English
The Sages' Letters and the Princess of India
From among those Greeks he chose a handful of men, wise, learned, and harmless.
Then the king wrote a letter, full of courtesy, grace, warmth, and ornament.
It said: among my trusted, distinguished men, my most talented and renowned,
wise, learned, modest, and sound in judgment, worldly, deeply knowledgeable, and able guides,
I now send these to you; they will not resist your subtle wisdom.
Show these matters to them, and let them settle the affair right there on the spot.
When I receive a letter from my elders, the world-tested keepers of my secrets,
saying that four things have passed before our eyes such as no one in the world has ever seen,
then I will write a pleasing letter to Kaid, so that he may remain the king of India.
The nine wise Greek men set out, hurrying from Alexander's court toward Kaid.
When the ruler of India saw those chiefs, he questioned them at length and heard their answers.
He welcomed them just as he should and gave them a fitting place to stay.
The next day, when the sky turned golden and the sun drew its battle-sword of light,
he adorned the princess, his daughter, though the moon has no need of adornment.
He set a golden throne inside the chamber and arranged Chinese splendor all around it.
She sat upon the throne, her face like the sun, more radiant in the heavens than Venus.
The nine alert old men went forward, eloquent, well-spoken, and sharp of memory.
The king sent them to the bride, in the name of Alexander, son of Philip.
The elders looked upon the princess's face, her bracelet, throne, and seat all blazing with light.
They stood there dazed and bewildered; the sight of her weakened the old men's legs.
The nine wise elders stayed rooted in place, their tongues full of praise to God.
Not one of them found a way to move on, nor could they take their eyes off her for a moment.
When the sages lingered longer than expected, a messenger came and summoned them to the king.
The ruler said to the Greeks: why did you take so long?
They said: she is a human being, yet in beauty she holds a share of every star.
A Greek said to him: O king, in no palace does anyone behold such a beauty.
Now let each of us send a letter to the king about a single feature of this moon-like girl.
Then the philosophers sat down together and took up paper, ink, and pen.
Each sage wrote of what he had seen, until the paper vanished beneath the ink.
From their side a rider set out, hurrying to Alexander at Milad.
When the king of the world read their letters, he was left in wonder at their words.
In each letter one man had described one of her features, yet only a little.
The world-ruler wrote back to them: well done, well done; I have seen a joyful paradise.
Now return with the four things, and seek nothing beyond this.
When you give him my decree and my covenant, load up your baggage together with Kaid.
From now on let no one harm him; from him I have found only justice in the world.