Reign of Ardeshir

He took his seat in Baghdad on the ivory throne and placed that radiant crown upon his head. With his belt fastened and the mace of kings in hand, he made his place of seating splendid. From then on they called him the king of kings; no one could tell him apart from Goshtasp. When he set the great crown upon his head, he spoke these words upon the turquoise throne: The justice of the world is my own treasure; the world lives on by my fortune and my toil. No one can take this treasure from me; harm comes to people through their own evil deeds. When the pure Lord of the world is pleased, he withholds not even this dark earth from me. The whole world, end to end, is under my protection; to honor justice is the path I follow. None of my officers, my commanders or my mounted warriors, should let anyone lie down with a heart full of unmet longing, whether a servant or a good and honest person. This court stands open to everyone, to the ill-wisher and to the person of good will alike. The whole assembly cried out in praise: May the earth flourish through your justice. He sent an army out to every side, so that wherever an enemy raised its head, they would turn back those bent on revenge, wherever the way of the sword and battle should be needed.

When Ardeshir killed King Ardavan and crushed the world into his fist with Ardavan's blood, young and old alike rejoiced at the glory and majesty of King Ardeshir, for Ardavan's tyranny was ended, and the world grew richer under Ardeshir's justice. When Ardavan was slain, Ardeshir summoned his daughter to learn where the treasure was hidden. Ardavan's two sons had fled to India, standing together through every fortune, good or bad. Two others lay in the king's prison, their eyes brimming with tears and their hearts full of blood. In India was the elder son, the renowned one whose name was Bahman. He sought a wise, clever messenger, a young man who paid heed to what he said. Since he saw no share of the throne left to him, he suddenly handed the man a lump of poison, and told him: 'Go to my sister and say, do not seek such affection from an enemy.' 'You have two brothers in India who share every hardship and misery,' 'and two in the chains and prison of King Ardeshir, our father slain, the living wounded by his arrows.' 'You have cut all love for us this way; would the Maker of the heavens approve of such a thing?' 'If you wish to become the queen of Iran, to win the world's brave hearts to your side,' 'take this deadly Indian poison and use it, once and for all, against Ardeshir.' The messenger arrived at evening and delivered that message to the beloved daughter. Her heart and soul burned for her brother, and her face flared up like fire. In her grief she took the precious poison, meaning to fulfill her brother's wish. It happened that one day King Ardeshir went hunting and loosed his arrows at wild asses. When half of the long day had passed, the commander returned from the hunting ground. Ardavan's daughter came to him along the way; the moon-faced woman hurried to the king. She brought a cup of yellow ruby, filled with sugar and barley paste and cold water, but she had mixed poison into the sugar and paste, so that Bahman might have his wish fulfilled. When King Ardeshir took it in his hand, it slipped from his grasp and the barley paste spilled and broke apart. That royal-born girl began to tremble with fear, and in that instant her heart split in two. The king grew suspicious at her trembling, uneasy about the turning of fate. He ordered a servant to bring four house-fowl before him. When they set the birds down before the spilled paste, the onlookers still doubted the fear was real. But at once the birds ate it and died, driving away any thought of good intentions. He ordered that the chief priest and the steward come before the pure-minded king. The king asked the counselor of Iran: 'If you place an enemy beside you on the throne,' 'and she grows so drunk on your kindness that she recklessly reaches out to take your life,' 'what is the punishment for such a deed? What remedy do we make for one who brings this on herself?' He answered thus: 'When one who serves her master reaches out against the life of the world's ruler,' 'her head must be cut off for that crime; no one should heed any plea for mercy.' The king commanded: 'Deal with Ardavan's daughter so that she never again sees the light of day.' The priest went off, and the king's daughter walked before him, trembling, her heart heavy with guilt. She said to the priest: 'You who are wise, both your day and mine will one day pass.' 'If you must kill me, then know I carry a child of Ardeshir.' 'If I deserve to have my blood spilled, to be hung from the high gallows,' 'then wait until this child is born from its innocent mother; after that, do whatever the king commands.' The quick-minded priest went back and told Ardeshir all that he had heard. The king said to him: 'Listen to her words no further; bring the noose and carry out her punishment.'

The priest said to himself: what a grim time, that such an order has come from the king. We are all bound for death, young and old alike, and King Ardeshir has no son of his own. Even if he lives out countless years, when he passes, the throne will fall to an enemy. Better than this useless deed, let me bravely arrange something great. Let me save this moon-faced woman from death, and perhaps make the king regret his order. Once her child is born and taken away, I will carry out this command of the king. It is no light matter to let pass through the heart; better that I act with wisdom than as a fool. He prepared a place within his own hall, one he would guard as his own body and soul. He told his wife: I will not allow even a breath of wind to catch sight of her. Then he reflected: enemies are many, and good and bad suspicions cling to everyone. Let me devise a scheme so my slanderer cannot pour filth into my stream. He went home and cut off his own testicles, applied a searing brand and medicine, then bound the wound. He quickly sprinkled salt over them, and packed them into a small box like smoke. At once he sealed the box shut, then came out groaning, his face gone pale. When he reached the high throne, he set down that box, sealed and locked. He said to the king: let the king entrust this pledge for safekeeping to his own treasurer. On the box its date was written, and its root and origin made plain.

