hand from foot, the world found justice,
And quiet, and the hand of Ahriman
Was stayed from evil. When the Khan bore off
The world from Yazdagird, and had acquired
Dexterity in ill. there came the world-lord,
Bahram Gur, to afflict and trouble him,
To make the states like Paradise with justice,
And scatter the unseemly and the foul.
So Khushnawaz, what time Piruz was Shah,
Filled all the world with bloodshed, heat, and anguish,
And perish Faghanish that son of his

With all his unjust kith and kin ! And now
The world-lord Nushirwan hath occupied
Our marches and hath made us rich indeed !
For ever may his policy endure,
And may the whole world be at one with him.
Now that the earth beholdcth justice we
Will contemplate no travail, shed no blood."

Then from the Haitalians, Turkmans, and Khutan
The people met by the Gulzaryun
From every quarter where some shrewd priest lived,
Or other potentate good, learned, and wise,
While all the Turkmans that were well advised
Drew to the Shah — a mighty company.
It was the policy of all these troops
To come before the Shah with offerings,
And when they came before him, when they came,
All with one heart and tongue, the monarch's court
Was so fulfilled with people that they barred
The way to ant and gnat ! All louted low,
Called praises down upon the Shah, and said :—
" O Shah ! we are thy slaves and live to do
Thy bidding in the world. We all of us
Are nobles dight for war and rend the hides
Of leopards on the field."

The king of kings

Received their gifts, and then they left the presence,
Their leader Faghanish. Behind him came
A troop of youthful warriors. When thus
They had found favour in the monarch's sight
The chamberlain went to the palace-gate
With formal greetings and with compliments,
And lodged them through the city. Afterwards
The king of kings, that worshipper of God,

Passed from the audience-chamber to the dust,
And offered up thanksgivings to the Almighty : —
" O Thou above vicissitudes of fortune !
Thou gav'st me Grace, accomplishment, and counsel,
And art my Guide in all things good and ill.
For all that hear of me seek not thereafter
The crown of majesty, but all submit
To be my lieges. None hath pluck to fight.
Birds on the mountains, fishes in the water,
Remain awake to watch what time I slumber :
All the wild creatures are my sentinels,
The mighty of the world mine underlings ;
No abject he whom Thou dost choose who art
The world's sole Lord and giv'st me strength therein
That not an ant may sleep aggrieved by me."

'Twas thus he spake with many tears to God :
Canst find within the world a king like him ?
Then from his place of prayer he sought his throne,,
And they prepared to quit Gurgan. The blast
Of trumpets and the din of brazen cymbals
Ascended from the court. He called to horse-
And loaded up, invoking the All-giver.

He took dinars, brocade, crowns, belts, and treasures
Of drachms and gems, steeds, female slaves, and

crowns,

The turquoise litter and the ivory throne.
The heart-alluring handmaids and the thralls
Of all descriptions mounted on the saddle.
The Shah dispatched them all to Taisafun,
Preceded by the women-folk of Chin,
Who fared auspiciously and cheerfully

Surrounded by the eunuchs. As high Priest
Mihran Sit ad accompanied the queen,
The daughter of the Khan, and thus the treasures
And baggage went toward Taisafun. A band
Composed of warriors only — all the best
And noblest of the mighty men — approached

Afoot Azar Abadagan while troops
Came from each province, soldiers from Gilan
And Dilaman, the mountains of Baluch,
And deserts of Saruch, and warriors
From Luch, all came with gifts and offerings
Before the tent-enclosure of the king,
Whereat the famous chiefs rejoiced and thought : —
" The wolf's claws grow too short to reach the sheep !

World without end strife with Baluch had raged,
And filled the cities with distress and anguish,
But by the Grace of Nushirwan the sky
Had changed its use and favour. Wheresoever
The host was wont to pass it did not use
To harm a crop, to ask for bread and water,
But made its sleeping-quarters on its route.
The Shah on this wise went about the world,
Surveying every place, both field and waste.
He saw that all the world was full of crops,
While sheep and oxen filled the hills and plains.
A region ne'er before inhabited,

Where none had looked on sowing and on reaping,
He now surveyed and found it bearing fruit,
Found too a family in every house.
The trees were laden through the Grace divine
Of that victorious master of the world.
At one stage of the progress of the Shah
The ambassador of Caesar came with presents,
With silver and withal a throne of gold,
And Ruman jewels and brocade — a gift
That covered all the surface of the ground :
So great a tribute ne'er had come from Rum.
Ten ox-hides had been filled up with dinars —
The tribute and the taxes of three years —

And with the presents Caesar had dispatched
A letter to the famous king. They set
The envoy in the presence, and the Shah
Was all attention while they read the letter.
'Twas full of warm expressions of good will
About the gifts that had been sent to him : —

Hereafter will I send thee greater gifts,
For these are merely meant for largessing."

