Yazdgerd Takes the Throne

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.