As the mantle of night withdrew and the sun's radiant banner crested the horizon, King Shapur summoned his chief scribe, calling for silk, musk, and inkstand. Victory edicts were drafted to every monarch and magnate across the known world. The preamble resounded with profound praise for the Almighty Creator, the sole source of all goodness and sovereign strength who guides time itself. The letters declared how Caesar of Rome had forsaken divine command, sowing seeds of wickedness upon Iranian soil, only to end in bitter misery, his armies shattered and the crown of Iran restored to its rightful lord.
Swift messengers rode out to every corner of the earth while Shapur made his triumphant entry into the imperial capital of Ctesiphon. Taking his seat upon the ancestral throne, he set the glorious diadem upon his brow and offered prayers of gratitude to God. Scribes recorded the names of eleven hundred and ten captive Roman nobles—kin and highest councilors to Caesar—and those who had incited evil met with swift, uncompromising retribution.
Then Caesar was dragged from the dungeon, dazed and trembling. Beholding Shapur's majestic countenance, the fallen tyrant wept bitterly, rubbing his face into the dust and sweeping the throne's footstool with his eyelashes. Shapur rebuked him harshly: 'O enemy of God, who falsely attributes a son to the Uncreated Lord! Where was thy wisdom when thou sewedst me—a guest arriving as a peaceful merchant—into the hide of an ass? Thou shalt now witness the war of true men!' Caesar pleaded for mercy, blaming his downfall on demon-induced folly and promising lifelong servitude if spared. Shapur laid down unyielding terms: the complete return of all Iranian captives and plundered wealth, the total reconstruction of every ruined Iranian city using Roman treasure, and human reparations in noble Roman hostages for every slain Iranian. Once the pact was sealed, Shapur exacted his poetic justice: Caesar's ears were notched, his nose pierced to hold an ass's nose-bridle, and bound in heavy iron fetters, he was led back to the shadows of captivity.
#1
چو شب دامن روز اندر کشید
✦
درفش خور آمد ز بالا پدید
“As night withdrew its mantle from the day, the glowing standard of the sun appeared above.”
#2
بفرمود شاپور تا شد دبیر
✦
قلم خواست و انقاس و مشک و حریر
“Shapur commanded the scribe to draw near, calling for pen, inkstand, musk, and silk.”
#3
نوشتند نامه به هر مهتری
✦
به هر پادشاهی و هر کشوری
“They penned a missive to every noble, ruler, and sovereign of every land.”
#4
سرنامه کرد آفرین مهان
✦
ز ما بنده بر کردگار جهان
“The header was inscribed with praise from mortals to the Creator of the universe.”
#5
که اوراست بر نیکویی دست‌رس
✦
به نیرو نیازش نیاید به کس
“For He alone holds dominion over goodness, needing no aid or power from any soul.”
#6
همو آفرینندهٔ روزگار
✦
به نیکی همو باشد آموزگار
“He is the Creator of time itself, and He alone is the teacher of righteousness.”
#7
چو قیصر که فرمان یزدان بهشت
✦
به ایران به جز تخم زشتی نکشت
“Whereas Caesar abandoned God's command and sowed nothing but evil seeds in Iran.”
#8
به زاری همی بند ساید کنون
✦
چو جان را نبودش خرد رهنمون
“Now he rubs his fetters in misery, for wisdom was not the guide of his soul.”
#9
همان تاج ایران بدو در سپرد
✦
ز گیتی به جز نام زشتی نبرد
“He surrendered the crown of Iran back, taking nothing from the world save an evil name.”
#10
گسسته شد آن لشکر و بارگاه
✦
به نیروی یزدان که بنمود راه
“His army and court were shattered by the power of God who showed us the path.”
#11
هرانکس که باشد ز رومی به شهر
✦
ز شمشیر باید که یابند بهر
“Whoever among the Romans remains in the cities must taste the edge of the sword.”
#12
همه داد جویید و فرمان کنید
✦
به خوبی ز سر باز پیمان کنید
“Seek justice all of you, obey commands, and renew your pledge in goodness anew.”
