English
Shapur and the Gardener
When the sun raised its head from the House of Leo, the day grew tall and sleep drained away.
Everyone in the city came to the festival, the great ones seeking their share of the celebration.
The slave girl set her mind on a plan, as any resourceful person would.
When she found the hall empty, she took heart like a lion, a tiger's claw and courage came to her.
From the stable she led out two fine horses, and choice weapons of proud riders.
As much gold as was needed, and pearls and rubies and every kind of treasure.
When all was ready for the journey, night fell and the two of them settled their plan.
They turned their faces toward the land of Iran, two happy souls, glad in secret and longing for peace.
Night and day, without stop, they rode; they gave no thought to sleep or food.
In this way he rode from the eastern city onward to the region of Syria.
When horse and body grew weak from riding, he searched for a place to rest.
A pleasant village came into view along the road, full of gardens and open squares and festive grounds.
His body worn with hardship, fleeing from evil, he came and knocked at a gardener's gate.
The gardener came running, a man both kind of heart and hospitable.
Seeing two riders with spear and armor and helmet, he greeted Shapur and asked what brought this visit.
'At this late hour, where have you come from, that you set out for such hard riding?'
Shapur said to him: 'O kind man, why ask so many questions of a lost traveler?
I am an Iranian looking for the road, a fugitive who has turned toward this land.
I am full of grief because of the Caesar and his army; may I never see his head or his crown.
If you host me tonight, you will act wisely and like a true guardian of the land.
I trust that one day it will serve you well: the tree you plant will bear its fruit for you.'
The gardener said: 'This is your own home, and the gardener himself is your guest too.
Whatever comes within my reach, I will try to bring it and tell no one.'
King Shapur dismounted, and the slave girl walked along the path with him.
The gardener's wife prepared food, all kinds of it, as much as she could manage.
When the meal was done, they set things in order and quickly cleared a modest place.
The gardener promptly handed the wine to Shapur: 'Drink to whoever comes to your mind.'
Shapur said to him: 'O host, well-spoken and worthy gardener,
the one who brings the wine should drink first, since he has more years and more wisdom.
You are a little older than I am; since you offer the wine, you should be the one to drink.'
The gardener said: 'O gifted one, the one more graced should drink the wine first.
You should lead here, for you are old in learning though young in years.
A crown seems to rise from your very hair, and the color of ivory shines from your face.'
Shapur laughed and took the wine, and drew a cold sigh from deep in his heart.
He said to the gardener: 'O pure of faith, what news do you have of the land of Iran?'
The gardener answered: 'O noble one, may evil and its doer stay far from you.
May our enemy suffer as much harm as the Caesar brought upon the Iranians.
Everyone who lived in Iran has been scattered; no sowing or reaping is left in that soil.
From so much plunder and killing of men and women, that great gathering of people was broken apart.
Many of them even became Christians, taking the girdle before the bishop.
Many a patriarch now wears his cap, far from his home and land and place of rest.'
Shapur said to him: 'King Hormozd, who shone bright as the moon of Hormozd,
where has he gone, that the Caesar has grown so dominant, and fate has darkened the fortune of the Iranians?'
The gardener said: 'O exalted one, may lordship and ease be yours forever.
No trace of him, dead or alive, reached Iran among those defiant conquerors.
All those who came from the settled land are now captives, from end to end, in Rome.'
At this the gardener wept bitterly, the man who was then the king's host.
The host said to him: 'Stay here three days; this house will be lit up by the world.'
For the wise man told this saying long ago: whoever fails to honor a guest,
there is no wisdom near him at all, and dark fortune will bring him to need.
Stay and rest and drink wine to your heart's content; and when your heart is at ease, tell me your name.'
Shapur said to him: 'Your deafness to my secret is fair; for now you are a king as our host.'