In the ancient city of Babylon, as a sudden and fatal ailment seized Alexander, the mighty conqueror realized that his earthly reign was drawing to its inescapable close. Calling forth his experienced scribe, he laid bare the innermost dictates of his heart. He commanded a solemn letter to be written to his mother, reminding her that no mortal can escape the inevitable grasp of death, nor lengthen the thread of life once time has run its course. He urged her to forgo bitter grief, for death is the universal fate of kings and sages alike.
Alexander detailed how he had divided the realms of Iran among local chieftains (Muluk al-Tawa'if) to ensure that Rome would suffer no harm and require no further conquests, thus preserving peace. He willed that his mortal remains be laid to rest in the soil of Egypt and that a hundred thousand dinars be distributed annually from his vast treasury to the needy and his kin. Concerning his wife Roshanak, he instructed that if she gave birth to a son, the child should inherit the crown of Rome; if a daughter, she should be wed into the noble lineage of Philip and cherished as her own child.
For the princess, the daughter of King Kayd of India, he commanded that she be returned safely to her homeland with all the crowns, jewels, gold, silver, and retinue she had brought with her. Finally, he dictated the precise crafting of his golden sarcophagus—sealed with pitch, scented with camphor, musk, and ambergris, and filled with golden honey beneath fine Chinese silk to preserve his body. With a final plea for his mother to pray to Yazdan for his soul, the sealed letter was dispatched by swift couriers on fast steeds from Babylon to Rome, signaling the dimming of his imperial glory.
#1
به بابل همان روز شد دردمند
✦
بدانست کامد به تنگی گزند
“That very day in Babylon he fell grievously ill, perceiving that fatal harm had come upon him.”
#2
دبیر جهاندیده را پیش خواند
✦
هرانچش به دل بود با او براند
“He summoned his world-wise scribe before him and disclosed all that lay within his heart.”
#3
به مادر یکی نامه فرمود و گفت
✦
که آگاهی مرگ نتوان نهفت
“He commanded a letter to be written to his mother, saying: 'The news of death cannot be concealed.'”
#4
ز گیتی مرا بهره این بد که بود
✦
زمان چون نکاهد نشاید فزود
“'My share of the world was only what has been; when time wanes, it cannot be prolonged.'”
#5
تو از مرگ من هیچ غمگین مشو
✦
که اندر جهان این سخن نیست نو
“'Grieve not at all over my death, for this is no new story in the world.'”
#6
هرانکس که زاید ببایدش مرد
✦
اگر شهریارست گر مرد خرد
“'Whosoever is born must surely die, be he a mighty sovereign or a man of wisdom.'”
#7
بگویم کنون با بزرگان روم
✦
که چون بازگردند زین مرز و بوم
“'I now state to the nobles of Rome how they should act when they return from this land.'”
#8
نجویند جز رای و فرمان تو
✦
کسی برنگردد ز پیمان تو
“'Let them seek nothing but your counsel and command, and let no one break covenant with you.'”
#9
هرانکس که بودند ز ایرانیان
✦
کزیشان بدی رومیان را زیان
“'As for those of the Iranians who might have brought harm upon the Romans,'”
#10
سپردم به هر مهتری کشوری
✦
که گردد بر آن پادشاهی سری
“'I have entrusted each realm to a local chieftain, so that each may rule independently in his own land.'”
#11
همانا نیازش نیاید به روم
✦
برآساید آن کشور و مرز و بوم
“'Thus Iran shall feel no need of Rome, and that entire land and border shall rest in peace.'”
#12
مرا مرده در خاک مصر آگنید
✦
ز گفتار من هیچ مپراگنید
“'Entomb my deceased body in the earth of Egypt, and deviate in no way from my instructions.'”
#13
به سالی ز دینار من صدهزار
✦
ببخشید بر مردم خیش‌کار
“'Every year, distribute one hundred thousand dinars of my gold among the needy and kin.'”
#14
گر آید یکی روشنک را پسر
✦
بود بی‌گمان زنده نام پدر
“'If Roshanak gives birth to a son, without doubt he shall keep alive his father's name.'”
#15
نباید که باشد جزو شاه روم
✦
که او تازه گرداند آن مرز و بوم
“'It is fitting that none other than he be the King of Rome, to bring fresh vigor to that land.'”
