The Messenger and the New King

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.