Story 6: The Tyrant King

They tell of one of the kings of Persia who stretched out his hand to seize his subjects' wealth, and began to oppress and abuse them, until his people fled the land because of his cruel schemes, and, worn down by his tyranny, chose the road into exile. As the population dwindled, the revenues of the province fell, the treasury ran empty, and enemies pressed hard against him. Whoever wants a rescuer on the day of disaster should strive to be generous in the days of ease. If you fail to cherish the servant who wears your ring in his ear, he will leave; be kind, be kind, or the loyal one will turn into a stranger. One day, in his court, they were reading the Shahnameh, the fall of Zahhak's kingdom and the reign of Fereydun. The vizier asked the king: 'Do you know how Fereydun, who had no treasure, no realm, and no army, came to hold a kingdom?' The king said: 'As you heard, a people gathered around him out of devotion and gave him strength, and so he gained a throne.' The vizier said: 'O King! If the gathering of people is what makes a kingdom, why do you scatter your people? Have you no wish to remain a king?' It is better to nourish your army with real care, for a sultan's mastery rests upon his army. The king asked: 'What makes army and subjects gather around a ruler?' The vizier said: 'A king needs generosity, so they will gather to him, and mercy, so they may live safely under the shelter of his rule, and you have neither of these.' One who rules by oppression cannot truly reign, any more than a wolf can shepherd a flock. A king who lays the foundation of tyranny digs away at the very wall of his own kingdom. The counsel of his well-meaning vizier did not suit the king's contrary nature; he frowned at these words and threw the man into prison. Before long the sultan's cousins rose in revolt and demanded their father's kingdom. The people who had been driven to despair and scattered by his cruelty now rallied around the cousins and gave them strength, until the kingdom slipped from his grasp and passed to them. A king who allows oppression against those beneath him will find, in his hour of hardship, that his supporter becomes his mightiest enemy. Make peace with your subjects and sit safe from the enemy's war, for the subjects of a just king are his army.