#13
هیونی بر آمد ز هر سو دمان
✦
ابا نامهٔ شاه روشن روان
“Swift couriers rode out in every direction, bearing the missive of the enlightened king.”
#14
ز لشکرگه آمد سوی طیسفون
✦
بی‌آزار بنشست با رهنمون
“From the camp, the king journeyed toward Ctesiphon, settling safely under divine guidance.”
#15
چو تاج نیاکانش بر سر نهاد
✦
ز دادار نیکی دهش کرد یاد
“When he placed his ancestors' crown upon his head, he remembered the beneficent Creator.”
#16
بفرمود تا شد به زندان دبیر
✦
به انقاس بنوشت نام اسیر
“He ordered the scribe to go to the prison and record the names of captives in ink.”
#17
هزار و صد و ده برآمد شمار
✦
بزرگان روم آنک بد نامدار
“The tally rose to eleven hundred and ten illustrious Roman nobles of renown.”
#18
همه خویش و پیوند قیصر بدند
✦
به روم اندرون ویژه مهتر بدند
“All were kin and relations of Caesar, top magnates within the Roman realm.”
#19
جهاندار ببریدشان دست و پای
✦
هرانکس که بد بر بدی رهنمای
“The monarch ordered the hands and feet severed of all who had led or guided evil.”
#20
بفرمود تا قیصر روم را
✦
بیارند سالار آن بوم را
“He commanded that Caesar of Rome, ruler of that realm, be brought before him.”
#21
بشد روزبان دست قیصرکشان
✦
ز زندان بیاورد چون بیهشان
“The guard went and dragged Caesar, bringing him from the dungeon like one senseless.”
#22
جفادیده چون روی شاپور دید
✦
سرشکش ز دیده به رخ بر چکید
“When the humbled tyrant saw Shapur's face, tears began to stream down his cheeks.”
#23
بمالید رنگین رخش بر زمین
✦
همی کرد بر تاج و تخت آفرین
“He rubbed his pale cheek upon the ground, pouring blessings upon the royal crown and throne.”
#24
زمین را سراسر به مژگان برفت
✦
به موی و به روی گشت با خاک جفت
“He swept the floor with his eyelashes, his face and hair covered completely in dust.”
#25
بدو گفت شاه ای سراسر بدی
✦
که ترسایی و دشمن ایزدی
“The king said to him: 'O embodiment of evil, who art a Christian and enemy of God!'”
#26
پسر گویی آنرا کش انباز نیست
✦
ز گیتیش فرجام و آغاز نیست
“'Thou assertest a son for Him who hath no partner, who has neither beginning nor end in the cosmos!'”
#27
ندانی تو گفتن سخن جز دروغ
✦
دروغ آتشی بد بود بی‌فروغ
“'Thou knowest how to speak nothing save lies; and falsehood is an evil, lusterless fire.'”
#28
اگر قیصری شرم و رایت کجاست
✦
به خوبی دل رهنمایت کجاست
“'If thou art Caesar, where is thy shame and judgment? Where is thy heart's guiding impulse toward virtue?'”
#29
چرا بندم از چرم خر ساختی
✦
بزرگی به خاک اندر انداختی
“'Why didst thou sew a bonds of ass-skin around me, dragging greatness down into the dirt?'”
#30
چو بازارگانان به بزم آمدم
✦
نه با کوس و لشکر به رزم آمدم
“'I came as a merchant to thy feast, not with war drums and armies to fight!'”
#31
تو مهمان به چرم خر اندر کنی
✦
به ایران گرایی و لشکر کنی
“'Yet thou encased a guest in ass-hide, then gathered an army to invade Iran!'”
#32
ببینی کنون جنگ مردان مرد
✦
کزان پس نجویی به ایران نبرد
“'Now thou shalt witness the warfare of true men, so that never again shalt thou seek war with Iran.'”
#33
بدو گفت قیصر که ای شهریار
✦
ز فرمان یزدان که یابد گذار
“Caesar answered him: 'O Sovereign! Who can escape the decree of God?'”
