The Shahnama of Firdausi: Volume VII by Arthur George Warner Edmond Warner

Author:Arthur George Warner, Edmond Warner [Arthur George Warner, Edmond Warner]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780415865890
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Published: 2013-07-09T00:00:00+00:00

§ 6

How Núshírwán went round his Empire and built a Wall in the Pass between Írán and Túrán

1629 Then Núshírwán, the wise, made this resolve—

That he would sojourn for a while abroad

To make the circuit of the jocund world,

And bring whate’er was hidden to the light.

He beat the kettledrums, marched forth the host,

And sun and moon were both astound at him.

What with the troops and jewels, gold and silver,

The golden girdles and the golden shields,

Thou wouldst have said : “ No gold is left within

The mines, no gems or lustrous pearls remain ! ”

He led his host toward Khurásán at leisure,

All heedful of Sásánian precedent.

Whenever he passed settlements he pitched

His camp and camp-enclosure on the waste,

And when the blare of clarions rose there went

A herald first afoot who thus proclaimed :—

“ Ye subjects of the monarch of the world !

Is any privily aggrieved at us ?

Sleep not despairing of the Sháh, allow not

Your souls to fail with care.”

He led the host

Thus to Gurgán and bare with him the crown

And throne of chiefs. Know, justice is no loss :

Sháhs should have prowess, rede, and noble birth.

Now when the nightingales were full of song

They went thence toward Sarí and toward Ámul,

Where hill and plain were clothed with forest-trees,

Which filled the Íránian monarch’s heart with thought.

He left the plain and mounting to the heights,

Still seated on his Arab bay looked out

O’er mountain and o’er forest, and observed

Rose, hyacinth and game, and water there,

And thus he said : “ O Thou almighty Judge,

The World-lord, Conqueror, and Fosterer !

Thou art the Maker of the sun and moon,

The Guide and the Revealer of the way.

Thou mad’st the world of such delightsomeness

That we distinguish not ’twixt earth and Heaven.

Whoe’er shall worship any save Thyself

Will send his soul to Hell. It was for this

That pious Farídún forwent Írán,

And made his dwelling here, so passing fair

Is this place and delightsome to the heart,

Where water is rose-water and the soil

Is spicery.”

One said : “ O righteous judge !

If this were not a highway for the Turkmans

Our hearts would be not empty of delight,

Such are the wealth and glory of this place;

But as it is we cannot raise our necks

For constant murders, sack, and harryings.

C. 1630 There are not many left or even few

Of fowl or men or cattle on this spot.

This is the only route between the realms,

And causeth loss to the Íránian folk.

There came much toil and strife in former times,

But then the Turkmans’ route was through Khárazm.

Now for the merchant or the thane to raise

His head would be in vain. However, now

That thou hast led an army to these parts,

Avert this ill from us and bar the way.

Thy treasures will be more, not less, thereby :

Now is the time to render us a service.”

The Sháh, whenas he heard the suppliant,

Showered tear-drops from his eyes and thereupon

Addressed his minister and said to him :—

“ A very grievous toil confronteth us.

Henceforth ’tis not for us to fare and feast,

Or even tender our own crown, for God

Will sanction not the wrong in us that we

Shall be in happiness while thanes are grieving.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.