When tidings came to Cæsar of the Sháh:—
“He hath marched forth in anger from Írán,”
He set forth from 'Ammúriya* to Halab;
The world was filled with tumult, bruit, and din.
Three hundred thousand horsemen of Írán
Besieged the fortress of Halab. Troops gathered
From every side and tarried not from strife.
The warrior-prelates of the Rúman host
Set up their catapults on every side.
* The Íránians took the stronghold of Sakíla,
For from that region they would fain attack;
Halab became as 'twere a sea of blood,
And all the host of Bátarún sought quarter;

Unnumbered Rúmans perished 'neath the arrows,
And many were ta'en prisoners in the fight.
Within two se'nnights the Íránians brought
Some thirty thousand captives to the king.
The Rúmans dug a trench before their host,
And let the water in at break of day.
They barred the Sháh's advance; he and his troops
Were at a stand in fight. He called to him
His commissaries and discussed with them
The posture of the war at large and said
Thus: “This hath grown a matter of much toil:
We cannot pass the water and the fosse.
The troops have need of money and supplies,
As well as horses, mail, and Rúman helms.”
The commissaries, scribes, and treasurers
Of that world-lord went the treasury,
Which, as the number of his soldiers stood,
Was in dínárs three hundred thousand short.
* An archimage came to the Sháh like dust,
And told him what the treasury lacked, whereat
The Sháh's face gloomed. He ordered Búzurjmihr
To come, and said to him: “With treasury void
What booteth me the throne of king of kings?
Go, call the camel-drivers, and dispatch
Some Bactrian camels on the road and take
Out of the treasures of Mázandarán
A hundred loads and upwards of dínárs.”
But Búzurjmihr made answer to the world-lord:—
“O just, wise, loving Sháh! the way is long
To reach the treasures of Írán, the while
Our troops are destitute and at a stand;
But in the cities round about are those,
A hundredth of whose wealth would pay our troops.
If thou shalt ask the merchants and the thanes
To make advances they will not refuse.”
The Sháh was in this matter of a mind
With what the wise man of Írán had said,
And Búzurjmihr chose out a messenger,
Wise, of a cheerful heart, and goodly face,
And said to him: “Go with a second horse,
And choose thee out some lusty notable
Among the merchants and the thanes—a man
Of mighty reputation—and request
A loan of money for the troops. The Sháh
Will order money to be sent with speed
Out of the treasury.”

That emissary,

Fair-spoken, young in years but old in wisdom
And shrewd, came to a neighbouring town and asked
A loan of money for the king's affairs,
And round him gathered many of the rich.
A certain man, who made and vended shoes,
Attended closely to the envoy's words,
And asked: “How much?”

The gallant envoy told,

And said: “O man of wisdom and of wealth!
The sum amounteth to four million drachms.”
Said that shoemaker: “I will furnish them
And earn the treasurer's praise.”

He brought his balance,

Weights, and the drachms, but asked no bond in writing.
He weighed the coin, the envoy's task was done.
Then that shoemaker said: “O fair of face!
Be good enough to say to Búzurjmihr:—
‘I have but one child only in this world,
For whom my heart is all anxiety.’
Then add: ‘The monarch of the world perchance
Will grant a private favour to myself,
And let me place my boy among his sages,
For he hath wealth and intellect therefor.’”
“With pleasure,” was the messenger's reply,
“For thou hast cut my quest for treasure short.”
* So Búzurjmihr came to the Sháh rejoicing,
Whose face cleared when he saw that wealth.
Thereafter
He said: “Thanks be to God, whom I have known
Through all my years of life, that in our realm
There is a manufacturer of shoes,
Blessed in this manner and illustrious.
God grant that we may never injure one
That is possessed of such a store of wealth.
Discover for me what his wishes are,
That this good will of his to us may last,
And when thou payest the debt bestow upon him
A hundred thousand drachms that he may not
Forget us.”

Búzurjmihr said to the world-lord:—

“O well-starred Sháh of goodly countenance!
God grant that no king who is tyrannous
Be happy on his throne and fortunate.
Thy subjects all are men of wealth, aspire,
And are possessed of thrones and diadems.
Now this boot-seller, if the Sháh will hear,
Made one request. He said, for so the envoy
Reporteth: ‘May the world-lord mate with wisdom.
I have a son grown up who is desirous
Of one to teach him learning, and if now
The Sháh is willing to assist therein,
So that my good son may become a scribe,
Then for the Sháh's life will I pray God, saying:—
“May this throne-worthy live eternally.”’”
The Sháh made answer saying: “O wise man!
How hath the Dív perplexed thy vision! Go,
And lead the camels back, for God forbid
That we ask him for silver and for pearls.
How should the merchant's son become a scribe,
Accomplished, learned, and mindful though he be?
Our son when he shall sit upon the throne
Will need a scribe whose fortune will prevail.

If this young boot-seller attain distinction,
And my son look to him and list to him,
The man of wisdom and of noble birth
Will have but discontent and chilling sighs,
The sage will be held lightly by my son,
Receive no praise for what he answereth,
And we shall be accursed, when we are dead,
For having introduced this precedent.
Our rations must be got by honest means.
Ask not his money, talk not of our needs,
Dispatch the camels back upon their way,
And ask shoemakers for supplies no more.”
So with the cash the envoy went again;
Those drachms filled that shoemaker's heart with pain.*