English
The Merchant's Disguise: Esfandiar at the Fortress
From there he came to the royal tent, and they cleared the place of every stranger.
Peshotan went to Esfandiar, and they spoke at length of the coming battle.
He said to him: a fortress this fierce is not taken by force, not even in many years of war.
Unless I hold my own life cheap and devise some trick against the enemy.
Stay awake here, night and day; guard the army against the foe.
A man becomes truly worthy, fit for kingship and the lofty throne,
when he fears no crowd of enemies in war: not the leopard on the mountain, nor the crocodile in the water.
Sometimes deceit, sometimes menace; sometimes glory and grandeur, sometimes descent into lowliness.
When I enter this fortress as a merchant, I will not say I am the lion of the world, the champion.
I will find a way through every door; I will draw a lesson from every kind of knowledge.
Do not go without watchmen and scouts; be not weak in any branch of knowledge.
If the watchman sees smoke by day, and at night a fire bright as the world lighting sun,
know that this is my own doing, and not a trick of my opponent.
Ready the army and march it from here, in armor, with helmet and heavy mace.
Raise my banner far off, and set the troops at the center.
Advance boldly with the ox headed mace, so that they call you Esfandiar.
Then he summoned the caravan leader and sat him on his knees before Peshotan.
He told him: bring a hundred proud, red haired pack camels, splendid in color and scent.
Load ten camels with gold coins, and load five more with silk of China.
Five more with jewels of every kind, a golden throne, and a crown for kings.
He brought eighty pairs of chests, all with hidden latches, sealed shut.
He chose a hundred and sixty of his warriors, men who would not be recognized among them.
And twenty of his own renowned men, proud and skilled with the dagger.
He ordered those precious warriors to travel at the head of the caravan as camel drivers.
Sandals on their feet and coarse wool on their backs, but jewels, gold, and silver in their loads.
The commander set off swiftly toward the fortress, going in the guise of merchants.
He drove the famed caravan along, proud warriors playing the part of camel drivers.
As he neared the fortress he went ahead, following his own shrewd heart and clear mind.
When the caravan bells began to ring, the camel drivers pressed forward at the front.
The notables in the fortress got word; they talked much and hurried out.
saying a merchant has come who sells coins cheap and asks little for his gold.
The great men of the fortress came out to meet him, buyers, proud and eager.
Each asked the master of the load: which of these goods is worth buying?
He answered: the first thing is that I must see the king himself in person.
I will show him what I can offer; when he commands, I will pour out a sea of goods.
He set down the camel loads and went ahead himself, to see how he might sharpen his trade.
A bowl full of jewels fit for a king, and some gold coins as a gift to scatter,
so heavy it strained his forearm and sleeve, a horse, and two robes of Chinese silk.
The bowl covered with layers of silk, silk above and musk and perfume beneath.
He went to Arjasp, seeking his plan, decked out in silk, color, and fragrance.
When Arjasp saw him, he poured out the coins and said: may wisdom be the companion of kings.
O king, I am a merchant, my father a Turk, my mother from noble stock.
I buy in Turan and carry to Iran, or I take my goods to the plain of the brave.
I have a whole caravan of camels with me, loaded with fine garments to wear.
with jewels, crowns, colors, and scents; I am both a seller and a seeker of buyers.
I left my goods outside the fortress, trusting the whole world to your protection.
If the king would allow this caravan, the camel drivers will bring it to the fortress gate.
By your good fortune I would be safe from all harm, and rest in the shade of your kindness.
He answered: keep your heart glad, and free yourself from any fear of harm.
No one will trouble you in the land of Turan, nor if you head toward China and Machin.
Then he ordered a spacious lodging in the fortress, a hut set before the palace,
to be given to him within the Brazen Fortress, and all his loads brought up from the plain.
so he could set up his market in that hut, and keep him safe under protection.
They went and hoisted the chests onto their backs, camel halters gripped in their fists.
A shrewd man asked: what is hidden inside these chests?
The one carrying them said: we have of necessity laid our very lives upon our shoulders.
Esfandiar set up a hut and adorned it like a flower in spring.
From every side crowds of buyers gathered, and a lively market rose around that hut.
That night passed, and at early dawn he ran from the hall toward the king.
Three trays of gold coins, musk, and silk the fortunate man carried before him.
He came and kissed the ground and offered many praises to Arjasp.
He said: this rich caravan I have driven swiftly along with the camel men,
has in it bracelets and a crown fitting for a proud king.
Let him tell his treasurer to come and see all the wares laid out in the hut.
If he finds anything worthy of the treasury, let him bring it; surely it costs him nothing.
and let the merchant win, from the king of the earth, both apology and praise.
Arjasp laughed and welcomed him, and gave him a more honored rank.
He asked his name; the man said Khorrad, the world seeking one, generous and cheerful.
He said to Khorrad: O noble born man, do not go to the trouble of apologies.
You need not beg admittance from the doorkeeper; come to me whenever you wish.
Then he asked him about the hardship of the road, about Iran and Turan and the state of the army.
He answered: for five months I have endured pain and hardship on the road.
He asked him: was there news in Iran of Esfandiar and of Gorgsar?
He answered: O kind natured king, everyone speaks of this as he wishes.
One said that Esfandiar had turned bitter against his father and defied him.
Another said he had led an army from the Domed Fortress and set out on the road of the Seven Trials,
to test himself in war in the land of Turan and to take revenge on Arjasp by his valor.
Arjasp laughed and said: no seasoned old man who has seen the world would say such a thing.
If a mere vulture makes it through the Seven Trials, call me a demon and not a man.
When the warrior heard this, he kissed the ground and left Arjasp's hall well pleased.
The famed man opened the door of his hut, and set the fortress buzzing with talk of the merchant.
For a while there was buying and selling, and everyone fixed his eyes greedily on the goods.
He would take a single coin for his wares, bargaining this against that and that against this.