The Fall of Ardavan and the Rise of Ardeshir

When the news reached Ardavan, his heart filled with dread and his soul went dark. He said: The secret of the lofty sky, the Lord of counsel foretold to me. Whatever lies beyond our reckoning, no effort can escape the fate that is decreed. I never imagined that from Ardeshir a conqueror and seeker of fame would rise, taking cities. He opened his treasury and paid the wages, raised an army and loaded the baggage for march. From Gilan and Deylam the troops came, and the dust of the army rose up to the moon. From the other side the king brought an army too, a host that blocked the very road of the wind. So loud were the horns and trumpets, the clang of bells and the Indian gongs, that between the two armies only a bowshot remained, like a snake writhing helpless in the dust. The army roared and the banners flashed, and hearts were scattered by the violet blades. For forty days the fighting went on like this, and the world grew narrow for the men beneath. Food of every kind ran short, and the roads for bringing supplies grew closed. So many were killed that the plain rose like a mountain, and the living grew sick and weary of their lives. At last a black cloud gathered up, and it became the instrument of struggle and war. A wind rose up from the gathered host, and the hearts of the fighters were shaken and broken. The mountain roared and the plain trembled, and its clamor passed straight through the sky. Ardavan's army was seized with fear, and they all agreed upon a single word: This blow against Ardavan is heaven's own will; now we must weep for this whole army. On the day when the battle turned harshest, they all cried out then for mercy and quarter. Ardeshir came out from the heart of his army, the clash of swords rose up and arrows fell like rain. In the thick of it Ardavan was captured, he gave his sweet life away for the sake of the crown. He was taken by a man named Khorrad, who seized his bridle and led him away. He brought him captive before the world seeker, and from afar Ardeshir caught sight of Ardavan. King Ardavan came down from his mount, his body wounded by arrows, his soul gone dark. King Ardeshir commanded the executioner: Go, take the enemy of the throne, cut him in two through the middle with your blade, and fill the hearts of the evil minded with terror. The grim one came and carried out the order, and that famous man vanished from the world. Such is the way of this aged wheel of heaven, with Ardavan just as with Ardeshir. Though it lifts a man high as the stars, in the end it hands him over to the wretched dust. His two sons were captured as well, and through him the line of Arash was brought low. The lofty king put both of them in chains by the feet, and sent them off to prison. Two of the disloyal ones fled from the battle, and did not get caught in the snare of ruin. Weeping, they made their way to India; it is fitting if you make a tale of this. The whole battlefield was full of harness and belts, full of weapons, troops, and silver and gold. The king ordered it all gathered up, and then he shared it out among his army. Sabak went out from among the nobles and washed Ardavan's body clean of blood. Weeping, he cleansed it of the dust of battle, and built a tomb in the manner of kings. He clothed the wounded body in brocade, and set a crown of camphor upon its head. He measured out the ground of his palace by paces, and everyone from the army set off toward Ray. After that he came before Ardeshir and said: O king who welcomes wisdom, you are the ruler, so ask for his daughter, for she is full of grace and glory, crown and throne. The crown, the throne, and the treasure will come to you, all that Ardavan gathered with such toil. He listened to this counsel and said it was right, and at once he asked for the man's daughter. For a month or two he stayed in his palace, a wealthy commander with a wealthy army. Then the fame seeker came from Ray toward Pars, at rest from battle and from all the wrangling. He built a city full of palaces and gardens, with springs and plains and green meadows within it. Even now the venerable old farmer calls it the province of Ardeshir. There was a boundless spring within it, and from it he opened many rivers and streams. By that spring he raised a fire temple, and through it the feast of Mehregan and Sadeh was renewed. Around it were gardens, a square, and a palace, and a spacious dwelling place was raised up. Since the king was wise, glorious, and strong, they called him the warden of the city of Gur. Around it he built up villages, and once he made it thrive, no one could rival it. In one place he saw a deep body of water, and a mountain had to be cut through before it. They brought pickaxes and skilled workmen, and from that mountain cut a hundred channels. The water was led from the mountain to the city of Gur, and that city filled with houses and livestock.