Reign of Khosrow Parviz

When Gostaham and Bandwi turned to Azargoshasp, they set a nimble man upon two horses, so that he might reach Khosrow by night, and bring fresh news out of Iran. The messenger came to the new king after a dark night had passed under the new moon. He told all that he had seen of the chaos in Baghdad, and the young man went pale as a wilting rose petal. He said: whoever, from the path of reason, rushes headlong into ignorance, and does not fear what the lofty wheel of fate can do, his life will come to nothing. Had this bad news you brought pleased me, my food and sleep would have turned to fire. But since my father dipped his hand in blood, I have not let the chiefs of Iran settle in peace. Even so, I am now like a servant to him; whatever he says, I obey. Right then, with a wounded heart and his army, he came down the road like fire itself. A force had set out from Bardaa and Ardabil, marching with the famed troops, band after band. From Armenia too a number of soldiers rode swift as the wind alongside the prince. When word of him reached Baghdad, that the buyer of the royal throne had come, the whole city found calm from the news, and the world seeker got his wish from their calm. The great men of the city came out to welcome him, everyone who had a share of nobility. They set an ivory throne at the seat of honor, along with the golden collar and the precious crown. Khosrow entered the city in grief, and went to his father with a cold sigh. What can we seek from this swiftly turning dome that never rests from its work? To one it gives the royal crown; another it hands to the fish in the sea. One it leaves with head, feet, and shoulders bare, with no rest, no sleep, no hidden shelter. To another it gives food of honey and milk, and clothes him in brocade, sable, and silk. In the end both lie beneath the dust, their heads caught in the snare of death. If a wise man had never been born, he would never have seen the world this hot and cold. He would never have seen the world evil at its root, whether the man was low or great. Now let us take up the tale of Khosrow's hardship, and bring fresh news to the reader.

When Khosrow sat upon the golden throne, all who had any skill came to attend him. They summoned all the nobles and the great, and scattered jewels over that new crown. He said to the priest: this crown and throne belong to no one but the fortunate and the good. May I never take up any trade but honesty, for injustice brings ruin to everything. My aim with everyone is peace; our heads are empty of any wish to fight. I received this new throne from God, this brightness, this substance, and this new good fortune. You too must give your hearts to my command, and honor me in all that you do. Guard against harming the devout, and against defying the king; third, keep away from what belongs to others, for its smoke rises back to the one who takes it. Whoever, in season or out, burns another and lights his own heart's greed over some worthless thing; and whatever befits a decent human being, let wisdom accept and welcome it. I will hold no quarrel with anyone, whether he seeks a crown or a ring. Whoever has true worth of body and of birth will speak with no one except with justice. You shall have nothing but safety, and no one shall reach for the ways of the devil. Everyone who heard the king's words kept calling blessings on his crown and throne. They left his throne in joy, and many blessings were spoken on his fortune. The commander came down from the throne, glad, and all night long he kept thinking of Hormoz.

When that ebony tent, the night sky, was hidden away, from far off came the cry and clamor of dawn. Jahangir went to his father's side, his heart secretly full of pain, his soul worn out. When he saw him he wept and bowed low in respect, and stayed before him a long while. He said to him: My unlucky king, sole memory left in the world of Nushirvan, you know that if I could be your shield, not even a needle's prick would reach your fingertip. See now what you would have me do; grief has come to you, and my heart is full of blood for it. If you command it, at your door I am a slave who will guard your head. I seek no crown, I want no army; I will lay down my own life before the king. Hormozd said to him: You who are full of wisdom, these days of hardship too will pass from me. From you I had a wish for three things, and beyond these I will ask for nothing more. First, that each dawn at daybreak you fill my ears with a cheerful song. And second, a rider among the proud warriors who bears the marks of old battles, send to me, one who can speak of war and who has hunted in his day. And another: a learned old man who can tell tales of the kings, let him bring me a written book so that with it my pain and hardship may reach their end. The third wish is for those who are your servants and equals, your attendants who are not truly your peers, who will never again look upon the world with their eyes; do not turn your wrath on them over this mourning. Khosrow said to him: My king, may no one ever come to grief before your eyes. May it not be so, and even if it exists in secret, may your enemy be banished far from this world. But look with a clear mind: Bahram Chubineh has become the champion. The army with him is beyond counting, riders and heroes who wield the dagger. If we reach out our hand against Gostahm, we will find no place to rest in the world. As for the other wish, an aged scribe who reads to the king the words of the past, and a rider seasoned in battle who also knows the ways of the feast, I will send you a new one of these every hour; do not stay downcast with your pain for even a moment. Do not think this comes from Gostahm; it is God's doing, and it is folly to blame it on his words or deeds. May your heart be content amid this pain, and may it stay bound to wisdom as well. He said this and came away in tears, revealing his secret openly to no one. The son was more loving than the king; a wise man told a fitting tale of this: that a friend with a smooth, sweet tongue, and one who has grown old and worn like a weary elder, the skilled person and the person without any skill, in the end both alike hold nothing but dust to their breast.

When Bahram heard what fate had brought upon that famous king, how they had branded his bright eyes and put out that lamp, so that both his flower like eyes died in their garden, and how his son now sat upon his throne, his own fortune and standing brought low, Bahram was left astonished by all this; he withered inside and sank into thought. He ordered the war drums carried out, the great banner raised across the plain. He loaded the baggage, the army mounted, and he girded himself to fight Khosrow. An army moving like a mountain on the march, boldly pressing on toward Nahravan. When Khosrow learned of his campaign, he grew troubled by his sharp ambition. He sent out alert scouts to spy the state of the world and its affairs. He told the scouts his secret first: they must find out the truth about that army, whether the troops stand united with him for war, or whether this affair of ours will drag on. And another thing: whether Bahram holds the center of the line or moves among the ranks. How does he sit when he gives audience? When he rides out, does he ever think of hunting? The scouts set off from his court, though he knew nothing yet of Bahram's own force. When they had gone and seen and returned, they came to him in secret, saying: the whole army stands with him as one, whether the famous veteran or the youngest boy. Whenever the army takes to the road, he is at one point in the center of the ranks, one moment he rides to the right wing, then to the left, then back to the baggage train. He keeps his own men in his confidence; he has no need of outsiders. He gives audience like the kings of old, and hunts through gate and open field alike. When he is not marching to war like a king, he reads through the whole book of Damna. Khosrow said to his minister: we have a long, hard task ahead of us. When Bahram spurs his horse at the enemy, his sea like heart shatters even a dragon. And more: he learned the ways of the kings of kings from the great sovereign of the world. Third, his counselor is Kalila and Damna itself; no one has a scribe so wise in his advice. Then he said to Bandwi and Gostahm: we have become partners with grief and hardship. So Gardwi and Shapur and Andian, and Radman, the commander of Armenia, sat in private with the king of Iran, the wise and battle skilled great men, and Khosrow spoke to those chieftains: you proud ones, you warriors, whoever's mind is bright with reason wears wisdom like armor on his body. Nothing pierces it but the sword of death; before its blow even a steel helmet turns soft as wax. Now I am younger in years than you; I will not rule the world by youthful impulse alone. Tell me what the remedy for our situation is, and who is behind these painful wounds. The chief priest said to him: may you live forever; may you be the glory and sustenance of every mind. When this secret of the turning world was revealed, it divided wisdom into four shares. Half of it is the king's portion, for glory and reason befit a king. Another share belongs to the devout, and a third to the servants of the king. When such a one stands close to the king of the world, wisdom does not hide itself from him. Now a small part of wisdom is left, which the learned count as the farmer's share. There is no wisdom in an ungrateful person, nor in one who does not know God. If the king will listen to these words, spoken by an alert and seasoned old man... The king said to him: if I wrote these words in gold, still no ceremony or splendor could match them. The words of the priests are pure jewels, yet another thought is in my heart: that when these two armies face each other, and spear points sink into both hosts, it would be no shame for me to ride out from the center, to go before him without my army, and call out loudly to Bahram, that ill famed, self willed commander. I would show him the face of peace, treat him kindly, and praise him much. If he accepts these words, it would be for the best, for who at court was ever his equal? But if he seeks war, then I too seek war; we will turn our army against him. All the wise men agreed with this plan, wherever he had spoken it. The great men called down blessings on him and named him king of the earth. Everyone said: O king, may ill fortune stay far from you. May yours be victory and glory, greatness and the crown of the king of kings. Khosrow said: let this be all I wish; may no one see defeat and separation. He led the army out from Baghdad and pitched the new royal pavilion on the plain. When the two armies drew close along the road, the commander on that side, the king on this, when the lamp of the world bent down and set, and dark night shook loose her black tresses, patrols came out from both armies, each to guard itself against the enemy. When night fled the dagger of day, it raced off with burning heart and parched lips. The drums rose up from both encampments, with the sun to guide them to that battle. The king ordered Gostahm and Bandwi to put on their helmets of iron. So with the bright souled great men he rode on to the spring of Nahravan. A scout came at once to Bahram: the enemy army is only two bowshots away. When Bahram heard, he marched his troops and called his experienced men to him. He mounted his dappled horse with the musk black tail, renowned, proud, with bronze hard hooves. His weapon was an Indian sword that struck like lightning from a storm cloud. As he rode like flashing lightning, at his left hand was the fierce Azargoshasp. And Ayin Goshasp and Yalan Sina too rode out, full of malice and defiance. Three brave Turks of the Khaqan's people had girded themselves for Bahram's revenge, all three had pledged that when they saw the king's face far from the middle of the host, whether bound or slain, they would bring him to you, and your army would be at ease. From one side Khosrow, from the other the commander, both moving into the midst of Nahravan, the two armies watched from either side to see how the commander would approach the king.

