English
The Letter to Afrasiab and Giv's Return
He ordered the scribe to come before him and to bring paper and Chinese silk.
He commanded that a letter be written in ink of pitch, musk, and rosewater concerning Afrasiab.
When the pen grew moist with musk and pitch, it first offered praise to the Just One.
He is the Sustainer, the One who brings all to completion; He is the Painter of earth and time.
He created the elephant and the ant alike, from a mere straw to the salt sea's water.
Before His power all things are one; He is the Lord of what exists and what does not.
Whomever He nurtures with love, against that one the sky will never turn harsh.
May His blessing rest on the king of the world, from whom the very fabric of peace is woven.
I reached this fortress that Afrasiab kept for his rest and sleep.
Within it were the throne and crown, greatness, the diadem, treasure, and army.
Forty elephants of theirs were all captured; whoever turned to fight was left wounded.
Now let Giv tell the king one by one all that happened on this battlefield.
When you open your lips before God, pray for me by day and by night.
We led the army to Machin and China, and from there I will march to the land of Makran.
After that I will cross the sea of Zereh, if God's support is with me.
Giv turned back from before the great king with a mighty army and valiant men.
He moved like the wind and cut across the road, and came near to King Kavus.
Then word reached Kavus the king about that noble, fortunate hero's son.
He sent out a body of troops to greet him, and the nobles set out on the road.
When brave Giv drew near the city with an army of warriors like a plain full of lions,
when Giv came before the king, he kissed the ground before the throne.
Kavus saw him and leapt to his feet; he laughed and stroked his face with his hand.
He asked him about the king and the army, about the turning sun and the shining moon.
Mighty Giv told all he had seen of the warriors and the great king.
The old man grew young at his words; then he set that letter before the scribe.
When the letter was read to the king of Iran, the whole assembly stood in wonder.
They all grew joyful and glad, and their eyes filled with tears of happiness.
They gave everything to the poor and heaped curses on the evildoer.
King Kavus came down from his throne and lifted the royal crown from his head.
He came and rolled in the dark dust, offering prayers before the pure God.
From there he went back to his seat and set up celebrations all around the fortress.
Giv kept telling the king all he had seen, the words he had heard from Iran's king's lips.
He called for wine and the musicians, and summoned Iran's battle-tested chiefs.
They talked of every kind of thing and heard reply upon reply, and so the dark night stole in.
His companions left with candles from before him, his heart glad and content, to his own hall.
When the sun raised its bright spear over the sky, night turned its reins and fled.
The drum sounded from the king's court, and the warriors came to that royal hall.
The world-ruler then called Giv before him and seated him on the famous royal throne.
He ordered the spoils to be brought forward, along with the renowned, proud warriors.
And the innocent veiled women too, those who behind the curtains had suffered wrong.
And Jahn as well, and Garsivaz the shackler, who had dragged Siavash to his death.
When he saw Garsivaz the evildoer, he cursed him, for he deserved the curse.
They brought Jahn too, his feet in chains, near to the lofty throne.
Kavus looked upon those daughters of the lord Afrasiab, his eyelashes wet with tears.
He gave them a place behind the royal curtain and at once set servants at their side.
The captives and those who had been of high rank, he arranged each one separately.
One under guard, another in chains, they were taken from before the lofty king.
After that all the wealth there was, of coin and untouched jewels,
he gave to the deserving, so they would call down blessings upon the king of the land of Iran.
The other captives he entrusted to the nobles, and brought both great and small to his hall.
They prepared a place for Jahn, with food, attendants, and a guide.
In the fortress there was a dark place, far from any heart, near a tomb.
Such a place fell to Garsivaz's lot; such is the way of the turning age.
Happy is the one who is a king with a generous hand and a pure, righteous heart,
who knows the world will pass him by and does not wander about like a fool.
When wisdom melts away into tears from both eyes, it is like a madman who longs for a doctor.
After the king had finished dealing with them, he cleared the court of strangers.
The scribe took up the paper and sharpened his pen's tip like a diamond.
They wrote letters to every land, to every notable and every lord,
that the Turks and China had wholly submitted to the king, and that leopard and lamb now drank at one stream.
He gave silver and gold coins to the poor, to the wandering, and to his own people.
For two whole weeks, before the king's court, they could scarcely make their way through the crowd of gifts.
In the third week, at the seat of majesty, he sat at ease with royal glory.
From the endless wail of the flute and the sound of song, the rose kept sending its greeting to the wine cup.
For a whole week from the palace of Kavus the king, waves seemed to rise from the cups of wine.
At the start of the new moon he prepared a robe of honor for Giv, setting it with gold and turquoise.
Golden trays and turquoise cups, golden belts and gold-worked bridles,
servants with necklaces and earrings, and bracelets too, and a crown set with jewels,
the throne's own coverings and cushions, with color and fragrance and things to scatter about.
He sent for Giv to be summoned and seated him on the golden throne.
They brought the robe of honor to him, and Giv rubbed his face upon that throne in gratitude.