When the time of birth drew near, the secret of that matter was not let loose to the wind. Ardavan's daughter gave birth to a son, one of royal manner and bright soul. She kept all others far from her hall, and the minister named the boy Shapur. He kept him hidden for seven years, and a new king grew up, full of grace and strength. It happened one day that the minister came and saw tears on Ardashir's face. He said to him: Long may you live, King; may your soul be provisioned with wise thought. You have won from the world everything your heart desired; you turned your enemy's head from the throne. Now is the time for joy and drinking wine, not the time for brooding worries. The land of the seven realms is all yours; the whole world was set right by your justice. The king answered him: O pure-hearted priest, keeper of secrets, the age was set straight by our sword; sorrow, hardship, and evil have passed away. But my years have reached fifty-one; the black musk of my hair has vanished under the camphor of white. Now I should have a son standing before me, delightful, strong, and a guide. A father without a son is like a son without a father, whom no stranger takes into his arms. After me the crown and treasure will fall to an enemy; only the earth, and grief and pain, are my profit. The wise old man said in his heart: now the time to speak has come. He said to him: O king who cherishes the humble, noble, bright of heart, and exalted, if I may find safety for my life, I will lift this grief from the king. The king said to him: O wise man, why has fear for your life troubled you? Say what you know, and add more still; what is better than a wise man's word? The steward answered him thus: O king, bright of heart and pure of counsel, there is a small casket with the king's treasurer; it is fitting that you call for it now before the throne. The king said to the treasurer: the one who gave you safekeeping now asks for it back. Give it back to me so I may see what it is; perhaps we need no longer live in worry. His treasurer brought that casket and handed over what he had taken from the minister. The king said to him: what is in this casket, and whose seal is set upon its lock? He said to him: this is my warm blood, and the pure emblem of my shame, cut off at the root. You handed Ardavan's daughter to me, so that I would return to you her lifeless body. I did not kill her, for she was secretly with child, and I feared the Maker of the world. To keep my honor in obeying your command, I cut off my own manhood at once. so that no one could speak ill of me, or drown me in a sea of slander. Now your Shapur is seven years old; may wisdom always be your counselor. No king has a son like him; only the moon in the sky can compare. Out of love I named him Shapur; may the heavens rejoice in your good fortune. His mother, too, is still alive with him, guiding the young world-seeking son. The king of the world was left in wonder at him; over that child he cast off his gloomy thoughts. Then he said to the steward: O man, bright of heart and pure of counsel, you have borne much hardship over this matter; I will not let your labor grow stale, unrewarded. Now take a hundred boys his own age, matching him in height, shoulder, chest, and build. Let them wear the same clothes as he does, so nothing is more or less among them. Send all the children to the field, send them to play with ball and mallet. When a whole field is full of fair-faced boys, my soul will stir with love for my son. For truth's sake my heart will bear witness, and reveal to me which one is mine.

At dawn the king's advisor came and gathered the children of the army onto the field. They all wore the same clothes, the same faces, the same height, so you could barely tell one from another. You would have said the field was a festival, and among them stood young Shapur. When a child struck the ball, each one tried to outdo the others. At daybreak Ardeshir came to the field with a few of his most trusted companions. He looked, and when he saw the children, a cold sigh rose from deep in his chest. He pointed with his finger to his steward: one of my line has come into being. His guide said to him, 'Your Majesty, your heart has borne witness to your own son.' King Ardeshir told a servant, 'Go, take their ball with your mallet.' 'Stay among these fresh faced children and drive the ball in front of me.' 'Whichever of these children proves bold, riding among the others like a lion,' 'who from before my very eyes carries the ball away, unafraid, counting no one in this crowd,' 'that one, beyond doubt, is my own true son, of my seed and my pure blood.' At the king's command the servant went, struck the ball, and drove it before the riders. The children raced after it like arrows, and as they drew near Ardeshir, they all reined in against their will and stayed where they were, while Shapur swept forward past them. He snatched the ball from before his father and carried it off, and when he was far, he passed it back to the other children. Ardeshir's heart filled with such joy that an old man might grow young from it. His horsemen lifted the boy from the ground and passed him hand to hand. Then the king of kings took him in his arms and gave praise to the just God. He kissed his head, his eyes, his face, and said, 'A wonder like this cannot be kept hidden.' 'Never once did the thought leave my heart; I had believed Shapur was killed.' 'Since God has increased my kingship, He has now added a keepsake of me to the world.' 'From His command there is no escape, even if you lift your head higher than the sun.' He called for jewels from the treasury, for gold coins, for many precious rubies. They poured gold and gems over the boy and sifted musk and amber above him. The crown of his head vanished under the coins, and no one could see his face for all the jewels. He showered gems on the steward too, and set his likeness upon a golden throne. He gave the boy so much wealth that his palace and hall were made splendid. He ordered that Ardavan's daughter be brought to the hall, glad and bright of soul. He forgave her past offense and wiped the tarnish from that moon of a woman. He brought scholars into the city, everyone who had a share of wisdom. They taught the boy to write in Pahlavi, along with the bearing of pride and kingship, and how to gather the reins for battle, and to level his lance at the enemy from above, and wine drinking, generosity, and the ways of the feast, mustering armies and striving on the day of war. After that he had new dies made for silver coins, and dies for gold coins, for every value great and small. On one side was the name of King Ardeshir, on the other the name of his fortunate vizier. The name of the king's advisor was Gerankhar, a worldly wise man who showed the way. They wrote his name likewise on the documents, and the king gave him authority, the seal, and the signet ring. He gave a fortune to the poor man who had nothing to live on but his own labor. He found a place that had been a thornfield and from it made a flourishing city, which he named Gondeshapur, and he called it by no other name.

