Following the capture of the Roman Caesar by Shapur Dhul-Aktaf, the defeated Roman army gathered in disarray to choose a ruler who could save their land from utter destruction. Among them stood a nobleman of ancient imperial lineage named Baranush—a man celebrated for his profound wisdom, eloquent speech, and emotional restraint. The host acclaimed him as their leader, pledging full obedience to his command. They prepared an ivory throne and set the imperial crown upon his head while all of Rome offered praises.
Yet as Baranush sat upon the throne, his mind turned to the devastated state of Rome and the terrible prospect of continued war. He recognized that further conflict with the exalted King of Kings would bring only ruin upon his people. Seeking a peaceful resolution, he summoned a veteran scribe of exceptional intellect and dictated a finely crafted letter of supplication to Shapur.
In this epistle, Baranush offered praise to the Creator and wished eternal glory upon the Iranian monarch. He reasoned that plunder and the bloodshed of innocents were deemed ill-omened by all noble sovereigns. If this war were fueled by ancient vengeance for Iraj, he noted that King Manuchehr had already exacted full retribution long ago by destroying Salm and Tur. If it were for the death of Dara against Alexander, Dara had been slain by his own treacherous ministers. And if it were anger against the captive Caesar, that ruler was already suffering in heavy chains within Shapur's dungeons. He pleaded for mercy toward the captive women and children of Rome, urging Shapur not to lay waste to a realm of such magnificence, for injustice ill becomes a God-fearing ruler.
When the letter was delivered and read before Shapur, the Great King was deeply moved and tears filled his eyes. Restraining his wrath, Shapur immediately penned a response. He reminded the Romans that it was their own captured Caesar who had kindled the embers of ancient strife by abusing his royal guest; nevertheless, since Baranush had chosen the path of wisdom, Shapur granted full safe-conduct. He invited Baranush and the philosophers of Rome to present themselves at his court without fear, widening the narrow path of war into an avenue of peace. The envoy returned to Rome bearing the King's gracious response.
#1
یکی مرد بود از نژاد سران
✦
هم از تخمهٔ نامور قیصران
“There was a man among the noble chieftains, descended from the line of renowned Caesars.”
#2
برانوش نام و خردمند بود
✦
زبان و روانش پر از بند بود
“His name was Baranush, wise and sagacious, his tongue and spirit filled with restraint and prudence.”
#3
بدو گفت لشکر که قیصر تو باش
✦
برین لشکر و بوم مهتر تو باش
“The army said to him, 'Be thou our Caesar, and be the leader over this host and land.'”
#4
به گفتار تو گوش دارد سپاه
✦
بیفروز تاج و بیارای گاه
“'The army will heed thy words; brighten the crown and adorn the throne.'”
#5
بیاراستند از برش تخت عاج
✦
برانوش بنشست بر سرش تاج
“They prepared an ivory throne for him, and Baranush sat upon it with the crown on his head.”
#6
به جای بزرگیش بنشاندند
✦
همه رومیان آفرین خواندند
“They installed him in the seat of majesty, and all the Romans chanted praises for him.”
#7
برانوش بنشست و اندیشه کرد
✦
ز روم و ز آوردگاه نبرد
“Baranush sat upon the throne and pondered deeply concerning Rome and the field of battle.”
#8
بدانست کو را ز شاه بلند
✦
ز روم و ز آویزش آید گزند
“He realized that harm would come to him and to Rome from battle with the exalted King.”
#9
فرستاده‌ای جست بارای و شرم
✦
که دانش سراید به آواز نرم
“He sought an envoy endowed with wisdom and modesty, who could speak knowledge in a gentle voice.”
#10
دبیری بزرگ و جهاندیده‌ای
✦
خردمند و دانا پسندیده‌ای
“A great, experienced scribe, wise, knowledgeable, and universally approved.”
#11
بیاورد و بنشاند نزدیک خویش
✦
بگفت آن سخنهای باریک خویش
“He brought the scribe and seated him near, revealing to him his subtle thoughts and words.”
#12
یکی نامه بنوشت پرآفرین
✦
ز دادار بر شهریار زمین
“He wrote a letter filled with blessings from the Creator upon the sovereign of the earth.”
#13
که جاوید تاج تو پاینده باد
✦
همه مهتران پیش تو بنده باد
“'May thy crown endure forever, and may all great chieftains be thy servants.'”
#14
تو دانی که تاراج و خون ریختن
✦
چه با بیگنه مردم آویختن
“'Thou knowest what plunder, bloodshed, and clashing with innocent people truly mean.'”
