Reign of Yazdgerd the Sinner

When Yazdgerd became king over the world, he gathered the army together from the plains. He placed his brother's crown upon his own head, glad in the midst of that unhappy death. He spoke to the notables of the city: all those who hope to receive justice, First, offer your prayers to God, then let our justice make your hearts glad and smiling. I will not let the wicked prosper, however clever they are; if they reach out for evil, I will strike. Whoever seeks honesty from us will find rest from crookedness and wrong. Wherever such a one is, we will raise his standing, and drive spite and greed out of his heart. We will take counsel only with the wise, the clear-minded and vigilant priests. Anyone whose record is full of faults, whose soul grows bold through wealth and excess, who lays oppression on the helpless, who grows rich by seizing what the poor own, we will act and strip away his power, and give more comfort to the poor under our care. Whoever guards himself against our anger will pass sharply before our eyes and prosper. But the wrongdoer's body will seek its bed in the dust, and the Indian sword will find his neck. By our command, make your eyes bright, and put on wisdom over your body like armor. Every man's body trembled like a willow, for their only hope now was the mace and the sword. Once his rule over the world was firmly set, his grandeur grew and his kindness dwindled. The wise became worthless in his eyes, and all the customs of kingship fell idle. The governors along with the champions and the nobles, and the learned, wise priests as well, grew as of no more account to him than the wind; cruelty became his craft, his soul turned dark. Kindness and justice were wiped from his heart, and he answered no one's wish. No one held any standing before him; he punished the smallest fault to the bitter end. Every minister who served at his court, who would raise his star and his crown higher, all made a pact with one another that they would never speak the truth of that realm. All of them writhed in fear, and grew lifeless from terror of the king of kings. Envoys would arrive along the road, and so would the oppressed subjects seeking justice. When the minister learned of their coming, he would hurry swiftly to deal with such matters. With warm words and a soft voice, he would gently turn the envoy away in shame. He would say the king has no time for business; you have no way to see him. I have laid all your requests before him, and by his command that justice has been granted.

When seven years of his reign had passed, the priests were all in distress and misery under him. At the start of the eighth year, in the month of Farvardin, when the sun of faith shows itself in the world, a child came to him on the day of Hormozd, born under a lucky star and a world-brightening omen. At once the father named him Bahram, and the little child grew glad at heart. Every astrologer at the court, worthy of having his words heard, there was one man of substance, full of glory and wit, the chief of the Indians, whose name was Sorush. And a Persian named Hoshyar, who with his knowledge could put a bridle on the heavens. The king ordered them to come before him, and the wise and true seekers came. With the astrolabe they studied the stars, and from the Roman tables they sought the answer. From the stars Sorush saw a happy secret: that this child would be a king in the world. He would be ruler over the seven regions of the earth; say that his heart would be joyful and his conduct devout. They hurried off to the king, with the tables and astrolabes under their arms. They said to the crowned Yazdgerd: we have gathered knowledge of every kind. The reckoning of the heavens came out thus: that the sky holds love for this little child. The seven regions of the earth will be his; he will be a precious and blessed king. The king was gladdened by their words, and gave them royal jewels as gifts. When they had left that court, the chief priest and the king's pure counsellor, sat down and searched every way for a plan, to see what solution might be found. If this small child does not take on his father's nature, he will become a just and kingly ruler. But if he takes on his father's nature, he will turn the whole land upside down. Then neither priest nor warrior will be happy, nor will he himself have a glad, bright soul in the world. All the priests came before the king, open-hearted and well-meaning. They said: this noble child is far from any fault or reproach. The whole world will lie under his command; every land will owe him tribute and treaty. Look for a place where learning dwells, for through a learned man a land finds peace. Choose a tutor from among the noble ones, one on whom the whole country calls down blessings. This king with his happy secret nature will gain skill, and by his command the world will grow glad. When Yazdgerd heard this from the priests, he gathered envoys from the land. At once he sent men to Rome, to India, to China, and to prosperous lands. That famous envoy went to the Arabs too, to look into gains and losses. In every direction a summoner went, seeking one who would raise Bahram, to find an eloquent, learning-loving man, a master of speech skilled in every science. From every land a priest came, world-experienced, good-natured and wise. When they had all arrived at that court, the seekers came before the king. He questioned them much and treated them kindly, arranging lodgings for each in every quarter. Noman and Monzer set out by night, and many famous men of Arabia gathered. When the great ones had assembled in Persia, they came before the crowned Yazdgerd. Each one said: we are your servants, we listen to your words and we are your singers. Such a time calls for great men, since the worthy son of the world's king should be taken in hand and taught knowledge, so his heart may be lit up out of darkness. Romans, Indians and Persians came, astronomers and men of geometry, philosophers of vast learning, eloquent and skilled in their crafts. Each said in a gentle voice: O just king, wise and modest, we are one and all the dust beneath your feet, and in learning we are all your guides. Look and see who pleases you, and which of us proves useful to you. Monzer said: we are your servants, we live in this world only for the king. The king knows all our skills; he is like the shepherd and we like the flock. We are horsemen and champions who charge our steeds, and whoever is learned, we can outdo him. There is no astrologer like us, none so richly versed in geometry. Our souls are full of love for the king, and beneath us our Arab horses snort and race. We are all servants before your son, and we praise his greatness.