Bahram and Khosrow came face to face, one with an open look, the other grim. The king of the world sat on an ivory white horse, a hero like Fereydun, with glory and crown. His robe of Chinese gold brocade, with Gorduy riding ahead as his guide. Like Banduy and Gostaham at the king's side, and Khorrad Borzin in his golden helmet. All of them drowned in iron, silver, and gold, no telling the rubies from the golden belts. When Bahram saw the emperor's face, rage drained the color from his cheeks. Then he said to his defiant men: 'This ill-marked son of a whore, rose from lowness and dullness to manhood, grew rich and raised a battlefield. He learned the ways of emperors; soon I will end his rule over the world. Look over his whole army, and see if a single one among them is renowned. I see no war-seeking rider who would dare face me in combat. Now he will see what real men do, the charge of the horse, the sword and battle-mace, the blows of the club and the rain of arrows, the cry of heroes: strike, hold, seize! Not even the war elephant can stand firm when I move forward with my army. At my voice the mountains crumble, the brave lion turns and flees. With my dagger I will cast a spell over the sea, and fill the whole desert with blood.' He spoke and spurred his piebald horse forward; you would think that steed became a flying phoenix. He performed a tight display of skill, and the army was left in awe of him. From the battlefield he rode toward Nahravan, while the fortunate young king still stood before them. A handful of Iranians were with him, all of them girded and ready to fight Khosrow. Khosrow said: 'You defiant men, who can point out Bahram Chubin?' Gorduy said to him: 'Your majesty, look at that man riding the piebald horse. His robe is white, his baldric black, he drives the piebald through the midst of the army.' When the king saw Bahram, he understood both his beginning and his end. He said: 'That tall, smoke-gray one, sitting so proudly on that piebald,' Gorduy said to him: 'Yes, that's the one; he has never thought well of anyone.' The king said: 'If you question that hunchbacked one, he answers your words with harshness. You see the pig-face and the sleepy eyes; you would say his heart is stuffed with rage. Have you ever seen his equal for evil? Nowhere in the world is there such an enemy of God. I see no humility in his head; no one will ever bring him to obedience.' Then he said to Bandwy and Gostahm: I will uncover this whole matter that lies hidden. If the donkey will not come to the load, then bring the heavy load to the donkey. Now that a monstrous demon has beguiled Chubina, how could he still see the road that leads to the lord of the world? Any heart made sick with greed will find the ways of the great displeasing. Chubina has no thought but war; there is no room for justice in his heart. Since so much has been said about going to war, we must look at it carefully, from top to bottom. Who knows who will win the battle, or who will light up the army on the other side? Facing an army arranged like this, and the strife of Bahram, the hero and chief, a grim, fierce man like a fearsome demon, with soldiers who tear like ravening wolves. If we can come to an agreement, I will feel no shame in this affair. I will take the first step and ask; that is better than showing weakness in battle. If I get a measured answer from him, his newfound wrongdoing will grow old and fade. I will grant him a corner of the world and place a debt of gratitude on him for the gift. This war of ours will turn into peace, all our striving on this battlefield. Peace will bring me benefit; wisdom, no doubt, is the fastening of a crown. When a king strikes a bargain, the heart of the wise man is glad of it. Gostahm said to him: O king, may you live in joy as long as time endures. You scatter jewels in your words; you are the wiser, so do whatever must be done. You are full of justice and the servant is a tyrant; you are full of sense and his head is full of wind. When Khosrow heard this, he set out and came, walking proudly, before the army. He greeted Bahram the hero from afar, seeking the moment of battle as if for a feast. He said to Bahram: O proud man, how goes your work on the field of war? You are like an ornament to the court, a treasure to the throne and the crown. A pillar of the army in time of battle, like a shining candle in time of feasting. You are a world-seeking champion and a worshiper of God; may the Sustainer never withdraw His hand from you. I have given thought to your fortune and arranged your affairs well, for your good. I will make you and your army my guests and gladden my soul at the sight of you. I will justly name you commander of Iran and call the Creator to bless you. When Bahram the hero heard these words, he gave rein to his swift steed. From the back of that horse he bowed low before him, and stood there before him for a long while. The rider of the piebald horse answered: I am happy, content, and thriving in my days. May you never see days of greatness; you know nothing of a king's justice or injustice. Whenever this so-called king plays at ruling, only a wretched man will stand by his side. I have plotted your fate; I have already twisted the loop of the lasso for you. Soon I will raise a tall gallows and bind both your hands in the bend of my noose. I will hang you from that fitting gallows; you will taste from me the bitterness of these days. When Khosrow heard Bahram's answer, his face went pale as a yellow flower. He answered: You ingrate, no man who knows God speaks like this. When a guest comes to your table from afar, you hurl insults in the middle of the feast. This is not the way of kings, nor of proud, high-riding warriors. Neither Arab nor Persian ever acted so, count back three hundred years a hundred times over. A wise man is ashamed of such conduct; do not circle around the door of ingratitude. When your guest greets you with words of blessing, is this how you answer him, like a demon? I fear an evil day awaits you, when I will see you bewildered by your own choices. Your only remedy lies in the hand of that King who lives forever and is the true ruler. You are a sinner against God and an ingrate: your body deserves blame, your heart should be in dread. Since you keep calling me the Alan king, you must reckon me lesser in birth. As if I were unworthy of kingship, as if the crown of majesty did not suit me. With Khosrow as my grandfather and Hormoz as my father, whom do you know more deserving than me? Bahram said to him: You ill-fated one, in speech and in deed you are like the witless. You began by speaking of the guest; your nature and your old tale betray you. What business have you with the words of kings? You are neither a wise man nor a fighting horseman. You were the Alan king; now you are a lowly thing, less even than the slave of slaves. You are the most guilty man in the world: no true king, no worthy chief among the great. They hailed me king with blessings; I will not let you set foot on this ground. And another thing: you said I was ill-starred, that kingship and lordship do not suit me. I said that, you unfit king, because I wish you may never sit in the seat of power. For the Iranians are your enemies; they will strive to tear you out by the root. They will strip the skin and sinew from your body and then throw your bones to the dogs. Khosrow said to him: You evildoer, why have you turned so fierce and arrogant? Ugly speech is a flaw in a man; from the very start this was your nature. Bright reason has been cut off from your mind. Happy is the famous man who nurtures wisdom. Any demon whose time draws near lets his tongue run long with talk. I would not want a champion like you to be ruined and left helpless by his own rashness. It would be fitting if you drove the anger from your heart, stopped boiling, and put a spell on your sharpness. Remember the just Creator; build your reason on that remembrance. You carry a mountain inside you, which, if you looked, would be higher than Bistun. If a true king had come from you, the barren thorn tree would have borne fruit. Your heart is full of thoughts of lordship; let us see what God's will decrees. I do not know who taught you this evil in your very being, this creed of yours so fit for a devil. Whoever speaks these words to you is seeking your death with his speech. He spoke, then dismounted from his ivory white steed and lifted the priceless crown from his head. He wept and turned his face toward the sun, filling his heart with hope in God. He said: O bright and just One, the tree of hope bears its fruit through you. You know who stands before this servant of yours, one for whom the crown itself must weep in shame. From there he moved swiftly to the place of prayer, sharing his secret with the pure Judge. If this kingship is destined to slip from the royal line, so that I never gird my waist for it, then I will be a servant at the fire temple; I will ask for no food but the milk of wild beasts. I will keep no gold or silver in my treasury; at the hour of worship I will wear coarse wool. But if this kingship is truly mine, devout, secure, just, and true, then make my army victorious; do not give my crown and throne to this servant. If I win my heart's desire, this crown and horse, I will bring them swiftly before the fire of Azargoshasp. This armband, this necklace, and these earrings, this golden robe adorned with jewels, and nineteen sacks of yellow gold coins I will scatter beneath this deep blue dome of sky. To the servants of the fire I will give ten thousand silver coins, once I become king of the world. Of Bahram's men, whoever is taken captive, if someone brings him prisoner before me, I will make the blessed fire a place of worship and gladden the hearts of the priests and the fire keepers. He said this and rose from the dust to his feet, the wronged one who spoke only the truth. He came from the place of prayer like the wind and raised his voice to Bahram Chubina, saying: O hellish slave of a savage demon, reason is far from you, and far too are custom and glory. A cruel demon, full of rage and force, has blinded your eyes like this. Instead of wisdom you found fury and spite; now you have won the praise of demons. A thornfield looked to you like a city; a patch of hell seemed a garden. The lamp of reason died before your eyes and stole the light from your heart and soul. It was nothing but deceitful sorcery that showed you a descent as if it were a summit. Today you reach your hand toward a branch whose leaves are poison and whose fruit is bitter gall. Your lineage never sought such a thing; a seeker of it earns no blessing. God did not grant you this glory and rank; you don't recall Gorgin son of Milad. You wretched, unjust man, do not set your hopes on things that can never be. A crab has no eagle's wings; no eagle can fly above the sun. By the pure God, by the throne and crown: if I ever catch you without your army, if I strike you down with a cold blast, I won't even bother to trouble you with the dust of battle. We have heard enough harsh words; we turn our backs and trust in the Victorious One. If I am not worthy of kingship, then let me never live as another man's subject. Bahram answered him back: You witless, foul, demon-serving man, your father was that world-ruling, faith-loving man who never breathed a cold word against anyone. You did not honor such a man; you cast him from his throne in disgrace. And after that you claim you'll rule the world, that you'll be wise and watchful? You are impure, an enemy of God; from good you reap nothing but harm. Even if Hormozd was unjust, and time and earth cried out against him, you are his son, and it is not fitting for you to become king over Iran and Turan. You deserve neither life nor throne; a grave is enough for you, so far are you from fortune. I will seek vengeance for Hormozd, and beyond that, I will be the sovereign of Iran. Now retell me this old tale that once was agreed upon by the righteous: that you would brand the eyes of kings, and command whoever brands them too. After that you will find that kingship is mine, from the sun to the constellation of the Fish it is mine. Khosrow said to him: God forbid that a slave should rejoice in a father's grief. It was written thus, and what was, was; why heap word upon word? You are fashioning kingship for yourself, but if death comes to you, you'll find no shroud. With these borrowed horses and battle armor, you will never rise to a royal crown. No home, no house, no land, no lineage: just a king who is all empty wind. With this army, these possessions, and a false name, you will never bring luster to the royal throne. Before you there were warriors, world-seekers wielding heavy maces. They did not seek the crown, for they were of lower rank and unworthy of throne and diadem. Every moment you lift your head in anger, and the water of rage rises to your eyes. Ill intent boils within your body, and time will turn against you in fury every hour. The ruler of the world created kingship from justice, and also from merit and noble descent. He grants it to the one most worthy: the wisest, and the one who does the least harm. The king of the Alans had adopted me as a son; how has my conduct ever wronged you? Now God has given me the throne of kings, greatness, and the crown of majesty. I received this from the God of the world, who knows all that is seen and hidden, by the leave of King Hormoz, who kept his father's crown as a keepsake, by the will of those renowned and gifted sages, the great ones and the seasoned, tested chiefs, by the faith that aged, wise Zoroaster brought down from paradise. The prophet came and gave it to Lohrasp, who then received it and passed it to Goshtasp. Everyone who has caused us hardship, and everyone from whom we have gained treasure, all alike are under my protection, whether they are my enemies or my well-wishers. I will be a king over both women and children, and I will call no one noble except the righteous. From any city in the world that has fallen to ruin, to any place where a poor man lies hidden, I will make the poor man rich, and gather together my scattered people. I will turn every thornfield into a paradise, filled with people, livestock, and crops. I will leave one good deed in the world, so that my name is not forgotten after my death. Let us come and weigh our hearts on the scale, measure ourselves and put strength to the test of our arms. Since Hormoz was a world-ruler and just, the earth and the age were glad because of him. Without doubt the son received the throne from the father; he gained crown and belt, and fortune too. You, sinful and deceiving man, who first sought battle against Hormoz, no evil was done except by your command, or through your trickery, cunning, and schemes. If God wills, in vengeance for the king I will turn the bright sun black over your head. Now, who else is fit for the crown? If I am not worthy of it, then who is? Bahram said to him: 'You brave man, the fitting outcome is that kingship be stripped from you.' When Ardashir was born of Babak's daughter, the days of Parthian rule and dominion ended. It was only after Ardashir killed Ardavan that he grew strong and the throne fell into his grasp. Now that some five hundred years have passed, the crown of the Sasanians has gone cold. Now the throne and the diadem belong to our day; our fortune rides with victory. When we look at your face and your luck, your army, your crown, and your throne, I will strike at this Sasanian rule like an enraged lion turned savage. I will erase all their names from the record and trample down the Sasanian throne. Greatness truly belongs to the Parthians, if a wise man will hear the truth. Khosrow answered him this way: You empty man, hungry only for a fight, if kingship is to pass from the line of the Kayanids, who in the world are you to take it? All the men of Rey are by their very nature two faced, and stripped of decency. First a small force came from Rey and joined the army of Alexander. They tied themselves to the Romans and seized the Kayanid throne by surprise. It was the foul hearted Mahiyar of Rey through whom the line of Esfandiyar was darkened. After that the Iranians girded themselves one by one for revenge. The Creator of the world was not pleased, and through those men harm came to Iran. Then the sustaining Judge set the Kayanid crown upon Ardashir's head. He was worthy of the Kayanid crown, even though he had no treasure or gold. Now the fame of those renowned men has passed away, and all our talk is only wind. Now who is worthy of lordship? Who should rule the world anew? Bahram said to him: It is I, the warrior, who will tear the Kayanids up by the root. Khosrow replied with the old tale that the wise recall from ancient days: One must never hand the weapon of greatness to a fool who lacks reason and the right way, for when you ask for it back it will not return, since the man who holds it grows drunk on it. What did that wise man of sweet speech say? If you set the baseless in a fixed place, in the end it brings you pain and sorrow; do not linger at the door of the ungrateful. You grew bold, sharp tongued, and haughty; from a bad root has come your bad conduct. I made you commander of the proud warriors; you became chief over the lands of the Kushans. On that silver throne, with that royal seal, your head grew drunk and you turned from the right path. Now the name Chubineh has become Bahram's own, and that silver throne has become your snare. You mean to rise to that throne, high as the moon; from a mere commander you would become king. No wise man ever spoke this way; I say a demon has become your partner. Bahram said to him: you evil-doer, nothing suits you but reproach. You do not keep the covenant of God, and you call this royal seat unworthy. You put a brand of shame on the eyes of the king of the world; how could such words ever stay hidden? All your friends are your enemies now; in speech they are with you, but in heart with me. In this cause the Khaqan is my ally, along with the armies in Iran and China. I will strip the greatness from Persia's grasp; I will not let the name of Kay survive after this. I will raise up justice throughout the world; I will renew the customs of royal celebration. I come from the famous line of Arash; when I make war, I quench even the rebel's fire. I am the grandson of Gorgin the world-seeker; I am that sharp fire, that Borzin's flame. Sava Shah's plan for Iran was this: that neither throne, nor seal, nor crown should remain. He would level every fire-temple to the ground; neither Nowruz nor the Sadeh feast would survive. All Iranians were bound in slavery until I girded myself for battle in this land. If you cannot count that willful horde, go and count it: four hundred times a thousand. Twelve hundred war elephants, so many you would say there was no room to stand on the road. That great army broke and fled, and I roared after them like a mighty demon. Know this: no man without skill in this world can idly claim the seat of the great. The scent of the crown rises from my helmet; the ivory throne comes to me by my dagger. If even a single gnat took up a feud with you, it would drag you from your throne to the bare ground. Khosrow said to him: you of ill-omened step, why not recall Gorgin and let it go? He lived in the world and had no throne; he had no greatness, no seat of power, no fortune. No one in the world knew his name; he was low-born among the great. The worthy Mehran Setad came and pointed out your name to the king of the age. He lifted you from your dark dust so high that the days of your low past vanished from your eyes. He gave you treasure, weapons, and an army, and the banner of the great hero, shining like the moon. It was not God's will that the Turks of China should bring the land of Iran to ruin. You were his helper in that war, and so your crown rose to the high clouds. When the Keeper of the turning heavens willed that this king's affairs should go well, you set yourself up on this pretext, though you have never known true prosperity or greatness. If this kingdom is destined to slip from the royal line of Kayan, why do you bother tightening your belt for it? The world needs an Alexander to darken the fortunes of great kings. With your demon's face, your color of dust, may you find no place in this world except in the grave. It was through your wrongdoing and your deeds that the day turned dark for the king of Iran. You stamped your own name on the coins; you wanted to wipe me from the earth. You are the very source of evil in the world, the highest rung among those who stray from the true path. Every drop of blood that has been spilled in the world will hang upon your neck in the world to come. On a dark night you will not find in sleep the peace you seek by day in the sunlight. You wretched, tyrannical man, do not spend all your days in crookedness. Think of pleasing God; make wisdom and truth your practice. For all this passes by, for you and me alike; time counts out the breaths we have left. Who says crookedness is better than honesty? Why have you decked your heart out with crookedness? If you obey, everything you want will be yours; you can even have a share of this very kingship. Live happily in this world, at ease, and far from suspicion and evil. And when you leave this passing lodging of a world, you will not suffer torment when you return. We must not add to this or take away from it, for Zoroaster says in the Zand: Whoever turns away from the pure faith holds in his heart no fear or awe of God. For a year he must be counseled; and if the counsel does him no good, he must be put to death by the king's command, his guilty body thrown out on the road. When a man turns treacherous against the king of the world, he must be killed at once. Without doubt they will spill your blood for this same misguided grasping after the throne. Your life now is joyless, and if you pass on, your place will be the fire. And if you linger on in this same manner, dragging your head away from the king and from God's justice, you will come to regret this course of yours, your ugly words and your deeds. You are the sick one, and counsel is your cure; let me speak, so you may be made whole. But if desire and envy have overpowered your heart, say the word and I will bring another physician. Your physician is counsel, your medicine is wisdom, so that they may wash the greed for the crown from your heart. In your triumph you have grown this arrogant, and the thought of treasure has made you rebellious. You have heard how Zahhak turned ungrateful, and filled the world with terror through demons and sorcery. When the hearts of the great were filled with grief because of him, what did blessed Fereydun do to him? Your whole army are my servants; alive or dead, they belong to me. They caught a small gleam of light from you, and so they turned their heads away from justice. Once I reveal my own treasure openly, I will fill the hearts of these fighters with loyalty and calm. When you defeated the Saveh Shah, the whole army resolved on one thing: that they would never again taste defeat, since they had grown gorged and drunk on plunder. It should not be that these bold, fearless warriors meet their ruin at my hands. You want a heavy army to go to war, all of them famous men and heroes, so that the land of Iran is emptied of them, and defeat comes crashing onto the throne of kings. Tell me: who was king in the days of Arash? Perhaps this argument between us can end there. Bahram said to him: in those days the king was Manuchehr, with his crown and his army. Khosrow said to him: you evil-hearted man, since you know he was the king of the world, do you not know that Arash was his servant, bowing his head to his command and his will? Bahram said to him: by rights, you of the seed of Sasan are of low birth, for Sasan was a shepherd, son of a shepherd; wasn't it Babak who handed him the shepherding? Khosrow said to him: you wicked schemer, you did not rise in stature from the seed of Sasan. Your words are lies from start to finish; twisting the truth is no skill. You come from vile, rootless stock; it was not through the seed of Sasan that you earned your bread. Bahram said to him: in all the world, the shepherd cannot be hidden away in Sasan's line. Khosrow told him: Dara died, but he did not hand the crown of greatness to Sasan. If fortune was lost, where did the bloodline go? No justice ever comes from unjust talk. With this wit, this judgment, and this glory, you are actually seeking the throne of the King of Kings! He spoke, laughed, and turned away from him, setting his face toward his own army. Among the Khaqan's men were three fierce Turks, savage as wolves, who had said to Bahram: on the day of battle, for the sake of glory, whether alive or dead, we will bring the king's tall body to you before the army. One of them, a rider who was foul, bold, hot-tempered, and reckless, came riding, spoiling for a fight and grim, a lasso on his arm, its noose looped and ready. As he drew nearer to the ivory-white horse, he kept reaching toward that precious crown. He hurled the twisted lasso, and the crown atop the king's head fell into its snare. Gostaham struck the lasso with a blade, and so the king's head came to no harm. The brave Banduy strung his bow tight and with an arrow stole the daylight from the sky. He said to that ill-tempered Turk, Bahram: may you have no grave but the dark earth. Who told you to test yourself in battle against the king? Did you not see me standing before him? Then he went back to his own camp, his soul full of pain, his body worn with grief.

