The Riddle of the Weeping Statue

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.