When Shapur grew tall like a cypress, he feared harm from the evil eye. He was never apart from Ardeshir for a moment; the king was like a minister and counselor to him. The king never spent a single day free of war; there was no place for joy or rest for him. Whenever he cleared one region of enemies, another wrongdoer would raise his head. He kept saying: I will ask the Creator of the world, both openly and in secret, that I might bring the world into my hands free of enemies, so I could be nothing but joyful and devoted to God. His blessed counselor said to him: O bright-hearted king who seeks the right path, let us send someone to Kayd of India, a seeker of knowledge and a bringer of help. He knows the reckoning of the lofty heavens, in matters of kingship and the paths of harm. If the seven regions are destined to be yours without a rival, he will find it in the stars. He will tell it all, one by one, without trouble, and will not want treasure from the king for this answer. When Ardeshir heard this, he chose a worthy, sharp-witted young man. He sent him to the sage in India with many horses, gold coins, and quantities of fine silk. He told him: Go and say to the sage: O man of good fortune who seeks the path, Look into the stars and tell me when I will find rest from war and take the land in my grasp. If it is to happen through this power of mine, show me the way to achieve it by strategy. And if it is not, tell me, so I take no more trouble and no longer scatter treasure this way. The king's envoy came to Kayd with gifts and offerings. He said what the king of kings had told him, revealing all the hidden secrets. Kayd asked him more and grew concerned; from the questioning he turned to knowledge and a remedy. He brought his astrolabe and read the stars, taking up a Roman astronomical table. He looked into the workings of the high heavens: their ease and gain, their pain and harm. He told the envoy: I have made the reckoning, both of Iran and of the king's star. If from the line of Mehrak Nushzad this seed should mingle with that stock, he will sit at peace upon the royal throne and need not send armies in every direction. His treasure will grow and his suffering will lessen. So go now and weigh the feud between these two bloodlines. If he does this, Iran will be set right for him, and he will win every wish of his heart. He gave the envoy gifts and said: Nothing I have told you should be kept hidden. If the lofty heavens do not turn from this course, let him honor what I have told you. The envoy returned to the king and reported what he had heard from that renowned sage. When Ardeshir heard his words, his heart filled with pain and his face turned pale as saffron. He told the envoy: May it never be that I see anything survive from Mehrak's line. Shall I bring an enemy into my house from the street, one who would seek vengeance against my land and home? What a waste, all that scattering of my treasure, all that sending of men and my own trouble. Only one daughter of Mehrak remains, and no one has ever seen her in Jahrom. I will command searchers to hunt her out, from Rome and China and India and Taraz. When I find her, I will burn her on the fire and make the earth weep and mourn over her. He sent several riders to Jahrom, a searching man full of vengeance among them. When Mehrak's daughter learned of this, she fled and hid in a corner of a chieftain's house. When Mehrak's daughter settled in that village, the chieftain treated her with honor. She grew tall like a slender cypress, wise, graceful, and radiant with charm. She had no equal in that land; in the whole realm there was no cypress as tall as she.

Now hear the tale of Mehrak's daughter, and of the warrior Shapur, wielder of the sword. When some time had passed over these days, the king's fortune blazed bright. One morning the king rode out to hunt, and wise Shapur went along the road with him. In every direction the riders galloped, and cleared the plain of its game. From afar a broad plain came into view, full of gardens, fields, halls, and a palace. Shapur rode on toward the village and dismounted at the house of its headman. There was a lush and pleasant garden estate, and the young man stepped into that green place. He saw a girl as lovely as the moon, lowering a bucket down into a well on its wheel. When that moon-faced girl saw Shapur's face, she came forward and offered her blessings. May you be joyful, my king, and smiling; may you stay all year long safe from all harm. Surely your horses are thirsty now, and the water flowing through this village is brackish. But down in the well the water is cool and sweet; give the word, and I will draw it up myself. Shapur said to her, moon-faced one, why put yourself to trouble with such talk? I have servants with me who will draw cool water from this bottomless well. The girl turned her face from the young man, moved away, and sat down beside the stream. The king ordered one of his servants: bring the bucket and draw water from the well. The servant heard and came running; he set the rope over the wheel with the heavy bucket. When the heavy bucket filled with water, the servant's face flushed red with strain. When the heavy bucket would not rise from the well, King Shapur came over, muttering. He said to the servant, you half a man, wasn't it a woman who lifted this bucket and all this rope? She kept drawing so much water from the well, while you are worn out and crying for help. He came and took the rope from the servant, but the hard task proved humbling even to the king. When the king felt the strain of the heavy bucket, he praised that lovely-faced girl. For she had lifted a bucket this heavy: surely she comes from the line of the great. When the girl had drawn the bucket up, she came with warmth and offered her blessings. May you be blessed for as long as time endures, and may wisdom always be your teacher. By the might of Shapur, son of King Ardeshir, even well water will surely turn to milk. The young man said to the sweet-spoken girl, how do you know that I am Shapur, moon-faced one? She answered, I have often heard this tale from the lips of honest people. That Shapur is a hero with the strength of an elephant, and in generosity like the river Nile. Tall as a cypress and hard as bronze in body, in every way he resembles Bahman. Shapur said to her, moon-faced one, answer me truthfully in all that I ask. Reveal to me what your lineage is; upon your face there is the mark of royalty. She said, I am the daughter of a nobleman; that is why I am so beautiful and so strong. He answered, lies never shine before kings. A farmer's daughter would never have such a moon-like face, this look, this color and grace. The girl said to him, my king, the moment I have a promise for my life, I will tell you all my lineage, once I am safe from the King of Kings' wrath. Shapur said to her, from the garden of friendship no grudge against friends has ever grown. Speak, and hold no fear in your heart, neither of me nor of the renowned and just king. The girl said, in all honesty then: I am the daughter of Mehrak, son of Nushzad. A pious woman raised me with care and entrusted me to this skilled village headman. Out of fear of that renowned king, I became a water-drawer and a servant like this. Shapur came and cleared the place, while the headman stood before him on his feet. He said to him, give me this lovely-faced girl, and call the heavens as your witness over me. The headman gave her to him at his command, according to the rites of the fire-worshippers.

