A long era unfolded, and after relentless military campaigns, the imperial army of Iran fell into dire need of silver and gold. The commander summoned the treasurers and paymasters, speaking of the insurmountable rivers, trenches, and arduous marches that could not be sustained without fitting armor, horses, and wages for the troops. King Khosrow Anushirvan ordered his scribes and keepers of the realm's wealth to audit the imperial stores. Upon tallying the ledgers, the minister reported a deficit of three hundred thousand silver pieces.
The King's countenance darkened with anxiety, and he summoned his wise vizier, Bozorjmehr. Anushirvan bade him dispatch camel-drivers to the far-off treasury of Mazandaran to haul loads of gold. But Bozorjmehr bowed and offered sage counsel: the road to Mazandaran was long, and the army would languish in empty-handed frustration. Instead, he suggested borrowing silver from the wealthy merchants and landed gentry of the nearby towns, to be repaid once the royal treasury was replenished.
The King assented, and Bozorjmehr chose a prudent, handsome, and noble-minded messenger to ride forth. Arriving at a neighboring city, the envoy announced the royal loan. A wealthy shoemaker stepped forward, eager to serve the crown. Without needing parchment or pen, he brought forth scales and weighed out forty 'man' of silver coins—each 'man' worth a hundred thousand pieces—handing it joyfully to the messenger.
Yet the shoemaker harbored a single, burning desire. He implored the messenger to ask Bozorjmehr and the Shah for a high favor: that his beloved son be permitted to study under royal tutors to become a scribe, crossing the threshold of the learned elite. The envoy returned at night and delivered the silver to the court, relaying the shoemaker's humble plea.
When King Anushirvan heard the request, his brows furrowed in stern indignation. He declared: 'Has a demon clouded your eyes, O wise vizier? Turn back the camels instantly and return his silver! If the child of a shoemaker becomes a scribe, acquiring wisdom and high office, who shall inherit the seat of nobles when our royal bloodline ascends the throne? The lowborn will usurp the places of the well-bred, and generations after us will curse our memory for shattering the holy order of the realm.' Thus, the King refused the shoemaker's vast fortune, choosing rather to protect the rigid hierarchy of the empire than to accept money stained by class transgression.
#1
برآمد برین روزگاری دراز
✦
بسیم و زر آمد سپه را نیاز
“A long period of time passed, and the army fell into dire need of silver and gold.”
#2
سپهدار روزی‌دهان را بخواند
✦
وزان جنگ چندی سخنها براند
“The army commander summoned the paymasters and spoke at length of the recent wars,”
#3
که این کار با رنج بسیار گشت
✦
به آب و به کنده نشاید گذشت
“Saying: 'This campaign was won with immense hardship; one cannot cross rivers and trenches without funds.'”
#4
سپه را درم باید و دستگاه
✦
همان اسب وخفتان و رومی کلاه
“'The troops require money and equipment, as well as horses, coats of mail, and Roman helmets.'”
#5
سوی گنج رفتند روزی‌دهان
✦
دبیران و گنجور شاه جهان
“The paymasters went to the royal treasury, along with the scribes and the treasurer of the Lord of the World.”
#6
از اندازه لشکر شهریار
✦
کم آمد درم تنگ سیصد هزار
“Compared to the vast size of the King's army, the money fell short by three hundred thousand bags of silver.”
#7
بیامد برشاه موبد چوگرد
✦
به گنج آنچ بود از درم یاد کرد
“The Mobad came swiftly before the King like a dust storm and recounted what money remained in the vault.”
#8
دژم کرد شاه اندران کار چهر
✦
بفرمود تا رفت بوزرجمهر
“The King's face turned grim at this matter, and he ordered Bozorjmehr to be brought forth.”
#9
بدو گفت گر گنج شاهی تهی
✦
چه باید مرا تخت شاهنشهی
“He said to him: 'If the royal treasury is empty, of what use to me is the throne of kingship?'”
#10
بروهم کنون ساروان را بخواه
✦
هیونان بختی برافگن به راه
“'Go right now, summon the camel-drivers, and send forth the sturdy Bactrian camels onto the road.'”
#11
صد از گنج مازندران بارکن
✦
وزو بیشتر بار دینار کن
“'Load a hundred camels from the treasury of Mazandaran, and let the greater portion of the load be golden dinars.'”
#12
بشاه جهان گفت بوزرجمهر
✦
که ای شاه با دانش و داد و مهر
“Bozorjmehr said to the Shah of the world: 'O King of wisdom, justice, and loving-kindness!'”
#13
سوی گنج ایران درازست راه
✦
تهی دست و بیکار باشد سپاه
“'The road to the treasury of Iran is long, and the army will remain empty-handed and idle in the meantime.'”
