The war-horns blared and the battle-drums thundered until the earth turned black as pitch and the night ebbed dark as ebony. King Khosrow Anushirvan marshaled thirty thousand elite swordsmen from his grand host, placing this formidable vanguard under the command of Mondhir to strike from the Aramean plains toward the Roman frontiers. Yet, steadfast in his commitment to justice, the Persian monarch determined to offer a final warning before unleashing total war. He summoned a court scribe to draft a stern letter to the Caesar of Rome.
The missive commenced with exalted praise for Yazdan, the Sovereign of the sun and moon. Khosrow warned Caesar to cease his aggressions against the border tribes, cautioning that expecting a lamb to escape the wolf's jaws was a foolish dream. He made it clear that any strike against Mondhir would be answered by the total destruction of the Roman throne. A eloquent, battle-hardened envoy delivered the royal letter. Upon reading it, Caesar's face turned pale with fury. In his arrogant reply, Caesar declared that the lineage of Rome had never paid tribute to the Kian dynasty. Boasting of his own legions, Caesar threatened to exact tribute from Iran itself and turn the borderlands to dust, sending the envoy away with cold disdain.
When the envoy returned and recited Caesar's defiance, King Anushirvan's wrath blazed forth. For three days he held council with his mobads, wise counselors, and army commanders. On the fourth day, the decision for war was cast. The great cow-horns sounded and the bronze trumpets pierced the skies. Unfurling the sacred Kavian Banner, King Khosrow marched toward Azarbaijan at the head of a massive host. The dust of their hoofbeats blotted out the sun, turning the sky crimson and the earth into a churning sea of steel and war-elephants.
#1
بفرمود تا برکشیدند نای
✦
سپاه اندر آمد ز هر سو ز جای
“He commanded the pipes to be blown, and from every side the host gathered in its place.”
#2
ز درگاه برخاست آوای کوس
✦
زمین قیرگون شد هوا آبنوس
“From the royal court arose the thunder of drums; the earth turned pitch-black and the air grew dark as ebony.”
#3
گزین کرد زان لشکر نامدار
✦
سواران شمشیرزن سی‌هزار
“From that renowned army, he selected thirty thousand swordsmen warriors.”
#4
به منذر سپرد آن سپاه گران
✦
بفرمود کز دشت نیزه‌وران
“He entrusted that heavy host to Mondhir, ordering that from the land of the spearmen...”
#5
سپاهی بر از جنگجویان بروم
✦
که آتش برآرند زان مرز و بوم
“...an army of fierce battle-tested warriors should set that domain ablaze with fire.”
#6
که گر چند من شهریار توام
✦
برین کینه بر مایه‌دار توام
“He thought: 'Though I am your sovereign and hold full power to exact this vengeance,'”
#7
فرستاده‌ای ما کنون چرب‌گوی
✦
فرستیم با نامه‌ای نزد اوی
“'We shall first send an eloquent messenger with a letter unto him.'”
#8
مگر خود نیاید تو را زان گزند
✦
به روم و به قیصر تو ما را پسند
“'Lest harm strike you unawares, and so that you, Rome, and Caesar may approve of our justice.'”
#9
نویسنده‌ای خواست از بارگاه
✦
به قیصر یکی نامه فرمود شاه
“The King summoned a scribe from his court and commanded a missive to be written to Caesar.”
#10
ز نوشین‌روان شاه فرخ‌نژاد
✦
جهانگیر وزنده کن کیقباد
“From Nushin-rowan, the king of blessed origin, conqueror of the world and reviver of Kay Qobad's fame,”
#11
به نزدیک قیصر سرافراز روم
✦
نگهبان آن مرز و آباد بوم
“Unto Caesar, the exalted lord of Rome, guardian of that march and prosperous realm.”
#12
سر نامه کرد آفرین از نخست
✦
گرانمایگی جز به یزدان نجست
“He opened the letter with praise, seeking true greatness from God alone.”
#13
خداوند گردنده خورشید و ماه
✦
کزویست پیروزی و دستگاه
“Lord of the turning sun and moon, from Whom comes victory and dominion.”
#14
که بیرون شد از راه گردان سپهر
✦
اگر جنگ جوید وگر داد و مهر
“Whosoever strays from the path of the spinning sky, whether he seeks battle or grace...”