The Shah received them, mounted on his steed,
And sought the temple of Azargashasp.
When, still afar, he saw the place of worship
His cheeks were hidden by his tears. He lighted
Down from his steed and, sacred twigs in hand,
Made prayer with bated breath ; then drawing near
The Fire he worshipped and adored the Maker.
He gave the temple-bursar all the gold,
And all the many gems that he had brought,
And showered gold and silver on the archmages,
Bestowing on them likewise gems and raiment.
All were enriched by him and sought the Fire
To offer up their thanks in muttered tones,
And blessed withal the righteous judge of earth.
He parted thence for Taisafun ; the host
Made earth a Mount Bistun. That righteous Shah,
On reaching am to give

Much gold and silver to the mendicants.
Through all the wealth that he disposed of thus
The realm was stuffed with treasure and with drachms.
From Taisafun he drew toward Mada in,
For there he wont to keep his treasuries' key.
He took the Rose of Chin and forty more
Withal. Mihran Sitad fared on before.

When Nushirwan ascended to his throne
In pomp, with his good fortune for his mate,
The world was decked like Paradise with justice,
With goodliness, and wealth, had rest from strife,
Inequity, and bloodshed, everywhere,
And was renewed by Grace divine. " They have,"
Thou wouldst have said, " bound both the hands of

evil."

None knew of pillage, raid, or putting forth
The hand to ill ; all came at his behest
From darkness and perverseness to the way.
If any dropped a drachm upon the road
A thief would shun that wealth ! As for brocade
And for dinars, on land and sea, by daylight,
And in the hours for sleep, the ill-disposed
Would look not to that quarter out of fear,
And through the justice of the Shah, the world-lord.
The world was pargetted like Paradise,
And dale and desert were fulfilled with wealth.
Dispatches went to all the provinces,
To every man of name and potentate,
While from the Turkman merchants and from Chin,
Saklab and every province, came such store
Of musk-bags and of silk of Chin, of trinkets
Of Rum and of the land of Hind, as made
Iran like jocund Paradise ; its dust
Was ambergris, its bricks were gold. The world
Turned toward Iran and rested from distress
And bickering. " The breezes shed rose-water,"
Thou wouldst have said, and men had peace from pain
And leech. The moisture showered upon the rose
In season, and the farmer was not sad
Through lack of rain. The world grew full of herbage
And cattle, plains and valleys were all flowers,
Rooftrees, and dwellings, all the streams seemed seas,
And roses Pleiad-like within the gardens.
Men learned to speak new tongues within Iran,
Illumed their souls with knowledge, and returned
Thanksgiving to their guide, the Shah, for all
The traffickers that came from every march
And land, from Turkistan, Chin, Hind, and Rum,
While cattle multiplied amid the herbage.
All learned men and ready speakers found
A place at court. The great, the men of lore,
And archimages were esteemed, the wicked
Shook fearful of calamity. What time
The sun adorned the world a proclamation
Would go up from the court : " All ye that are
The servants of the monarch of the world !
Keep. not ill hidden, any one of you !
Whoe'er hath toiled at any task shall have
A treasure in proportion to his travail.
Prefer your claims before our chamberlain
That he may seek your recompense from us.
If any creditor shall come and ask
For payment from the poor, my treasurer
Will pay the debt because the destitute
Must not be troubled. Whosoeer shall look
Upon another's wife, and his accuser
Appeal to us, the offender shall see naught
But pit and gibbet, bondage in the pit,
And arrows on the gibbet. If men find
A horse at large, and any husbandman
Complain thereof at court, let it be slain
Upon that tilth, and he shall have the carcass
Who had the scath, the horseman shall be horseless,
And fare afoot before Azargashasp
To tender his excuse, the muster-master
Shall strike his name off from the muster-roll,
They shall lay low his dwelling, and the offender,
Whate'er his rank may be, shall be degraded.
The Shah can not be of one mind with such,
Will have the righteous only at his court,
And at our court God grant there never be
Those that approve not of our policy."

