When rumors spread that King Nushin-Ravan had fallen gravely ill and his throne might soon be vacant, his son Nush-Zad cast off all restraint. Long harboring discontent and steadfast in his mother's Christian faith, Nush-Zad flung open his palace doors and raised the standard of rebellion. At his command, the heavy chains were struck off from the state prisoners and lawbreakers whom Nushin-Ravan had justly imprisoned, sending shockwaves through the realm. The Christian clergy and populace—from Catholicos to bishop—rallied to his cause, along with thirty thousand hardened, spear-bearing cavalrymen. Embracing the creed of the Roman Caesar, Nush-Zad dispatched letters to his co-religionists in Gondishapur, urging them to unite under his banner and pledge allegiance to Rome. Thus, a dark flame of insurrection erupted across the city, as ill-starred fate awoke to test the empire.
#1
چو بشنید فرزند کسری که تخت
✦
بپردخت زان خسروانی درخت
“When the son of Kasra heard that the throne had been left vacant by that imperial tree,”
#2
در کاخ بگشاد فرزند شاه
✦
برو انجمن شد فراوان سپاه
“The king’s son threw open the doors of his palace, and a massive host assembled before him.”
#3
کسی کو ز بند خرد جسته بود
✦
به زندان نوشین‌روان بسته بود
“Whoever had strayed from the bounds of wisdom and been chained in Nushin-Ravan’s dungeons,”
#4
ز زندانها بندها برگرفت
✦
همه شهر ازو دست بر سر گرفت
“He removed the bonds from the prisons, so that the entire city raised their hands in dismay.”
#5
به شهر اندرون هرک ترسا بدند
✦
اگر جاثلیق ار سکوبا بدند
“Whoever was of the Christian faith in the city, whether Catholicos or bishop,”
#6
بسی انجمن کرد بر خویشتن
✦
سواران گردنکش و تیغ‌زن
“He gathered around himself a great council of proud horsemen and sword-wielders.”
#7
فراز آمدندش تنی سی‌هزار
✦
همه نیزه‌داران خنجرگزار
“Thirty thousand warriors rallied to his side, all spearmen and wielding daggers.”
#8
یکی نامه بنوشت نزدیک خویش
✦
ز قیصر چو آیین تاریک خویش
“He wrote a letter unto his allies, after the dark custom of Caesar and his own faith,”
#9
که بر جندشاپور مهتر تویی
✦
هم‌آواز و هم‌کیش قیصر تویی
“Stating: 'You are the chieftain over Gondishapur, sharing the voice and faith of Caesar!'”
#10
همه شهر ازو پرگنهکار شد
✦
سر بخت برگشته بیدار شد
“Through him, the entire city became filled with rebels, and the sleeping head of ill-fated fortune awoke.”