Not much time had passed before the graceful cypress, like a flower, came into bloom. When nine months had passed for the moon-faced woman, a child was born, as tall in promise as she was fair. You would have said Esfandiar had come again, or that famed rider Ardeshir himself. Shapur named him Ormazd, for he was a cypress standing tall among the branches. Thus seven years went by, and Ormazd grew up without an equal in the world. They kept him hidden from everyone, and never let him go anywhere to play. Ardeshir went hunting for seven days, and Shapur too went off to hunt. In secret, Ormazd, weary of his lessons, slipped away from the crowd. He ran to King Ardeshir's playing field, a bow in one hand and two arrows in the other. With a group of children, with mallet and ball, he came from the lane into the royal field. Just then the king, with his army, returned from the hunting ground to the field. Along with the sharp-witted high priest, Ardeshir reached the palace. A child struck the ball with his mallet, and it rolled spinning toward the king. None of them went after the ball; they stood there frozen, helpless and dismayed. Ormazd came running out from among them, straight to the king, swift as the wind. He quickly snatched up the ball from before his grandfather, and the whole army began to murmur about him. Then he let out such a mighty shout that the victorious, fortunate king was astonished. He said to the priest: this one is nobly born; look into it and find out whose lineage he carries. The priest asked, but no one knew; they all simply chose to stay silent. Then the king said to the priest: lift him up from the dust and bring him to me. The priest went, raised him from the dust, and brought him to the noble king. The king said to him: you precious, clever child, whose lineage should I count you from? The child was not afraid, and said aloud: I need not hide the name of my lineage. I am the son of Shapur, who is your son, and truly of the line of Mehrak as well. The lord of the world was left amazed at this; he laughed, then fell to thinking. He commanded Shapur to be brought before him, and questioned him at great length. The noble Shapur grew afraid; his heart filled with pain and his face turned pale. The famous king laughed at him and said: do not hide your son. A son is welcome, from whoever he comes, so long as people say this child is royal. Shapur said to him: may you live forever; may the world always have you to look upon. This is of my seed, and his name is Ormazd, radiant as a tulip among the branches. I kept him hidden from the king for a while, so that the fruit might ripen on the tree. This precious child is from Mehrak's daughter; he is of my line, this I say without a flaw. The son spoke and asked and heard much about the water and the well, of where it had all led. Ardeshir was gladdened by his words, and walked to the palace with his minister. Holding the charming boy close, the king went from the palace toward the throne. He prepared a golden seat below, and ordered a necklace and a golden crown. They adorned the wise child's head, and called for pearls and jewels from the treasury. He poured them down until the boy's head vanished, then his grandfather drew his body up from among them. He gave much gold and jewels to the poor, and gave still more to the wise. He decked the fire temple with brocade, and the Nowruz hall and the palace of Sadeh. He held a feast with the nobles, and musicians took their places everywhere. He said this to the famous men of the city, to everyone who had a share of wisdom: that no one should ever ignore the word of a wise astrologer. Kayd of India had said this: fortune will not make your reign settled and happy upon the throne, no realm, no crown, no treasure, no army, no royal diadem, no glory of the crown, unless the sweet-born line of Mehrak mingles that house with this lineage. Now eight years have gone by in which the heavens have turned for us only as we wished. For since Shapur reached his own peace, he has seen nothing in the world but his own desire fulfilled. The land of the seven regions has come right for me; my heart has gained from fortune all it wanted. And after that, before his officials, they proclaimed him as their King of Kings.

Now listen to the wisdom of Ardeshir, and learn each lesson one by one. He labored, set a good and just order in place, and spread love and justice everywhere. When he needed more troops at court, he sent guides out in every direction. So that no man who had a son would let him grow up without a skill. The boy would learn horsemanship and the ways of war, the mace, the bow, and the arrow of poplar wood. When a child rose through effort into manhood, he was flawless when it came to giving of himself. From across the land they came to the king's court, to that renowned royal hall. Their names were entered and reviewed in his registry, which adorned his palace and his hall. When war came, the fresh young man would ride out from court alongside the champion. One of the wise priests, from among the experienced, who watched over the affairs of the world, over every thousand men one inspector was set, who kept watch over each one's conduct. Whoever proved weak in battle, or came to the fight unfit, he wrote a report to the king of kings about both the unskilled and the true warriors. When the king read the letter, he seated the messenger before him. He dressed the skilled man in a robe of honor and gave from the treasury whatever was most precious. But when he looked upon the unskilled one, he no longer girded him for war. So his army grew until its vast expanse blotted out the very stars. Any man among them who gave good counsel had his head raised high above the gathering. For whoever sought the king's approval washed the ground with the blood of the brave. He would receive a robe of honor from me, the king, and his name would live on in the world. He filled the whole world with his army; he became the shepherd, and the fighters his flock. He kept experienced men in his offices and never left any task to the ignorant. They valued eloquence and fine handwriting; a man mastered even the placing of a single dot. When such a man offered guiding words, the king of kings increased his daily pay. Anyone whose writing and learning fell short never entered the office of King Ardeshir. They were sent off to the officials for lesser work; only the true scribe remained with the king. King Ardeshir was a keen judge of men; when he saw a scribe at court, he told the writer to fill up the treasury, and by his counsel he scattered away his troubles. Through him the city and the army thrive, and so do the subjects who cry out for justice. The scribes are like the very bond of my soul; they are all rulers over my hidden affairs. When an official set out to govern a province, the king would tell him to treat money with care. You must not sell people off for gold, for this world is a passing inn that stays with no one. Seek only honesty and wisdom; let greed and madness stay far from you. Do not favor your relatives and kin over others; the troops I have given you are enough of an ally. Give money to the poor each month, but hand nothing to the man who means harm. If you keep the land prosperous through justice, you too will thrive, glad in that justice. But if even one poor man sleeps in fear, you are selling his life for silver and gold. Whoever came to the king's court, whether on worthy business or seeking justice, the king's trusted men would question him, asking about the conduct of his officials: which of them dealt justly and which seized people's goods, and who among them lay awake in