When Yazdgerd heard these words from him, he set his mind and reason to work. He looked at the outcome from the very start, and entrusted noble Bahram to him. He ordered robes of honor prepared for him and raised his head up to the heavens. They dressed his body in robes of honor and called for the horse of the king of Yemen from the gate. From the palace of the world's king out to the plain, camels and horses and litters passed in a stream. Countless servants and nurses lined the way, from the marketplace all the way to the king's court. The bazaar was decorated along the road, from the city gate to the door of the king's hall. When Mundhir came to the city of Yemen, everyone, men and women alike, came out to welcome him. When he first reached his resting place, he sought out many women of noble birth. From landed nobles, Arabs, and the highborn, wealthy and select and dignified. From these great families he chose four women, so that talent would show clearly in the child's nature. Two Arabs and two nobles of royal stock: they took me on and served as my nurses. They cared for him thus for four years, until he had his fill of milk and his neck grew strong. With difficulty they weaned him from the milk, keeping him close and cherishing him tenderly. When he turned seven, he said to Mundhir, and his counsel was worthy of a great man: He said: Great and exalted lord, do not treat me like a suckling child. Hand me over to learned teachers; when there is work to do, do not keep me idle. Mundhir said to him: Exalted one, you are still too young to need schooling. When the time for learning comes to you, then you will turn your effort toward knowledge. For now I will let you stay in the hall and play, and take your pride in games. Bahram gave this answer in return: Do not eat what you did not earn from me in idleness. I have knowledge even if I lack the years; I may not have the arms and shoulders of a warrior. You have the years but less wisdom; my nature is different from your outlook. Don't you know that whoever seizes the right moment picks first from the tasks that must come first? If you keep waiting for a better time, you wash your heart clean of all good things. Everything done out of season bears no fruit; among living beings the head is the best of the body. Teach me all that befits a king, so that I may come to know what is fitting. The root of righteousness is God-given knowledge; blessed is the one who has both wisdom and understanding. Mundhir looked at him and stood astonished, and under his breath he spoke the name of God. At once he sent a guide riding hard on a camel toward the salt lands. He sought out three learned priests who held honor and standing in the salt lands. One to teach him the art of writing and light up his heart against the dark. Another to teach him the knowledge of the falcon and the hunting cheetah, for that would gladden his heart. And a third for the polo mallet, arrow and bow, and the turns of battle against a treacherous foe. To wheel the reins left and right, and to spur his mount across the battlefield. So these priests came before Mundhir and spoke of every branch of learning. He entrusted the prince's person to them, though the boy himself was quick and eager to learn. Bahram of royal descent grew to be one who gave manhood its full due in every skill. Whatever art reached his ears, his mind reached out toward mastering it. When that renowned youth turned eighteen, he became a bold champion, radiant as the sun. He no longer needed the priests for anything, whether learning, or the cheetah and the falcon. Wheeling the reins on the battlefield, galloping his horse and charging. He said to Mundhir: Pure-minded one, send these skilled teachers back to their homes. He gave each of them many gifts, and they left Mundhir's court in joy. After that the young king said to Mundhir: Summon the horses of these lancers. Tell them to wheel their reins before me and to lower their spear tips into view. Let them set a price on whichever pleases me, and I will pay them their coin at once. Mundhir gave him this answer: Skilled and famous prince, The keeper of my horses is at your command, and their master too is at your own service. If you mean to buy horses from the Arabs, why should I be put to trouble and hardship? Bahram said to him: Good-named one, may your desires be granted all year long through your goodness. I choose the horse that, when I gallop it downhill, will not let its rein slip from the stirrup. When with such a mount I make it steady, I will make it a match for the wind at Nowruz. But if a horse is untested, one should not force it hard with harsh riding. Mundhir ordered Nu'man: Go and pick out a herd from the new keeper of the horses. Ride the whole plain before the horsemen, and see where you can find a warhorse. Nu'man went swiftly and brought a hundred horses, choosing many from among the battle mounts. When Bahram saw them, he came to the plain, wheeled left and right, and rode about for a while. Every horse that had matched the wind lost its wings once Bahram was in the saddle. In this way he chose a light chestnut, a swift, open-chested wind-runner. And by another brand mark a bay of a color; you would say a sea-dragon had risen from the deep. It struck fire from its hooves, and blood seemed to drip from its ruby-red coat. Mundhir paid their price at their full worth, for their pastures had been in the thickets of Kufa. Bahram accepted those two horses from him, glowing like the sacred fire of Azargoshasp. He cared for it like a fresh apple, so that not even a breeze would touch it with harm. One day the young man said to Mundhir: Man of purpose and bright soul, You keep me here with no cause, without letting me pass a single hour in sorrow. Everyone you see in this world carries some hidden longing in the heart. Grief turns a man's face pale, while joy makes the noble body flourish. So add one more good thing to this, something that answers every kind of pain. Whether crowned king or champion, a young man finds his peace with a wife. Through her the faith of God stands firm, and she is a guide toward good for the young. Order that five or six slave girls be brought, adorned and radiant as the sun. Perhaps one or two among them will please me, and the thought of praise and blessing will come to me. Perhaps too I will see a child of my own, one who will bring my heart a little peace. Then the Lord of the world will be pleased with me, and I will be remembered with honor in every gathering. When Mundhir heard the prince's words, the old man called down blessings upon him. He ordered Sa'd the eloquent to hurry to the house of the slave merchant. He brought forty Greek slave girls, all fit to bring desire and peace of heart. Bahram chose two of those rose-cheeked girls, whose bones beneath the skin were like ivory. Tall as slender cypresses, all charm, beauty, and grace. Of those two stars, one played the harp, the other had tulip cheeks like the star Suhail of Yemen. Tall as cypresses, with hair like a lasso; Mundhir paid their price once they had pleased him. Bahram laughed and gave thanks; his face turned bright as a Badakhshan ruby set in a ring.