When his sister heard that her brother had come back from the battlefield full of pain, that famous woman set aside her crown and had her veil brought to her at once. She came rushing to her brother's side, her heart wounded by grief, her spirit dark. She said to him: 'You great warrior, tell me, how did things go for you before the king? Even if his youth makes him hot tempered and harsh, don't refuse; turn your mind toward peace.' Bahram the champion answered his sister: 'He should not even be counted among kings. He is no fighting rider, no giver of gifts, no wise head, however brilliant he may seem. Skill is worth more than famous lineage; a true king's body should be that of an artist of ability.' His wise sister spoke to him then: 'You gifted, honor seeking chief, how long must I speak while you won't listen, meeting me with harshness and ill temper? See what the wise speaker of Balkh once said: that truthful words are bitter to hear. Whoever tells you of your own faults has laid bare all the truths that were hidden. Do not plot the ruin of your own city, since from this world you have taken your share. Someone once told a story about this, a man who had gained much from knowledge: a donkey went out wanting horns like the cattle, and lost his ears and muzzle all at once. Do not draw the whole world's blame upon yourself; no one from your family has ever worn the crown. If this young king had not been in the picture, my spirit would not be darkened by this grief. Your father alive, the royal throne still standing, and yet you throw them under your own feet. I don't know how this will end at last; my two eyes are always full of blood. You seek nothing but pain and curses; in your folly you smell a poisoned flower. When they say Chobineh has become disgraced, every mention of the name Bahram turns to insult. For this too there will be God's anger; your soul would be locked in the prison of hell. Look, apart from king Hormozd himself, who in this world ever wanted you and raised you up? That very throne and the treasures of Saveh Shah came into your hands, and you set the crown on your head. Once you became famous through him across the world, now you go seeking the throne of kings of kings. Know that all good things come from God; do not be ungrateful to Him, you crowned one. For the battle you fought, do not grow so proud; you had skill, but do not become arrogant. In your heart you have made the demon your ally, and you are becoming a sinner before God. When Hormozd was troubled and flared up at the words of the foul Azargoshasp, you should have shown patience in this; it was not the servant's day to make war. When such hardship came upon him, the vengeful son came from Bardaa. You should have gone to the new king and, to please him, set up a new court. The young man did nothing except for your sake; his heart looked only to the times ahead. You could have lived easy, happy, and blessed by fortune; why did you set your heart on this crown and throne? You know that from the line of Ardashir the kings remain, young and old alike. With treasure and countless armies, who in Iran would call you their ruler? If a king with treasure and troops could rule over Iran, then it would have been none but Saveh, the commander of China, who brought his army into the land of Iran. The pure God appointed you to that task; through you He turned away the evil from Iran and Turan. Since the Lord of the world created this world, made the earth and the sky as well, no one ever saw a rider like Sam; not even a raging lion stepped before him. When Nozar's fortune turned unjust and his father's counsel brought him low, all the nobles wished for Sam, and adorned the turquoise throne for him. But he told those nobles: never let it be that the commander's soul should think of the crown. The dust of Manuchehr is my throne; the head of Nozar's throne is my crown. I said this, my brother, so you'd know the throne is only won by a man blessed with fortune, one with a generous hand, glory, and good lineage, wise, clear hearted, and full of justice. I don't know what will befall you, for reason has vanished from your heart.' Bahram said to her: 'This is the truth; the pure God is witness to this truth. But now the matter has gone past all that; my heart and mind are filled with sorrow. Whether I rise to greatness or lay my head down to death, when death comes even against a helmet of steel.'

From there the young king moved on, glad, once he had crossed the bridge of Nahrawan. He summoned all the nobles from the army and seated them, as was fitting, before the royal throne. He said: 'You good hearted lords, you seasoned leaders who have seen the world and proven your worth, this is my first time as king; I deserve nothing but to be tested.' 'We owe no one gratitude in another's place, though we ourselves know how to value goodness.' 'You have had no good from us, only more grief and hardship heaped upon you.' 'You served our forebears, and you have tasted much bitterness and turmoil in this world.' 'I mean to reveal one of my secrets, yet keep my words hidden from the army.' 'What I say to the Iranians must not be carried outside these walls.' 'If it were spoken before the troops, my plan would be ruined.' 'Tonight I have resolved on a raid, to throw the army into battle.' 'For I have seen in Bahram's words a horseman who unseats riders and gets things done.' 'He thinks me a witless child, tries to frighten me with mace and sword.' 'He does not know that I strike by night, that I will drive fear out even in the thick of battle.' 'If you will stand with me in this fight, when the dark night comes I will not delay.' 'When the sky turns dark as amber and shakes loose its musk scented locks, mount up, ready for war, every one of you with mace and dagger in hand.' The whole army agreed as one that not a single man would break the king's command. When Khosrow came into the royal tent, he cleared the place of all outsiders. He brought in Gostahm and Bandui, worldly wise men, and the brave Gorduy. He told them the whole plan for the night raid, hoping they would be his allies and companions. Gostahm said to him: 'My king, why are you so unwary of fate?' 'If you launch a night raid now with the army, you may tear love out of their hearts.' 'Your soldiers and the enemy's are of one heart and one body with them.' 'On one side the grandson, on the other the grandsire, how can loyalty be conjured from such blood?' 'A brother on this side, a father on that, all bound tightly to one another.' 'When a father fights his own son, do not gratify the enemy with such a wish.' 'You should not have told the army this; now that you have, the plan will come to ruin.' Gorduy said to him: 'What is done is done; the past scatters like wind across the plain.' 'You have power, fortune, treasure, and troops; a clear sighted man does not turn from the right path.' 'Do not be on this battlefield tonight; do not let treasure and army fall to nothing.' 'For I am certain that word of our secret and our hidden scheme has already reached the enemy's army; you must not hand your head to the foe.' When Khosrow heard this it pleased him; in his heart he found the advice sound. He chose from those bold chiefs a few men who would stand by him through good and ill: Khordad Barzin and Gostahm the lion, Shapur and the daring Andiyan, Bandui and Khorrad who lit up the army, and Nastud, the fierce, army leading warrior. There was a hill, green and fit for feasting; from afar Khosrow watched his army.