grief. And also who the learned men of the city were, and who among them was weakened by poverty. And who was fit to serve at the royal court, an experienced elder or a devout, righteous man. The king of kings would say: may no one be left happy without my support, at the cost of my toil. Unless he is a man of knowledge who keeps learning; what is finer than a wise and seasoned man? He wanted all who had seen the world, and the young who were pleasing and patient. Young men who are wise and eager to learn deserve to sit in the place of elders. When his army marched off to war somewhere, he made wisdom, good judgment, and patience its companions. He would choose an envoy, a scribe, wise, learned, and quick to remember. He gave a message, courteous and smooth, so that the war would not begin in injustice. The envoy would go to the enemy so as to learn the secret hidden beneath his shirt. If the enemy had sense, he listened to reason; he would meet evil's grief and pain by turning away from evil. For that he received the king's robe of honor, a covenant, a charter, and a jeweled earring. But if there was defiance in his head, hatred in his heart, and boiling blood in his liver, the king gave money to the whole army so that not a single soldier would be downcast. He would choose a renowned commander, wise, alert, and seeking calm, and a proper, capable scribe to guard the army from doing injustice. After that, a man mounted on an elephant's back would go, his cry carrying two miles: he would call out: O renowned warriors, everyone who has heart, honor, and a name to protect, no harm must come to any poor person, even if that person has fame and wealth. At every stop, take what you need and give in return, and treat those beneath you with gratitude. Never lay a hand on another's property, if you truly worship God. Whoever turns his back and flees from the enemy will face harsh days from then on. Whether the grave awaits him or chains wear away his neck and shoulders, his name is struck from the rolls of honor: his food is dust, and his path leads into the dark earth. He told the commander: do not be slack, yet do not rush ahead too eagerly either. Always keep war elephants at the front of the army, and scatter scouts for four miles around. First, circle around your own troops, when the day of honor and battle comes upon you. Say to the army: who exactly are these men who have gathered on this battlefield? For every hundred horsemen of theirs, throw down one of ours; even so, a hundred are few against one of us. All of you, young and old alike, I will reward with robes of honor from Ardashir. When both sides send their cavalry charging, the fighting champions must not be reckless. It must not happen that the center is left empty, no matter how large the army is. Arrange it so that the warriors of the right wing all fight together with the left. And likewise the left wing with the right, all fighting, their hearts fixed on the baggage lines. The troops of the center must hold their place; no one is to pull his foot from the center ground. But if their center begins to give way, then advance with your army from the center yourself. When you win, shed no one's blood, for the vile enemy is already in flight. When any of the enemy asks for mercy, grant him mercy and hold no grudge. When you see the enemy's back over some plunder, do not chase them off, but do not leave your ground either. You must never feel safe from an ambush; enemy troops may lurk at any gate or open field. The moment you feel secure from the enemy, you stop listening to anyone's warnings. Give the spoils to the one who sought the fight, who bravely washed his heart clean of his sweet life. Whoever becomes your captive, bring him without fail to this royal court. For their sake I will raise a whole city on a land that was once a thicket of thorns. Turn from none of these counsels in any way, if you wish to live free of pain and grief. In victory, lean toward God, for He will surely be your guide. From any place a messenger comes, whether Turk, Roman, or a noble free man, the border-lord kept himself informed about him; he never treated such matters lightly. The lodging along his road was made ready, and the governor had seen to that task. For clothing and for food, and even for bedding, he never left the guest in need. When the officer got word of the news, learning what had come to pass before the king, a proud courier and a skilled scribe would set off toward King Ardeshir. So that the troops could welcome the envoy, they would prepare the throne of the victorious king. The attendants would line up on every side, all of them in robes stitched with gold. He would call the messenger before him and seat him near the throne. He would question him about all his secrets, about good and bad, his name and reputation, about justice and injustice, about his land, its customs, its king, and its army. He would take him to his hall as befits an envoy, and arrange everything that was needed. Then he would invite him to a feast of wine and place him on a golden throne. He would take him along to the hunt, where a countless army would gather. For his departure, as one does for an envoy, he would prepare a royal robe of honor. Then he sent wise priests to every region, gentle men, clear-hearted and shrewd, so that they built up towns in every direction and set aside a treasury for this too, so that anyone who was homeless, without means, or a stranger left out by fortune, and so that the common people would grow numerous, would be given food and a place to live. From this a good name spread through the world, both in the open and in secret. There was no king in the world like him; after his death there was no keepsake left behind. I am the very one who keeps his name alive; may nothing but goodness be the end of his story. He kept much of his business secret, and stationed informers everywhere. If a man of means became destitute, the king would come to know of it. As was fitting, he would set that man's affairs right, so his fortunes would not stay so dim. Fertile land and a place to settle, and the loyal service of the common folk, he arranged things as they needed to be, and let his methods be known to no one. He gave the empty-handed plenty of means, and gladdened every heart with it. He handed the children over to teachers when they reached the right age for it. In every quarter there was a school, and there too a place for the fire worshippers. He left no one in want, though he kept his own hardships hidden. He would go to the field at early dawn, and anyone seeking justice could come to him. In dispensing justice he showed no favor to anyone, whether a lowly servant or his own son in need. Whether humble or great, in his eyes his judgment was never clouded by shadow. With his justice he brought the whole world to prosperity, and he gladdened the hearts of those beneath him. When a ruler is paired with justice, time cannot conceal anything from him. He would send wise, alert, and observant agents across the world. Wherever there was ruined land, or wherever water ran scarce in the rivers, he would lift the taxes from that region, and never let anyone's land be treated with contempt. If a farmer had fallen into poverty, his affairs slipping from plenty toward ruin, he would give him tools and livestock from the treasury, so the man would not be swept off his feet. Listen to the words of the wise, my king: keep the world flourishing in this way. If you want to be free of trouble, and to fill your treasury without harm or hardship, choose to do no harm to those beneath you, and you will earn everyone's blessing for your justice.