He cared for nothing but the polo field and the hunt: sometimes the strike of the mallet, sometimes the chase. So it happened that one day, without any company, he went to the hunting ground with a harp player. The name of that free-spirited Roman girl was Azadeh, whose cheeks had lent their color to wine. He mounted his galloping steed, that free and slender cypress with a harp in her hand at his side. She was his comfort and his heart's desire; he always carried her name on his lips. On hunting days she would ask for the camel-horse whose back she draped in fine brocade. Four stirrups hung down from it, and he rode it hard up the heights and down the slopes. Two of its stirrups were gold, two silver, and every one of them was studded with jewels. Beneath his quiver he kept clay pellets for the bow; the brave man was skilled in every art. A pair of gazelles came into his path, and the young man said, laughing, to Azadeh: My moon, once I string the bow and knot the thumb-guard tight, which gazelle would you have me bring down with an arrow? The doe is young, and her mate is old. Azadeh said to him: Brave lion of a man, men do not seek battle with a gazelle. Turn that doe into a buck with your arrow, and make the old buck a doe with your shot. Then spur the steed on hard, and when the gazelle takes flight from you, cast a clay pellet so it lifts a hoof, careless, up to its ear on its shoulder. The moment the pellet makes its ear itch, it will raise its foot to its shoulder without pain. Pin its head, its foot, and its ear together with a single shaft, if you want me to call you the light of the world. Bahram Gur strung his bow and stirred up a storm across the quiet plain. In his quiver he had one arrow tipped with two heads, kept for the hunt out on the plain. The instant the gazelle turned to flee, the warrior aimed at the sharp horns of that buck. With that twin-headed arrow he cut the horns clean off its head, and the girl was left astonished at him. In one moment the buck became a doe; its head went smooth and dark where the horns had been. Then that huntsman drove two arrows into the doe's brow in the very same way, two shafts standing like horns from her head, her chest turned ruby-red with blood. He galloped the steed toward the other pair and fitted pellet after pellet to the bend of his bow. He struck one gazelle in the ear, and it landed well, right where it should. At once the gazelle scratched at its ear, and the sorcerer's bow brought it into range of the arrow. He pinned its head, ear, and foot with the shaft, and Azadeh's heart burned with pity for the gazelle. Bahram raised his hand, and knocked her from the saddle, flinging her headlong to the ground. He drove the camel-horse over that moon-faced girl, and its hooves and claws splashed her in blood. He said: You witless harp player, why did you have to test me for a slip? If my aim had been clumsy, my noble name would have been shamed by these shots. Once he had trampled her beneath the steed's feet, he never again took a girl along to the hunt.

The next week, with a proud army at his side, he rode out to the hunting ground with cheetah and falcon. Near a mountain he saw a lion tearing open the back of a wild ass. He drew the black-feathered arrow to the string and swiftly knotted the three-feathered shaft to his thumb-ring. He pinned the wild ass's heart to the lion's back, the lion above and the ass below, both drenched in blood. When he had killed both the ass and the brave lion, he strode into the palace, sword in hand. The following week Nu'man and Mundhir set out with him toward the hunting ground. Many famous men had come along from the Arabs, for on Bahram hung all profit and loss for them. Mundhir wanted Bahram Gur to show them his horsemanship and strength. In one place they spotted a herd of ostriches, each one running like a swift, uncontrolled camel. When Bahram Gur saw those ostriches, he shot forward like a rushing wind. Smiling, he flexed the bow in his grip and set four poplar arrows at his belt. One by one he fitted them to the bow, so as to bring their days to an end. He split their feathers apart with his arrows: this is how a true hunter shoots. It was as if all struck a single point; no one arrow flew truer than another. He went and saw what the famous men beheld: the rider's shots were all placed within a hair's breadth. Mundhir showered him with praise, and so did the spear-bearing warriors. Mundhir said to him: O king, you delight me like a rosebush in full bloom. May your moon-like face never bend into a frown, and may your waist never grow weak. As soon as Mundhir returned to his palace, his esteem for Bahram rose to the stars. He summoned many painters from Yemen, and these leading men gathered at his door. He ordered them to paint on silk the wounds Bahram had dealt with his arrows. A rider like Bahram with mighty shoulders and neck, a tall camel below, and a wound of astonishing skill. The clay-pellet bow, and lion and gazelle and wild ass, his arm wide open, his hand strong and skilled. The ostrich and the plain and the arrow's wound, all freshly drawn in black pitch upon the silk. He dispatched a rider toward the king and sent him that painting. When the messenger reached Yazdgird, the whole army gathered around that picture. All the famous men stood amazed and sang Bahram's praises. And after that, whenever he performed feats of skill, they would carry the news at speed to the king.

His father longed for Bahram, that willful sun of a son. Bahram the lion said to Mundhir: however long we have stayed at your side, my father's wish still rises in me; once I feel safe, it stirs me to go. Mundhir prepared, as was fitting, a royal gift to send from Yemen. Arab horses with golden bridles, and everything they called precious, Yemeni cloth and Yemeni swords, and whatever the mines of Aden held. Nueman, who traveled with the prince, was like a crown of the moon beside him. So they came to the city of Istakhr, honored to arrive with the king's son. When word reached the Shah of his son and of Nueman the Arab on the road, Bahram came at once before his father, and when the father saw him he lifted his head. He hurried before that lofty royal throne and bowed low in salute. When the alert Shah saw Bahram, that glory, that stature, that broad frame, he stood amazed at all he was: his height, his learning, his bearing. He questioned him at length and welcomed him, and gave him a place close beside himself. Within the quarter he chose Nueman's lodging, a palace worthy of Bahram. He sent servants to attend him, attendants suited to his rank. Night and day Bahram stood before his father, never tiring of his service. When Nueman had spent a month with the Shah, he wished to set out on his way home. At night the Shah sent for him and called him, and seated him on the royal throne facing himself. He said: Mundhir took much trouble to raise the noble Bahram. The reward for this rests with me; your springtime is my Hormozd. I have approved his judgment and his learning, for I see his heart leans toward wisdom. Since you have stayed so long at this court, surely your father waits, watching the road. They gave from the treasury fifty thousand gold coins, along with a royal robe. From the stables, ten costly horses were named, with bridles of silver and gold. And beautiful furnishings too, of every color, scent, and kind. From the treasury of Iran's ruler he took them, and handed each to Nueman for Mundhir. With joy he opened his hand in giving, and gave each of the man's companions a fitting gift. The Shah wrote a letter to Mundhir, as befitted the royal court, generously acknowledging what he had done for his son, that the Shah of Yemen was now his kin. I reach out to reward this deed; I take pride in such a son. But Bahram Gur wrote a letter: My affairs here are wretched and bitter. This is not what I hoped of the Shah, that he would look upon his lesser one this way. Here I am neither treated as a son, nor like a servant, nor even like a lowly man happy at the door. He told Nueman all he kept hidden: the wrongs and the ways of the world's Shah. When Nueman left the ruler's court, he came to the renowned Mundhir. He gave him the letter of the world's Shah; Mundhir kissed it and pressed it to his head. He showed his joy at the gifts, and heaped blessing upon blessing on the giver. Then, in secret, the messenger told Mundhir a good deal about Bahram. Then the scribe read the letter before him, and the great man's face turned pale as jaundice. At once he quickly wrote a reply, words full of wisdom and good fortune. He wrote: O renowned lord, take care not to turn your head from your father's path. Be content with the Shah in good and bad; be devoted, and be wise. Wrongs from the great pass away through patience; a man's head must hold wisdom. This is the will of the turning heavens; do not raise a foot against its will. The sky holds one heart full of love, another full of hate and a frowning face. The world's Creator made it so: wherever He drives, you must go. From now on, whatever you need, of coin or of royal jewels, I will send it; be sure you do not fret. Treasure squandered is not worth your pain. For now I have sent ten thousand gold coins from a treasury, here, to scatter as you please. A servant who will guide you, one who will gladden your heart behind the curtain, I have now sent to you, to brighten your darkened soul. Whenever you put gold to use, never be a burden to the king. For I will send you much more, and every kind of thing from this kingdom. Be devoted and be praising; grow ever greater in your service. You cannot secretly cut that bad temper away from the world's Shah. He sent ten of those Arab riders, eloquent, clear-sighted, and loyal. They reached King Bahram bearing purses of gold, servants, and goodwill. The wise Bahram was gladdened by this; all his sorrows blew from his heart like wind. And after that, following the counsel of the Arab king, his work day and night was devotion.

