Having restored order in Gilan, King Khosrow Anushirvan set forth toward Ctesiphon accompanied by an immeasurable host that filled the horizon. As they marched, a vast army of desert spearmen appeared in the distance, from which a noble rider galloped forward. Dismounting, the messenger announced that Al-Mundhir, leader of the Arabs, had arrived to pay homage to the Shah of Iran and kiss his threshold. Khosrow welcomed him warmly, declaring his court to be Mundhir's home as well. Overjoyed, Mundhir prostrated himself before the throne and, speaking with the wisdom of years, reported the aggressions of the Byzantine Caesar whose forces had crossed into the desert lands. Incensed by Caesar's insolence, Anushirvan dispatched a swift and eloquent envoy to Rome, warning Caesar that if he did not cease his overreaching ambitions, the steel of his swords would melt like wax before the might of Iran. Yet the arrogant Caesar spurned the warning with deceit and scorn, mocking Mundhir and boasting that he would transform the arid deserts into seas under his legionaries' march. When the messenger returned with Caesar's defiant answer, Khosrow was filled with wrath and vowed to teach the foolish ruler a lesson he would never forget—reminding his ministers that a fool realizes his madness only after thrusting his hands into the blazing fire.
#1
ز گیلان به راه مداین کشید
✦
شمار و کران سپه را ندید
“From Gilan he set forth on the road to Ctesiphon; none could see the boundary or count of his host.”
#2
به ره بر یکی لشکر بی‌کران
✦
پدید آمد از دور نیزه‌وران
“Along the way, an endless army of spear-bearing warriors appeared from afar.”
#3
سواری بیامد به کردار گرد
✦
که در لشکر گشن بد پای مرد
“A rider galloped forth like a dust-cloud, a stalwart warrior amid that great host.”
#4
پیاده شد از اسب و بگشاد لب
✦
چنین گفت کاین منذرست از عرب
“He dismounted from his steed, opened his lips, and said: 'This is Mundhir from Arabia.'”
#5
بیامد که بیند مگر شاه را
✦
ببوسد همی خاک درگاه را
“'He has come perchance to behold the Shah and to kiss the dust of his threshold.'”
#6
شهنشاه گفتا گر آید رواست
✦
چنان دان که این خانهٔ ما وراست
“The Shah of Shahs replied: 'If he comes, it is fitting; know that this house of ours is his as well.'”
#7
فرستاده آمد زمین بوس داد
✦
برفت و شنیده همه کرد یاد
“The envoy kissed the ground, departed, and recounted all that he had heard.”
#8
چو بشنید منذر که خسرو چه گفت
✦
برخساره خاک زمین را برفت
“When Mundhir heard what Khosrow had said, he rubbed his face upon the dust of the earth.”
#9
همانگه بیامد به نزدیک شاه
✦
همه مهتران برگشادند راه
“Forthwith he came before the Shah, and all the nobles cleared a path for him.”
#10
بپرسید زو شاه و شادی نمود
✦
ز دیدار او روشنایی فزود
“The Shah greeted him, showing delight, and brightness increased at the sight of him.”
#11
جهاندیده منذر زبان برگشاد
✦
ز روم وز قیصر همی‌کرد یاد
“World-wise Mundhir opened his tongue and spoke of Rome and of Caesar.”
#12
بدو گفت اگر شاه ایران تویی
✦
نگهدار پشت دلیران تویی
“He said to him: 'If thou art the Shah of Iran and the protector of the backs of brave men,'”
#13
چرا رومیان شهریاری کنند
✦
به دشت سواران سواری کنند
“'Why should the Romans play the sovereign and ride across the plain of spearmen?'”
#14
اگر شاه برتخت قیصر بود
✦
سزد کو سرافراز و مهتر بود
“'If the Shah sits above Caesar's throne, it is meet that he be exalted and paramount.'”
#15
چه دستور باشد گرانمایه شاه
✦
نبیند ز ما نیز فریادخواه
“'What order will the noble King give, so that no petitioner suffers further from them?'”
#16
سواران دشتی چو رومی سوار
✦
بیابند جوشن نیاید به کار
“'When the riders of the plain encounter Roman horsemen, chainmail will avail them nothing!'”
#17
ز گفتار منذر برآشفت شاه
✦
که قیصر همی‌برفرازد کلاه
“At Mundhir's words, the Shah grew wroth that Caesar should raise his helmet so high.”