One day the world-lord, as he sat rejoicing,
Gave audience to the mighty men of wisdom.
He spake with smiles and open countenance,
And seated Buzurjmihr upon the throne,
Who offered to the king such praise as made
His heart like jocund spring, and thus he said : —
" O righteous judge so fresh of visage ! may
Fault-finders never find a fault in thee.
Blest king of kings, whose fortune prospereth,
The wise, triumphant master of the world !
I erst recorded in the olden tongue
Some thoughts upon a roll of royal paper,
Which I entrusted to thy treasurer
Till there might come a season when the Shah
Would read it, but I see the mystery
Is one that laggard heaven will disclose not.
What though a man shall quit his seat at feasts,
And take his life within his hands in fight,
Shall sweep the earth of enemies and be
Secure against the toils of Ahrimans,
Shall be the great king over all the world,
And consummate his wishes one by one,

Shall win the wide world by his bravery,
Make rosary and pleasance, park and palace,
Shall lay up wealth, have sons surrounding him,
And reckon many days of happiness,
Shall bring together warriors and wealth,
Shall decorate his palaces and halls,
And, while the poor are toiling for his sake,
Amass on all sides treasure and renown,
Still willy nilly he but gathereth dust ;
His lifetime will not last a century.

He will be dust, his toils will bear no fruit
For him, and all his wealth will be his foe's.

No children, throne or crown or royal hall,
Or treasury or army will be his,
And when he ceaseth to pursue the wind
None in the world will give a thought to him.
Of all his doings when his time is over
A good name will be his memorial.
In this world there are two things that endure,
And only two, the rest will last with none —
Choice sayings and good doings : these will last
Until the world shall end, auspicious Shah !
Time's course is such that fame and honest speech
Spoil not through sun and water, wind and dust.
The modest man and virtuous is blest.
Avoid, O king ! ith all thy might the faults
That shame the soul. Harm not but help ; thus Faith
And precedent prescribe. I leave behind me
Words that, I ween, ne'er will grow obsolete."
He oped the king's shrewd heart who questioned him
On many points : " Who is the glorious man,
Whose heart is glad, who sigheth not ? "
He answered : —
" The innocent, the man whom Ahriman
Hath caused not to transgress."

The Shah then asked him
Concerning guile, the Div's way, and the way
Of God, the world's Lord. Buzurjmihr replied : —
" To do God's will is best, for in both worlds
The Grace is His. The door of evil leadeth
To Ahriman who is the enemy
Of those that worship God. The high-souled man
Is blessed in the world, for his adornments
Are holiness and modesty. Since knowledge
Safe-guardeth him his life is one of ease,
He hath nobility and righteousness,
And knocketh not upon the door of guile,
And loss. When he is dead his soul will be
A foe to what pertaineth to the body.
He is not negligent about them both,
But is concerned for either sword or scabbard."
Then Nushirwan inquired : " Among the chiefs

What man attaineth to the highest standard ? "
Said Buzurjmihr : " The man that hath most know-
ledge,

And most controlment over his desires."
" Who is the man of knowledge," said the Shah,
" For knowledge is a matter hid in men ? "
" The man that neither severeth heart from God,"
He answered, " at the bidding of the Div,
Nor out of wantonness obeyeth one
That is the foe of souls and wisdom's snare.
Ten Ahrimans there are with lion's might,
Who lord it over wisdom and the soul."
" What then are these ten divs," said Nushirwan,

" Since wisdom hath good reason to bewail them ? "
He thus made answer, saying : " Greed and Need

Are two o'erweening divs and puissant.

The rest are Anger, Envy, Strife, Revenge,

Backbiting, Treachery, and Faith Impure.