It happened that one day at a royal feast he was standing on his feet before the king. As darkness fell, sleep overcame him where he stood, and standing grew too hard to bear. When his father saw his eyes drifting shut, he raised his voice in a burst of anger. He ordered the guard to take him away: from now on he would see neither crown nor belt. Lock him in prison and come back; he is not fit for throne, for honor, or for battle. So he sat in the hall with a wounded heart; for a whole year he did not see his father's face, except at Mehregan, Nowruz, and the feast of Sadeh, when he would go forward in the ranks. It so happened that Tinush the Roman came as an envoy on the road to the king, with purses of gold, slaves, and the tribute of Rome, sent by Caesar to that prosperous land. When he arrived, the king of kings welcomed him and gave him lodging worthy of his rank. Bahram sent him a message: 'You are a clear-sighted man whose wishes are granted.' 'The king was angered by something small in me, and though I am blameless he has cast me off.' 'If you would plead for me, that he might pardon me, perhaps my faded fortune would shine again.' 'Perhaps he will send me back to those who raised me, for Mondhir was more to me than mother and father.' When Tinush heard his message, he fulfilled that longing and made his wish come true. Bahram, worn with grief, was gladdened by this, and was freed from that unworthy captivity. He gave many gifts to the poor and made ready to set out from that place as well. He called all his followers together, and in the dark of night drove his troops on like the wind. He told his companions: 'Thanks to God, we have gone and are now safe from our fear.' When he drew near the city of Yemen, child and man and woman came out to greet him. Nu'man and Mondhir rose to come, along with the pure-hearted lancers. When Mondhir came close to Bahram, the day grew dark from the dust of the army. The two noble men dismounted, and Bahram spoke of his sorrow and pain. Mondhir wept much at his words, and asked, 'What is the king's fortune now?' Bahram said: 'May he never think again of his own ill-starred luck.' 'For anyone who does not walk the path of wisdom, I fear that his deeds will bring him punishment.' He gave him lodging right where he was, and heaped kindness upon that kindness. He had nothing to do but feasting and the field, whether generous giving or the effort of war.

After that, the sorrow and joy of Yazdgerd passed to his son as fast as the wind carries chaff. Some time went by in this way, in Iran; the father, and the fortunate son in the open field. Yazdgerd grew anxious about his kingship, and gathered the priests from every land. The king ordered the astrologers, so that each one would study the stars. To learn when his death in the world would come, and where his head and helmet would grow dark. What it would be, and where, that day would fall when the king's flower would wither. The stargazer said: 'May it never be that the king of the world should think of death.' 'When the fortune of the great king turns away, from here he will head toward the spring of Su.' 'He will bring his army, trumpet and drum, and in joy he will go to look upon Tus.' 'In that very place his life will end, once this secret reaches his ear.' 'From this knowledge, if you learn anything at all, know this secret lies behind God's veil.' When the king heard this from him, he swore by Kharrad Borzin and by the golden sun. That he would never set eyes on the spring of Su, neither in a time of joy nor a time of wrath. Over this too the heavens turned for three months; then fate boiled up for the blood of the king. When a shepherd becomes unjust to his flock, all evils come circling back to him. One day blood began to flow from his nose; physicians came, called in from every side. When the doctor stopped it for a week with medicine, the next week the blood would come again like tears.

