A marchlord of Harát, well shot in age,
There was, in all approven and beseen,
A ready speaker, Mákh by name, world-sage,
Still flourishing and of exalted mien;
And it was him I questioned fain to find
What record of Hurmuzd he had in mind
When that Sháh filled the throne of equity:
That eld of Khurásán thus answered me:—
Whenas that Sháh sat on the famous state
He first gave praises to almighty God,
The Arbiter of fortune, and then said:—

“We will renown the throne and hold in honour
The men of high degree. We will enfold
The world beneath our wings, as did our sire,
In goodly case and Glory. We will make
Offenders quake and ease the oppressed, be patient
If one doth ill and succour him in trouble.
The prop of majesty is clemency
With bounty, justice, and right conduct. Know
That good and evil never are concealed
From Him who is the Maker of the world.
Our ancestors—crown-wearers in their time,
Which through their justice had its share of praise—
Sought but for mildness, equity, and greatness,
With valour, aptitude, their lieges' service,
Their lords' observance, and to vex their foes.
In every clime to act and to command,
Power, counsel, and authority to treat,
Are mine. The good affect a heaven-sent Sháh.
Now mercy is the capital of such;
The age becometh full of ease through bounty.
The mendicants will I entreat with kindness,
And will watch o'er the rich. The self-made man
Shall have a prosperous commerce with ourselves.
Withhold not your desires from my fond heart;
I will abate with ease whatever cause
For fear ye entertain. Ye prosperous!
Joy in my crown and throne. Amid the great
Mine is the lustre in that mercy, justice,
And bounty are mine own. Grow still in kindness,
And banish greed and vengeance from your hearts.
They that fear God will see not evil fortune,
So strive ye all, both small and great, to win
The favour of the Maker of the world.
Again, let not the heart of one possessed
Of wisdom contemplate ingratitude,
And when thou benefitest other folk
Let there be no idea of recompense.
Mix not with men that speak deceitfully,
For what they utter is for outward show,
And if thy king be just think thou no shame
Concerning him, for while thou callest him
Unwise he may be studious of the words
Of former Sháhs,* and when his heart is prompted
To mercy sow not thou the seed of guile
Upon the earth. The spurner of our counsel
Will throw away the benefits of fortune.
The approval of thy Sháh sufficeth thee,
While to resist him is the road to ruin.
His harshness in exhorting thee is kind,
For he would break with thee if he were wroth.
Begrudge no efforts in the cause of good,
And joy not in injustice and in wealth.
When in the world thou hast thy heart's desire,
And reached what thou wast instant to attain,
Still, when thou don'st the crown of seventy years,
Thou yieldest all thy winnings to the foe.
My heart is greatly troubled for the poor,
And I would have them ever in my thoughts.
I ask the holy Fosterer for time
To render poor folk happy with my treasures;
I will not bring the saintly heart to trouble.
If any by his monetary wealth
Shall grow too kinglike him will I abase:
No rival will I have. From first to last,
In public utterance and secret thought,
We are the same. The Maker's benison
Be yours, your earth the circling vault of heaven.”
Now when the assembly heard his words each man
Grew thoughtful, those of wealth were filled with fear,
And tyrants' hearts were rent, while for their part
The sage and mendicant waxed glad of heart.