English
The Reign of Shapur the Third
When Shapur took his uncle's throne, much of Iran was glad, though some were grieved.
He said: You renowned wise men, you world-tested advisors and priests,
Know this: from now on, no liar will hold any standing before us.
In our judgment there is no place for lies, for greatness comes from sound judgment.
You will not find a base and vile man beautiful, like a flower in a garden.
A person with plenty of sense should never mock or taunt another.
Guard your tongue well; do not sting your own soul with poison.
For in any gathering the one who talks too much wastes away his own honor with his words.
If a learned man speaks, listen, for knowledge never grows old.
The greedy man's heart is full of pain; keep as far from greed as you can.
Do not befriend one given to lies, nor a man of impure intent.
The body's nature is made of four elements, and it seldom passes beyond these four.
Consider: one man is decent, modest and generous, single-hearted in his nobility.
A second chooses the middle path in his affairs, and the Creator's portion is enough for him.
A third scatters his wealth recklessly, seeking a reputation for wisdom through boasting.
The generous heart wins both worlds; the base heart is not glad even for a single day.
In this world he earns an ugly name, and in the next he finds no paradise.
The boaster's heart wins neither world, the one who squanders his fortune in vain.
Praised is the one who chose the middle way and spread blessing over his own life.
May the world's Maker be your companion, and may your fortune's star always stay awake.
May the world's ruler come to our aid, for the throne of greatness stays with no one forever.
He said this, and they rose from his presence and called down God's blessing upon him.
When five years and four months had passed, the king went out one day to the hunting ground.
The world filled with hunting cheetahs, hawks and hounds, some birds and many creatures racing at full speed.
They pitched a tent for a resting place, and the king ate something and took his ease.
He drank three cups of royal wine, grew heavy with thought, and turned toward sleep.
The whole army scattered once the king, the flock's shepherd, had fallen asleep.
He slept, and a wind rose off the plain such as no one could recall its like.
It tore up the driven tent pole and flung it down onto the tall king's head.
So the world-seeking, warlike Shapur died, and the royal crown passed to another.
Do not lust, do not boast, do not rush, do not grieve, whether you charge into vengeance or gloat over treasure.
This is your lot from this dark sphere: seek excellence, and do not seek out the world's secrets.
For if you find the answer, you will writhe in pain; do not probe, do not circle around its mystery.
Such is the way of this swift-turning wheel, alike with the young man and with the old.