When Rome and China, Turk and India fell, the whole world lay before him like fine silk. From every land the tribute kept flowing in; no one had the strength to stand against the world's master. He summoned all the great men out of Iran and seated them, each worthy of it, at the royal throne. Then the king of kings rose to his feet and gracefully framed his honest words. He said: You renowned people of this city, each of you who has a share of judgment and wisdom, know this: the dark, revolving sky takes no pride in justice and shows no bond of love. When it wishes to lift a man up high, in the end it hands him over to the wretched dust. Nothing of him remains in the world but a name; all his toil goes with him into the hidden ground. Leave nothing behind in this world but a good name, whoever wants a good end for himself. Your blessed, fortunate days are those spent in the pure contentment of God. Turn to God and open your heart to God, for it is He who sustains and multiplies goodness. From every evil take refuge in the world's Creator, for He alone has power over good and bad. He will make every hard task easy for you, through heart lighting wisdom and triumphant fortune. First take my own life as your measure; take fresh lessons from my past, its bad and its good. For I took refuge in the world's Creator, and He gave me power over good and bad. The land of the seven realms is mine to rule, as is fitting for His lordship. I demand tribute from Rome and from India; the world has become for me like fine silk. My thanks to God who gave me this strength, high fortune, and the gifts of Saturn and the sun. Who can offer praise worthy of Him, or worship according to His way and His deeds? May He grant us continued life, so greatness and radiance may endure. Now whatever we mean to do in the name of justice, let us strive at it, and take joy in justice. I hold a tenth as my due from the cities, as the landholders and priests can testify. When you need it, I will give it all back to you, that same tenth, and the land, the tribute, and the herds. Only what comes to you as surplus should a trusted guide bring to our treasury. The tenth I collected before this, whatever of the tribute was less or more, I put to use only for the common good, to keep a countless army at the ready. I sought your greatness and your safety, and the suppressing of the demonic creed. So join your hands, every one of you, to God; strive, and do not break your covenant with Him. For He is the giver, He the sustainer, He the one who painted the high heavens. He is the rescuer of the wronged; do not boast of His favor over anyone. You must not set your heart on illusion, for a decline follows close behind every rise. Where now is the one whose crown scraped the clouds? Where the one whose prey was the lion? Their bed is now all dust and brick; happy is the one who sowed nothing but the seed of goodness. All who dwell within my borders, wherever they may be, let them heed my counsel. Now I will show you five paths whose gain is greater than crown or treasure.

Listen, all of you, young and old, to the words of the famous Ardeshir. Anyone who knows that the Creator exists can only be pure and a worshipper of God. Next, never hold knowledge in contempt, whether you are a servant or a king. Third, know that words spoken by a wise man never grow old or lose their worth. Fourth, understand that the fear of sin should weigh heavier than the fear of the king's chains and prison. Fifth, the foul-mouthed man earns no respect and no honor in the eyes of others. Let me offer one more fresh piece of advice, worth more than eyesight, life, or wealth. Blessed is the one who keeps the world thriving, whose hidden self matches his open face. And blessed is the one who speaks gently, who has wisdom, modesty, and warm speech. As for the man who scatters silver in front of others just to boast, wasting it pointlessly, no one is grateful to him for it, and the God-knowing man does not approve of it. Choose the middle way and you will endure; they will call you wise and pure of judgment. Beyond this there are five counsels that will keep your faith and your creed fresh. They bring you ease of body and growing joy, so that no poison mars their sweetness. First, know that you cannot escape God's given portion by greed or by struggle. Whoever grows content becomes rich; the rose of his spring bears full fruit. Second, break the neck of greed, and never tell your secrets to women. Third, do not glory in disgrace and combat, for disgrace and combat bring only pain and suffering. Fourth, keep your heart far from grief; do not sadden your heart over what has not yet happened. Do not meddle in what is not your business, and do not chase after what is not your prey. Listen, all of you, to my advice, to my useful words. A person is dear to every heart when others find safety from harm in him. Never rest for a moment from learning, if you truly want to brighten your soul. When you have a child, raise him with culture and keep him away from idle play. Keep in mind all our words, and how much care we have taken in this task. All of you who are just and clear of heart, do not break your bond with one another. Set your heart at peace with four things, for in them lie goodness and profit as well. First, the fear, reverence, and awe of God, which will be your helper and your guide. Second, giving your own body its due and keeping your own skirt clean of shame. Adorning your heart with God's command, and wanting for me what you want for yourself. Third, making truth plain and casting crookedness and shortcoming away. Fourth, never turning your heart, openly or secretly, against the will of the king of the world. Love him as your own body, for by his command the heavens are renewed. Keep your heart bound to your pledge to him, and never turn your soul from his command. Love him as your own life, since with justice you see him as your protector. The care of the kingdom belongs to the world-seeking king; he plans to increase the world, not diminish it. If he learns from his officials and his army that there is hardship in his land, and he does not strive for justice, he is no true ruler, and the crown of kingship does not suit him. He has blackened the charter of imperial rule, and after that he has no divine glory left. Know this: an unjust king is like a tearing lion loose in the meadow. And likewise the subject who does not observe the king's command with effort and toil, his life will be full of pain and suffering, and he will not grow old in this passing world. Even if he gains rank and prosperity, he will not reach it through cruelty or bravado. May the hearts of our subjects be glad, and through our justice may the world be prosperous.

When King Ardeshir took his throne, an old man came forward and stood before him. The old man's name was Khorad; his tongue and his soul were full of justice. He answered like this: O king, may you live free of sorrow as long as time endures. May you always be joyful and victorious, and may your land, crown, and throne rejoice in you. You have reached such heights that even the birds and beasts line up in ranks before and behind your throne. You are the great one of the world, from end to end, standing tall above the crowned nobles. Who could ever describe your justice, when justice and greatness are your very foundation? We keep adding to our blessings on you, and we offer our prayers to the God of the world, that we are alive in your time, trusting in your goodness for every deed. We long to see your face, your fine words, and your kindness. You can rest assured, for we are safe because of you; may we never break our promise to you. You have blocked the path of those who wish us harm, from India, from China, and from our rivals. Plunder, war, and turmoil have scattered away; the roar of the enemy no longer reaches our ears. May this king endure forever, always in the company of the wise priests. No king possesses wisdom like yours, and no thought surpasses your judgment. Through justice you have laid a foundation in Iran, so that our children too may delight in fairness. In speech you have risen so high that even the old man is made young again by your wisdom. Minds have grown richer through your words; the world has brightened at the sight of you. Everyone of noble birth in this gathering is glad because of you and joyful in your justice. You are the divine robe of honor upon fortune itself, worthy of the crown, the belt, and the throne. May this king endure with love and justice; the world remembers no ruler like you. The whole world stands by your judgment and your glory; happy is the one who rests in the shade of your wings. May the head of the throne be your place forever; may the world lie under your command and your will.

