English
The King's Counsel on Justice and Good Name
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.