Reign of Shapur, Son of Ardeshir, Thirty-One Years

When Shapur sat upon the throne of justice, he placed the heart-lighting crown upon his head. The wise gathered before him: the great, the learned, and the priests. He said: You renowned assembly, you great ones full of knowledge and counsel, I am the pure son of King Ardeshir, a teller of wisdom and a learner. Listen, all of you, to my command, and none of you turn away from my covenant. Examine whatever I say, and if I speak carelessly, correct me. As I now see it, weighing gain and loss, two duties are set out among us. One is the king, the guardian of the world, the keeper of both the small and the great treasures. And if the king is just and of blessed step, then wisdom, without doubt, is his guardian. Wisdom is his watchman and his well-wisher; it lifts his head above the black clouds. All his seeking is justice and knowledge; through knowledge his soul finds peace. The other duty is that he test wisdom, strive manfully, and gather it together. Through knowledge he learns gratitude to God. Happy is the wise man who knows God. A wise man is worthy of kingship; beside wisdom, even gold becomes worthless. Whoever becomes content becomes rich; a heart of endless craving becomes a house of smoke. The more desire, the more grief. Work, listen, and do not put greed first. Lean toward ease and a good name, and flee from the man of impure intent. A man reaches for the belongings of others only when he has little share of good breeding. My love for you is greater than the stars that shine across the sky. The custom of the lofty king Ardeshir I will surely uphold with you. From the landowner I ask no more than one dirham in thirty, to give a little to the army. I have goodness and a flourishing treasury; I have courage, manliness, and a firm foundation. We have no need of others' possessions, for over possessions people turn to enemies. The way to us is open for you; we are kind to good-hearted people. We will send informed men in every direction, alert to search out the affairs of the world. We wish for nothing but the blessings that the world's Creator has people bestow upon us. The great and the humble all rose, adorning their tongues with fine words. They called down blessings upon Shapur and scattered emeralds over his crown. The custom of King Ardeshir was renewed, and young and old alike rejoiced in him.

After that the news spread everywhere that the imperial throne now stood empty. Ardeshir, that wise king, had died, and he had handed the treasury and the army to Shapur. An uproar rose from every border and land, and Rome, under Qidafeh, refused to pay its tribute. When word of this reached King Shapur, he made ready the war drums, the banners, and the army. He marched on toward Altavineh with a swift force, unburdened by baggage. An army came out from Qidafeh so vast that its dust turned the very sun to gloom. From Altavineh, likewise, came a host whose commander was a great chief. Branush was that warrior's name, a proud rider with a bright and noble spirit. Among the Caesars he was held in high esteem, a renowned and towering master of the lasso. When the sound of the drums rose from both sides, that glory seeking champion charged from the center. From this side rode a bold and famous man whose name was Garzasp the Lion. The drums and the war cries rose from both armies, and the young king stirred at the heart of the field. From so much wailing of horns and Indian bells, the heavens and the moon seemed to shift from their places. They strapped the kettledrums to the backs of the elephants, and their thunder carried for two miles. The ground shook and shuddered, thick with dust, while the spearheads of battle flashed like fire. A soul that is wedded to wisdom, they say, rains down stars from the sky. Branush the fighter, in the thick of the center, was taken prisoner, his heart drowned in blood. Three thousand of the Romans were slain at Altavineh, there in the ranks of battle. Twelve hundred were captured, and the hearts of the warriors filled with grief. The Caesar sent an envoy to King Shapur, son of Ardeshir, saying: How long will you spill blood for the sake of gold, you who follow the guiding Judge? What will you say when they question you on the day of reckoning? What excuse will you give before the Creator? We will send the tribute just as it was; there is no need to add more sorrow to this. We will obey your command along with the tribute, and give many of our kin as hostages. It is only right that you withdraw from Altavineh; we will send, with the tribute, whatever you desire. Shapur waited for the tribute and levy, and the Caesar sent ten skins full of gold coin, a thousand Roman slaves and servants, and precious brocade beyond counting. He stayed seven days at Altavineh, then left Roman lands and went on to Ahvaz. He raised a city called Shapur Gerd and completed it in a short span of days. The commander took great pains over that city, spending much of the treasury with hard toil. There was a flourishing, well settled city that he set aside for the Roman captives. This land lies in Khuzestan, where everyone has a passage through it. In Pars he raised a lofty city, clean and useful in every way. He built a city in Sistan, in a place with many date groves, half of which Ardeshir had built, and the other half brave Shapur completed. He built the old fortress in the city of Nishapur, which they say Shapur made with justice. He took Branush with him wherever he went, lending an ear to his words. There was a wide river at Shushtar that not even a fish could cross. He said to Branush: If you know geometry, build a bridge there as you see fit, so that when we go back, that bridge will remain, a guide that testifies to your knowledge. Make the span of this bridge a thousand cubits, and take from the treasury whatever the work requires. Bring in a number of the learned philosophers of Rome to this land and region. When this bridge is finished, go home; be your own honored guest, in joy and safety, far from evil and from the hand of the demon. The man set his skill to planning that bridge and brought the work to completion. Shapur poured out a treasure upon it, so that it would ease the lives of the people. When the king departed, Branush finished it all: he built a bridge a thousand paces in span. When the bridge was complete, he left Shushtar and turned swiftly toward his own home.

Shapur reigned with justice and wisdom, his star shining high, his throne firm in place. But when thirty years and two months had passed, the king's glory and splendor began to fade. He gave the order for Hormozd to come before him, and said: 'You who are as tender as a rose in bloom, Stay awake and rule the world well; cherish those who have seen much of life. See that you place no false hope in kingship alone; read the book of Jamshid day and night. Do nothing in this world but justice and good; be a refuge for the humble and a pride to the great. Take little pride in gold, and be generous; be a giver of justice, and be blessed. Do not raise your voice against the harmless one, if you want fortune to stand beside you. Remember all my counsel from start to finish, just as I hold to the counsel of Ardeshir.' He said this, and the color drained from his face; the young man's heart filled with grief. Why do you build so much upon this fleeting inn of a world? Why boast of your name, why boast of your treasure? In the end a narrow coffin is your only share, and unworthy hands will devour your hoard. Even your own child will not keep your memory, nor will your kin and close relations. From your inheritance you will get only curses; the very antidote turns to poison in reply. Turn to God and speak of Him ever more, for He is the giver of daily bread and the guide. Send your greetings upon the grave of His prophet, for that blessing is a crown upon his pulpit.