Part 24: The Fire Temple and the Feast

When the work of the fire temple was finished, it became the very place for Nowruz and the Sadeh feast. He came toward Azerbaijan, together with the renowned nobles and the freeborn. The keepers of the fire stepped forward, and all the priests laid their hands upon their heads in reverence. He gave gifts to the fire keepers, then set out swiftly from the temple. With a graceful stride he came to the city of Estakhr, which was the pride of the great kings. Loaded on cowhide and sheepskin sacks, he had them carried forward on the backs of elephants. There were eleven hundred and sixty measures of it, in silver coin and in gold as well. In the Pahlavi tongue, among the Persian priests, this weight was named a 'peydavosi.' Then he brought leather sacks, spread them out, and joyfully poured the silver upon them. Along the road, wherever he saw a ruined bridge, or heard of a caravanserai in need, and for every poor person in the world, and anyone who earned his bread by his own labor, third, he weighed out silver on the scales for widows and orphaned children. fourth, for every old man worn out by work, past his days of struggle and battle. fifth, for anyone of noble birth whom no wealthy person ever cared to remember. sixth, for anyone who came from a long journey and kept his poverty hidden away. He gave to all of them a great deal of money; not for a single day was the king sullen about giving. All the spoils he set aside for the army; hoarding treasure brought him no satisfaction. Then he ordered his pure-hearted people to bring forward the crown of the Khaqan of China. The jewels set within it they pried loose, and set them into the walls of the fire temple. They adorned it with gold and gems, and decorated the head of the fire's throne. From there he went toward Ctesiphon, where Narsi was, with the priest as his guide. All the chiefs came out to welcome him, the great men of Iran and its warriors. When Narsi saw the head and crown of the king, the heart-cheering banner and so vast an army, he dismounted and bowed low before him, as did the great men and the proud chief priest. Bahram commanded him to rise and take his seat, and then he clasped Narsi's hand in his own. He came and sat upon the golden throne, the great men standing before him with belts fastened in service. He gave a treasury to those in need, and threw open the doors of the crowded prison. The age was filled with joy and justice; the hearts of the grieving were freed from sorrow. He drove pain and grief from every land, and held a great feast for the nobles. At that feast, everyone who hurried to attend received a robe of honor fit for the great.