The high priest said to him: 'O king, you have strayed from the path of the Creator.' You said you would slip free from the grip of death, as the autumn wind tears the leaf from the branch. Your only cure is this: take the gentle road and travel by litter toward the spring of Soo. There, pray before the holy God; move over that warm earth with humble weeping. Say: 'I am your feeble servant, who has bound my soul with a snare of oaths.' 'Now I have come to learn where my fated hour lies, before you, the true and just judge.' When the king heard this, it pleased him, and even his illness seemed to ease. He readied three hundred litters and palanquins and set out toward the sea of the city. Night and day he stayed inside the litter, and now and then blood ran from his nose. When he drew near the spring of Soo, he stepped out from the litter and gazed at the sea. He poured a little of that water over his head and gave thanks to God for His goodness. For a while no blood came from his nose; he drank and rested with his guide. Then pride swelled in him and he said: 'What sort of custom is this? Why should I linger so long in one place?' So the shepherd king grew arrogant, since he had seen only good come to him. From the sea there rose a great white horse, its haunches round as a wild ass, its legs short. Racing, full of fury like an enraged lion, tall, with black testicles and crow-dark eyes. Its tail dragging near its feet, with mane and forelock, black-hoofed, foam-flinging, strong enough to kill a lion. Yazdgerd said to his nobles: 'Surround this beast with the troops.' The herdsman came forward with ten colt-tamers, a saddle, and a long coiled lasso. How could they know the secret hidden by God, the king, that had brought this dragon into their path? The herdsman and all the soldiers stood helpless; the shepherd king grew angry at them. At once he took up the saddle and bridle himself and approached that horse, eager and glad. The white horse grew so tame where it stood that it moved neither foot nor hoof. It took the bridle from the world-ruling king and stood calm as the saddle was set upon it. When he placed the saddle and drew the girth tight, the leaping monster did not stir from its place. But when he went behind it to tie its tail, that stone-hoofed steed broke into a roar. It bellowed and lashed a single kick to his chest; his head and crown came down into the dust. From dust he came and to dust Yazdgerd returned; what do you seek from these seven turning heavens? Since you find no escape from their turning, worshiping them holds no worth at all. Turn to God and take refuge in Him, the Lord of the wheeling sun and moon. When the king was killed, the water-horse, swift as the wind, came to that lapis-blue spring. It plunged into the water and its body vanished; no one in the world had ever seen such a wonder. A cry rose from the army like a war drum: 'O king, your fated hour has brought you to Tus.' They tore all their garments and poured dust upon their necks and heads. After that the high priest opened his body, between the flank and the crown of his head. He packed it all with camphor and musk and dried his body with fine brocade. In a golden coffin and a litter of teak, that crowned lord was carried toward Fars. Such is the way of this lofty world: when you find peace, still fear its harm. You may be at ease, but the world is not at ease with you; a name well earned is better than a full cup. Serving the faith is better than sin, when a man has risen to such a rank.

When the ruler of the world was laid to rest in his tomb, the great men of Iran left in tears. Governors along with priests and warriors, and the wise, clear-minded chief minister, all gathered together in Pars, and came to the tomb of Yazdgerd. Men like Gostaham, who could wrestle an elephant on horseback, and Qaren, son of Goshasp, and Milad, and the frontier-lord of Pars, and Piruz the horse-thrower, master of the mace, and all the other nobles of Iran, the great ones and the champions of the world. All those whom Yazdgerd had once humiliated came together in that royal seat. The eloquent scribe Goshasp spoke and said: 'You renowned men, young and old, since the Creator first made the world, no one has ever seen such kingship as this, nothing but killing, humiliation, pain and suffering, and filling his treasury from the goods of the poor.' No one has ever seen a king fouler than this, nor heard of such among the famous kings of old. We want no one from this line upon the throne; we take refuge in God from his very dust, and that is all. The proud Bahram is his son, bound to him in mind, heart, and thought. The whole matter starts from Monzer; we want no tyrant upon the throne. Every one of the Iranians who was present swore solemn oaths, that from this line we will accept no one for the crown and throne of majesty and the kingship of kings. On this they agreed, and they rose up, seeking a different king. When the news of the death of the king of the world spread among the nobles, the king of Alan, and the war-commander of Pars, and the golden-crowned lords of Abivard and Shughnan, each one of them said: 'The kingship is mine, from the earth up to the sphere of the moon it is all mine.' The whole world fell into chaos when the crowned head vanished from the throne. In Iran the chiefs, priests, and warriors, all who were of clear and bright soul, gathered in Pars over this matter and told many tales about this situation: Who deserves this royal crown? Look and see whose place this is. Seek a generous and just man to fasten the belt of kingship on this golden throne, one who can calm the turmoil of the age, for the world is a meadow without a king. There was an old man named Khosrow, chivalrous, bright of heart, and cheerful, he too came from the line of the proud, and in that land he was among the self-sufficient and wealthy. The champions handed him the crown and the throne, and armies gathered around him from every side.

Then news reached Bahram Gur: fate had turned, and the throne had gone bitter as brine. Your father, that proud king of kings, has died; he is gone, and taken his royal name with him. They have set another man upon the throne, and hailed him as their king. The whole army swore an oath: never again will we take a king from that bloodline. For Bahram, his son, is just like him; from his father's seed he was made, flesh and mind. When Bahram heard this, he tore at his face; his heart was crushed with grief for his father. For two weeks the city of Yemen rang with the wailing of children, men, and women. When he had sat a full month in mourning for the king, at the new moon he prepared the throne. Nu'man and Mundhir came together, and all the Arabs of Yemen, high and low. All were stricken, and wept with the king; without any fire, they burned with sorrow. Then they loosed their tongues and spoke: O noble, lofty king, We all came into this world as dust; we did not come here seeking any cure for death. Whoever is born of a mother must die; birth is a cruelty I have seen, and death is only justice. Bahram Gur said this to Mundhir: now that our day has turned dark and dim, if the royal name is severed from this line, then its glory too will be torn away. Horsemen will kick up dust across the plains, and this land will become a grave for the Arabs. Be thoughtful, and lend your aid; mourn for my father's death. Mundhir heard Bahram's words, and gave a manly answer, striking to the root: He said: this is my hour, and on this plain lies my day of the hunt. You sit upon the throne and watch; forever wear the crown and the royal bracelet. All the great men agreed on this, the foundation Nu'man and Mundhir had laid. They rose from before the world-seeking prince, and made ready for the raid. Mundhir commanded Nu'man: go, and raise up a fresh army of lions. From the Shayban and the Qays, ten thousand; bring their dust up at the door of war. I will show the Iranians who the true king is, the one with crown, treasure, and army. Nu'man brought a heavy host, all swordsmen and spearmen. He ordered them to launch raids, to trample the whole face of the country underfoot. From the road of the salt marsh to the gates of Ctesiphon, the earth reeled beneath their hooves. They took women, children, and men captive; no one could hold back those torments. The world was filled with plunder and burning, once the throne of the king of kings stood empty. Then the news reached Rome and China, the Turks, India, and the land of Makran: that Iran's throne stood empty of a king, and no one was worthy of the crown. They all made ready to attack, and rose up in injustice from their places. Since no one remained of the royal line who dared to touch the kingly throne, everyone reached out their hand for Iran, and stretched their necks eagerly toward the crown.