#16
وگر دختر آید به هنگام بوس
✦
به پیوند با تخمهٔ فیلقوس
“'And if a daughter be born, when she reaches age, bind her in marriage to the lineage of Philip.'”
#17
تو فرزند خوانش نه داماد من
✦
بدو تازه کن در جهان یاد من
“'Call her your own child, not merely my daughter-in-law, and renew my memory in the world through her.'”
#18
دگر دختر کید را بی‌گزند
✦
فرستید نزد پدر ارجمند
“'Furthermore, send the daughter of Kayd back unharmed to her honored father.'”
#19
ابا یاره و برده و نیک‌خواه
✦
عماری بسیچید بااو به راه
“'With her armlets, retinue, and well-wishers, prepare many litters for her journey,'”
#20
همان افسر و گوهر و سیم و زر
✦
که آورده بود او ز پیش پدر
“'Along with the crown, jewels, silver, and gold that she had brought from her father.'”
#21
به رفتن چنو گشت همداستان
✦
فرستید با او به هندوستان
“'Since I consented to her departure, send her back to Hindusthan in full honor.'”
#22
من ایدر همه کار کردم به برگ
✦
به بیچارگی دل نهادم به مرگ
“'I have prepared all matters here, and in helpless submission, I have set my heart on death.'”
#23
نخست آنک تابوت زرین کنند
✦
کفن بر تنم عنبر آگین کنند
“'First, let them fashion a golden coffin, and fill my shroud with fragrant ambergris.'”
#24
ز زربفت چینی سزاوار من
✦
کسی کو بپیچد ز تیمار من
“'Wrap me in Chinese brocade worthy of my rank, for whoever grieves over my passing.'”
#25
در و بند تابوت ما را به قیر
✦
بگیرند و کافور و مشک و عبیر
“'Let the seams and latch of our coffin be sealed with pitch, camphor, musk, and amber perfume.'”
#26
نخست آگنند اندرو انگبین
✦
زبر انگبین زیر دیبای چین
“'First lay a bed of golden honey within it, with sweet honey below and Chinese silk above.'”
#27
ازان پس تن من نهند اندران
✦
سرآمد سخن چون برآمد روان
“'Thereafter place my body inside, when my words are finished and my spirit has departed.'”
#28
تو پند من ای مادر پرخرد
✦
نگه‌دار تا روز من بگذرد
“'Observe my counsel, O wise mother, until my days have fully passed.'”
#29
ز چیزی که آوردم از هند و چین
✦
ز توران و ایران و مکران زمین
“'From all that I brought from India, China, Turan, Iran, and the land of Makran,'”
#30
بدار و ببخش آنچ افزون بود
✦
وز اندازهٔ خویش بیرون بود
“'Keep what is needed, and bestow whatever is in excess and beyond measure.'”
#31
به تو حاجت آنستم ای مهربان
✦
که بیدار باشی و روشن‌روان
“'My sole wish from you, my loving mother, is that you remain watchful and enlightened of soul.'”
#32
نداری تن خویش را رنجه بس
✦
که اندر جهان نیست جاوید کس
“'Do not torment your body with excessive grief, for no one abides forever in this world.'”
#33
روانم روان ترا بی‌گمان
✦
ببیند چو تنگ اندر آید زمان
“'Without doubt, my soul shall behold your soul when time closes in upon you.'”
#34
شکیبایی از مهر نامی‌تر است
✦
سبکسر بود هرک او کهتر است
“'Patience is more noble than affection; foolish is he who lacks self-restraint.'”
#35
ترا مهر بد بر تنم سال و ماه
✦
کنون جان پاکم ز یزدان بخواه
“'You held love for my body year in and year out; now pray to God for my pure soul.'”
#36
بدین خواستن باش فریادرس
✦
که فریادرس باشدم دست‌رس
“'Be my helper through this prayer, that the Almighty may extend His succor unto me.'”
#37
نگر تا که بینی به گرد جهان
✦
که او نیست از مرگ خسته‌روان
“'Look around the wide world to see if there is anyone whose heart has not been wounded by death.'”
#38
چو نامه به مهر اندر آورد و بند
✦
بفرمود تا بر ستور نوند
“When he sealed and bound the letter, he ordered swift messengers on fast steeds,”
#39
ز بابل به روم آورند آگهی
✦
که تیره شد آن فر شاهنشهی
“To carry tidings from Babylon to Rome that the royal glory of the King of Kings had darkened.”