#34
ز من بخت شاها خرد دور کرد
✦
روانم بر دیو مزدور کرد
“'O King, fortune stripped wisdom from me, making my soul a mercenary to the demon.'”
#35
مکافات بد گر کنی نیکوی
✦
به گیتی درون داستانی شوی
“'If thou repayest evil with goodness, thy story shall become legendary throughout the world.'”
#36
که هرگز نگردد کهن نام تو
✦
برآید به مردی همه کام تو
“'For thy name shall never grow old, and through chivalry all thy desires shall be fulfilled.'”
#37
اگر یابم از تو به جان زینهار
✦
به چشمم شود گنج و دینار خوار
“'If thou grantest me safety of life, treasures and gold will turn to dust in my eyes.'”
#38
یکی بنده باشم به درگاه تو
✦
نجویم جز آرایش گاه تو
“'I shall be a bondman at thy threshold, seeking nothing save the adornment of thy throne.'”
#39
بدو شاه گفت ای بد بی‌هنر
✦
چرا کردی این بوم زیر و زبر
“The king replied: 'O artless, evil wretch! Why didst thou turn this realm upside down?'”
#40
کنون هرک بردی ز ایران اسیر
✦
همه باز خواهم ز تو ناگزیر
“'Now every captive thou hast taken from Iran, I shall inevitably demand back from thee.'”
#41
دگر خواسته هرچ بردی به روم
✦
مبادا که بینی تو آن بوم شوم
“'And as for all wealth carried off to Rome—mayest thou never see that ill-fated land again—'”
#42
همه یکسر از خانه بازآوری
✦
بدین لشکر سرفراز آوری
“'Thou shalt return it all from thy treasures and hand it over to this triumphant army.'”
#43
از ایران هرانجا که ویران شدست
✦
کنام پلنگان و شیران شدست
“'Every spot in Iran that hath been laid waste, becoming a lair for leopards and lions,'”
#44
سراسر برآری به دینار خویش
✦
بیابی مکافات کردار خویش
“'Thou shalt completely rebuild with thy own gold, tasting the retribution of thy deeds!'”
#45
دگر هرک کشتی ز ایرانیان
✦
بجویی ز روم از نژاد کیان
“'Furthermore, for every Iranian slain, thou shalt seek out high-born Romans of royal stock,'”
#46
به یک تن ده از روم تاوان دهی
✦
روان را به پیمان گروگان دهی
“For every single slain Iranian, you shall pay tenfold reparations from Rome, pledging your very soul to this covenant.”
#47
نخواهم به جز مرد قیصرنژاد
✦
که باشند با ما بدین بوم شاد
“I desire none save those of Roman lineage to dwell in contentment alongside us in this land.”
#48
دگر هرچ ز ایران بریدی درخت
✦
نبرد درخت گشن نیک‌بخت
“Moreover, for every tree you cut down in Iran—a fortunate man never fells a fruitful, lush tree!”
#49
بکاری و دیوارها برکنی
✦
ز دلها مگر خشم کمتر کنی
“You must plant trees anew and tear down the fortress walls you raised, that perchance you may lessen the wrath in our hearts.”
#50
کنون من به بندی ببندم ترا
✦
ز چرم خران کی پسندم ترا
“Now I shall bind you in heavy fetters; how could I be content to leave your punishment merely to an ass's hide?”
#51
گرین هرچ گفتم نیاری به جای
✦
بدرند چرمت ز سر تا به پای
“If you fail to fulfill all that I have commanded, they shall tear open your ass-hide casing from head to foot!”
#52
دو گوشش به خنجر بدو شاخ کرد
✦
به یک جای بینیش سوراخ کرد
“With a dagger he split Caesar's two ears like horns and pierced a hole through his nose.”
#53
مهاری به بینی او برنهاد
✦
چو شاپور زان چرم خر کرد یاد
“He placed a nose-bridle through his nostrils, as Shapur recalled the ass's hide in which he himself had been bound.”
#54
دو بند گران برنهادش به پای
✦
ببردش همان روزبان باز جای
“He bound two heavy fetters upon his feet, and the prison guard led him back to his place of captivity.”