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.
#1
دبیر جهاندیده را پیش خواند
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بیاورد نزدیک گاهش نشاند
“He called the experienced scribe before him and seated him close by his royal throne.”
#2
یکی نامه بنوشت با داغ و درد
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دو دیده پر از خون و رخ لاژورد
“He wrote a letter filled with grief and pain, his eyes weeping blood and his face pale as lapis lazuli.”
#3
ز دارای داراب بن اردشیر
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سوی قیصر اسکندر شهرگیر
“From Dara, son of Darab, son of Ardashir, unto Caesar Alexander, the conqueror of realms.”
#4
نخست آفرین کرد بر کردگار
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که زو دید نیک و بد روزگار
“First, he offered praise unto the Creator, from whom comes all good and ill of Fortune.”
#5
دگر گفت کز گردش آسمان
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خردمند برنگذرد بی‌گمان
“He added that no wise man can surely escape the revolving of the celestial sphere,”
#6
کزو شادمانیم و زو ناشکیب
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گهی در فراز و گهی در نشیب
“Whereby at times we rejoice and at times grow restless, now elevated on high and now cast low.”
#7
نه مردی بد این رزم ما با سپاه
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مگر بخشش و گردش هور و ماه
“This battle between our hosts was not born of sheer valor, but of the turn and grace of the sun and moon.”
#8
کنون بودنی بود و ما دل به درد
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چه داریم ازین گنبد لاژورد
“Now what was fated has come to pass and our hearts ache; what can we expect from this azure dome?”
#9
کنون گر بسازی و پیمان کنی
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دل از جنگ ایران پشیمان کنی
“If now you choose reconciliation and make a solemn pact, turning your heart away from war with Iran,”
#10
همه گنج گشتاسپ و اسفندیار
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همان یاره و تاج گوهرنگار
“All the ancient treasures of Goshtasp and Esfandiyar, along with armlets and jewel-encrusted crowns,”
#11
فرستم به گنج تو از گنج خویش
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همان نیز ورزیدهٔ رنج خویش
“I shall send from my treasury into yours, together with all that I have acquired through my own toil.”
#12
همان مر ترا یار باشم به جنگ
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به روز و شبانت نسازم درنگ
“Furthermore, I shall be your loyal ally in war, tarrying not by day or by night.”
#13
کسی را که داری ز پیوند من
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ز پوشیده‌رویان و فرزند من
“Whomever of my lineage you hold—my veiled noblewomen and my children—”
#14
بر من فرستی نباشد شگفت
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جهانجوی را کین نباید گرفت
“Send them back to me; it would be no marvel, for a world-conqueror should harbor no malice.”
#15
ز پوشیده‌رویان به جز سرزنش
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نباشد ز شاهان برتر منش
“For holding veiled women captive brings naught but reproach upon kings of high nobility.”
#16
چو نامه بخواند خداوند هوش
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بیاراید این رای پاسخ‌نیوش
“When the wise monarch reads this letter, he will adorn his counsel with a receptive response.”
#17
هیونی ز کرمان بیامد دوان
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به نزدیک اسکندر بدگمان
“A swift courier rode out from Kerman, racing towards mistrustful Alexander.”
#18
سکندر چو آن نامه برخواند گفت
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که با جان دارا خرد باد جفت
“When Alexander read the letter, he declared: 'May wisdom ever be paired with the soul of Dara!'”
#19
کسی کو گراید به پیوند اوی
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به پوشیده‌رویان و فرزند اوی
“Whoever dares to harm his lineage, his veiled women, or his children,”
#20
نبیند مگر تخته گور تخت
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گر آویخته سر ز شاخ درخت
“Shall see no throne save the wooden bier of the grave, or hang by his head from the branch of a tree!”
#21
همه به اصفهانند بی‌درد و رنج
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ازیشان مبادا که خواهیم گنج
“They are all in Isfahan without pain or grief; far be it from us to demand treasure because of them.”
#22
تو گر سوی ایران خرامی رواست
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همه پادشاهی سراسر تراست
“If you march back toward Iran, it is fitting; the whole realm is entirely yours.”
#23
ز فرمان تو یک زمان نگذریم
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نفس نیز بی‌راه تو نشمریم
“We shall not stray from your command for a single moment, nor count even a breath outside your path.”
#24
بکردار کشتی بیامد هیون
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دل و دیدهٔ تاجور پر ز خون
“Like a surging ship the courier returned, while the crowned king's heart and eyes were filled with blood.”