English
The Wise Scribe's Reply
He called the wise scribe to his side and spoke with him about all that had to be said.
The scribe wrote a swift reply to that letter, laying out in it both the good and the bad.
First he praised the Creator, from whom he had seen both the good and the ill of his days.
Then he praised the champion: May you live forever, with a shining soul.
Blessed commander of great intelligence, all wisdom and counsel, all fire and fight.
Lord of the mace and the gleaming sword, raiser of the royal Kaviani banner.
Thanks to our God, ruler of the world, that our warriors have come out victorious.
Fortune showed you its light and suddenly raised smoke from the enemy's ruin.
First, about what you said regarding Giv, among the great and wise and brave ones:
I sent him to Piran, and how much advice I gave him.
After that he did not accept my counsel; in this matter he sought no bond with me.
The commander told a tale about this, of how a former minister took his revenge:
That every chief whose soul has been diminished dresses himself in good deeds only for an evil fate.
I already knew this: that Piran's heart would never be free of spite.
Yet because of his fair conduct, I did not seek out a fierce fight with him.
Now the heavens have made it clear that Piran leans toward Turan out of love.
Now, since he sees no one but Afrasiab, do not turn your heart from love for him.
If he chooses desire over reason, then no matter how you try, grass will not grow from solid rock.
If you speak kindly even to an enemy, that is fine; kind speech befits the noble.
And another thing, about the battle of the warriors, where you struck with the heavy mace:
About good fortune, the turning of sun and moon, and the effort shown on that field of war,
this is certain to me: that by your deeds you will be victorious on the day of battle.
What grandson has an ancestor like you, so that in war he carries such a magic touch?
What is born of lions but a fierce lion, just as famous and bold as its kin?
This work of yours does not rest on injustice; God is enough as your protector.
Know your strength and courage as gifts from God, and give Him thanks as long as you live.
Third, about what you said, that Afrasiab is moving his army across the water,
a messenger was sent from Piran to him, and his army has turned its face toward Iran.
It is exactly as you said, word for word; now we have laid the foundation of our reply.
Know this, my thoughtful commander, worthy of my trust in every task.
He lingered on the bank of the Oxus not because he means to come and fight us,
but because the Khaqan is marching an army against him from China, and an ambush has closed in on him from two directions.
And also because the chieftains, with their heavy forces, are scattered all across Turan,
enemies have risen against him on every side; that is why he has drawn back to the bank of the Oxus.
As for the fifth matter: you asked for news, and you have gladdened the hearts of the warriors with your love,
men like Lohrasp, like the sharp-clawed Ashkash, like Rostam, the commander, a roaring crocodile.
Know this, commander, and stay alert: in every task keep fortune at your side.
On the side where Rostam the lion-hearted went, he raised the dust of war over Kashmir and Kabul.
On the side where quick-witted Ashkash went, a great uproar rose up from Khwarazm.
In the fighting Shideh turned away from him and set his face toward the city of Gorgan.
On the side where Lohrasp advanced with his army, all the great lords opened the road before him.
The lands of the Alans and the Ghuz were cleared, and that whole kingdom was subdued.
If Afrasiyab takes to the road and marches his army from the Oxus toward us,
our warriors will strike at his rear, and nothing but wind will remain in his grasp.
Understand that his flourishing city, his homeland, his blessed foundations,
if he listens to Piran's counsel, will not stand; he will hand them to the enemy and step forward to ruin.
He will not so much as move his lips to tell a tale without news of it reaching me, day and night.
May no day of peace ever come on which he leads his army across the river.
If he strikes first against us in battle, no one will see a day as dark and narrow as that.
I now command that the roaring commander Tus mount the war drums upon the elephant,
that he seize Dehestan, Gorgan, and that whole territory, and lift his head to the sun.
I will follow behind Tus, with elephant and throne, coming to support the rear of the army.
Do not turn your face from battle with Piran; array your forces and seek vengeance on him.
Once Human and Nastihan are cut off from his rear, only wind will remain in his grasp.
If he asks to fight the champions of Iran, grant it, and do not turn away from that.
When brave Piran seeks combat with you, do not be faint-hearted; face him like a lion.
In fighting, have no fear of Afrasiyab; take heart and do not turn your face from him.