When the Persians learned what had happened, one by one they rushed to find a remedy. Worn out completely by that suffering, they gathered together as one group. They said: this business has gone beyond all limits, with the pressure from Rome, from India, and the riders of the plains. Now we must devise some plan, and set our hearts and minds free of this trouble. They sought out a priestly envoy, an eloquent, clear-sighted, and noble man. The name of that hero was Javanuy, a great scribe and a skilled speaker. They sent him to go to Mundhir, to speak and to listen to what he had to say. He was to tell Mundhir: O exalted one, may the whole world stand in need of your name. You are the guardian of Iran and its fires; everywhere you are the support of the brave. Now that this throne is without a king and without a crown, and the borderlands are speckled with blood like a partridge's feathers, We said you would be the lord of the frontier, for from you we saw this land's true worth. But now the plunder is yours, and the shedding of blood, the pillage and the fighting everywhere. You were not an evildoer before this; you used to fear curses and reproach. Look at this, so it may seem right to you; in your old age let this prove useful to you. Above you there is another Judge, one higher than the thoughts of even the highest. The envoy should say what he has seen, and also the words he has heard from the wise. The learned Javanuy left the presence of the chiefs and set out toward the plain of the spearmen. He spoke to Mundhir and delivered the letter, recalling the words of the Persians. The Arab king heard his words, but did not open his lips to give any answer. He said this instead: O wise seeker of solutions, take these words to the great king himself. Say what you told me to Bahram Shah; when you seek an answer, he will show you the way. He sent a distinguished man along with him, and Javanuy went to the king's court. When the wise man saw Bahram, he called on the Creator's name in praise. At that height and stature, those shoulders and that neck, the clear-sighted man stood amazed. It was as if wine dripped from his face, and the scent of musk rose from his hair. The eloquent man lost his composure and his wits; his whole message slipped from his mind. Bahram realized that he was dazzled, that his eyes and heart had gone dark from the sight. He questioned him at length and treated him kindly, and graciously seated him upon the throne. When the man grew at ease, the king asked him why he had troubled himself with the journey from Iran. He sent along with him a shrewd man to take him back to Mundhir. Bahram said: tell Mundhir to write a reply to that letter, an answer to those auspicious words. And after that, see what message he has; hear his full answer from him. Javanuy came and spoke the words, and Mundhir's face brightened at his counsel. When he heard the message from that eloquent man, he set down the foundation of a reply to that letter. He said to Javanuy: O wise one, whoever does evil receives his punishment. I have heard all the message you delivered, and the greetings from those noble men. Say this to them: the wrong lay in what they did at the start, when they had to seek out this pointless war. The great king Bahram Gur is here now, full of glory and majesty and with an army. You dragged him out like a snake from its hole, and pulled the hem of your own robe through blood. If I had been your counselor, no harm would have fallen upon the Persians. Javanuy had seen the great king's face and had heard some words from him too. He had asked whether he was fit for the throne, for greatness and victory and good fortune. When he heard such words from Mundhir, he laid the foundation of a clear-minded thought. He answered thus: O exalted one, whose wisdom makes you independent of everyone, if the Persians have lost their wisdom, and many of the nobles have been killed, I am now an old seeker of honor; if you will listen, let me speak my mind. You must go to the great king Bahram Gur, calmly, without battle or uproar. Come to the land of Iran with hunting cheetahs and hawks, just as a proud king would come. Listening to the words of the Persians surely can bring no harm from such a move. You too should say what is fitting, showing wisdom and staying far from folly. Keep your spirit far from evil counsel, and turn away from taunts and reproach. When Mundhir heard this, he gave him a gift; someone made the man from the flourishing city glad.

Bahram and his counselor sat alone and talked, away from the crowd. They agreed that they would march from Yemen into Iran with their host. He chose thirty thousand of the Arabs, all spearmen skilled with the dagger. He made them wealthy with gold coins, and filled the heads of the great men with pride. When word of this reached Iran, the news came before its brave men. The nobles grew grieved at this affair and turned to the sacred fire of Borzin. They begged God that the war might turn back into joy and feasting. When Monzer reached the outskirts of Jahrom, he led his army onto that waterless plain. Noble King Bahram pitched his royal tent, and the troops gathered around it on every side. He said to Monzer: O my counselor, you have come to Jahrom all the way from Yemen. Now let us prepare for war, if only talk, once army faces army head to head. Monzer said to him: summon the great ones; when they come to you, set out a feast for them. Speak, and listen to what they say; if someone grows hot with anger, do not answer with anger. Let us find out what they hide within, and whom they wish to call king of the world. Once we know, we will find the remedy; if it can be done gently, we will keep our grudge hidden. But if they choose enmity and war, and turn fierce, taking on the temper of a leopard, then I will turn this plain of Jahrom into a sea, and from the blazing sun make it the Pleiades. I am certain that once they see your face, this stature of yours, and your kindness, your wisdom, your judgment and culture, your patience, your knowledge and your steadiness, they will want no one but you for the throne, for the crown, and for the beauty of good fortune. And if by chance they have lost their way and try to take the throne from you, then I, with these horsemen and sharp swords, will raise up a day of judgment in the world. You will see my frowning brows in battle; may my body and faith be sacrificed for you. When they behold my countless army, and my custom, my code and my way, they will see that this kingship, which is your inheritance, passed rightly from father to father to you. And thirdly, that shedding blood is our trade, and the just God himself is our ally. They will want no king but you, for you are worthy of the crown and worthy of the throne. When the king heard these words from Monzer, he smiled and his heart bloomed with joy. When the sun raised its head above the mountain's edge, the chiefs and nobles of Iran gathered. They made ready to receive him and called for a wise assembly. They set Bahram upon an ivory throne, with the royal crown placed on his head. He sat in the manner of the kings of kings; he made it clear that he was king of the world. On one side of Bahram sat Monzer, on the other Noman, sword in hand. And all around the royal tent the great Arab lords stood on their feet. Those Iranians of pure judgment came to the entrance of the royal tent. He ordered the curtain lifted, and they were called in from the door with a summons. They blessed the king of the world and, weeping, scattered tears like drops of blood from their lashes. They drew near to King Bahram and beheld a splendid crown and throne. With one voice they cried: may you live long, and may the hand of evil be forever far from you. The king of kings asked after them and welcomed them, giving each a place according to his rank.