From this side Bahram the warrior sat down, and the great and wise men came to join him. The commander asked those rebellious chiefs whether any sign had come from their kinsmen. Send word to everyone who has relatives here, so they may stand united in word and faith. If they come and obey the command, let them pledge their lives as a hostage to the promise. The army still lacked forces from Bardaa and Ardabil, and from Armenia too, with no men or cavalry. In battle there is no fear from them; the men of Bardaa are no more than a handful of dust. The proud chiefs heard these words, that Bahram the warrior had laid his foundation for battle. From the army they chose a learned man, eloquent, knowing, and quick to remember. The messenger set out with a heart full of secrets, hurrying through the long, dark night. He reported what he had heard from those lords, from those famous men and champions. From the Iranians he heard this reply: until the army's true battle appears, We will not turn away from Khosrow even once; we fear this affair may drag on long. Do not feel safe on that battlefield, for Khosrow may launch a night raid with his troops. When the messenger had heard the answer, he rushed back to the commander's army like the wind. The whole army kindled fires, and in every place they burned a lamp.

Bahram the lion picked the best of his troops, a world conquering army of brave warriors. When the scribes counted them alongside him, the army came to a hundred thousand swordsmen. Among the Khaqan's men were those three fierce Turks, who snarled like wolves. He told the fighters: when the war drum sounds at dawn, at the crowing of the cock, raise your battle cry and charge in; crown the enemy chiefs with their own blood. At the hero's command the army moved swiftly, the three proud Turks leading the way. They came against the king's army, brutal and full of spite. A din rose from maces, clubs, and blades; the ground turned to iron and the dust to clouds. Everyone was asking, where is Khosrow? For today victory belongs to us. Khosrow stood on high in anguish, both eyes filled with blood, his face gone pale. So it went until dawn broke over the mountains; he grew sick of the sword strokes and the slain. When the dark skirt of night faded, he saw the whole battlefield strewn with the dead and wounded. He said to his warriors: give me your aid, gain the upper hand over these foes. For the Victorious One is my support and helper, and the sword stroke is my work. He charged forth against those three Turks, three great elephants, no mere brave Turks. One galloped up until he reached Khosrow, and drew out a gleaming blade. He meant to strike the king upon the head, but the mounted king raised his shield over it. Beneath the shield he brought his poison bright blade, struck, and threw the man down headlong. He cried out: famed warriors, we must hold on for one more while. But his whole army turned its back and shamefully abandoned the world seeking king. Then he said to Bandavi and Gostahm: now I have grown fearful about this matter. I have no grown son of my own, no heir linked to the crown. If I am killed in battle, the world will be left without a king. Bandavi said to him: exalted one, may you never come to such a day of need. The army has fled now; do not stay here, for no one in the world stands as your ally. Then the king said to Zangui: ride swiftly from here, to Tatkhwar. Take a thousand horsemen from these survivors, and bring back whatever you find on that battlefield. The silk pavilion, the treasure and the crown, the money bags, the captives, and the ivory throne. The nobles loaded the baggage and treasure, and took great pains to carry it away. Just then a dragon emblazoned banner appeared, and the world turned dark purple. Behind them Bahram the warrior came riding, and in his onslaught he drove the light from the world. Bahram and Khosrow came face to face, two bold fighters, two grim lions. Like war elephants they raged, and hammered blows upon each other's heads. Bahram wheeled about like a lion, and no weapon could take hold on him. So it went until the sun crossed the dome of the sky, and the fight passed all bounds. Then Takhwar reached Khosrow and told him the treasure and baggage had crossed to the far side of the bridge. When Khosrow heard this he said to Gostahm: we have no match to stand with us in this fight. We are but ten men against this huge army, with a mighty champion at its head. Retreat at the right moment is better than battle; when you are left alone, there is no time to linger. The untried young man rode on this way until he reached the bridge of Nahrawan. Behind him Bahram galloped hard, his head full of spite, his heart full of strife. When Khosrow saw this, he halted on the bridge and called the world experienced Gostahm to him. He said: bring me my bow, my interpreter in the midst of battle. The treasurer brought his bow; Gostahm was in charge of that task. The warrior commander took up the bow, and with his arrows drove the light from the air. He rained arrows down like hail; with a single shaft he stitched helmet to head. Behind them Bahram the lion galloped on, a lasso in his hand, a dragon-swift steed beneath him. When he saw Khosrow he turned back gladly, and fitted two black feathered arrows to the string. He loosed one arrow at the horse; and that mount's course ended all at once. The commander on foot took up his shield, and in helplessness clutched his head with his hands. Yalan Sina rushed forward like the wind; how could the world seeking king count him a real man? In that moment his horse was wounded, and Yalan Sina leapt across the bridge on foot. The army retreated from the bridge of Nahrawan, everyone among them, old and young alike. When Bahram turned back, Khosrow, like the wind, threw the whole bridge of Nahrawan open. Grieving, he rode toward Ctesiphon, his heart full of sorrow, his eyes full of blood. He barred the city gates with iron, and sat down beneath a crowd of worries. From every quarter he summoned the chiefs, and set watchmen at the gates.

From there he went to his father, both eyes brimming with tears and his heart bleeding. When he saw his father's face he bowed low, and stood before him a long while. He said to him: This warrior on horseback whom you chose and favored, my king, came on like kings who carry glory, and brought a vast army with him. I said every word of counsel I could find, but my advice did him no good. War and strife were all his desire, may his very name and soul never survive. Against my will a hard battle was fought, and many were wounded by ill fortune. The whole army turned away from me; it was as if they saw me only on the road, passing by. They call Bahram their king now, blind to how such a beginning must end. So now, all the way to the bridge of Nahravan, he has brought an army heavy as a mountain. When things went bare and hopeless I fled, so as not to hang myself in the snare of ruin. Now, weighing gain and loss, I see that none will help us but the Arabs. If the king commands, I will bring countless Arab horsemen to our side. Hormoz said to him: This is not wise, for you have no firm footing now. The Arabs will not help you when they see no profit or loss to gain. With grieving heart they will hand you, wretched, over to the enemy for a price. In this business God has been your support, and fortune has smiled beside you. Since you mean to leave this land, go from here, not to the Arabs, but to Rome. When you arrive, tell Caesar, one by one, the words of this scheming servant. For there is faith and hope, and his weapons and army are ready and arrayed. The line of Fereydun are also your kin; when your plight grows hard they will stand with you. When Khosrow heard this he kissed the ground and offered many silent blessings. To Banduy, Gorduy, and Gostahm he said: We are now wedded to grief and pain. Get ready, load up the baggage at once, and leave the land of Iran to the enemy. He said this, and from his eyes came a cry: O king of good fortune, justice, and truth. A dark cloud of dust rose along the road, and a banner flashed in the midst of an army. A banner whose emblem was a dragon, which Chubineh had raised at Nahravan. When Khosrow heard, he came to the gate and fled away from before his father. He rode toward Rome like the wind, an azure banner behind his back. He twisted his neck and shoulders and looked back, watching for Gostahm and Banduy. Those two were riding slowly, softly; Khosrow shouted at them in a hot voice: It seems your chiefs have come to meet you, and your enemy has come as a friend. If not, why ride so slowly, when Bahram is close upon your backs? Banduy said to him: My king, do not trouble your heart over Bahram. He cannot even see our dust from the road, for that black banner is far from here. This is what your comrades say: there is no cause for us to gallop like this. When Chubineh reaches the royal palace, he will at once give the crown and throne to Hormoz. He will sit as his minister at his side, and his cast net will reach all the way to the sea. He will write a letter to Caesar from the king, saying: this worthless servant has fled from this land, and he must not be allowed to find rest in Rome. The very moment he set himself right, our share became misery and ruin. When he reaches your border, chain him, and wound that joyful heart of his. Send him back to this court; do not let him rise to glory. Bind him at once, army and all, and send him weeping to this place. Khosrow answered: from this bad luck, whatever befalls us is only fitting. The words are long and the matter is harsh; now we turn our backs and trust in God. He spurred his horse and said: whatever, fair or foul, the Maker has written on our brow will come to pass; brooding will not turn it back. May we never be reduced to begging from an enemy. When he had ridden on, those two evildoers turned back from him with hate-filled minds. By that road they came to the royal palace, full of malice, their hearts heavy with guilt. When they reached the throne from the gate, they drew the bowstring back hard. Suddenly they cast a cord around his neck and hanged that precious body. Gone was that crown and throne of kings; you would think Hormoz had never lived in the world. Such is the way of the turning age: sometimes it bears sweet fruit, sometimes poison. If this is all it offers, seek no profit from it, for in the seeking only pain will come to you. When the turning of Hormoz's days came to an end, that blessed throne was left empty. At once the war drums rose, and the faces of the killers turned pale as amber. That same moment the commander's banner appeared on the road, in the midst of the army. The treacherous Gostahm and Banduy quickly seized their route of escape from that palace. So the two men reached Khosrow; when the world-seeker saw their pale faces, he understood that these two, hearts full of secret guilt, had turned against the king; but why? His cheeks turned yellow as a marigold, yet he did not reveal that thought to his warriors. He said to them: turn away from the king's road, for the army has come into a tight place. Choose the desert and the long way, and let none of you spare himself from hardship.

Bahram came into the king's hall and chose the fiercest, most vengeful troops from that army. Thirty thousand men in armor, swordsmen, so they might ride behind the king. Such a famous and heroic force he handed over to Bahram, son of Siyavosh. From there Khosrow set out across the desert, saving his life from the malice of his enemies. He traveled until he reached a monastery whose walls rose so high their tops were out of sight. They called it the House of God; it was a place of worship, a blessed sanctuary. It was a house where mourners gathered, and inside were a bishop and a priest. Khosrow said to the man of God: 'What is there to eat that one can find here?' The bishop said to him: 'O renowned one, there is unleavened bread and fresh greens from the stream.' 'If you accept, such simple fare will do. May nothing but wholesome food ever nourish you.' The king quickly dismounted, and so did those who rode with him. The world-seeker, with his two devout companions, took up the barsom twigs to whisper the prayer before eating. They hurriedly ate what there was, then at once murmured the sacred grace. Then he said to the bishop: 'Do you have no wine, old man of blessed steps?' He said: 'We make our wine from dates, in the height of summer, when the heat is fierce. Now there is a little, clear as bright rosewater, red as a garnet gleaming in the sun.' Right away he brought a cup of wine so red the color of the sun paled beside it. Then Khosrow drank three cups of that wine, with wine and the barley bread he had at hand. When his mind grew warm from the red wine, he lay down at once upon the soft sand. He rested his head on Bandu's thigh, his soul full of pain, his heart wounded. As soon as his head sank into sleep, the elder bishop came up to him. Saying: 'A dark cloud of dust has risen from the road, and within that dark dust is a great army.' Khosrow said: 'What an evil turn of fate, that the enemy comes hunting me like this. The men are useless now, the horses too; the day of helplessness has come upon us.' Bandu, ever full of schemes, said to him: 'The enemy has closed in tight around you.' Khosrow said to him: 'O well-wisher, show me the way through this trouble.' Bandu said: 'O king, I will devise a plan for you in this hour. But I will offer up my very soul before the world-seeking king of the world.' Khosrow said to him: 'The sage of China once told a fine tale about this. Whoever plants his life at the king's door will find paradise in the world to come. When the city wall crumbles to the ground, no outlying village should be left standing. When the town itself is to be reduced to nothing, let no wall of the hospice remain either. If you know a way out, devise it now; yet you are not beyond needing pure God's help.' Bandu said: 'Give me this golden crown, and these earrings and this belt. The same red-jeweled Chinese robe: when I put these on, do not linger here. Set off with your troops at once, like a ship that a wave lifts off the water.' Khosrow did everything Bandu said, then from that place he raced off like the wind. When Khosrow left the schemer's side, the seasoned Bandu turned his face toward the roof. 'Now you must climb up here from the mountainside and vanish from the crowd.' He himself rushed into the sanctuary like dust and quickly barred the iron door tight. Then he put on the gold-embroidered robe and set the king's crown upon his head. He climbed onto that roof, not by choice, and saw the troops surrounding him on all four sides. He waited until the battle-ready army drew near the top of that fortress. Then he rose quickly to his feet on the roof and showed himself to the army. From afar they saw him with the golden crown, the same collar, the earrings and the belt. Everyone said: 'This is Khosrow, with his crown and his new robes.' When Bandu was sure that army could not tell him apart from the king, he came down, hurriedly put on his own clothes, reluctantly, and went back up on the roof. He said: 'O fresh warriors, whom among you shall I call the leader? For I bring a message from the king of the world; let me deliver what I heard before the chiefs.' When the son of Siyavosh saw him on the roof, he said: 'I am the leader; my name is Bahram.' Bandu said: 'The world-ruling king says I am utterly worn out by the hardship of the road. The mounts are all injured and battered, thrown into disarray by the long journey. In this house of mourners, exhausted, we have taken shelter, five companions and I. When the crack of white dawn appears, I will give up my heart to the world's affairs. We will come with you on the long road, to Bahram of the lofty neck. On what I have said I will waste no time, unless heaven lends me its aid. Our ancestors who came before us kept faithfully to their custom and creed. Even when their fortune was slow to turn, they did not turn to a lesser man for help. Now what was a secret in our hearts we have spoken, since fortune has turned against us. From the shining sun to the dark earth, nothing exists but the will of pure God.' When the commander heard his tale, he came to agree with what he said. And everyone else who heard his words felt their hearts fill with sorrow at what he had done. That night the army camped there, keeping watch over Khosrow's cause. Next day Bandu went up on the roof, and from the wall he called out toward Bahram. He said to him: 'Today, after his prayers, the king surely cannot attend to any business. All through the dark night he was awake, a worshipper of the pure Creator. And as the sun climbs high, he must not be harmed by the heat. Let him rest today, and tomorrow at dawn he will ride out among the army.' Bahram said to his chiefs: 'This is a matter both easy and hard. If we press Khosrow too hard, he may grow furious and come out to fight. By himself he is an army, a world-conqueror, alert and a champion. And if he is slain on the field of battle, Bahram too will raise the dust against us. Better that we stay here again today, even if there is not much to eat. Perhaps with such gentle handling he will come to us willingly, better than through war or reproach.' So it stayed until night rose over the mountain and the troops gathered round about. The army closed in from every side, and lit their fires all around.

