English
Part 9
When the gardener spoke and the scribe listened,
the wise man saw the truth with a clear mind.
He knew that lion-hearted man could be none other than the king;
such a face belongs only to the throne.
The clear-minded scribe found a messenger
and sent him to the commander.
The message: The glory of King Shapur has appeared;
gather your troops from every side.
The scribe's messenger came running
from where he was to the commander.
He said: In the garden of joy and fortune,
that royal tree has burst into bloom.
The general grew glad at his words;
his heart filled with resolve, his lips with breath.
He said to the Creator: O true Lord of the world,
it is wrong to worship any but you.
Who could ever have known that King Shapur
would see his army again, and his army see him?
Thanks to you, O just and only God,
ruler of the world and guide toward all good.
When night raised its black banner
and stars appeared around the moon,
troops came together from every side
to the place where the great one stood.
They headed toward Syria,
riding in ones and twos.
They came to the gardener's gate,
to their host with joy.
When the army had settled at the gate,
that pure-minded man came to the king.
Then the host said to the king of the world:
Blessed is the gardener on this bright night.
The army has gathered at this gate;
now decide what course you will take.
He ordered the way opened for them,
though the place was humble.
When they came near that seeker of fame,
one by one they laid their faces on the ground.
The king embraced all the nobles
and began to lament the hardships he had endured.
He told what he had seen on the donkey-hide,
the words of Caesar he had overheard.
He also told of the kindness of that beautiful idol of a woman,
and all the love she had shown.
From her I received my life, and from the Creator;
may her days be blessed.
And if you are a ruler and a blessed one,
you are the servant of a servant full of virtue.
I am the servant of this loving servant,
open-hearted and gently raised.
Wherever my army now stands,
and if the kingship and the path are mine,
send word to everyone and let them know;
spread scouts along the roads.
Block the road to Ctesiphon especially;
no news must slip through.
If Caesar learns of us,
that the royal glory has awakened,
he will come and uproot my army,
and break the heart and back of the Iranians.
For now we cannot stand against him,
nor can we struggle with his flourishing fortune.
When the scribe comes and brings the army,
we will close the road so tight not even a gnat can pass.
We will prepare and set a new plan,
and secretly clear the garden of its thorns.
There must be a lookout at every corner,
scouts by day and guards by night.
After that we will not let a single Roman
sleep safely with his guard let down.