#15
مهان سرافراز دارند شوم
✦
چه با شهر ایران چه با مرز روم
“'Elevated rulers deem it ill-omened, whether in the realm of Iran or the borders of Rome.'”
#16
گر این کین ایرج به دست از نخست
✦
منوچهر کرد آن به مردی درست
“'If it be the vengeance for Iraj from times past, Manuchehr rightly exacted it with courage.'”
#17
تن سلم زان کین کنون خاک شد
✦
هم از تور روی زمین پاک شد
“'The body of Salm has turned to dust from that vengeance, and the face of the earth was cleansed of Tur.'”
#18
وگر کین داراست و اسکندری
✦
که نو شد بر وی زمین داوری
“'Or if it be the blood-feud of Dara and Alexander, over which the land renewed its dispute...'”
#19
مر او را دو دستور بد کشته بود
✦
و دیگر کزو بخت برگشته بود
“'He (Dara) was slain by his own two evil ministers, and his fortune had turned away from him.'”
#20
گرت کین قیصر فزاید همی
✦
به زندان تو بند ساید همی
“'And if thy wrath against Caesar increases, he is already in thy prison, wearing heavy fetters.'”
#21
نباید که ویران شود بوم روم
✦
که چون روم دیگر نبودست بوم
“'It ought not that the land of Rome be ruined, for no realm has ever been like Rome.'”
#22
وگر غارت و کشتنت بود رای
✦
همه روم گشتند بی‌دست و پای
“'And if thy desire was plunder and slaughter, all of Rome is now rendered helpless.'”
#23
زن و کودکانش اسیر تواند
✦
جگر خسته از تیغ و تیر تواند
“'Its women and children are thy captives, their hearts wounded by thy sword and arrow.'”
#24
گه آمد که کمتر کنی کین و خشم
✦
فرو خوابنی از گذشته دو چشم
“'The time has come to diminish wrath and grudge, and close thine eyes to the past.'”
#25
فدای تو بادا همه خواسته
✦
کزین کین همی جان شود کاسته
“'May all wealth be sacrificed for thee, for through this vengeance lives are being consumed.'”
#26
تو دل خوش کن و شهر چندین مسوز
✦
نباید که روز اندر آید به روز
“'Be pleased in heart and burn not the cities so, lest dark days follow one after another.'”
#27
نباشد پسند جهان‌آفرین
✦
که بیداد جوید جهاندار کین
“'It is not pleasing to the Creator of the world that a vengeful sovereign seek injustice.'”
#28
درود جهاندار بر شاه باد
✦
بلند اخترش افسر ماه باد
“'May the blessing of the Creator of the world be upon the King, and may his lofty star crown the moon.'”
#29
نویسنده بنهاد پس خامه را
✦
چو اندر نوشت آن کیی نامه را
“The scribe then put down his reed pen, having finished writing that noble royal letter.”
#30
نهادند پس مهر قیصر بروی
✦
فرستاده بنهاد زی شاه روی
“They affixed the seal of Caesar upon it, and the envoy set forth toward the King.”
#31
بیامد خردمند و نامه بداد
✦
ز قیصر به شاپور فرخ نژاد
“The wise messenger arrived and delivered the letter from Caesar to Shapur of auspicious lineage.”
#32
چو آن نامور نامه برخواندند
✦
سخنهای نغزش برافشاندند
“When they read that celebrated letter and disclosed its exquisite words...”
#33
ببخشود و دیده پر از آب کرد
✦
بروهای جنگی پر از تاب کرد
“He showed mercy, his eyes filled with tears, while his warlike brows furrowed with emotion.”
#34
هم‌اندر زمان نامه پاسخ نوشت
✦
بگفت آنکجا رفته بد خوب و زشت
“Immediately he wrote a response to the letter, recounting all that had transpired, both good and ill.”
#35
که مهمان به چرم خر اندر که دوخت
✦
که بازار کین کهن برفروخت
“'Who stitched the guest inside an ass's hide? Who reignited the market of ancient revenge?'”
#36
تو گر بخردی خیز پیش من آی
✦
خود و فیلسوفان پاکیزه رای
“'If thou art wise, arise and come before me, thou and thy pure-minded philosophers.'”
#37
چو زنهار دادم نسازمت جنگ
✦
گشاده کنم بر تو این راه تنگ
“'Since I grant thee safe-conduct, I shall wage no war against thee; I shall widen this narrow path for thee.'”
#38
فرستاده برگشت و پاسخ ببرد
✦
سخنها یکایک همه برشمرد
“The messenger returned and carried the reply, recounting all the words one by one.”