When the sun turned the face of the earth golden, the speaker Bandavi climbed onto the roof. He said to Bahram: You who have seen the world, back when the dust rose from the plain, as soon as Khosrow saw your force he left, riding swiftly toward Rome with his own army. Now, even if you could fly like an eagle, or lift your head higher than the sun itself, no one will find the king except in Rome, for by now he has grown settled in that land. Now, if you grant me safety for my life, I will come riding to the commander, and answer whatever he asks of me about the strength and weakness of that gathered host. But if not, I will put on my battle armor and enter the fight like a swirling dust storm. When Bahram heard these words from him, the young man's heart filled with old grief. He said to his companions: what good would it do now if I raise smoke and ruin from Bandavi? It is better that I take him to the commander just like this, alive and clear of mind, so he can tell him all he knows about the king, whether he loses his head or keeps his crown. He said to Bandavi: you who scheme so badly, take these disputes and speak them to Bahram himself. Bandavi the lion came down from the roof and rode along with the renowned brave man. When Bahram heard that the army was coming, and that vengeful Khosrow had gone to Rome, he grew fiercely angry at the son of Siyavush and said: you wretched, ill fated man, this was no task for you, yet I ordered it; without skill, I foolishly praised you. The world seeker summoned Bandavi before him, and Bahram poured out his rage upon him. He said to him: you evil bodied, evil doing man, deceiver, deserving only of reproach, you recklessly misled my army, and you could not restrain your own vile nature. You became one with cursed Khosrow, and from childhood you made him worldly wise. Now you have come with a heart full of speeches, saying I should make the old days new again. Bandavi said to him: you exalted one, seek the truth from me and do not rage. Know that this king of kings is my own; his greatness and generosity come before me. I gave my life for him, as I had to; if you are a great man, do not turn to crookedness. Bahram said to him: for this sin you have committed, I will not destroy you. But you too will soon be killed at his hand, and then you will call me the one who spoke the truth. They put chains on Bandavi's feet and handed him over to Bahram for punishment. He remained so until the sun sank into hiding, then came in, and with a mind full of worry, lay down to sleep.

When the sun drew its dagger from the sheath, that pale yellow cloak of dawn appeared. He sent for the proud chiefs and summoned them, and seated them on their knees before the royal throne. He set a golden chair in place for each, and, like victorious kings, sat down in joy. Then in a loud voice he spoke: Every one of you here is a man of worth. Among all kings, no one worse than Zahhak has ever been found, however long you search. For the sake of the crown he killed his own father, and from that murder Iran fell into ruin. Then there was Khosrow, that unjust and ill-omened man, who killed his father and then fled to Rome. Now there is no famous man left in the world, none from among the great to take the throne, one worthy of fortune and of high favor, fit to bind the crown and belt and hold the throne. Whom do you have who will now gird himself and revive the customs and ways of the ancient kings? By the Keeper of the high sun, I swear I will stand by your side in this. The proud chiefs heard these words, that this famous lord had laid the foundation of the matter. No one turned his heart from these true words. One who was older rose to his feet; his name was Shahran Goraz, an old, gray man, a chief of long lineage. He said: O man of high renown, you alone in the world are the truly useful one. Even if there had been no other evil but Saveh Shah, who came to our land with an army, and wished to make the free-born into slaves, since he had no equal in battle in all the world, you alone of the world girded yourself with courage, so that hardship passed from the Iranians. Four times a hundred thousand of his heroes, all seasoned and fit for war, with a single arrow of yours they were turned back, and Iran found rest from its burning grief. Now the throne of Iran is worthy of you; your wakeful fortune is witness to this. Whoever turns away from our command, or strays from our covenant, we will bring under obedience, even if he is a hero, even if the whole tale is that he is a Khosrow. He said this and sat back in his place. The commander of Khorasan came forward, and said: This old, knowledge-seeking man, who spoke so many words before the assembly, let me explain why he spoke these words, this world-seeker, this wise old man; he recalled all these good deeds of yours, and gladdened the hearts of the gathering. But there is one fine story, if a pure-minded person will hear it, which Zoroaster tells in the Avesta and Zand: that whoever turns from the high Creator, give him counsel for a full year, and give him what he needs to profit from it. If by year's end he does not return to the right path, he must be killed by the king's command. When someone becomes the enemy of a just king, his head must quickly be parted from his body. Khorasan said this and closed his lips, then went to the place where he had been seated. After that Farrokhzad rose to his feet and lifted his head straight above the assembly. He said: O useful chief, to speak of justice is better, if you approve. If justice is better, then may there be no one who takes joy in unjust words. One says to Bahram: May you live in bliss; the world had its provision from the sight of you. If our words are not to your liking, the Victorious One is not our helper in this. May you live in bliss, joyful forever; may the hands and tongues of the wicked stay far from you. The brave man said this and sat down. Khazravan Khosrow came forward like a lion. He said to him: Now that so many words have been spoken, by both young speakers and old men, if in the end you seek the way of justice, send off a swift camel like the wind. Do not delay, lest the proud Khosrow pound out the long road toward you. Turn to apology for what has passed, and do not set a bold foot toward the throne. For as long as the world-ruling king lives, no commander is worthy of the royal seat. And if in your heart you fear Khosrow, pull your foot back from Pars and Ctesiphon. Live at ease in the city of Khorasan, for you are fit for comfort and high rank. In apology, write letter after letter; perhaps Khosrow will turn back in your favor. Khosrow had not withdrawn his step from his place while Zadfarrokh was pressing his own claim forward. Then Zadfarrokh spoke with justice: O famous men of noble race, I have heard the great ones speak, who are the chosen leaders of Iran. The first speech was spoken like a servant's: that a commander should become the sovereign. A wise man does not approve of this talk, for by it a man's honor is lessened. Khorasan spoke with a noble spirit; I will not say his words were joined with wisdom. Farrokhzad only added harsh words, and dulled the heart of the wise. The fourth was Khazravan the marshal, whose speech was a companion of wisdom. Since the Creator made this world, this turning of the times has come to pass. Begin first with Zahhak the Arab, who was a tyrant with impure intentions, who killed the noble-minded Jamshid and seized the world by force through injustice. I saw the devout heart full of grief that in the world a demon was king. The next was the evil-natured Afrasiab, who crossed the river from Turan in that way, and with his sword, in cruelty, cut off the head of the famous Nowzar, and fortunes turned. The third was Alexander, who came from Rome to Iran, and this whole land was laid to waste. When he killed Dara the swordsman, the food and sleep of the Iranians turned bitter. The fourth was the foul-hearted Khoshnavaz, who erased both name and glory from this land. When Piruz, that high-starred king, world-ruler and chief among the famous, was suddenly killed by the Hephthalites, the throne of the king of the world was overturned. No one in the world had seen such a strange thing as has now newly befallen Iran: that a king like Khosrow fled from his throne, and went over to the enemy, out of the army's reach. He said this and sat down weeping in pain; from his words Bahram's face turned pale. The world-experienced Sombad leapt to his feet, his belt tightened and an Indian blade in hand. He said: This famous champion is great, a just man of bright soul. Now, until someone of the royal line comes and girds his belt around his waist, it is best that this man sit on the throne, for he is a valiant, warlike, fortunate hero. The chief of the warriors, who heard these words, struck out his hand and drew his sword. He said: If we ever find a woman of the royal seed carrying a child, I will cut off its head with my sharp sword and breathe the breath of doomsday over its life. I will not allow anyone to wear a crown and hold court among the horsemen. When Babuy, the Armenian hero, heard that the foul marshal had spoken such arrogance, they drew their swords and rose up, and set forth another new argument: that Bahram is king and we are his subjects, and we will trample the heads of his enemies underfoot. When Bahram saw the drawn sword, he chose wisdom and rightness. He said: Whoever rises from his seat and stretches out his hand to his sword, I will cut off his hand at once, and his drunken head will come to its senses. He said this and left the presence of the free-born, and went toward the garden of the joyful ones. That great assembly scattered, every face lined with anger, every heart broken.

When the black veil of night lifted away, the stars flared bright across the wheeling sky. When the voice of the watchman rose at dawn, Bahram called for pen and paper. The wise and noble scribe came forward and set the inkwell and pen before the learned king. Bahram told him: a covenant from the people of Iran must be written on this fine silk. That Bahram is king and blessed with fortune, worthy of the crown and fit for the throne. He seeks nothing but truth in this world, whether in the open or in secret. The document was written, they lifted the candle, and passed the dark night lost in thought. When the deep blue veil of night withdrew, the world turned golden with the rising sun. A man of good fortune came and set a throne in Bahram's hall. They went to the royal hall, white as ivory, and hung the crown above the seat of state. They placed a golden throne on a raised dais and then opened the way for all to enter. Bahram the king took his seat upon the throne and set the crown of the Kayanids on his head. His scribe brought the covenant of the kings, written on that precious silk. The great nobles, one and all, set down their witness that Bahram had become lord of the world. When they had recorded the name upon that document, he pressed a golden seal upon it. He said: this kingship is mine, and pure God is my witness to this. May it remain so for a thousand years, with a king from my own line. Son after son, just as honored, may they remain with the crown and the high throne. It was in the month of Azar, on the day of Hur, when the wild ass had been freed from the lion's jaws. Then he spoke to the people of Iran, now that strife and hatred had been swept away. Anyone who does not agree with this, whether you are crooked or honest, do not stay in Iran more than three days; on the fourth, when the world's lamp rises again, go and join Khosrow; linger no longer in this land. It was not from the heart that they blessed him, saying: may the earth never be emptied of you. Everyone who had been loyal to Khosrow, whose heart was wounded by this new reign, left that land for the borders of Rome, scattered and driven from their prosperous home.