The tenth div is Ingratitude to men
For benefits and Ignorance of God."
The Shah said : "Of these ten divs, ruinous
And black, which Ahriman is lustiest ? "
He answered Nushirwan thus, saying : " Greed
Is a tyrannic div. the last to go.
Him never wilt thou see content in aught,
But ever labouring for something more.
All those that look on Need behold him blind,
And sallow with anxiety and pain.
The div of Envy is the next, O king !
And is an ailment that no leech can cure.
His soul is pained to see one prosperous.
Strife is another div and passionate,
For ever quick to put his hand to ill ;
Revenge, another, wrathful, turbulent,
And instant to arouse the battle-cry
In men, unloving and ungenerous —
A div malignant and with frowning face ;
Another, Slander, knowing naught but lies.
And doing all his traffic in the dark ;
Another, Treachery, with double face,
Who feareth not the Master of the world,
But flingeth strife and vengeance 'twixt two men
And toileth to break up alliances :
The last, Ingratitude and Ignorance —
A witless div unconscious of all good,
Contemptuous of rede and modesty,
And in whose sight both good and ill are
The king then asked the sage: "How doth the
Div
Make war against the heart, and what hath God
Bestowed upon His servants so that they
May counteract the Div ? "
That man of Faith
Replied : " Wise, glorious Shah ! against the sword
Of divs the coat of mail is wisdom ; that
Illumineth the sage's heart and mind,
Recordeth what is passed and nourisheth

The soul with knowledge. Oh ! may wisdom be
The guider of thy mind because the way
Is long before thee, and if wisdom prove
A second nature, as the saying is,
So that the heart is fearless of the Div,
The good heart will find pleasure in the world,
And not frequent the portal of desire.
Now will I utter words of hope to guide
The heart to joy : the sage is always hopeful,
And seeth naught but happiness from time,
Not for a moment meditateth ill,
And chooseth not the bow's path but the arrow's.
Moreover one contented doth not stretch
His hand to treasure or fatigue himself ;
He that despiseth drachm and treasury
Will fleet his sum of days in happiness.
Moreover one that is devote to God
In all will turn not from His ordinance
For toil or treasure or the fear of man ;
He hath no strain of evil in his nature,
And by that token he is virtuous too
Because he will sell not God's way for aught."
Said Nushirwan : " Which is the royal way
Conducting us to good ? "

He answered thus : —

" The way of wisdom doubtlessly, surpasseth
All knowledge. Likewise being well disposed
Will keep a man in honour all his days ;
While of the qualities the mightiest
Is in my view contentment with one's lot ;
The most agreeable, which refresheth most
In travail, and the seemliest, is hope.
In greed I see the weariest of all,
For that is never satiate of wealth."

The Shah said : " Which accomplishment is best,
The one whereby aspirants win to greatness ? "

He answered : " Knowledge, for the sage is greatest
Among the great as clutching not at treasure,
And holding of himself aloof from travail."

The Shah then asked him : " How shall we proceed
To overcome the might of enemies ? "

" Ill-doing is the enemy," he answered,
" Alike of wisdom and the soul serene."

The righteous judge then asked. the sage and said :—
" Is talent or is application better ? "

The sage made answer, saying : " Application
Is more than natural ability.
For application furnisheth the mind,
While talent only maketh talking easy,

And when untrained, is wretched, vile, and weak,
But application strengthened the soul."

" How can the mind be polished," said the Shah,
And what accomplishments commend the body ? "

" Now," said he, " will I make a full reply,. ' "

If thou wilt take it from me point by point :
Since wisdom is itself God's robe of honour
No thought can gain it and no evil touch it ;
So one accomplished but withal conceited
Should have no credit for accomplishments,
While no wise man regardeth with disdain
The merest peasant well-disposed by nature,
And though a sage join bounty to high birth,
Join knowledge, conduct, equity, yet will

His greatness, his addition, and uprightness
All suffer. if his natural bent be vicious."

Then Nushirwan inquired : " Illustrious scholar !
Doth greatness come from toil or doth the world-lord
Get crown and throne from fortune ? " ? "

He replied : —
" The fortune and accomplishment of men
Are mates allied and joined like soul and body,
The body visible, the soul concealed.
The body is man's instrument for toil,
When wakeful fortune shall bestir itself,
But by his travail ne'er will he attain
To greatness if good fortune guide him not.
Again, the world is all deceit and wind,
Or memory of a dream that vanisheth
When one awaketh, whether he beheld
A pleasant vision or a painful one."

A question then occurred to Nushirwan ;
He asked the sage : " Who should be praised ? "

He answered : —

" A king that doth adorn the throne and hath
His strength from fortune will, if he doth justly,
And is of fair repute, attain his end
In word and deed."

" What man is sorrowful,"
The Shah said, " luckless, and unprofitable ? "

The sage replied : " The wicked mendicant,
Who loseth both this world and Paradise."