Bahram spoke: You elders and chiefs, you leaders who have seen the world and grown old, the throne is mine, father to father through the line. Why is the giving of it now in your hands? The Iranians answered aloud: Do not make us endure more loss with your patience. We do not want you as our king, nor you as an army over our land and soil. For from this bloodline we are scarred by fire, by smoke, by grief, day and night in torment and cold winds. Bahram said: Deafness is fair enough, whim rules over every heart like a king. But if you refuse me without my consent, then why set anyone else in my place? The mobed said: By the way of justice, neither a king nor a man of lower birth should flee his duty. Be one of us, and choose a king that everyone will bless and praise. Three days the matter dragged on, as they searched Iran for a single ruler. Then they wrote down a hundred famous names, men worthy of the crown, the throne, and the royal belt. Among those hundred, one name was Bahram, a heart's comfort in his rule. From the hundred they came back to fifty, full of scheming and full of need. Among the fifty Bahram stood first, whether or not he had followed his father's path. From fifty they narrowed it to thirty, of Iranian, Roman, and Persian blood. Among the thirty too Bahram led, both crowned and a young lion. From thirty the wise mobed chose four, and of these four Bahram was the ruler. When talk of kingship narrowed to the end, every elder among the Iranians said: We do not want Bahram, that reckless, headstrong, willful man. An uproar rose among the chiefs, and every heart grew sharp with argument. Mundhir said to the Iranians: I want to know, for good or ill, why, for the sake of a young king untested by years, you are all so full of pain and darkened in spirit. The great men prepared their reply, and summoned many a wounded, broken-hearted Persian. All those whom Yazdgerd had maimed in Iran, one by one they gathered on that plain. One had both hands and both feet cut off; one was left in place, his life barely clinging. Another had both hands, both ears, and his tongue cut away, like a body without a soul. One had both shoulders torn from his body; Mundhir was left astonished at these people. One had both eyes gouged out with a nail; when Mundhir saw it, his anger flared. Bahram was sickened, stricken by that sight, and said to his father's grave: You ill-fated man, if you sewed shut the eyes of your own joy, why did you burn your soul in fire? World-seeking Mundhir said to Bahram: This wrong done to them must not be hidden. You have heard their words, now answer them, for harshness does not suit a king.

Bahram spoke: You leaders, you men who have seen the world and proven yourselves in every task, you have all spoken the truth, and worse than that: it is right that I blame my own father. I too have tasted the bitterness of his rule, the taste that darkened my clouded judgment. His palace was a prison to me, until God took pity on me and delivered my life from his grasp, when my heart lay wounded on his hook. I took shelter with Mundhir for this reason: that I never once received kindness from the king. May no human being carry such a nature, for where it takes root, all humanity is lost. I thank God that I possess wisdom, and my soul reaps the fruits of that wisdom. Until now I have prayed to God to guide me rightly toward the good, so that whatever the king did to his people, we might cleanse our hearts and souls of that sin. I want only the happiness of those beneath me; I follow the way of those who worship God. I would be the shepherd, my subjects the flock; I seek only their ease and justice for all. I have spirit, learning, judgment, and skill; an unjust king has no worth at all. Meanness and crookedness come from helplessness; the unjust ruler deserves to be wept over. Kingship is mine, father to father; wisdom and goodwill are mine. From Shapur and Bahram back to Ardeshir, all those rulers, the young and the old, father upon father, are my ancestors, my guides in faith and in wisdom. On my mother's side I am grandson of the king of Shamiran; by every lineage I walk with wisdom. I have skill, wisdom, and greatness, horsemanship, courage, and strength of arm. I count no man my equal among men in war, in feasting, or in any deed. I have a hidden treasure heaped in store, and famous men loyal to their king. I will keep the whole world flourishing through justice; may you all be prosperous and glad. Every land that has fallen to ruin through suffering, laid waste by the injustice of Iran's king, I will make thrive again through justice, and all my subjects will live in gladness. I will make one more pledge to you, and give my tongue to God as surety: let us bring the royal ivory throne, and set the crown before it, right in the middle. Let us bring two fierce lions from the forest and place them on either side of the crown. Let us tie a raging lion on each side, for whoever longs to be king. Let him step forward, take the crown from the ivory throne, and place the famed crown on his head. Let him sit in kingship between the two lions, with crown above and throne below. We will accept no one but him as ruler, so long as he is just and pure of heart. But if you turn your necks away from what I have said, then choose a defiant man as my rival. Wherever one like me leads the way, the horsemen's spears become mere thorns and thistles. With me and Mundhir, our maces and sharp swords, the Arab champions know no way to flee. We will raise the dust of your emperor, and of your land and soil and throne. Now give your answer to what I have said, and bring wise judgment to this dispute. He said this, rose, and went into his tent; a whole world was shaken by his words. In Iran, every chief and priest who heard the words of that wise prince said: This is the divine glory, not the way of crookedness or foolishness. He speaks no word except with justice; it is fitting we make our hearts glad with justice. Now, as for what he said about the raging lions, and a royal crown and throne set in their midst: if the fierce lions tear him apart, the Just One will ask us to answer for his blood. Since he himself proposed it and set this harsh custom, we will not be glad even at his death. And if it happens that he lifts the crown, then in glory he will surpass even Fereydun. We will call no one but him our king; from all these speeches, we have simply given justice its due.