Bandavi lay chained like a hunting cat, seventy days in Bahram's prison. Bahram himself was Bandavi's keeper, and that chain gave Bahram no satisfaction. Yet even in chains Bandavi kept deceiving him, never running short of clever schemes. He said: do not lose hope in the king of Iran; if the day has darkened, it will grow bright again. Though his fortune may drag its feet for a while, victory will come to Khosrow in the end. The Creator of the world granted power to Kay Qobad's line and gave the world back to them. Neither crown nor throne will stay with Bahram; what can this fortunate man be thinking? May no man of noble farmer stock ever throw himself so recklessly to the wind. Count on your fingers now, just two months, and you will see an army come to Iran from the West. They will set fire to this crown and throne, and in their assault they will crush his head. Bahram said to him: if the king will grant me my life and spare me, I will shape my soul by your counsel; whatever you say, I will obey. I will swear a mighty oath by the moon, by the sacred fire, by throne and crown, that if Khosrow comes to this land, leading an army out of the West from Caesar, you will ask him to spare my life for me, and you will not take that hard task lightly. No harm will come to me from him; he will not be turned against me by the Iranians' words. He said this, then called for the book of Zand, wanting Bandavi bound fast by an oath. When Bandavi took hold of the sacred texts, he swore this by the exalted Creator: may Bandavi know nothing but pain and grief, may he find no safety in this fleeting house, if, on the day Khosrow returns to power, I sit idle when I have seen him again, unless he sends you the royal signet ring and the crown of lordship as well. When Bahram heard his oath and saw his pure heart and loyalty, he said to him: now I will tell you all my secrets and speak my mind aloud. I will set a trap for Chubineh and by cunning bring my vengeance to a head. With a poisoned blade at the feast, with effort I can bring him to ruin. There will be no drop left in the ocean, meaning: soon they must hail Bahram as king. Bandavi said to him: you clever man, wise, alert, and knowing much, very soon the world ruling king will come and take his place upon this throne. You know that whatever I say to him, this servant's words he will not refuse. I will beg pardon for the wrongs you did before; at my word he will grant you his own crown. If you truly mean what you are saying and harbor no crooked purpose in your heart, free my two feet from these chains; first swear this in Khosrow's name. Then your secret will be revealed through my speech, and your clear voice will reach his ear. When Bahram heard this his face brightened, and there and then he took off Bandavi's chains. When the musk colored veil of night grew light, dawn reached in and gripped the darkness with its claws. He said to Bandavi: if my heart does not break when Chubineh swings his polo mallet today, last night I plotted with five companions to wipe him out, to blot him from the earth. When day came, Bahram Chubineh set out for the field, for the game of polo, mallet and ball. A messenger came quickly from Bahram to the son of Siyavosh, running like smoke. He called for armor and put it on beneath his robe, then from the court he mounted his horse. The hero Bahram had a wife who was not faithful, who wished to see Bahram buried in the ground. In her heart she loved Bahram Chubineh, for her soul was full of hatred for her husband. She sent someone to Bahram Chubineh: guard yourself and come to your own aid, for Bahram has secretly put on armor and knotted its fastenings tight. I do not know what evil he holds in his heart; it would be wise for you to keep away from him. When Chubineh heard the woman's words, telling him: do not swing the polo mallet with him, whoever came out onto his playing field, when they drew near with mallet and ball, he would lay his hand gently on their back, with kind words and a warm voice. So it went until he reached the son of Siyavosh, and plainly saw the armor on his chest. He said to him: you, worse than a desert thorn, who wears armor under silk to a polo game? He said this and drew his sword of vengeance and tore him utterly to pieces. When Bandavi learned of that killing, the daylight seemed to shrink around him. He put on his mail and mounted, and buckled the hero's belt with trembling hands. With a few men he set off, shaking on the road, fleeing in fear of Bahramshah. He took the road of escape from that city, so they would not witness his downfall. They reached a way station and the band grew larger, then rode hard toward Ardabil. When Bahram pulled back from the field, he dragged the hem of his rage through blood. After that he ordered Mahruy to be the one to keep watch over Bandavi. They told Bahram: my king, do not trouble your heart over Bandavi, for when he learned of this killing, he seems to have flown off with the wind. He grew sorry for the killing of his own friend, and knew that his fortunes had turned dark. He said: whoever cannot tell an enemy from a friend, may he have neither brain nor skin. One sleeps on the elephant's tusk of a blade, another feels safe amid the waves of the Nile, another grows bold against the king, and a fourth grabs the lion by the arm. Have pity on the lives of all these four, for the wheel of time will twist their necks. And likewise anyone who tries to move a mountain and wants a crowd to help him at that task: he wore his own body out with the labor and from that toil held only wind in his fist. To cross the water in a broken boat, and worse, to rush headlong at the work, or if you want to see a spring with your own eyes, you turn dazzled and angry away from it. Whoever takes a blind man for his guide is left stranded on the long, long road. Whoever grabs a dragon with his hand ends up dead, while the dragon slips free of him. And if someone drinks poison just to test it, all that drinking brings him is pain and death. We did not kill Bandavi at the start; he slipped from my hands and went looking for a way out. One must weep over what I have done; let us wait and see what God's will is. Meanwhile Bandavi and his small band took to the road like a raging wind. Everyone carried off whatever was worth taking, on the road where Musil the Armenian lived. In the trackless desert, a lair of wild beasts, he saw a royal tent pitched in one place. He looked, and it was Musil the Armenian; he found running water there and food as well. The world seeking Bandavi went alone, turning eagerly toward the tents. When he saw Musil he bowed low before him, and they spoke together for a long while. Musil said to him: do not leave from here, for fresh news keeps coming to you, about what Khosrow has done in the prosperous West, whether he makes a new peace or wages war. When Bandavi heard this he stayed there, and summoned his companions in from the plain.

Khosrow galloped on ahead, with no water, no grass, and no guide. He gave his horse free rein and rode on, against his will, until he reached Bahleh. The nobles of the city came out to meet him, everyone who had any decency in them. When Khosrow drew near to them, he brought his army down to rest by that city. The moment he had dismounted, a swift rider came racing from Iran. He carried a letter from Bahram Chubin, hidden within his clothes. It was written to the chief of Bahleh: if an army comes, do not let it pass free. My troops are right behind, racing on, and will reach your city at any moment. When the chief saw what the letter said, at once he ran to Khosrow. When Khosrow looked and read the letter, he marveled at the ways of the world. He feared the army was coming after him; that letter left the king heartsick. At once he mounted and left that city, girding himself for a royal dash. He rode until he reached the Euphrates, but found no green thing growing there. Old and young grew hungry; then they saw a thicket and a running stream. When Khosrow saw the thicket ahead, he led his men onto that green ground. Hungry, unfed, and weary, he strung his bow and went hunting for game. But nowhere did they see anything running; there were only trees, grass, and flowing water. Then a caravan appeared: camels, with a driver walking ahead. When that camel driver saw Khosrow's face, he showered praise on the noble man. Khosrow asked him, what is your name? Where are you going, and what do you want? He said, I am Qays, son of Harith, heir to the free-born of Arabia. I came from Egypt with a caravan, and I am the driver of this caravan. My camp is by the Euphrates; from there my road led me to this thicket. Khosrow asked him, what food do you have, and what do you carry to spread for a meal? For we are exhausted and hungry; we have no provisions, no baggage, no gear. The Arab said, whatever you need is here; my goods, my body, and my life are yours. When the Arab poured out his love for the king, he brought forward a plump young she-camel. They slaughtered it and lit a fire, burning wood both wet and dry. He scattered some cuts of meat over the fire, and the companions hurried to eat. Those who studied the faith murmured their grace, while the rest rushed to their food. They ate plenty of roast meat, without bread, and each noble arranged a place to sleep. They slept a while, then rose again and offered up a fresh word of praise, to the Just One who made the world, who created both the strong and the weak. Then the king said to his companions: whoever carries the most guilt, if he turns good, is dearer to me, and more renowned among the lowly. Whoever holds fast to more evil has turned from me and from the path of wisdom. Let him who repents place his hope in us; give him, in full, the promise of good. The companions blessed him, saying: O pure-hearted Khosrow of pure faith. He asked the Arab: which is the road, and how shall I travel it with my army? He said, for more than seventy leagues, desert and mountain lie before you. If you allow it, I will bring meat and water along the way, so long as you do not rush. Khosrow said, there is no better plan than to go supplied and with a guide. The Arab set a fast camel on the road to lead the way before the army. He rode on through desert and mountain, full of hardship and sorrow, with that band. Then yet another caravan appeared on the road, from afar, before the army. A wealthy merchant came at once to the king. The king asked him, tell me where you are from; where are you going in such a hurry? He said, I am a merchant and a scribe from the province of Ardeshir. The king asked, what did your parents name you? He answered, Mehran Setad. The king then asked him for provisions, and the captain said, O renowned one, there is food beyond measure, if the merchant's face does not turn sour. Khosrow said, a guest met on the road will only add to your fortune. The merchant opened up his packs; his silver coins outshone his gold. He served the food and sat down on the ground, calling out blessings on the king. When the hospitable man's meal was done, he came bearing a washing-ewer in his hand. When Khorrad Borzin saw this from afar, he ran from his place toward Khosrow. He took the warm water from the merchant, so that the king would feel no shame. Then the merchant, in great haste, brought wine as clear as bright rosewater. Again Khorrad Borzin took the cup from him on the way and carried it to the king. Serving the king brought the servant reward; his rank rose ever higher for it. After that the king asked the merchant: now which is the road for my army? And where is your home in the province of Ardeshir, O hospitable man? He said, O just and thoughtful king, I am the most honest of merchants. He told Khosrow every detail, one by one, and unlocked all his secrets from hiding. The king ordered his diligent scribe to write down the name of the young man and his village. He said to the merchant, farewell; keep wisdom the very warp and weft of your heart.

When the army had crossed that fresh land, it pressed on swiftly toward the borders of the Roman realm. So it came at last to that city which the emperor called his great stronghold. When the Christians saw that army from afar, they hurried away along the road toward the water. They hauled their goods up onto the ramparts and shut the city gates tight. The world-brightening king was left waiting; his army stayed outside for three days. On the fourth day the king sent word: 'Our army with us is not large.' 'Send us provisions and lend your aid; why do you play the master over us?' To those inside the city his words meant little; his troops were all weak and hungry. Just then a dark cloud rose up and roared like a battling lion. From that cloud a wind swept into the city, and from every quarter came shouts and cries. When half of the dark night had passed, a stretch of the rampart wall vanished away. The whole city was struck with wonder; the bishop took to begging pardon of God. In every quarter they gathered fodder, and three aged bishops rode out. With whatever they had in that fresh land, and the fine garments that Rome produces, they carried it up to the king, saying, 'O king, our guilt now stands revealed.' Since Khosrow was young and of noble spirit, he did not reproach them for their wrong. In that city there stood a palace whose height reached boldly up to the clouds. Much treasure had been stored within it, and the emperor had built his own quarters there. The king came in from the plain and passed by there, and wandered widely through that city. All the Romans called down blessings and scattered jewels at his feet. When a flourishing place fell into his hands, he rested and lingered there a while. The king wrote a letter to the emperor about that wind, that rain, and the black cloud. From that city he marched toward the Manichaean land, which the world's lord called Manavi. Every Manichaean who was wise was clever, generous, and worldly in judgment. Bishop and monk set out toward the king, bringing gifts and offerings. Much talk passed with the king about the rain and that ancient city. Everyone kept saying, 'We are your servants; we bow our heads to Khosrow's word.'

