How Núshírwán had a Dream and how Búzurjmihr interpreted it as signifying the Appearance of Muhammad

In that year Núshírwán upon a night
Amidst his prayers and praises had a dream,
Wherein his lucid spirit saw in sleep
A Sun rise in the night and therewithal
Was an ascent that had two score degrees,
Whose summit reached to Saturn in the ascendant.
From the Hijáz in stately pomp and joy
That Sun ascended that ascent, fulfilling
The world with brilliancy from Káf to Káf,
* And everywhere converting grief to mirth,
While all the horizons, whether far or near,
Took lustre from its glory everywhere,
And everywhere light entered save the hall
Of Núshírwán which still abode in gloom.
The Sháh rose from his sleep for half the night,
And oped his lips to none on that affair,
But when the sun unveiled its countenance
He summoned to his presence Búzurjmihr.
The king of kings in private to that sage
Related what he had beheld in sleep,
And Búzurjmihr, possessed of all the case,
Considered all the dream from end to end,
And thus replied: “O king of power supreme!
In truth there is a mystery herein.”
The king said: “Speak the truth because my life
Is failing in my body for suspense.”
Then Búzurjmihr spake thus: “O thou whose rede
Is higher than moon and sun! this dream have I
Well studied: mark the marvel of its meaning.
From this day forth for forty years and more
Among the Arabs one will rise to power,
Who will adopt the way of righteousness,

And turn aside from all deceit and loss.
He will confound the whole Faith of Zarduhsht.
When he shall show the moon his finger-tip,
His finger will divide it into two,
And none will look upon his back in toil.
The Jew and Christian shall withstand him not,
And he will do away with former Faiths.
He will ascend a triple-footed throne,
And all the world will be advised by him.
When he shall quit this Wayside Hostelry
The treasure of his words will still remain.
The world will joy in him from age to age,
Save the Sháh's palace which the winds will scatter.
When he is dead a scion of thy race
Will have the tymbals, drums, and elephants.
A host will come on him from the Hijáz,
Though unpossessed of arms and equipage,
Will cast him from the throne upon the dust,
And fill the world with warriors. Then will cease
The observation of the feast of Sada,
And every Fire-fane be a rubbish heap,
Folk will no longer worship Fire and Sun,
And all the fortunes of the brave will slumber.
Jámásp himself declared before Gushtásp
This secret, giving this interpretation.”
When Núshírwán heard this from Búzurjmihr
The favour of his countenance was changed;
He was all day the mate of pain and grief,
And slumbered, when night came, worn out by care.
* Now when three watches of the night had passed
There went up such a panic-stricken cry
That thou hadst said: “The world is all o'er-turned!”
And then one said: “The hall is rent in twain!”
Thereat the Sháh's heart started from its place,
And in the uttermost bewilderment
He spake concerning it to Búzurjmihr,
Beginning with the rending of the hall,
Which when the sage had looked upon he spake
On this wise, saying: “O Sháh Núshírwán!
This outcry rose by reason of the Sun
That thou beheldest in thy dreams last night.
Know that thy palace gave a cry what time
That moon-like babe was born, and presently
A horseman with two steeds will come to say:—
‘Fire-worship is abandoned to the blast!’”
Thereat, as swiftly as the flying dust,
A horseman came with tidings: “Even now
Ázargashasp is cold!”

The Sháh's heart straitened

Because of it; he sighed continually.
Then Búzurjmihr: “O Sháh! why mourn there­for?
What matter this world's griefs and joys to thee
When thou art gone and parted far by time?”
The Sháh survived not this event for long.
He died: the world bewailed him. Búzurjmihr

C. 1791

Veiled his own visage in the dust within
Four se'nnights of the passing of the Sháh,
Who left behind this record when he went.
Be thy part to preserve his monument,
For since the turning sky proved so unfair
To him expect no love or justice there.
* And now the crown and throne I decorate
Of Sháh Hurmuzd, and seat him on the state.