King Dara of Iran, his heart broken and his face pale as lapis lazuli in the wake of bitter defeats, summoned his seasoned royal scribe and seated him close to the throne. With tears of blood welling in his eyes, he dictated a letter saturated with grief and anguish to Caesar Alexander, the conqueror of cities. He began with praise to the Almighty Lord, from whom all fortunes of time flow, observing that no wise man can escape the eternal turn of the heavens, which now elevates mortals to the heights of triumph and now casts them into the abyss of sorrow.
Dara wrote that their clash was determined not by sheer prowess or bravery, but by the dispensation of the sun and moon. Now that destiny had unfolded, he urged Alexander to abandon his war against Iran and make a solemn covenant of peace. In return, Dara offered the legendary treasures of King Goshtasp and Prince Esfandiyar, along with jeweled armlets, gem-encrusted crowns, and all the riches acquired through his own long reign. He even promised to stand as a faithful military ally to Alexander in future campaigns.
Above all, Dara pleaded for the safe return of his veiled noblewomen and children held captive, reminding the conqueror that keeping royal women in bondage brings nothing but dishonor and reproach upon a high-minded monarch. He expressed hope that the enlightened king of Rum would heed his proposal with wisdom.
A swift courier rode frantically from Kerman to deliver the letter to the suspicious Alexander. Upon reading the sorrowful missive, Alexander declared that wisdom should forever accompany Dara’s soul. He gave his royal word that any man who dared to harm Dara's family would find no throne but the bier of the grave or a gallows branch. Alexander assured that the royal family remained unharmed and in utter comfort in Isfahan, and that he sought no ransom or treasure for them. He added that should Dara choose to return to Iran, the realm was his to rule, and no Roman would stray from his command. The messenger then journeyed back like a vessel tossed upon stormy waves, his heart and eyes weeping tears of blood as he carried Alexander's stern yet unexpected response.