Khosrow stayed in that city for three days; on the fourth, as the sun that lights the world rose, raising his gleaming sword high toward the clouds, the world-seeker set out on the road to Verigh. Urigh was the name of that town, and in it stood a cross and a house of healing. Beside the road there was a monastery, and the traveler heard a monk's voice. As he neared the monastery, the monk called out: 'May your every act be nothing but worship.' 'If you come down from the ancient monastery, may the blessing of good giving be upon you.' The moment the monk heard his call, he came down from the monastery and saw him. He said to him: 'You are surely Khosrow, driven from your father's throne, joyless, cast out by an evil slave, a foul creature swollen with arrogance and self-love.' As the monk's words went on beyond measure, Khosrow's heart warmed with affection for him. He was left in wonder at his speech, and called down the Creator's praise upon him. He reached out his hand from behind the cross to greet the man who worshiped God. When the worshiper saw him, he bowed low, and spoke with him for a long while. To test him, the king said: 'I am a lesser man of the army of Iran.' 'I am carrying a message to the Caesar; when he replies, I will take it back to my lord.' 'If this journey of mine is blessed, look and tell me how my end will be.' The monk said to him: 'Do not speak this way. You are a king; do not play the seeker for a king.' 'When I saw you, I told you everything from start to finish; do not test me at every turn.' 'There must be no lie at all in your faith, no crookedness in your path and your creed.' 'You have known much suffering and struggled hard, and in the end you fled from this slave.' Khosrow was amazed at his words, and out of shame began to apologize. The monk said: 'Do not apologize. Ask me instead about what is to come.' 'Be glad and bold at this coming; be a fruitful branch for the world.' 'For God will grant you freedom from need, and your high star will bring you glory.' 'From the Caesar you will gain weapons and an army, and a daughter fit for the crown and throne.' 'When you go to war against those slaves, the watchful Lord of the world will be your ally.' 'In the end that base-born one will flee, remembering often the good days he had.' 'And he will fall from that battle to a far-off place, and make his dwelling in that land.' 'When he chooses to defy your command, his blood will be spilled by your decree.' Khosrow said to him: 'May it be exactly as you, wise old man, have foretold.' 'Since you speak so, how long is the wait until the kingship falls into my hands?' He answered thus: 'Twelve months will pass over this, and then you will win back the crown.' 'When fifteen days more come to their end, you will become the world-lighting king of kings.' Khosrow asked: 'Who among this company will strive to bring me pain and harm?' He answered thus: 'One named Bastam, a proud, high-spirited and content man.' 'The one you call your uncle, through whom you reckon your months and years fresh and new,' 'beware of that useless man, for from him will come pain, suffering, and harm to you.' Khosrow grew agitated and said to Bastam: 'Speak with me openly, hide nothing.' 'Your mother named you Gostahm; do you claim to be Bastam on the battlefield?' He said to the monk: 'This is my uncle, equal in blood to my mother.' The monk said: 'Yes, that is the one; from Gostahm you will see much suffering and malice.' Khosrow said to him: 'O counselor, what do you say will happen after that?' The monk said: 'Do not worry about this; after that you will see nothing but blessing.' 'No further evil will come upon you, unless it be some hard decree of God.' 'This defiant one will disturb your peace, but after that all will go as you wish.' 'However far this suspicious one goes wrong, in the end his fate will be in your hands.' Gostahm said to him: 'O king, do not trouble your heart over this at all.' 'By the pure God who created the moon, who created a king like you for the world,' 'by the sacred fire, by the sun and the moon, by the life and head of the renowned king,' 'do not believe the words of this Christian; do not listen to unworthy talk.' 'Grant me safety from his words; since I have sworn, do not seek an excuse.' 'I swear I will never plot evil in secret; think of the Maker of the world.' Khosrow said to him: 'From a God-fearing man no wicked speech should come.' 'I have never seen evil from you, nor any bent toward crookedness or folly.' 'Yet with the workings of the high heavens, it would be no wonder if you fell into harm.' 'When a decree of God is bound to be, both knowledge and wisdom are pushed aside.' Then the king said to the monk: 'May your heart be glad, and may fortune be with you.' And from that monastery, like lightning flashing from a cloud, he set off toward the town of Righ. The nobles of the city came out to welcome him, every man who had a share of decency.

When the king reached that great city, a rider came from the renowned Caesar. He said: whatever you need from this land, ask for it; do not hold your wishes back from kings. For although this kingdom is mine, we hold you as dear as our own person. Be safe and happy in that city; be free of any harm you might fear. All of Rome, to a man, is beneath you, however proud and noble they may be. Until I have made ready your arms and army, I will not seek food, sleep, or rest. When Khosrow heard this he grew glad, and his soul was freed of worry. He gave orders to Gostahm and Balui, and to the world-seeking Andian too, and to Khorrad Borzin and Shapur the lion; then the brave king spoke thus: At daybreak, saddle the horses and set golden saddles upon them. Put on Chinese cloth of gold; be all of one heart and pure in judgment. Go from this city to the Caesar; speak, and listen to what he says. Be wise and clear of mind, attentive, and smooth and sweet of tongue. If it happens that the Caesar takes the field, calling for a bow or for the polo game, compete like men devoted to Khosrow, so that no defeat comes to you. Let his horseman know that men from Iran draw their courage and strength from lions. The king ordered Khorrad Borzin: bring Chinese silk and black musk. A letter must be written to the Caesar, like the shining sun in bright paradise. Words few but rich in meaning, such that every heart will remember them. For philosophers surround him; take care that they hear nothing foolish. When he has read the letter, open your tongue; in speech they will be no match for you. He said to Balui: whatever the Caesar asks of me, and speaks of before the assembly, regarding orders, oaths, pacts and covenants, recall it in your words sweet as honey. In that assembly you are my tongue; for good or ill, you are my interpreter. In matters where no defeat can touch us, strive hard and try your hand. Accept the terms I have spoken; remember everything I have said. They heard the words of the blessed young king, those world-tried, bright-souled champions. All of them, one and all, called down blessings: may no one but you ever wear the crown. They set out toward the Caesar, those great men, bright of heart and true of speech. When the Caesar heard that the nobles of Iran, the envoys of the king of the world, had come near the palace along the road, he sent out a body of troops to receive them. He adorned a hall with Roman brocade, its whole surface set with jewels and gold. He sat upon the famed throne of ivory and placed on his head that heart-lighting crown. He ordered the curtain drawn aside and let them pass swiftly through the corridor. The honored Gostahm went in front, then behind him Balui and Shapur the warrior, then Khorrad Borzin and brave Andian, all with crowns on their heads and belts at their waists. They drew near before the Caesar and, when they saw him, bowed low before him. With one voice they called down blessings and scattered jewels upon that golden throne. First the Caesar asked after the king, about Iran, the army, and the hardship of the road. When Khorrad Borzin heard this, he went at once to the throne with the king's letter. By that famous king's command they set out four golden chairs. These three worthy men of good counsel sat, while Khorrad Borzin remained standing. The Caesar commanded: let whoever has traveled the long road be seated at the lower place. Khorrad Borzin said: the king has not granted me a place of high rank, that I should take a seat before the Caesar, holding such a letter from Iran's king in my hand. Perhaps my service will please you, and my delivery of his message prove useful to you. The Caesar said to him: reveal the secret; what did that wise and lofty man say? First he offered praise to the Lord of the world, and by that praise made the world seem small. For He is higher than every height, powerful and knowing in every field. By His command this heaven turns, He who is above place and time. The sky and stars are all His making; He set them wheeling on this turning wheel. When He made living creatures His servants out of dust, He first gave life to Kayumars. So on until it reached King Fereydun, whom He chose from among those proud men. That lineage came forth into the world; what had been hidden was made plain. Trace it on this way to Kay Qobad, who set the crown of greatness on his head. No evil ever came to this house; they kept always to the way of God. Now an unworthy, base-born servant has come and sat upon the throne of the Kayanids. I seek justice from the tyrant, not the crown, the throne, the diadem, or the belt. Whoever sits upon the throne must have wisdom, good name, and fortune. He should know to whom this throne and this glory belong, and to whom the imperial crown. Help me in this task; grant me victory over this faithless one. For we have gone wandering across the world, and grown ashamed before both small and great. When the Caesar heard such words, his face turned pale as the yellow melilot flower. That flower of his face grew full of dew, and his tongue and soul filled with lament. When he had read that letter his grief increased, and the throne turned dark as lapis before his eyes. The Caesar said to Khorrad Borzin: this is no secret hidden from a wise man. Khosrow is dearer to me than my own kin; I hold him before me like a soul that speaks. Here are arms, treasure, and an army; look and see what suits your need. If you want my very eyes I will not begrudge them, for eyes are better than treasure of gold and sword.

He called the seasoned scribe to come near, and seated him in the place of honor. He ordered a reply to the letter written, adorned as beautifully as a meadow of paradise. So full of fine phrasing, connection, and eloquent words, from that day back to the days of old. When the writer had grown weary of writing, the Caesar looked upon a bold horseman. A skilled speaker, bright of mind and quick to learn, wise, eloquent, brave, and a scribe as well. He said to him: Go and tell Khosrow: You king of clear vision and seeker of the right path, I have both weapons and gold in my treasury; there is no need to trouble anyone for them. And even if we had none, we would have asked coin from every land and every nobleman. So that you might return from Rome to Iran, with your wish fulfilled and your mind at ease. Do not stay in this land with a heart darkened by grief; such is the way of the turning wheel of fate. Sometimes it gives shelter, sometimes it harms; sometimes we take a loss, sometimes we gain. Now, until I have gathered weapons, an army, and money, do not be downcast. The messenger came before Khosrow and recounted all of Caesar's words.

Once the Caesar had cleared the place of strangers, he sat down deep in thought with his counselor. He said to the priest: You who seek justice, this man has taken refuge with us against the whole world. Let us arrange things so that he grows strong, and the lesser evil is cleansed of its flaws. Then the counselor said to the Caesar: From among the philosophers of pure judgment, we need a few men of wakeful heart who will commit themselves to us in this task. The renowned Caesar sent for them, and four of those philosophers set out. Young men and elders of Roman blood, they recalled the words of old times. They said: Ever since Alexander left this world, we have carried a hidden wound from the Iranians, from all the plunder, war, and clashing, and the pointless spilling of innocent blood. Now the pure God, for their evil deeds, has brought misfortune upon them. Choose silence in this matter, now that the fortune of the Sasanians has grown slow. If Khosrow lays hold of that royal crown, he will lift his head to the moon, and at once he will demand tribute from Rome, and trample all our land and soil underfoot. If this seems fitting to your wisdom, remember it; and hold the words of the Iranians as mere wind. When the Caesar heard their words, he laid the foundation of yet another plan. He sent a rider to the king; he wrote a letter and showed him the road, full of the sayings of the wakeful sages, those who recite the words of old. When the rider came to Khosrow, he told the renowned king what he had heard, and handed him the Caesar's letter, reciting to him the Caesar's words. When Khosrow read it, his heart grew heavy, and his face went pale with worry. He answered thus: If, because of these words about what happened in ancient days, we must keep this memory in our hearts and count all our sufferings as nothing, we conquered and then withdrew from this land; may you never have any need for Iran. Look now upon our ancestors, our chosen and pure world rulers. If they waged war unjustly rather than justly, see which of the elders still remembers it. It is fitting to ask the sages of Rome whether this evil came from the crow or the owl. For everyone who rose to glory in battle became heedless of the Creator. Our ancestors were men of renown; they held their desires fulfilled in this world. They endured from no one arrogance, haughtiness, fury, or ignorance. Now these words have no worth, for one's head is in the dragon's jaws. Carry my greeting to the Caesar, and tell him: words without warp or weft, the great do not bring before wisdom; in the end both good and bad shall pass. From now on I will seek neither rest nor sleep until I pull my skirt free of the dark water. If we find no rescuer among the Romans, we will send someone to the Khaqan. Every word I spoke has come to nothing, for the running water has grown murky at its source. When my envoys return, I will not linger long in this city. He said to the Iranians: Obey my command, and do not let this news break your hearts, for the victorious God is our ally, and chivalry and humanity are our work. He treated this matter as trifling in his heart, and sent off a letter by the hand of Tokhvar. He wrote a letter in this fashion, containing within it every kind of thing, fair and foul. The rider set out from Khosrow's presence and rode on to the court of the renowned Caesar.