" Who is the luckless one," rejoined the Shah,
" For whom we must weep always bitterly ? "

And Buzurjmihr replied : " The man of know-
ledge,
Whose face is sallow through his evil deeds."

The Shah asked further : " Who is the contented,
And who is anxious to increase his store ? "

He made response : " He that regardeth not
The revolutions of the turning sky."

Then Nushirwan : " What man best suiteth us ? "
And Buzurjmihr replied : " The gentlest man."

" But who is gentle," asked the Shah, " for why
The hasty give us cause to weep ? "

He answered ; —
Mark him that shunneth converse with fault-
finders ;

That man hath modesty and gentleness,
With wisdom, counsel, and propriety."

The famed king asked him : " Who is hopefullest
Of men ? "

" Whose ears are open unto knowledge most."

The monarch of the world inquired of him
Of privy rumour as to good and ill.
He thus returned reply : " It is the cause
Of ample chatter but an empty brain.
Say what they will the earth is still in place ;
I know not how the other world doth fare."

Then Nushirwan : " What land most prospereth.
And how have we contributed therein ? "

" The justice of the world-lord," he replied,
" Establisheth a land's prosperity."
Then Nushirwan inquired : " Inform me this :

What man is shrewdest. most approved, and prudent
Within the world because the adept increaseth
One's lustre ? "

He replied : "An ancient sage
That hath been mindful of experience."

Said Nushirwan : " Who is the happy man
That Liveth upright and right glad ? "

He answered : —

" One free from apprehension and possessed
Of gold and silver '.

Nushirwan inquired : —
" Which of us best deserveth praise, and who
Is most approved by all ? "

He answered thus : —
" He that can hide his need and can suppress

Strife envy, greed, revenge, and jealousy :
That man will find approval in the world."
The Shah inquired of the long-suffering,
Whose crown is patience.

Buzurjmihr replied : —

That is the man grown hopeless, with heart dark,
And yet his counsel is sun-bright, or else
The man that hath but little time to live,
And yet hath entered on some vast employ."

The Shah said : " Who hath grief so much at heart
That he is weary of his life through care ? "

And Buzurjmihr made answer thus : " The man
Fall'n from a throne and desperate of fortune."

The exalted king inquired of him and said :—
" Who of us hath his heart in sorry plight ? "

The sage replied : " The man that is not wise,
And rich man childless."

" Whose heart," asked the Shah,
" Is sad through trouble and calamity ? "

He answered thus: "The upright man of know-
ledge
O'er whom besottedness is sovereign."

The Shah said : " Who is fullest of despair
Although possessing power and reputation ? "

" The man that falleth from a lofty throne,"
He said, " retaining still his pride of birth."

Shah Nushirwan inquired of him and said : —
" O man of foresight and of ardent soul !
Whom knowest thou unfamed and lustreless,
And yet deserving both of love and pardon ? "

He answered thus : " The man of many faults,
The culpable, the mendicant, and needy."
The Shah inquired and said : " Now tell me truly :
Who is it that repenteth of the past ? "

He said : " The great king who, when he shall put
The black cap on upon his dying-day,
Repenteth with a heart all terror-stricken
Of all his life's ingratitude to God,
And he moreover who hath undergone
Abundant travail for ungrateful men."

The Shah inquired : " O sage that dost combine
All excellence ! know'st thou of aught that maketh
The body profitable and is dear
To all men's hearts withal ? "

He made reply :—

" In health the heart will seek but happiness,
But when through suffering the life is failing
The body's one desire is then for health."

The Shah rejoined : " Good man ! expound to me
Which is the strongest of the appetites ? "

Said Buzurjmihr : " The great are not exposed
To such solicitings and, since their bodies,
Which have no wish unsatisfied, fare well,
Have only need to seek their heart's desire."

The Shah then asked his guide: "What is the-
heart's
Chief care ? "

" The sage," he answered, " would inform
His - questioner that there are three chief cares-
First, apprehension of the evil day,
Lest ill then should befall the innocent ;
Next, of the practice of a treacherous friend.
Who fain would have brain, life and blood and skin ;
And thirdly, of a great but unjust king,
Who knoweth not the worthless from the good.
How happy is the course of time with him
That hath a prudent friend and counsellor !
A bright world and a great king who is just —
Thou'lt get from heaven no greater excellence."