You who seek the heart of every word, tear your heart away from this ancient house of the world. It has seen countless people like you and me, and will never settle down or stay loyal to anyone. Whether you are a king or a servant, you are passing, and the world remains. Whether you live in hardship or with crown and throne, in the end you must pack up and leave. Even if you were made of iron, the turning sky would melt you down, and once you grow old, it shows you no more tenderness. When the graceful cypress of the body bends with age, the bright eyes go dim and weep. The cheeks that were red as blossoms turn pale as saffron, and a once cheerful, nimble person grows heavy and slow. Whether you are a king or a lowly subject, you will find no resting place but the dark earth. Where are those great ones with their crowns and thrones? Where are those triumphant, lucky horsemen? Where are those wise and mighty champions? Where are those proud leaders of war? Where are our chosen ancestors? Where are our brave and pure ones? They all have earth and clay for a pillow now; lucky is the one who sowed nothing but the seed of goodness. King Ardeshir is proof enough of this; since you hear these words from me, take them to heart.

When his years reached seventy eight, the vigilant ruler of the world fell ill. He ordered his son Shapur to come before him, and gave him counsel beyond all measure. He knew that death was drawing near, that the green leaf was about to turn yellow. He told him: keep this covenant of mine, and let the slanderer's words scatter like wind. Once you have heard my words, put them to work, so you may tell the worthless from the worthy. I set the world right with the sword of justice; I kept safe the honor of the highborn man. When the affairs of the world came right for me, my dominion grew, but my life shrank. After we had suffered many hardships, through hardship we gathered up our treasure. The same toil lies ahead of you, and comfort too: now a valley, now a peak. Such is the way of the turning heavens: sometimes it brings you pain, sometimes love. Sometimes fortune bolts like a wild horse; amid its gifts it hands you harshness and a kiss. One moment it readies a mount for you, its head held high with breeding and grace. Know, my son, that this deceiving house will never let you rejoice without fear. Guard your body and your reason, if you want your days to pass free of evil. When a king honors and praises the faith, then kingship and faith become brothers. No faith stands firm without the throne of kingship, and no kingship endures without faith. They are two brocades woven one within the other, spun and displayed before wisdom. Faith is not free of need for the king, nor does the king win praise without faith. In this way they are each other's guardians; you would say they lie beneath a single tent. Neither is free of the other's need; we found them two partners well matched. When a person has judgment and wisdom, the man of faith wins both worlds. When the king is the guardian of the faith, call these two nothing but brothers. When a religious man harbors a grudge against the king, do not, if you can help it, call him pious. Anyone who opens his tongue against a just ruler, do not count him a man of faith. What did that blessed speaker say? When you look closely, faith is the very core of justice. Three things bring down the throne of kingship: the first is an unjust ruler. The second is raising up the worthless man and turning away from the man of talent. The third is clinging to one's treasure, striving after coins to hoard still more. Reach for generosity, faith, and wisdom, and let no lie ever pass with you. A lie darkens the face of a king; his greatness will never catch its shine. Take care never to be a mere hoarder of treasure, for people will grasp at gold through hardship. If a king lets greed pile up his treasury, he brings his subjects to suffering. Wherever the farmer keeps his wealth, that wealth is truly the king's own, though it comes from the farmer's toil and pain. The king is the guardian of that treasure, and so the branch of the people's labor bears fruit. Strive to keep yourself far from anger, and with manly grace let your eye look past the guilty. When you give way to anger you soon regret it, so make apology your guardian and cure. Whenever a king lets anger rule him, the wise call him a man of little worth. Since wishing harm ill becomes a king, you must adorn your heart with kindness. And if for a single moment you let fear into your heart, judgment grows confused and suspicion breeds evil. Do not let generosity weigh your heart with grief; my son, learn instead the true value of things. Know this: kingship belongs to the God who fairly apportioned the turning of the heavens. When kingly cares once burden your heart, let your chief priest and counselor bring you their advice. Let them ask about matters of justice and injustice, and keep these words alive in the king's heart. On the day you set your mind on the hunt, when the sharp-clawed cheetah serves your purpose, do not play two games at once: wine and feasting, and the chase, and riding out. For the body grows heavy from the pursuit of wine; the great ones have always heeded this counsel. And if an enemy appears anywhere, you must cut your heart away from such pleasures: spend money, sharpen your sword, and summon troops from every province. Do not leave today's task for tomorrow, and never seat a corrupting adviser on your throne. Do not look for perfect honesty in the hearts of common folk, for the search will only bring you loss. And if bad news of them reaches you, do not listen to the slanderer and do not grieve. They worship neither king nor God; if you press them for it, you will only lose your head over them. Such is the measure of the city's common crowd; may your portion always be wisdom instead. Fear the malice of secretly evil people, for the world closes in tight on those with hidden evil. Never confide a secret even to a trusted keeper, for he too has a partner and a friend. You may think your words are locked away, yet you will hear them scattered across the world. When your secret becomes known through the city, the hearts of the wise grow fearful and wary of you. You will fall into turmoil and be called a lightweight, even if the wise once seated you in the place of honor. Do not go hunting for the faults of others, for the fault-finder brings faults down upon himself. And if desire wins out over reason, the wise will not count you among true men. A king who rules the world must be wise, for how can every man wish him well? A man who is hot-tempered and full of arrogance will bristle at any reproach or blame. Never let such a man take a place near you, even if he offers to be your guide. If you want the righteous to praise you, set aside anger and hatred once you become king. When passion seats itself on the throne of your rage, you cease to be wise or God-fearing. Do not