When Caesar looked and read the letter through, every kind of thought ran across his heart. Then he said to his noble minister: draw this secret out from its hiding place. Consider Khosrow in this hard struggle: he will rejoice if he escapes his fate's grip. But if, say, he is not victorious, then after that there will be no new year for him either. Let us wait until he goes to the Khaqan: when a man falls sick, he seeks the cure. And if, say, he comes out the victor, he will hold the throne just as his father did. It is best that he set out from here with an army, so that he keeps no grudge hidden in his heart. When the wise minister heard these words, he ordered the old astronomical tables brought. They summoned the men who read the stars; the talk went on until three watches of the night remained. At last the astrologer spoke, saying to Caesar: O crowned king, I have studied these ancient tables, whose foundation Plato laid from the stars. Before long the throne will pass to Khosrow; a new turn of kingship is coming to him. And so, for thirty and eight years, no dark cloud of misfortune can pass over him. When Caesar heard this, he told his minister: this wish has come out into the open. What shall we say, and how shall we answer this? Come, let us settle on a fortunate plan. The noble minister spoke these words: the one who set the stars' foundation in the sky, no one ever matched in courage and knowledge: may the Lord of the world come to your aid. When Khosrow goes toward the Khaqan's border, he will remember you, and his heart will ease. When he raises an army from another place, he will never turn to take revenge on you. Now consider it yourself, for you are wiser and more capable of fulfilling these wishes. Caesar said: now, of necessity, we will send an army with elephants and glory. How long shall I keep talking? It is better that I hold treasure cheap, and so stay far from grief.

At once he wrote a letter, and upon it he heaped blessing after blessing. It said: with the priest, wholehearted and pure of judgment, we deliberated fearlessly over good and ill. We told stories of every kind, and came back at last to the old wisdom. Now the counsel and the talk have reached their end; I have thrown open the ancient treasuries. In Constantinople I do not have vast armies to keep the country guarded. We arranged our words in every fashion; from every land we called up troops. As soon as they arrive, one by one, we will send them to you without fail. But all this scheming and endless deliberation is like scratching a lion's mouth with a lancet. That evil came because those who know how to speak kept recalling the deeds of old. That in the days of Shapur, son of Ardeshir, a man's heart never grew tired of suffering. From so much looting, killing and raiding, from stirring up unjust feuds. Set aside him; think of Hormoz and Kay Qobad, who never kept God's justice in mind. Your own ancestor, that king Nushirvan, whose justice made even the old grow young again. By him all of Rome was laid utterly to waste, just as Iran was ruined by Afrasiyab. In this land of ours the Iranians turned thirty-nine cities into thorn thickets. The plains became pools from the blood of chieftains; their wives and children were carried off as captives. If a man of Rome has taken hatred into his heart, that should be no surprise to you. In our faith cruelty has no place; let doing evil never be our custom. We have found nothing better than honesty, and than keeping far from crookedness and fault. I summoned all who had been wronged and spoke with them long about this matter. By gentle words their hearts were cleansed; every consuming poison turned to remedy. I settled it so that no one, from now on, would speak of the old days. Whatever you say, I will obey; I will pledge my very soul as surety to the treaty. You too must give your word, so that no one may think ill of us. You will say: as long as I am king, I will not take such wrongs lightly or make light of them. I will not demand tribute from the Romans, nor sell these hard-won gains for anything. As for the rest that you hold of that land, no Iranian shall set foot on Roman soil. Do even more toward this wish: make peace with us and become our kin. Whenever you have some undertaking, or even an ill-suited war, we will all be friends and brothers; and there may be times when we take the lesser place. But once you no longer need this city of ours, all the old hatred will rise up in your hearts. There was talk of Tur and Salm, and of that pointless quarrel of the old days. Now a firm covenant must be made, worthy of a seal, to remain as a memorial. That from now on we will not speak of avenging Iraj, nor of the old times. From now on Iran and Rome shall be one; we will seek no separation of these lands. Behind our veil there is a daughter, wiser and better than the greatest nobles. Ask for her hand according to our pure faith, as our custom and rite require. So that a child of Caesar's line, when born, will not call to mind the vengeance for Iraj. The face of the earth will find rest from turmoil and war, and seek this way of peace. Now if you look with the eye of wisdom, you will count all this as nothing but honesty. Through this bond our covenant will endure; such is our command from God. From the time of Piruz until Khoshnavaz, surely long years have passed. For they both threw their heads to the wind; may no world-ruler ever be a breaker of pacts. The Messiah, the prophet, said this: wisdom itself recoils when you turn away from justice. Khoshnavaz tried every scheme so that Piruz would not lose his head to the blade. But when Piruz treated him harshly, he saw dark smoke rising in that place. That army and the royal throne were scattered to the wind; the king was undone, and his head fell for turning from justice. You are young and have not yet seen how things go; if you wish to gain from your days, do not help a man who breaks his word, for an oath-breaker is not worth even a shroud. Crown and throne curse the king who breaks his pact and thirsts for vengeance. Now read my letter through from end to end; if your fingers are greasy, do not touch it. Keep the words in mind and write your answer; think only of goodness and write with grace. I do not want a scribe to know this secret; let you yourself be its keen, deft writer. When I read this letter of reply, I will see the heart of the willful man himself. Then we will surely send arms, troops, and money, so that your heart is not left grieving. Whoever is dearest to you, and whoever holds the most renown in your eyes, even the one against whom you hold a grudge, tear the hatred from your heart like a brave man. Leave his sin to almighty God; do not turn the day dark for enemy or friend. If you wish fortune to keep you victorious, ruler of the world, with army, crown and throne, keep your hand off what belongs to others, and lead your soul along the path of honesty. When the ink of that letter's heading had dried, they sealed it shut with a seal of musk. Caesar pressed his signet upon that seal, gave it to the messenger, and blessed him.

When that letter reached Khosrow, fresh news of alliance arrived with it. He told the Persians: today the sun itself will change its course across the sky. A lofty letter has come from Caesar, and everything he says is useful, start to finish. He is seeking a way to lift the ancient hatred from Rome and the land of Iran. This was the answer he received from the Persians: that enmity has never been erased from between us. If this is set right in your time, they will write your name upon the crowns. When they showed such a mind toward it, Khosrow cleared the outsiders from the place. He called for inkwell, pen, and Chinese silk, and ordered the scribe to come before him. He wrote a letter in the Pahlavi tongue, in royal script, after the manner of kings. That Khosrow swears by pure God, from the turning sun down to the dark earth, that as long as he is king upon the throne, Iran and its treasure and army will be his, he will not demand tribute from the rulers of Rome, nor send an army against that land. Every city that belongs to that frontier, however idle or worthless it may be, he will hand over to Caesar, one by one; from now on we will send a written pledge and deed. And also the daughter born of that mother who is pure and kin to Caesar, with her father's consent I have asked for her hand, and set my heart at ease with this request. Every person now in your court who is from Iran and under your protection, such as Gostahm and Shapur and Andian, and Khorrad son of Barzin, of the royal line, when you send an army, entrust it to them, and send the wise, renowned daughter along. By this marriage I stand kin to you now, just as that great gathering of forefathers once did. First Kayumars, together with Jamshid, from whom the world knew both fear and hope, then all who are of the line of Iraj, who established the ways and glory of Fereydun, and so on down to the great Kobad, by whose justice sheep and wolf were kin. We have lifted all hatred from between us; Roman and Persian have become as one. I have accepted from Caesar that daughter of his, the one who is the crown among his daughters. I will not turn from what I have said, not by a single word, from the whole of it to the least part. Whatever you have promised, do not delay it, for my stay in this city has grown long. When he had set down these words in this way, he gave the letter to Khorrad the swift. The commander rose from his place like the wind, and set his foot in the stirrup of his bay horse. He galloped like the wind to Caesar, and delivered to him the words of Khosrow. When Caesar broke the seal of that letter, he saw those lofty words of the king. He ordered that all who were learned, who were skilled in matters of counsel, gathered before Caesar, and he questioned them one by one. He asked: what remedy shall we make for this now, and what pact shall we form with the king of Iran? With this letter we are left with no excuse; now Rome and Iran have become one. The wise nobles rose and prepared their tongues to answer. They said: we are the lesser ones and you are Caesar; you are the world's ruler, with throne and crown. Look now, the decision and the command are yours; if you ask of us, our bodies and lives are yours. When Caesar heard this, he gave his blessing to those renowned men of counsel and faith. So it remained until the candle of the turning sky took on a different aspect and face.

When the turning sun lost its color and the stars rose into the constellation of the night. Caesar ordered his master of illusions to bring forth his most elaborate schemes. He said: Build a wondrous magic device that no one could recognize as a mere object. A beautiful woman was seated on a throne of luxury, full of modesty, dressed in fine embroidered robes. On this side and that stood her attendants; servants ranged before and behind her. She sat on that throne without a word, that lovely face looking like a weeping woman. From time to time she would raise her hand and let a tear fall from her lashes. Anyone who saw her from afar found a woman distraught, radiant with light. As if weeping bitterly over Christ, two pale cheeks and lashes like spring clouds. When the nobles' magic device was finished, someone came to guide Caesar to it. When Caesar heard from the wise man, he went and came swiftly before the device. He stood amazed at that sorcery and sent to summon Gostaham before him. He said to Gostaham: O renowned champion, I once had a daughter lovely as a painting. She grew up and the time for her marriage came; there was a relative of hers, a seeker of fame. In the way of the Christians I gave her to him, and out of ignorance I unveiled her face. I sent her to the young man's house, and the young man's soul departed toward the sky. Now she sits in mourning and grief; the bright day has turned deep blue for her. She accepts no advice and speaks no word; the world grows old and worn from her suffering. Take on a burden and go see her; choose the words of the wise ones. You are young and of a champion's stock; perhaps she will open her tongue with you. Gostaham said to him: I will do so; perhaps I can drive the grief from her heart. That renowned man came before the device, open of heart and skilled in speech. When he drew close to her throne, the device bowed to him from atop the throne. The worthy Gostaham sat down humbly and spoke with the grieving girl. The brave man first began with counsel, words that might do her good. He said to her: O daughter of Caesar's line, the wise do not cry out against the workings of justice. There is no escape from death for the soaring eagle, whether it be the lion in the thicket or the fish in the water. All the champion's talk was wind, for the woman had no voice and the body no soul. With her own finger, again and again, she cast a tear before the eloquent physician. When Gostaham was left astonished by her, Caesar sent someone to call him. He said to him: What did you see in my daughter, whose state darkens my crown? He replied: I gave her much advice, but my counsel was of no use to her. The next day Caesar said to Balui: Today be a companion to Andian. And let Shapur too, of noble birth, gladden our souls with this daughter. Go before this grieving girl and speak of the renowned king. Perhaps you will get an answer from my daughter, from whom fire keeps rising over my head. Perhaps she will hear your counsel and advice and understand your rank and worth. I believe that today she will answer, and when she answers with a blessed voice, She will be freed from this mourning grief, she who keeps raining bloody tears down her sides. Those three noble, honored men set out, each eloquent and unbowed in the struggle. None of them saw a trace of an answer; the voiceless woman chose silence. Helpless, they went to Caesar, and in their helplessness came before the ruler. They said: However much we spoke and gave counsel, our advice was of no use to her. Caesar said: What ill fortune, that we ourselves grieve over this grieving one. When he found no remedy through those renowned men, he hurried to seek the counsel of Khorrad-borzin. He said to him: O famous scribe, chosen chief of the line of Ardashir, Go in to this daughter; perhaps just once you will hear her voice. He sent a trusted man with him, from the palace to that grieving one. When Khorrad-borzin came before her, he studied her face, her head, and her crown. He stayed before her a long while, and the deceiving device bowed to him. He said much, but the woman gave no answer; the noble-born man fell deep into thought. He looked the woman over from head to foot and observed her attendants around her. He said: If the woman is senseless from grief, why then are the servants silent? Even if there really were tears in her eyes, it would make sense for her anger to lessen. She lets it drip before her chest; she does not know how to move left or right. The tear she cast always went to one spot; her hand did not stir, nor did her foot move. If there truly were a soul in this body, it would move somewhere other than the hand. She would cast her tear to another place, or she would reach her hand elsewhere. I see no movement of soul or body; this is nothing but a philosopher's device. He came to Caesar, laughed, and said: This moon-faced one has no mind as her mate. It is a device that these Romans built, which Balui and Gostaham failed to see through. You mean to laugh at the Iranians and blindfold our eyes. When the king heard this, he grew delighted, his face open and his silver teeth showing.