Ardshir son of Shirwi

Now as the next confronting me I voice
The reign of Shah Ardshir, I have no choice.

When Shah Ardshir sat on the throne both young
And old flocked to him from Iran, for many
Were chiefs grown old, to hear what he would say.
The young Ardshir then loosed his tongue and thus
He spake; " Ye well-tried warriors! may one,
Whoe'er he be, that sitteth on the seat
Of sovereignty possess an open mind,
And worship God. We will ensue the course
Of former Shahs, ensue too Grace and Faith.
May we remember God who giveth good,
May all our acts be just! I will advance
The pious and make tyrants bleed. I trust
The army to Piruz, son of Khusrau,
Who loveth equity and loyal lieges.

They for their part with such a paladin
Still will be happy and serene of soul."

Full many were contented with his speech ;
A peaceful ruler was the wish of each.

Then tidings reached Guraz, who had involved
Khusrau Parwiz in sorrow and distress,
And he dispatched from Rum a man to say :—
"The crown of vile Shirwi is in the dust.

Hell take his soul and be his charnel-house
O'erturned ! Who ever knew a lofty cypress
Wrecked in the garden by the grass, and one
Like to Khusrau Parwiz, whose peer as king
Time's eye and heart perceive not, who bestowed
My greatness on me, and I have not turned
From his behest ? Now fate dethroneth him,
And fortune's face is utterly averse ;
The circling heaven is his foe and maketh
His portion to be hidden in the earth ;
The sun and moon amerce him of his sway,
And take the crown and throne from such a king,
Bestow the sovereignty upon Shirwi,
And give up all Iran to wretchedness !

When he passed and Ardshir assumed the crown
Both young and old rejoiced in him, but I,
If I have any portion in Iran,
Will suffer not our country's air to breathe
Upon him. Have I not received the news
Of Shah Khusrau Parwiz wrecked by the words
Of one of evil mark ? I will not have
A king like this one though the age be Shahless,
For there is much contention in his head,
And he adviseth with another host.

Now will I come in force with chosen chiefs
Of Rum and of Iran, and we shall see
What sort of Head that is to whom such schemes
Appeal. I will uproot him so that never
Shall he name kingship more."

He sent a runner
To seek the ancients of the Iranian host,
And strove in other fashion to advance
His ill designs by writing to Piruz,
Son of Khusrau, thus : " The Sasanians' fortune
Is louring and we need a world-aspirant —
To gird himself for action. Haply thou
Art ware of what to do and how to take
The needful steps, wilt seek for many helpers,
Both young and old, wilt clear away Ardshir,
And afterwards attain thy whole desire,
Be safe and well contented: but if thou
Reveal this plot, and feed the sword of war
With blood, I will lead forth such hosts from Rum
That I shall make the world dark in thine eyes.
Heed well my words, and mayst thou think no scorn
Of mine intent; thou must not fall through folly.
Oh! pass not from the throne of majesty
To underneath the dust. Repentance then
Will not avail thee when in wreak my sword
Is reaping heads."

Piruz, son of Khusrau,
When he had read that letter and perceived
The whole intendment of that self-willed man,
Much pondered on the matter and consulted
The ancient magnates, saying: " This affair
Hath come upon me unawares and like
A revelation !

This was their reply :—
" Famed and redoubted chieftain! if our Shah
Shall perish we shall rightly perish too
For such a crime. Let not Guraz' words move thee
To perpetrate such ill, but take occasion
For doing good. Write him a fitting answer,
And wake him from his dream. Say: ' Thwart not
thou
God's purposes; give not the Div a way
To thine own heart. Reflect upon the case
Of Shah Khusrau Parwiz and all the wrong
That led to his undoing, for what time
Thou didst depose him the Sasanian fortune
Went at one blow, and when Shirwi ascended
The royal throne and girt his kingly loins
Folk hoped such days as when Khusrau Parwiz
Was Shah whose wits were keen in all regards,
And if the world became what it became,
And gat no profit from the state of things,
It was because the world dealt foolishly,
And by one stroke lost its advantages.
Now that Ardshir, succeeding to Kubad,
Is seated as the Shah upon the throne,
The world rejoicing in his majesty,
And earth and time exulting in his Grace,
Why should the world, now tranquil, be convulsed
By pain and war? Knock not at evils' door ;
Those that slay blameless kings will prosper not.
In this strife circling heaven must not raise
Iran in dust. I fear that God will end
The Iranians' term for ills more heinous still."

Piruz, on this wise counselled, wrote Guraz—
That villain of vile race (may none like him
Be ever chief !) —a profitable letter,
And thou hadst said that one had got his heart
Between the shears when he had read those words.
In fierce wrath with Piruz, son of Khusrau,
He gathered all his baggage and commanded
The host to march forth plainwards. At the news
Piruz dispatched a cameleer to go
In all haste to Tukhar to summon him,
Informing him at large of the affair,
Of what Guraz was doing and the strife
About the imperial throne. Then from Tukhar
This answer reached Piruz, son of Khusrau :—
" Risk not the blood of the Iranian chiefs,
O noble man ! but hear what saith Guraz.
Since thou hast written on such wise perchance
He may not come to fight with thee."

Now when
Piruz, son of Khusrau, had seen that letter
His heart had no repose from evil thoughts,
But gloomed with thinking how to harm the Shah,
Whose wont it was to summon him, for he
Was an observant man and eloquent,
And served as minister and treasurer.
He came one dark night for an audience,
And found the wine bright and the welcome warm.
Ardshir was seated in his palace-hall
In company with many young and old,
And when Piruz, son of Khusrau, came raised,
Thou wouldst have said, his head to heaven, called
For harp, and all the hall was filled with music.
Piruz, son of Khusrau, when midnight came,
Had drunk one mann of wine while the companions
Of Shah Ardshir were all bemused ; no minstrel
Was left that kept his wits. The miscreant
Dismissed the company : he and the Shah
Alone remained. That man of outrage rose,
Laid hand upon the Shah's lips unawares,
And held it there until Ardshir was dead.
The palace filled with scimitars and arrows.
All there—ambitious youths and warriors—
Were fautors of Piruz, son of Khusrau.
Upon this manner ceased Ardshir to be
When he had had six months of sovereignty.