That night passed, and early at dawn he came and sat upon the royal throne. He sent for the Persians and called them in, and spoke at length about the days gone by. Then the wise priests said aloud: 'You are more learned than the sages.' 'What will you bring to the kingship now that you take up its height and its power?' 'What justice and truth will you offer, so that crookedness and flaws will vanish?' This was his answer to the wise, to those famous and manly ones: 'I will increase generosity through counsel, and cut back on injustice and greedy seeking.' 'To whoever is fit to rule I will justly grant a share of the land.' 'I will keep the world by wisdom and justice; when I bring safety, I rejoice in justice.' 'To anyone who is poor and in need I will give from the treasure I have stored.' 'To the wrongdoer I will first offer advice; if he does it again, I will bring the chains.' 'I will pay the army their wages on time, and gladden the hearts of the wise.' 'I will keep my heart honest with my tongue, and turn my soul away from lies and darkness.' 'When someone dies leaving no kin, and more wealth remains than expected,' 'I will give it to the poor, not add it to my treasure; I will not tie my heart to this passing inn of a world.' 'I will take counsel with the capable in every plan, and with sound judgment break the back of blind desire.' 'I will ask my minister about every matter whenever I want to launch some new undertaking.' 'Whoever seeks justice from me, I will not send the gathering away scattered.' 'I will give justice to the one who asked for it, and speak of nothing except by the truth.' 'I will repay the wicked with punishment, as befits the way of kings.' 'The pure God is my witness in this, and wisdom is my guide upon my tongue.' 'So too are the priest and the chief of priests, the approved and experienced nobles.' 'If a whole year passes on this course, I will not turn my soul or mind from what I said.' 'I renounce inheritance, crown, and throne; if I break this, may I sit as an ill-fated wretch.' When those wise men heard his answer, the great ones and the clear-hearted priests, they regretted the words they had said, and the guilty turned toward a remedy. They said aloud to one another: 'No one is worthier of kingship than this man.' 'In courage, in speech, in judgment, and in lineage, no one purer than him was ever born into the world.' 'God created him out of justice; may no misfortune ever reach him.' 'If we resist his words at all, we are only lulling reason to sleep.' 'We will receive every kindness from him; let us turn our faces to eating and to justice.' 'With this stature and these strong shoulders and neck, no one in the world is his equal.' 'Behind him stands the army of the Arabs, with Mundhir as his ally in gain and loss.' 'If he himself seizes his rightful throne, who in the world could stand above Bahram?' 'After that, what fear has he of the Persians? Before him we are no more than a handful of dust.' They said to Bahram: 'O commanding one, for kingship you are the choice of our very souls.' 'No one has known your like in virtues, in your purity of body, your knowledge, and your judgment.' As they had blessed Khosrow, who came from the line of Pashin, so they now hailed Bahram to the kingship. 'We are all under his oath and bond; who would say we mean him any harm?' 'If from now on he is king of Iran, the whole frontier will be safe in the grip of lions.' One group will be glad of Bahram, while another still remembers Khosrow. 'For justice, it is best to have your pledge; after that the world is under your command.' 'The only obstacle left is the war-lion, nothing more; after this no one will seek greatness against you.' Bahram agreed to the very thing he himself had proposed in this story before. Such was the custom of just kings: when a new king of blessed line took power, the chief of priests would come to him, bringing three clear-sighted men from among the wise. He would seat the king upon the throne and pronounce a blessing over that crown. He set it on his head in the name of the Kayanids, and joyfully pressed his cheek against the king's chest. After that, whatever anyone offered as tribute, the king would give it to the one who asked. So they handed the crown and throne to the priest, and the wakeful, fortunate one went out to the open plain. The hero Gostham had two fierce lions, bound in chains, which he gave to the priest. They dragged the war-lions along, and the handler, from terror, went numb as if senseless. They tied them to the leg of the ivory throne, and set the crown on a corner of the ivory. A whole world watched that crown and throne, to see how it would go for that fortunate man, for if the king triumphed in this, the other kings would offer him their praise.

When Bahram and Khosrow rode out onto the plain, their hearts full of dread as they faced the lions. When Khosrow saw those two raging lions, with a single crown set between them, he said to the priests: the crown, first of all, belongs by right to whoever seeks the throne. And besides, I am old and he is young; against a raging lion's claws I have no strength. So let him take the first move, since he has the youth and the sound body for it. Bahram said to him: what you propose is fair; we hold nothing back, we speak the honest truth. He picked up a mace with an ox's head, and the whole world watched him in wonder. The priest said to him: O king, wise, learned, and devout, who is it that orders you to fight these lions? What will it gain you but the royal crown? Do not give your life for the sake of a kingdom, do not throw yourself, for nothing, to a monster's jaws. We are all innocent; this choice is yours, the hearts of all the world wait on your decision. Bahram said to him: O keeper of the faith, you are guiltless in this, and so is everyone else. I am the one who will match these wild lions; I am the buyer of a brave man's fight. The priest said: take refuge in God, and since you go, cleanse your heart of sin. Bahramshah did just as the priest had said; his heart grew pure, he repented of his sins. He went forward with his ox-headed mace, and when the fierce lions saw him, one of them quickly snapped its chain and bonds and rushed upon the noble king. Bahram the hero struck it on the head with his mace, and knocked the light right out of its eyes. He turned to the other and struck its head as well, until blood poured down from its eyes. The lord of the world sat upon the ivory throne and set that heart-lighting crown upon his head. He took refuge in God, who was his refuge, the one who shows the way to those who have lost it. Khosrow came and bowed before him, saying: O king of lofty rank, may your reign on the throne be blessed, may the world's champions be your servants. You are the king and we are your servants, and we will only add to your glory. The nobles scattered jewels over him and praised that new crown. A great cry rose from all the world; this feast fell on the day of Soroush in the month of Azar. A cloud rose up and darkened the moon, and from that black cloud arrows of rain poured down. No sea was visible, no plain, no meadow; I cannot even see a crow's wing in the air. The sky flings down snow like heron feathers every moment; what is this high heaven up to? I have no salted food left, no firewood, no barley, and nothing shows itself so I could reap grain. In this darkened weather, with the fear of taxes due, the ground has turned from snow into a mountain of ivory. Everything is sliding downhill, unless Hosein Qotib takes me by the hand. Now I will tell a wondrous tale, one beyond which no greater measure can be taken.