#15
تو گر قیصری روم را مهتری
✦
مکن بیش با تازیان داوری
“'If you are Caesar and lord of Rome, dispute no further with the Arabs.'”
#16
وگر میش جویی ز چنگال گرگ
✦
گمانی بود کژ و رنجی بزرگ
“'To seek a ewe from the claws of a wolf is a false hope and a cause of great sorrow.'”
#17
وگر سوی منذر فرستی سپاه
✦
نمانم به تو لشکر و تاج و گاه
“'If you send an army against Mondhir, I shall leave you neither host, nor crown, nor throne.'”
#18
وگر زیردستی بود برمنش
✦
به شمشیر یابد ز من سرزنش
“'And if a subject grows arrogant of mind, he shall feel the chastisement of my sword.'”
#19
تو زان مرز یک رش مپیمای پای
✦
چو خواهی که پیمان بماند بجای
“'Do not step even a span into that territory if you desire the treaty to remain intact.'”
#20
وگر بگذری زین سخن بگذرم
✦
سر و گاه تو زیر پی بسپرم
“'And if you trespass beyond this warning, I shall crush your head and throne beneath my feet.'”
#21
درود خداوند دیهیم و زور
✦
بدان کو نجوید ببیداد شور
“'Peace from the Lord of crowns and power unto him who seeks no unrighteous strife!'”
#22
نهادند بر نامه بر مهر شاه
✦
سواری گزیدند زان بارگاه
“They placed the royal seal upon the missive and chose a courier from the court.”
#23
چنانچون ببایست چیره‌زبان
✦
جهاندیده و گرد و روشن‌روان
“One who was eloquent of speech, world-experienced, a brave warrior of bright spirit.”
#24
فرستاده با نامهٔ شهریار
✦
بیامد بر قیصر نامدار
“The envoy journeyed with the King's letter and came before the famous Caesar.”
#25
برو آفرین کرد و نامه بداد
✦
همان رای کسری برو کرد یاد
“He praised Caesar, presented the letter, and delivered Kasra's counsel.”
#26
سخنهاش بشنید و نامه بخواند
✦
بپیچید و اندر شگفتی بماند
“Caesar heard his words and read the letter; he writhed in anger and was filled with wonder.”
#27
ز گفتار کسری سرافزار مرد
✦
برو پر ز چین کرد و رخساره زرد
“At the words of Kasra, that proud man's brow wrinkled and his face turned pale.”
#28
نویسنده را خواند و پاسخ نوشت
✦
پدیدار کرد اندرو خوب و زشت
“He summoned his scribe and wrote a response, laying bare both the fair and the harsh.”
#29
سر خامه چون کرد رنگین بقار
✦
نخست آفرین کرد بر کردگار
“When he blackened the tip of his reed pen, he first offered praise to the Creator.”
#30
نگارندهٔ برکشیده سپهر
✦
کزویست پرخاش و آرام و مهر
“The Designer of the exalted heavens, from Whom comes battle, tranquility, and love.”
#31
به گیتی یکی را کند تاجور
✦
وزو به یکی پیش او با کمر
“Who crowns one in this world, while another stands girt in service before him.”
#32
اگر خود سپهر روان زان تست
✦
سر مشتری زیر فرمان تست
“'Even if the revolving sphere belongs to you, and Mercury's head obeys your command...'”
#33
به دیوان نگه کن که رومی‌نژاد
✦
به تخم کیان باژ هرگز نداد
“'Look at the court archives! Those of Roman blood NEVER paid tribute to the seed of the Kians!'”
#34
تو گر شهریاری نه من کهترم
✦
همان با سر و افسر و لشکرم
“'If you are a monarch, I am no lesser; I too possess a head, a crown, and a great host!'”
#35
چه بایست پذرفت چندین فسوس
✦
ز بیم پی پیل و آوای کوس
“'Why was it necessary to mock us so, with threats of elephant footsteps and the thunder of drums?'”
#36
بخواهم کنون از شما باژ و ساو
✦
که دارد به پرخاش با روم تاو
“'I shall now demand tribute and taxation from you! Who has the power to withstand Rome in war?'”
