English
Section 20: Letters, Vows, and the March East
After that the scribe came in with graceful steps, bringing paper, musk, and fragrant perfume.
They wrote a letter: from the Creator we have received justice, and we are content with our fate.
Our son has become fortunate and victorious, worthy of greatness, of the crown and the throne.
The evil one whom the world held in shame, who kept the world full of plunder and war,
has by your hand become a wanderer in the world; no one speaks his name except in secret.
All his years he was a shedder of blood, clinging to disgrace and ugliness.
He struck off the head of the crowned Nozar, a memory left to us from kings and honest men.
A brother killer, a vile creature, a slayer of kings, malicious, crooked, and troubled in mind.
Do not let him rest his foot on the ground, whether in Turan, Mokran, or the sea of China.
Perhaps the world can be freed of him; even his worthless head would then hold value.
If the one just Judge, the single God, is going to be your guide,
then wash the world clean of the torment of evil men, of the words and deeds of the foolish.
Rejoice in the justice of the world's Creator; be a fresh foundation for the world.
May I see you again in joy; my anxious heart is full of pain.
From now on I will stand before none but the pure God, for from Him come both hope and fear.
May you be victorious and glad; may your head stay green and your heart be full of justice.
May the world's Creator be your guide, and may the head of the throne forever be your place.
They set the king's seal upon the letter, and Giv chose the road to the king's palace.
On the road he did not pause anywhere; he came to Kaykhosrow at Gang.
He blessed him and gave him the letter, and recalled his grandfather's message before him.
The king was gladdened by his words, and he called for wine, a musician, and a cupbearer.
Victorious and happy he drank for three days; on the fourth, when the world's lamp blazed up,
he gave the whole army helmets and armor, and recalled his grandfather's message to them.
He entrusted that force to Gostahm son of Nozar, a famous and valiant army.
From Gang he chose the road to China, and took the world into his grasp by the sword.
No day was idle, no night was dark: scouts by day and sentries by night.
In this way he went, weeping and full of vengeance, all the way to his father's city.
He circled the garden of Siavash, the place where the blood shedder had set the basin.
He said: from the one just Judge, God, I will ask that He be my guide,
so that here too I may pour out the blood of Afrasiab, spilling it like water.
From that place he went back toward the throne, whispering his secrets to the pure Judge.
From the army he chose envoys, men who could speak well and understood both speech and reply.
He sent messengers to the Khaqan of China, to the emperor and to the ruler of Mokran.
saying: if you accept justice and obey, and repent your hearts of evil deeds,
send provisions to the army, for you will have no choice but to meet us on our road.
Whoever turns away from my command, or keeps his distance from my covenant,
the army must be arrayed for battle against him, everyone who flees the feast's road.
The envoy came to every land, to every place that had a renowned lord.
The emperor and the Khaqan of China grew troubled, and so did the nobles of every land.
They spoke to the envoy warmly many times, sweet words in a gentle voice:
We are entirely the king's servants; we will not tread the earth except by his command.
We will look at the passes, the routes for warriors, and see how far they have fallen to ruin.
We will rebuild them fresh, stock them with food, stay there, and bring him all he needs.
Everyone with any sense was saying: if he passes through us without harming us,
we will give the poor a great deal, and prepare tribute and provisions as well.
They gave the envoy endless gifts, and he came back to the court victorious and glad.
The other messenger, when he reached Mokran, found the heart of Mokran's king to be otherwise.
He went to his throne and gave the letter, and reported all the message he remembered.
The king promptly humiliated the envoy, and filled the assembly's heart with dread.
He told him: tell the king of Iran not to seek superiority over us for something unseen.
All time lies beneath my throne; the world is bright from the glory of my fortune.
When the shining sun rises over the sky, it first shines with love upon this land.
I too have knowledge and a flourishing treasury, greatness, manhood, and strength of hand.
If he seeks passage from me, that is fair, for every living creature is a king on the earth.
If you pass through, we will not block your road; but do no harm as you pass with your army.
But if you come into the city with an army, you will get no share of this kingdom.
I will not let you cross my land, or set foot on any place in this border region.
I will not let you remain the victor, even if fortune's star favors you.
When the king heard such an answer, he drew his army out from that place.
The world ruler came proudly toward Khotan, together with his famed assembly.
The emperor and the Khaqan of China set out to the king with apology and blessing.
They came three stages out from China to meet the king, they and their nobles on the road.
They had made the whole road smooth as the palm of a hand, gate and plain arranged like a place to sit.
All the land was covered with clothing and food, with the adornments of a feast and spread carpets.
When the army drew near the king, they hung decorations along road and byway.
They draped brocade on the walls, and above scattered saffron and coins.
When the emperor grew familiar with the king, he went ahead and walked toward the palace.
He said: we are the king's servants, if we are even worthy of servitude.
A whole world has flourished by your fortune; the hearts of your well wishers have been gladdened.
If our hall is not worthy of the king, still I think it is no worse than the road itself.
The exalted king entered the palace, and sat upon the famed high seat.
For scattering as gifts, the emperor of China brought a hundred thousand Chinese gold coins.
He stood on his feet before him, together with margraves of noble mind.
Khosrow stayed three months in China, along with the famed lords of Iran's army.
Every morning the emperor's servants offered the king fresh gifts, again and again.
On the fourth month the king of Iran set out from China, went to Mokran, and left Rostam behind there.
He came on, and when he neared Mokran, he chose a worldly wise man from the army.
He sent him to the king of Mokran and said: may wisdom be the companion of kings.
Prepare provisions along the road for my army; adorn my station handsomely.
Consider where we have come from; we are neither drunk, nor lost, nor asleep.
The world is bright from my crown and my fortune; the heads of great men are beneath my throne.
Only then do men seize others' property, when I am not there to reach everyone.
When they cannot find fodder they make war, and press the world hard on the evil minded.
But if you will not hear my words, you will wade into the blood of a great many people.
You will lay all the city of Mokran to ruin, when you rouse lions to vengeance.
The envoy came and delivered his message, but in that heart there was no room for message or justice.
The witless head was dazed by those words; his blood boiled and his brain went dark with it.
He gathered all his scattered troops together and prepared a battlefield on the plain.
He told the envoy: turn around and go, return to that suspicious one,
and tell him: by the turning of the dark days you have grown this glad and world illuminating.
You will see, when you come, what a blow we deal; you will learn who the real men and heroes are.