talk too much, and do not put on a show of piety before others. Listen to counsel and take the best of it; watch to see which words are truly worthy. Speak measured words before the learned, and be gracious and warm of face. Do not scorn the poor who come begging, and do not seat the ill-intentioned on your throne. Whoever apologizes for a wrong, accept it and demand no vengeance for what is past. Be always generous and nurturing; happy is the man who is giving and patient. When an enemy grows fearful and starts to flatter, still muster your army and sound the war drums. Go to war only when your enemy shuns the fight and grows weak under the weight of disgrace. But if he seeks peace and honesty, and you see no defect hidden in his heart, take tribute from him and hold no grudge; treat him this way and guard his dignity. Adorn your heart with knowledge, for worth lies in knowledge; pursue it as much as you can. When you are generous you become honored, and through wisdom and justice you earn a good name. Keep your father's pledge alive in your soul, and pass it on to our children as a keepsake. As I have fulfilled my duty as a son, I have wronged no one in this world. You too must not break this covenant of mine, and do not think my counsel is worthless. Keep your father's advice in mind: lean toward good and let evil go with the wind. Do not needlessly torment my spirit, nor sear my frail body with fire. By harming yourself or hurting others, my son, do not seek to cause anyone pain and grief. Five hundred years will pass over this, and then your greatness will come to its end. Your descendants will turn their heads from the pledge, even those who share your bloodline. They will turn away from reason and knowledge, and refuse to heed the counsel of the wise. One and all they will abandon covenant and faith, reaching instead for injustice, cruelty, and oppression. They will make the world narrow for the powerless, and the God-worshiper will be despised among them. They will put on the garment of wickedness and thrive in the creed of the devil. All that we have closed will be flung open, and the faith we cleansed will be defiled. If these counsels and warnings of mine are wasted, this land of mine will turn its face toward ruin. I ask this of the Creator of the world, who knows both what is open and what is hidden: that he keep you safe from every evil, and let a good name always be your companion. May the blessing of God and of us rest on the one whose warp is wisdom and whose weft is justice, who will not break faith with this pledge of mine, and will not strive to turn my honey into bitterness. Forty years and two months have now passed since I set the crown upon my head as king. I have six cities in this world, with sweet air and pleasant waters beneath them. One I named Khoreh Ardeshir, whose breeze makes a young man grow old. By it the land of Khuzestan was made fresh, filled with people, water, profit and loss. Another city is called Gundeshapur, where the high priest found his joy. Another is the region of Meisan and the Euphrates, full of springs, cattle, and green growth. Another city is Berkeh Ardeshir, full of gardens, rose beds, and pools. Ram Ardeshir is yet another city, by which I made my way toward Fars. Another city is Hormuzd Ardeshir, its air scented like musk, its streams like milk. Make my soul glad through your justice, so may you be victorious and happy on the throne. I bore many hardships in this world, both in what was seen and what was hidden. Now we have packed our things for the tomb; you tend the coffin and take charge of the throne. He said this, and his fortune went dark. Alas for that head, that crown, that throne of his. Such is the way of this bright world: it will not unveil its secret to us. Happy is the one who never knew greatness, for then he need not vanish from a throne. You toil and gather all kinds of things, yet neither the man nor his things remain at last. In the end we will lie joined with the dust, and both cheeks must be hidden beneath a shroud. Come, let us all reach out to do good; let us not hand this world over to evil. Let us strive with all our being for a good name, for by this name we shall be honored among people. Blessed is the one who takes a cup in hand and drinks to the memory of the God-worshipping kings. When his cup of wine is filled again and again, he falls asleep just as his heart grows glad. Now speak of the reign of Shapur; open your tongue to tales of wine and feasting. Praise be to the One who created praise itself, who made place and time and the earth. From him comes rest, from him comes desire; from him the beginning, from him the end. He has made the heavens, time, and the earth, and raised up all the great and small of this world. From the meanest speck of straw to the height of heaven, everything bears witness to God's existence. Call none but Him the Maker of the world, the One who knows both the hidden and the seen. May His blessing rest on the soul of Muhammad, and grow greater upon each of his companions. Chief of that gathering was Ali among his companions, the one people call Ali the friend of God. They were all pure and devout; their words were beyond counting. Now let us add to what has been said, and offer praise to the Creator of the world. Let us praise the crown of the king of kings, whose throne makes the moon shine bright. A lord of glory, generosity, and justice; through his command the age itself grew glad. Master of the mace, the sword, and the treasury; master of ease, and of pain and hardship too. A world-ruler of glory who knows what is good, and thanks God for the crown he wears. Wise, handsome, and eloquent; young in years, yet ancient in knowledge. His cloud rains down fortune like Jupiter; let us hurry to shelter beneath his glory. In battle he sets the sky roaring; when he holds a feast he scatters jewels. When his anger flares, mountains crumble and the heavens tremble above the earth. King and ruler through generations of forefathers; the dome of sun and moon takes pride in him. May his name endure forever, and may greatness be his end in all things. I began this book with his praise: his grandeur, his ways, and his wisdom. Through him I found a good name in the world; may his end in this life be good. His face has made the crown shine bright; against all evils his fortune is his armor. The devout take pride in him, and so does anyone who rules upon the earth. The air is bright with his fruitful fortune; the earth is the footing of his renowned throne. In battle he is a raging war-elephant; at the feast he is a heaven of faithfulness. When his judgment shines in war, waves rise up from the sea of him. In the hunt, lions are his prey; wild beasts and creatures live under his protection. On the day of war, at the sound of his mace, the lion's heart splits and the leopard's hide tears. May his head stay green and his heart full of justice; may the world never be without him and his crown.