#14
بدین شهرها گرد ماهرکسست
✦
کسی کو درم بیش دارد بدست
“'Around these cities, there are many wealthy people—anyone who holds abundant silver in hand.'”
#15
ز بازارگان و ز دهقان درم
✦
اگر وام خواهی نگردد دژم
“'If you request a loan of money from the merchants and rural landlords, they will not be grieved.'”
#16
بدین کار شد شاه همداستان
✦
که دانای ایران بزد داستان
“The Shah agreed to this plan, for the wise counsellor of Iran had struck upon a sound tradition.”
#17
فرستاده‌ای جست بوزرجمهر
✦
خردمند و شادان دل و خوب چهر
“Bozorjmehr sought an envoy—wise, joyful of heart, and handsome of face.”
#18
بدو گفت ز ایدر سه اسبه برو
✦
گزین کن یکی نامبردار گو
“He said to him: 'Go from here with three swift horses, and select a renowned hero,'”
#19
ز بازارگان و ز دهقان شهر
✦
کسی را کجا باشد از نام بهر
“'From among the merchants and country landlords of the town—anyone who has a share of good name.'”
#20
ز بهر سپه این درم فام خواه
✦
بزودی بفرماید از گنج شاه
“'Ask for this silver as a loan for the army; the King's treasury will soon order it repaid.'”
#21
بیامد فرستادهٔ خوش منش
✦
جوان وخردمندی و نیکوکنش
“The pleasant-natured envoy set forth—a youth wise and noble in deeds.”
#22
پیمبر باندیشه باریک بود
✦
بیامد بشهری که نزدیک بود
“The messenger possessed subtle thoughts; he came to a city that was nearby.”
#23
درم خواست فام از پی شهریار
✦
برو انجمن شد بسی مایه دار
“He requested a loan of silver for the King, and many wealthy citizens gathered before him.”
#24
یکی کفشگر بود و موزه فروش
✦
به گفتار او تیز بگشاد گوش
“There was a shoemaker who sold boots, who opened his ears sharply to his words.”
#25
درم چند باید بدو گفت مرد
✦
دلاور شمار درم یاد کرد
“The man asked him: 'How much silver is needed?' The brave envoy stated the total count.”
#26
چنین گفت کای پرخرد مایه دار
✦
چهل من درم هرمنی صدهزار
“He said: 'O wise wealthy man! Forty 'man' of silver, each 'man' equal to a hundred thousand coins.'”
#27
بدو کفشگر گفت من این دهم
✦
سپاسی ز گنجور بر سر نهم
“The shoemaker replied: 'I shall provide this, and I place this favor upon the treasurer's head with gratitude.'”
#28
بیاورد قپان و سنگ و درم
✦
نبد هیچ دفتر به کار و قلم
“He brought out steelyards, weights, and silver; no ledgers or pens were needed for the count.”
#29
چو بازارگان را درم سخته شد
✦
فرستاده زان کار پردخته شد
“When the merchant's silver was weighed out, the envoy was relieved of his task.”
#30
بدو کفشگر گفت کای خوب چهر
✦
به رنج‌ی بگویی به بوزرجمهر
“The shoemaker said to him: 'O handsome courier! Speak without trouble to Bozorjmehr,'”
#31
که اندر زمانه مرا کودکیست
✦
که بازار او بر دلم خوار نیست
“'That I have a young child in this world, whose market and future are dear to my heart.'”
#32
بگویی مگر شهریار جهان
✦
مرا شاد گرداند اندر نهان
“'May you ask if the King of the world might make me secretly happy in my heart,'”
#33
که او را سپارد بفرهنگیان
✦
که دارد سرمایه و هنگ آن
“'By entrusting my son to the men of culture and learning, for he has the means and capacity for it.'”
#34
فرستاده گفت این ندارم به رنج
✦
که کوتاه کردی مرا راه گنج
“The envoy said: 'I do not count this a burden, for you have shortened my path to the treasury.'”
#35
بیامد بر مرد دانا به شب
✦
وزان کفشگر نیز بگشاد لب
“He came to the wise minister by night, and opened his lips to speak of the shoemaker.”
#36
برشاه شد شاد بوزرجمهر
✦
بران خواسته شاه بگشاد چهر
“Bozorjmehr went joyfully before the Shah, and the King's face brightened at the sight of that wealth.”
#37
چنین گفتن زان پس که یزدان سپاس
✦
مبادم مگر پاک و یزدان شناس
“The Shah then spoke: 'Praise be to God! May I never be anything but pure and God-fearing,'”
#38
که در پادشاهی یکی موزه دوز
✦
برین گونه شادست و گیتی فروز
“'That in my realm a simple cobbler is so prosperous and world-illuminating,'”
#39
که چندین درم ساخته باشدش
✦
مبادا که بیداد بخراشدش
“'That he possesses so much silver prepared; may injustice never harm him!'”
