English
Part 4: The Hidden Son
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.