#18
ز لشکر زبان‌آوری برگزید
✦
که گفتار ایشان بداند شنید
“From the army he chose an eloquent envoy who understood their tongue and speech.”
#19
بدو گفت ز ایدر برو تا بروم
✦
میاسای هیچ اندر آباد بوم
“He said to him: 'Go hence unto Rome; rest in no inhabited land along the way.'”
#20
به قیصر بگو گر نداری خرد
✦
ز رای تو مغز تو کیفر برد
“'Say unto Caesar: If thou hast no wisdom, thy brain shall pay the penalty for thy judgment.'”
#21
اگر شیر جنگی بتازد بگور
✦
کنامش کند گور و هم آب شور
“'If a warring lion attacks the wild ass, its lair shall become a grave and bitter water.'”
#22
ز منذر تو گر دادیابی بسست
✦
که او را نشست از بر هر کسست
“'If thou obtain justice from Mundhir, it is enough; for he sits above all others.'”
#23
چپ خویش پیدا کن از دست راست
✦
چو پیدا کنی مرز جویی رواست
“'Know thy left hand from thy right; once that is clear, then seeking borders is fit.'”
#24
چو بخشندهٔ بوم و کشور منم
✦
به گیتی سرافراز و مهتر منم
“'Since I am the granter of lands and realms, I am the exalted sovereign in the world.'”
#25
همه آن کنم کار کز من سزد
✦
نمانم که بادی بدو بروزد
“'I shall do all that is worthy of me; I will not suffer a foul wind to blow upon him.'”
#26
تو با تازیان دست یازی بکین
✦
یکی در نهان خویشتن را ببین
“'If thou stretch thy hand in enmity against the Arabs, look first into thy secret self!'”
#27
و دیگر که آن پادشاهی مراست
✦
در گاو تا پشت ماهی مراست
“'And furthermore, that kingdom is mine—from the depths of the Earth to the high skies!'”
#28
اگر من سپاهی فرستم بروم
✦
تو را تیغ پولاد گردد چو موم
“'If I send an army unto Rome, thy steel sword shall turn to soft wax!'”
#29
فرستاده از نزد نوشین‌روان
✦
بیامد به کردار باد دمان
“The envoy from Anushirvan sped away like a roaring wind.”
#30
بر قیصر آمد پیامش بداد
✦
بپیچید بی‌مایه قیصر ز داد
“He came before Caesar and delivered the message; the worthless Caesar turned away from justice.”
#31
نداد ایچ پاسخ ورا جز فریب
✦
همی دور دید از بلندی نشیب
“He gave him no answer save deceit, viewing the low depth as far from the height.”
#32
چنین گفت کز منذر کم خرد
✦
سخن باور آن کن که اندر خورد
“Thus he said: 'Believe only that word of foolish Mundhir which is fitting.'”
#33
اگر خیره منذر بنالد همی
✦
برین‌گونه رنجش ببالد همی
“'If Mundhir laments thus foolishly, his grievance will grow in vain like this;'”
#34
ور ای دون که از دشت نیزه‌وران
✦
نبالد کسی از کران تا کران
“'And if no one rises from the plain of spearmen from end to end,'”
#35
زمین آنک بالاست پهنا کنیم
✦
وزان دشت بی‌آب دریا کنیم
“'We shall flatten the mountains and turn that dry desert into a sea!'”
#36
فرستاده بشنید و آمد چو گرد
✦
شنیده سخنها همه یاد کرد
“The envoy heard this, returned like a dust-cloud, and recounted all the words he had heard.”
#37
برآشفت کسری بدستور گفت
✦
که با مغز قیصر خرد نیست جفت
“Kasra grew enraged and said to his minister: 'Caesar's brain is not paired with wisdom!'”
#38
من او را نمایم که فرمان کراست
✦
جهان جستن و جنگ و پیمان کراست
“'I shall show him who holds command, and to whom belong world-seeking, war, and covenants!'”
#39
ز بیشی وز گردن افراختن
✦
وزین کشتن و غارت و تاختن
“'From his pride, his arrogant neck-raising, and from all this killing, plundering, and raiding,'”
#40
پشیمانی آنگه خورد مرد مست
✦
که شب زیر آتش کند هر دو دست
“'A drunken man regrets his folly only when he puts both hands beneath the fire in the dark of night!'”