Shapur Takes the Throne of Justice

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.