English
The Testament of Shapur
Under Shapur the days ran so smoothly that in the garden no one saw a thorn among the roses.
Through his justice, his wisdom, his resolve, through all his striving, his wars, and his cunning,
no enemy was left to him in any land, and evil found no dwelling place on earth.
When at last he lost hope in the high wheel of fate, and his years had passed seventy and more,
he summoned before him the scribe, along with Ardeshir, the chief of the priests,
a young man who was his younger brother, whose crown was justice and wisdom itself,
his name was Ardeshir the Young, capable and shrewd in gain and loss alike.
The king had a small son named Shapur, who had not yet come of age in the world.
Then the king spoke to Ardeshir: 'You, brave and nimble horseman, bold one,
if you make a just covenant with me and pledge your tongue as surety to that promise,
that when my son grows into manhood and reaches the age of courage and valor,
you will hand over to him the throne, the treasury, and the army, and be his minister and true wellwisher,
then I will give this royal crown to you, and leave to you the treasury and the troops as well.'
Ardeshir accepted this from him before the nobles and before the scribe:
'When the child grows into manhood and becomes worthy of the diadem and royal crown,
I will hand over the whole kingdom to him, and act toward him with nothing but goodwill.'
When Shapur heard this before the great ones, he gave him the diadem and the seal of kings.
Then the king said to Ardeshir: 'Do not take the affairs of the world lightly.'
Know this, my brother: a king's injustice keeps no guard on his kingship.
He rejoices in hoarding treasure, and the proud lift their heads through harshness.
Blessed is the king who is just and worships God, the one whose subjects' hearts are glad because of him.
He grows greater through justice and giving, and guides the world along that path.
He guards his country from its enemies, and raises his head and crown to the clouds.
Through justice and peace he fills his treasury, and by generosity he scatters sorrow from the heart.
To let the sin of the sinner pass, to keep alive the way of humanity,
whoever seeks out these virtues needs wisdom, caution, and sound judgment.
A king must have wisdom, without fail, and also the teaching of both young and old.
When a king's heart inclines to love, the heavens keep his desires fresh.
The subject's body is prone to sin, unless he is a pure man who worships God.
A person's heart and mind are the two kings of the body; the other organs are the body's army.
When a person's mind and heart are corrupted, in despair they are stripped of sound reason.
Then the spirit grows bewildered in that body; how can an army survive under a king with no champion?
When the mind is not clear, it falls apart, and the soulless body is cast into the dust.
Just so is the unjust king: through him the world is soon turned upside down.
After death a curse lies upon him, and his name will be 'the king without faith.'
Keep your eyes on this, and keep your ears on that: it is God who holds soul and mind.
Any king who seeks a road other than this must wash his heart and hands of goodness.
His subjects scatter from his land, and the loyal servants scatter from his court.
Do you not see what the wise man says, how he washes your heart clean of crookedness?
That every king who is worthy of praise finds all his affairs increasing and prospering.
The man whose trade is cruelty is despised; do not linger around the doors of the greedy.
Know this, my brother: the wise man seeks all kinds of qualities in a ruler.
First, that he be victorious, and never turn his face from the enemy in battle.
Second, that he keep his army with justice, and recognize the worth of men of good stock.
Someone raised at the royal court will not wish to be the chief of the army.
Fourth, that toward his subjects, and likewise his noble attendants,
he does not keep the treasury door tightly shut; a fruitful tree lets its fruit fall from the branch.
In a kingdom the army is necessary, and the army keeps watch over the treasury.
If you keep your treasury flourishing through justice, you are glad of the treasury, and the army is glad of you.
Keep your weapons ready and in good order; it is fitting, for they may serve you on a dark night.
Do not feel too safe about your own defense; and once you are safe, set your affairs in order.
In the end death will surely come to you, whether you are a dim thing or the lamp of the world.
When the brother heard this he wept awhile; once he had written down the counsel, he lived a year longer.
He passed away, and this saying remained as a keepsake: do not sow the seed of harshness in the world.
For in a single moment your day passes, and the fruit of your toil is devoured by your enemy.
Since it was Friday, the day of Bahman, this was a blessed occasion for the work.
Bring me the ruby wine, Hashemi, from a vat that never runs low.
Now that I am sixty-three and my ears have grown deaf, why should I seek grandeur and glory from having more?
Now I will tell the tales of King Ardeshir; take my words and keep them in mind.