#40
نگر تا چه دارد کنون آرزوی
✦
بماناد بر ما همین راه و خوی
“'Go see what desire he holds now; may this tradition of equity remain ours forever.'”
#41
چو فامش بتوزی درم صدهزار
✦
بده تا بماند ز ما یادگار
“'When you repay his loan of a hundred thousand silver coins, give a extra gift so a memory of us endures.'”
#42
بدان زیردستان دلاور شدند
✦
جهانجوی با تخت وافسر شدند
“By such justice, subjects grew courageous, and the world-conqueror sat secure with throne and crown.”
#43
مبادا که بیدادگر شهریار
✦
بود شاد برتخت و به روزگار
“May an unjust ruler never rejoice upon the throne or in his time!”
#44
بشاه جهان گفت بوزرجمهر
✦
که ای شاه نیک اختر خوب چهر
“Bozorjmehr said to the Shah of the world: 'O King of good star and handsome face!'”
#45
یکی آرزو کرد موزه فروش
✦
اگر شاه دارد بمن بنده گوش
“'The cobbler made one wish, if the Shah will listen to me, his servant.'”
#46
فرستاده گوید که این مرد گفت
✦
که شاه جهان با خرد باد جفت
“The envoy reported: 'This man declared, "May the King of the World ever be joined with wisdom!"'”
#47
یکی پور دارم رسیده بجای
✦
بفرهنگ جوید همی رهنمای
“'"I have a son who has reached maturity, who eagerly seeks a mentor to lead him toward learning and culture.'"”
#48
اگر شاه باشد بدین دستگیر
✦
که این پاک فرزند گردد دبیر
“'"If the King would lend his aiding hand, so that this pure child might become a royal scribe...'"”
#49
ز یزدان بخواهم همی جان شاه
✦
که جاوید باد این سزاوار گاه
“'"...I shall ever pray to God for the King’s life, that this worthy throne may remain eternal."'”
#50
بدو گفت شاه ای خردمند مرد
✦
چرا دیو چشم تو را تیره کرد
“The King answered him: 'O wise man! Why has a demon clouded your vision?'”
#51
برو همچنان بازگردان شتر
✦
مبادا کزو سیم خواهیم و در
“'Go forthwith and turn back the camels; heaven forbid that we should demand silver and pearls from him!'”
#52
چو بازارگان بچه گردد دبیر
✦
هنرمند و بادانش و یادگیر
“'If a merchant’s child becomes a royal scribe, cultured, knowledgeable, and quick to learn,'”
#53
چو فرزند ما برنشیند بتخت
✦
دبیری ببایدش پیروزبخت
“'And when our prince ascends the throne, he will require a scribe of noble fortune;'”
#54
هنر باید از مرد موزه فروش
✦
بدین کار دیگر تو با من مکوش
“'Should culture and high office be bought from a shoe-seller? Urge me no further in this affair!'”
#55
بدست خردمند و مرد نژاد
✦
نماند به جز حسرت وسرد باد
“'For the wise and noble-born, nothing would remain except grief and cold sighs!'”
#56
شود پیش او خوار مردم شناس
✦
چوپاسخ دهد زو پذیرد سپاس
“'The noble judge of character would be humbled before him; when he renders service, he expects subservient thanks.'”
#57
بما بر پس از مرگ نفرین بود
✦
چوآیین این روزگار این بود
“'Curses would follow us after death, if such were to become the custom of our realm.'”
#58
نخواهیم روزی جز از گنج داد
✦
درم زو مخواه و مکن هیچ یاد
“'We desire sustenance only from the treasury of justice; take no dirhams from him and speak of this no more!'”
#59
هم اکنون شتر بازگردان به راه
✦
درم خواه وز موزه دوزان مخواه
“'Turn the camels back on the road this instant; seek wealth elsewhere, but ask nothing from shoe-sewers!'”
#60
فرستاده برگشت و شد با درم
✦
دل کفشگر گشت پر درد و غم
“The envoy returned, bringing back the money, while the cobbler's heart turned heavy with sorrow and despair.”
#61
شب آمد غمی شد ز گفتار شاه
✦
خروش جرس خاست از بارگاه
“Night fell, darkened by the King's stern decree, and the clamor of bells arose from the royal court.”
#62
طلایه پراگنده بر گرد دشت
✦
همه شب همی گرد لشکر بگشت
“Night-patrols were deployed across the plain, riding around the army camp all through the night.”
#63
ز ماهی چو بنمود خورشید تاج
✦
برافگند خلعت زمین را ز عاج
“When the sun displayed its crown above the cosmic Fish, it cast a robe of ivory over the earth.”