When the war-seeker comes to battle, you must never turn your face from the fight.
You will be victorious over them in war; take care not to let your heart shrink from this task.
This is my hope from the Creator: that you will be triumphant in the fray.
My belief is the same: that I too will come by the road and bring an army up behind your army.
Over them you will have won your desire, and lifted your names up to the shining sun.
The king sent abundant greetings to the army, from Kavus and from Tus.
Khosrow sealed that letter with his ring, gave it to the messenger, and blessed him.
When Hojir left the king's presence, the commander took counsel with his minister.
Out of all the affection he had for the army, the king's whole intent was for battle.
He said: if Afrasiyab's army stirs from its place and crosses the water,
and tears my army from its position, then I must move. That is the plan.
At once he summoned the king of the Nozar clan and ordered him to march the army swiftly.
He led the troops toward Dehestan and spread his army across the whole plain of Khwarazm.
He was the guardian of the army on the day of war, entering battle like a leopard.
The war drums sounded from Tus's court, and the clamor of the brazen trumpet and the kettledrum rose.
The army and its commander set out; the horses' hooves buried the earth from sight.
You would think the shining sun had halted in its place, stopped by the terror of the riders.
For two whole weeks the army marched on this way, and the light of the sun and moon grew dim.
News spread across the land of the marching of the victorious king.
When Tus left the court of Iran's king, the king quickly made ready to set out in haste.
With ten thousand chosen chiefs, all of them famous and valiant men.
He turned his face toward Gudarz, along with his renowned, battle-seeking warriors.
With elephants, with kettledrums, and with royal glory, with the throne and the crown of kingship.
Hojir came rushing from Khosrow's presence, striding proudly, laughing, his heart glad.
With a robe of honor, with grace and joy, you would think he was folding up the earth beneath him.
When he reached the royal tent, the trumpet's cry rang out.
The chiefs came out to welcome him, one and all: the ground filled with iron, the air with gold.
As though a dispute rose in the sky among the moon, Venus, and Jupiter.
The army was arrayed bright as a rooster's eye, with golden bells, elephants, and drums.
When he came before the renowned champion, he told all he had seen of the king of kings.
He spoke of the king's kindness and his bond of loyalty, of his generosity and his counsel.
How he had spread his love over the troops, and how his face had brightened at the message.
Then he gave that letter of the king of the world to Gudarz, along with the greetings of the great ones.
He heard the king's kind words to him,
and pressed the letter to his eyes and face.
When he broke its seal, he handed it to a reader,
and the reader recited its words aloud to him.
The commander praised the king,
and in obedience kissed the ground.
He stayed that night and took counsel with his son,
then at dawn sat down and opened the gate.
Early in the morning all the famous men of the army
came forward, helmets set upon their heads.
Then the fortunate Hajir brought the king's letter
and laid it before the scribe.
At once the scribe read the king's counsel and command
from the letter before the whole army.
The commander summoned the paymasters
and set them at the treasury to hand out gold coins.
Every herd of horses he had in the mountains
he brought all together to the army's camp.
The treasure of gold coins, swords, and belts,
those costly coats of mail and helmets of gold,
he handed all the keys to the paymasters,
now that the time had come to prove one's name.
He scattered that wealth among the army,
and the horsemen and foot soldiers stood well equipped.
A dense host as vast as a mountain,
the ground worn out beneath their swift steeds.
The heart of the roaring lion trembled in fear of them,
all of them plunged in iron, gold, and silver.
He ordered them to make ready for battle,
to set their hearts and ears on drawing vengeance.
The troops advanced before the commander,
the crowded army rising like a mountain.
The chief looked over them:
he saw the earth gone dark and the sky pure blue.
He said: since the wars of old,
no one has drawn up a battlefield like this,
with such horses, weapons, silver and gold,
with war elephants and fierce lions of men.
If the Creator of the world is our ally,
we will not turn our reins back until we reach China.
When he sat down, he called the wise ones
and seated the famous men in celebration.
He drank in joy, keeping his heart steady,
and took counsel for war with the champions.
News of this reached Piran:
that the commander of Iran had laid such a foundation.
That news filled his heart with dread,
and he turned to schemes, traps, and deceit.
Then from his blessed and wise counselor
he sought a way to press his vengeance.