Part 4

When Sa'd heard the news, that noble man went out to meet him with an army thick as dust. At once they gave the messenger a resting place, and Sa'd asked after the champion's own health, about the king, his counselor, and his army, about their vigilant commander and their land. He threw his cloak over his armor and said: We too have spears and matching swords. True men do not boast of silk, of vineyards, silver, sleep, or feasting. The noble Piruz handed over the letter, recalling all the words of Rustam. Sa'd listened to his words and read the letter, and was struck with wonder at what it said. He wrote a reply in Arabic, and set out in it what was fair and what was foul. He spoke of jinn and of mankind, and of the teachings of the Prophet of Hashim's line. Of God's oneness, the Quran, His promise and His warning, of divine support, and of new customs. Of tar and fire and bitter cold, of paradise, its maidens, and its river of milk. Of camphor, edicts, and pure flowing water, the tree of paradise, and wine and honey. If the king accepts this true faith, both worlds are his in kingship and in joy. He will keep the same crown, the same earrings, forever amid fragrance, color, and beauty. Muhammad will intercede for his sins, and his body will be sweet as distilled rose water. In a deed whose reward is paradise, you should not sow hatred in a garden of ruin. The person of Yazdgerd, the wide world, all these gardens, fields, halls, and palaces, all the thrones, the feasts and celebrations, I would not trade for a single hair of a heavenly maiden. In this fleeting house of a world, both your eyes have been dazzled blind by the chase of crown and treasure. You have grown so secure on this ivory throne, with its hunting cheetah and hawk, its seal and crown. For a world not worth a single cup of cold water, why do you keep your heart in such pain? Whoever comes against me in battle will see nothing but hell and a narrow grave. If you believe, paradise is your dwelling place; consider now what your decision will be. He set the Arab seal upon the page and gave the blessing of Muhammad. When Mughira's man, Shu'ba, said at that time that he would go to Rustam the champion, from Iran a man of note came along the road to the commander of the army, saying: An envoy has come, old and frail, with no horse, no weapons, and not even sound eyes. A thin sword hangs at his neck, and the tear in his shirt is plain to see. When Rustam heard this report, he had a pavilion of brocade raised up. They drew out threads of Chinese gold cloth, and the troops poured in like ants and locusts. They set down a golden seat below, and the army's commander took his place above it. Beside him stood sixty men of Iran, riders and warriors of the day of battle, in robes of purple woven with gold, with golden shoes upon their feet. All wore collars of rank and earrings, the pavilion arrayed in royal splendor. When Shu'ba reached the pavilion's threshold, he would not set his foot upon that cloth. He walked upon the bare earth, humbly, using his sword as a walking staff. He sat down on the ground and saw no one; he did not so much as glance at the army's commander. Rustam said to him: May your soul be glad, your spirit rich in wisdom and your body sound. Shu'ba said to him: O man of good name, if you accept the faith, I will be filled with joy. Rustam recoiled at his words; his brows drew into folds and his face went pale. He took the letter from him and gave it to a reader, who recited its words to him. He answered thus: Tell him that he is neither a king nor a seeker of the crown. Your spear-point has not yet seen good fortune, yet your heart has come to long for the throne. A word is never cheap before the wise; you have no insight into this matter. If Sa'd were a man wearing the crown of Sasan, fighting him would be an easy thing for me. But know that your star has turned faithless; what can I say, for today is a day of ruin. If Muhammad is your guide and leader, I speak of the new faith in this old tongue. This crooked-set, hunchbacked wheel of heaven means to be harsh with us as well. Now go back with all this cheer of yours, for the day of battle is no place for talk. Tell him: to die with honor in battle is better than a living enemy pleased with his triumph.