Khusrau Parwíz wrote when the month had passed
A letter couched in wise and happy terms,
Beginning thus: “The blessings of the Great
Be on the man who keepeth pure within,
Who seeth God's work both in good and ill,
And feareth none beside but praiseth Him—
The Master of the sun—who thus sustaineth
The heavenly sphere: and first, thy praises of me,
As instanced in thy letter, I acknowledge,
And I am gratified that they proceed
From sages eminent. I have received
Thy splendid* treasure sent and only wish
That thou hadst less concerned thyself. Since God,
The holy Ruler of the world, hath raised
Thy realm o'er Spica, so as to outprize
Hind and Sakláb, Chín and Khazar, what manhood,
What knowledge, virtue, and what Faith are thine,
And with God's blessing! When I was in trouble
Thou didst assist me and remove my griefs
Most wisely. Now I am more gratified
In thine affinity and virtuous daughter
Than any other chief in child, in land,
And virtuous kin. The other chiefs all turned
Their backs on me and passed me by as vile,
But thou didst take the place of sire to me,

And more. I recognise that thou hast been
A father noble and benevolent.
Next, what thou sayest of the holy Faith.
About your Sundays, fastings, and thanksgivings,
The scribe hath read to me. The words are both
Apt and acceptable, but still I shame not
For mine old Faith—Húshang's—than which the world
Hath seen naught better, teaching as it doth
All justice, goodness, reverence, and love,
With observation of the stars of heaven.
Sure am I that God is and ever strive
To follow justice. We do not allow
That God hath any partner, son, and consort.
He is and ever will be manifest,
Not comprehended by our thoughts but still
To me the warrant of His own existence.
Now as for these old tales recalled by thee
About the Cross of Christ: a well based Faith
Hath reason for its guide. Concerning those
Who, as thou say'st, are sad because their Prophet
Was crucified yet call Him ‘Son of God,’
And say that on the Cross He laughed, if He
Was son He hath but gone back to his Father;
Be not concerned about some rotten wood.
If foolish utterances proceed from Cæsar
His letter will be laughed at by the old.
The Cross of Jesus, which Ardshír the Sháh
Put in his treasury, is not worth the pains,
And if I send it from Írán to Rúm
The land will laugh at me, the archimages
Think that I have turned Christian and a priest
Upon Maryam's account! Demand of me
Whatever else thou wilt: the way is open.
I look with admiration on thy gifts,
For which thou hast encountered so much toil,
And have bestowed them on Shírwí that so
I might inaugurate his treasury.
I am concerned about Írán and Rúm,
My thoughts all night are like a wood, I fear
That when Shírwí is grown mishap will come
Upon both lands. Beginning with great Salm,
Prolonged by that old vengeful Wolf Sikandar,
What with new feuds and old, the whole affair
Will be revived. In all things that thy daughter
Hath said to me know that she hath restored
Thy crown to youth. She is a Christian still,
And heedeth not my words. She is at ease
And joyful, triumphing in this young Tree
Of royalty. The World-lord help thee ever;
May fortune's head be always on thy lap.”
They sealed the letter with the royal signet,
Kharrád, son of Barzín, took charge thereof,
And then they oped the doors of treasure-hoards
Collected by the Sháh for many a day,
And in the first place eight score money-bags,
For coins which Persians call “paidáwasís,”
* They filled till they were hard as stones with jewels,
Then sealed them tightly. Every bag was worth,
According to the reckoning on the roll,
One hundred thousand drachms. There were besides
Of pieces of brocade from Chín one hundred
And forty thousand, some of cloth of gold
With jewelled patterns, and five hundred pearls
Of purest water and like water-drops,
With eight score jewels like pomegranate-seeds,
Such as a skilful jeweller would prize,
While of the native produce of each land,
Of Hindústán and Chín, Barbar and Misr,
And raiment from Shustar—all that the chiefs
Esteem—he sent three hundred camel-loads
To noble Cæsar. He gave Khánagí
A grander robe of honour than he gave
To strangers or his kin, with garments, steeds,
Thrones, trappings, and all kinds of noted stuffs.
In this way too he made up camel-loads,
Ten out of them consisting of dínárs
To give to the philosophers of Rúm.
The embassy went on its way rejoicing,
While all the mighty men called down upon
That prowest king of earth their benison.