#37
به تاراج بردند یک چند چیز
✦
گذشت آن ستم برنگیریم نیز
“'You plundered a few goods for a time; that oppression is past, and we shall endure it no longer.'”
#38
ز دشت سواران نیزه‌وران
✦
برآریم گرد از کران تا کران
“'From the land of the spearmen, we shall raise dust from end to end!'”
#39
نه خورشید نوشین‌روان آفرید
✦
وگر بستد از چرخ گردان کلید
“'Nushin-rowan did not create the sun, nor did he snatch the keys from the turning sky!'”
#40
که کس را نخواند همی از مهان
✦
همه کام او یابد اندر جهان
“'That he deems no grandee his equal, believing every worldly desire must be his alone!'”
#41
فرستاده را هیچ پاسخ نداد
✦
به تندی ز کسری نیامدش یاد
“He gave no fitting reply to the envoy, remembering Kasra only in harsh bitterness.”
#42
چو مهر از بر نامه بنهاد گفت
✦
که با تو صلیب و مسیحست جفت
“When he set his seal upon the letter, he said: 'May the Cross and Christ be your companions!'”
#43
فرستاده با او نزد هیچ دم
✦
دژم دید پاسخ بیامد دژم
“The envoy spoke not another breath; seeing the grim response, he returned in sorrow.”
#44
بیامد بر شهر ایران چو گرد
✦
سخنهای قیصر همه یاد کرد
“He came unto the realm of Iran swift as dust, recounting all the words of Caesar.”
#45
چو برخواند آن نامه را شهریار
✦
برآشفت با گردش روزگار
“When the King read that missive, he burned with fury at the turns of time.”
#46
همه موبدان و ردان را بخواند
✦
ازان نامه چندی سخنها براند
“He summoned all the Zoroastrian priests and wise counselors, and spoke to them at length regarding that letter.”
#47
سه روز اندران بود با رای‌زن
✦
چه با پهلوانان لشکر شکن
“For three days he conferred with his advisors, as well as with the army-shattering champions.”
#48
چهارم بران راست شد رای شاه
✦
که راند سوی جنگ قیصر سپاه
“On the fourth day, the King's judgment was resolved: to march his host forth to war against Caesar.”
#49
برآمد ز در نالهٔ گاودم
✦
خروشیدن نای و روینیه خم
“From the palace gate arose the wail of cow-horn trumpets, the roaring of pipes, and the reverberation of brass cymbals.”
#50
به آرام اندر نبودش درنگ
✦
همی از پی راستی جست جنگ
“He brooked no delay in ease or rest, for he sought war solely in the pursuit of justice and truth.”
#51
سپه برگرفت و بنه برنهاد
✦
ز یزدان نیکی دهش کرد یاد
“He mobilized the host and packed the baggage train, remembering God, the Giver of all goodness.”
#52
یکی گرد برشد که گفتی سپهر
✦
به دریای قیر اندر اندود چهر
“Such a cloud of dust arose that you would say the heavens had smeared their face in a sea of pitch.”
#53
بپوشید روی زمین را به نعل
✦
هوا یک سر از پرنیان گشت لعل
“The iron shoes of horses blanketed the face of the earth, while the air turned ruby-red like silk under the gleam of banners.”
#54
نبد بر زمین پشه را جایگاه
✦
نه اندر هوا باد را ماند راه
“Upon the earth there was no room even for a gnat, nor could the wind find a path through the thronging air.”
#55
ز جوشن سواران وز گرد پیل
✦
زمین شد به کردار دریای نیل
“With mail-clad horsemen and the dust raised by war-elephants, the earth turned dark and vast like the River Nile.”
#56
جهاندار با کاویانی درفش
✦
همی‌رفت با تاج و زرینه کفش
“The World-Possessor advanced beneath the Kavian Banner, crowned with sovereignty and shod in golden boots.”
#57
همی برشد آوازشان بر دو میل
✦
به پیش سپاه اندرون کوس و پیل
“The clamor of their march resounded for two leagues around, as war-drums and elephants led the army forward.”
#58
پس پشت و پیش اندر آزادگان
✦
همی‌رفته تا آذرابادگان
“Nobly born warriors marched both in the vanguard and the rear, continuing their journey until they reached Azarabadegan.”