The Shah next asked of Faith and right — the means
Of banning fraud and falsehood. He replied :— :—
" Incline, O Shah ! to one of Faith whose mind
Is filled with thoughts of God — the man averse
From guile and from the Div's way through his awe
Of holy God, the Master of the world,
And hearkening to His law. None such will barter
The Faith."

The Shah then asked concerning kings,
Whose rule is o'er the holy : " Which of them
Is of victorious fortune and throne-worthy ? "

He answered thus : " The just possessed of

wisdom,
Of counsel, modesty, and excellence."

The Shah then questioned him about old friends,
Such as are one with us in ear and speech.
He made this answer : " Magnanimity
And generosity are good in them ;
They will wish thee no ill to please another,
But aid and succour thee in thy distress."
Said Nushirwan to him : " Who hath most

friends
That are to him as his own blood and skin ? "

He thus gave answer : " Save the faithless man
All would be joined to him whose heart is good.
And all the more the kinder that he is,
The more obliging, and conformable."

The Shah inquired : " Who hath most enemies
And most antagonistic ? "

Buzurjmihr

Returned him this reply : " The insolent,
For he incurreth many a malison,
And also any one that speaketh harshly,
Is ever frowning, and is close of fist."

Then said the Shah : " Who is the constant

friend,
One who will weep for pain of severance ? "

He answered : " 'Tis the friend that faileth not,
Is never vexed, and feareth not to suffer."
"What lasteth," said the Shah, "and doth not

waste ? "

He made reply : " A benefit conferred
Is ever present to a worthy friend."

" What hath the chiefest lustre," said the Shah,
" And is a crown upon the head of all ? "

He said : " The sage's mind which mastereth
His passions."

Said the Shah: " O lord of love
What is there wider than the turning sky ? "

He answered : " First, a king with open hand,
And next,. the heart of one devote to God."

The Shah inquired : " What is the goodliest way
"Wherein a wise man may exalt his head ? "

" O great king ! ne'er bestow," he made reply.
" Thy treasure on unholy men. For thee
To deal with the unthankful is to fling
Bricks unbaked into water."

Said the Shah :—
" What toil diminisheth man's greed for treasure ? "

Then Buzurjmihr replied : " O king ! for ever
Be thy heart like young spring. For very travail
The servant of a king of evil nature
Will cease to care for person, life, and wealth."

The Shah inquired : " What wonder hast thou seen
Than which a greater cannot be conceived (

And Buzurjmihr made answer to the Shah :—

The turning sky is always wonderful,
Thou seest one possessed of mastery,
With crown exalted to the darksome clouds-.
Who cannot tell his left hand from his right,
Or fortune's gain from loss discriminate :
Another man will read the lofty sky,
And tell the why and the wherefore of the stars,

Yet heaven Still will Lead him into straits,
And evil fortune be his ';only lot ! "
What thing know'st thou, as heaviest," asked the

Shah?
He thus returned reply : " The weight of sin."

The Shah inquired : "Of matters most unseemly,
Including in the question words and deeds,
Which is the greatest cause of shame and blame,
So that all folk pronounce it done amiss ? "

He thus made answer : " Harshness in a king ;
The persecution of the innocent ;
The nearness practised by the man of wealth
That is a niggard as to dress and food ;
In womankind the loud and strident voice
Of those whose modesty is forfeited ;
The infamy of men that do oppression,
And are high-handed with the indigent ;
While falsehood in a king or in a man
Of no account is ugly, foul, and vile."

Of all things in the world, apert or secret,
" What is that goodly one," said Nushirwan,
" Whereof the sage will fashion him a breastplate,
And therewithal illuminate his soul ? "

The sage made answer : " Earnestness of Faith
Will have but approbation from the world,
And secondly thanksgiving unto God
Charactereth a wise and holy man."

Said Nushirwan : " What is it best for kings
And mighty men to do and to avoid ?
What is there better than to rule, possess,
And look on others as inferiors ?
From what do we do wisely to refrain,
And what is good to seize upon and keep ? "

The sage replied : " Safeguard thy wrath as

knowing

That other folk will keep their eyes on thee ;
Next, let thy soul be ever on the watch,
And do thine utmost to abstain from ill.
The soul of him that will forgo revenge,
And hope instead, will shine as doth the sun.
By means of sin thou wilt have many pleasures ;
Reject such pleasures and avoid the sin."

Thanks to the Master of the moon and sun
The parle of Buzurjmihr and Shah is done.