English
Part 2: The Boar's Vengeance
Then word reached the Boar
that Khosrow had died in grief and anguish.
A messenger came from the West to say
that the crown of the wretched Shiruy had fallen into the dust.
May his soul be trapped in hell,
and the roof of his tomb collapse.
Who ever imagined that a tall cypress
would be harmed by mere weeds in the garden?
A king like Khosrow, whose equal
the eye and heart of the age will never see again.
To hand the throne to Shiruy
is to hand all of Iran over to disgrace.
When Khosrow was gone, Ardeshir became king,
and young and old rejoiced in him.
If I have any stake left in Iran,
I will not let a single wind of ruin touch it.
I did not know that King Parviz
was destroyed by the words of those evil men.
Now I will come with a mighty army,
chosen chiefs from the West and from Iran.
Let us see who this ruler is
who finds such a plan pleasing.
I will tear his roots out completely,
so that afterward he will not speak a word of kingship.
He sent a swift rider running on the road
to the elders and chiefs of the Iranian army.
With a different, sinister aim in mind,
he wrote a letter to Piruz Khosrow.
It said: this throne of the Sasanians has gone dark;
a seeker of glory must gird himself for the task.
Perhaps you can devise a plan,
and set every kind of scheme in motion.
Seek many allies, young and old,
and rid the world of Ardeshir.
After that you will have all you desire,
and live safe and content in your own peace.
But if you let this secret slip out,
you will feed your blood to the dagger of vengeance.
I will bring such an army from the West
that the world will turn black before your eyes.
Weigh my words deeply,
and do not let my cause come to nothing.
When Piruz Khosrow read that letter,
he saw only his own self-serving ambition, front and back.
The noble man's bright heart turned foul,
plotting how to do harm to the young king.
Ardeshir would summon him at all hours,
for he was eloquent and had a keen memory.
He was his trusted minister,
and also the keeper of his treasury.
One dark night he came and was granted audience,
with bright wine and smooth, flattering talk.
Ardeshir sat in his hall,
a few men, young and old, beside him.
When Piruz Khosrow came before him,
you would think his head rose to the heavens with pride.
He ordered the lutes to be played;
the hall filled with the sound of strings and song.
When half the dark night had passed,
the commander drank down a full measure of wine.
King Ardeshir's companions grew drunk,
no musician or attentive man remained.
The scheming one sent his companions away,
until none was left but the king and Piruz Khosrow.
The cruel man sprang out from the front of the room
and suddenly seized the king's lips with his hand.
He held them until Ardeshir was destroyed;
the whole palace filled with swords and arrows.
All sided with Piruz Khosrow,
whether fresh young seekers of glory or seasoned warriors.
He sent a fast camel-rider to the Boar,
and a long letter along with it.
When the messenger reached him,
his darkened soul lit up like the sun.
He brought from that land so vast an army
that it blocked the path even to ants and gnats.
He galloped like the wind to Ctesiphon,
his whole army with hands washed in blood.
No one in the army dared draw a breath;
in that city there were hardly any people left.