The Iranian messenger returned from his embassy to the West, presenting himself before Shah Khosrow Anushirvan to yield a comprehensive account of everything he had witnessed, heard, and observed of Caesar's posture. As the words unfolded, the King's heart grew heavy with indignation, and the fierce pride of the Sasanian crown blazed forth. Though Khosrow graciously acknowledged the envoy for enduring the hardships of the long journey, his mind was forged in iron resolve to shatter the insolence of Rome.
Khosrow marvelled at the folly of Caesar, who proved incapable of distinguishing a loyal friend from a deadly foe. Lacking genuine substance or equal might, the Roman ruler yet presumed to strut upon the world stage as a peer to Iran's monarch. In his fury, Khosrow declared that no soul of Roman blood would henceforth rest contentedly upon that western throne. He swore to darken the very name of Rome with ill omen and rain fire upon its most prosperous provinces.
Bound by royal wrath, the King swore a terrible, sacred oath: by Holy Yazdan, by the radiant sun and shining moon, by the sacred warrior-fire of Adar Gushnasp, and by his own throne and crown, he pledged that his sword would never touch its scabbard, nor would the pleasures of the world be lawful to him, until he had stripped Caesar's kingdom of its ancient wealth and packed ox-hides with Roman tribute.
#1
بیامد به نزدیک کسری رسید
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بگفت آن کجا رفت و دید و شنید
“He arrived before Khosrow and reported all that he had experienced, seen, and heard.”
#2
ز گفتار او تنگدل گشت شاه
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بدو گفت برخوردی از رنج راه
“The King's heart grew heavy at his words, and he said to him: 'May you be rewarded for the hardship of your journey.'”
#3
شنیدم که هرکو هوا پرورد
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بفرجام کردار کیفر برد
“'I have heard that whoever nurtures vain desire shall in the end reap the retribution of his deeds.'”
#4
گر از دوست دشمن نداند همی
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چنین راز دل بر تو خواند همی
“'If he cannot tell friend from foe, why does he lay bare the secrets of his heart to you?'”
#5
گماند که ما را همو دوست نیست
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اگر چند او را پی و پوست نیست
“'He fancies that he is no friend to us, though he lacks all flesh and skin [real substance].'”
#6
کنون نیز یک تن ز رومی نژاد
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نمانم که باشد ازان تخت شاد
“'Now, I shall not leave a single person of Roman blood to rejoice upon that throne.'”
#7
همی سر فرازد که من قیصرم
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گر از نامداران یکی مهترم
“'He exalts himself, boasting "I am Caesar, greater than all renowned lords!"'”
#8
کنم زین سپس روم را نام شوم
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برانگیزم آتش ز آباد بوم
“'Henceforth, I shall make the name of Rome ill-omened, and rain fire upon its prosperous lands!'”
#9
به یزدان پاک و بخورشید و ماه
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به آذر گشسب و بتخت و کلاه
“'By Holy God, by the sun and the moon, by Adar Gushnasp, and by throne and crown,'”
#10
که کز هرچ در پادشاهی اوست
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ز گنج کهن پرکند گاو پوست
“'That I shall fill ox-hides with ancient treasures from everything within his kingdom!'”
#11
نساید سرتیغ ما رانیام
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حلال جهان باد بر من حرام
“'The tip of my blade shall not touch its sheath, and all lawful joys of the world shall be forbidden to me!'”