When Farrrukhzád departed Yazdagird
Became the Sháh upon the day of Ard
In month Sapandármad. What said the man
Brave, eloquent but weary of life's span?
“Would that my mother had not brought me forth,
High heaven not turned o'er me!
The days of greatness and the days of want
For all soon cease to be.
Time, as thou lookest, passeth; none can take
Arms to contend with it,
So furnish forth the board and drain the cup,
And sad talk intermit.
What though thou ride high heaven yet bricks will
prove
Thy pillow at the last;
If thou be king what of the end? First throne,
But what when life hath past?
Let not thy heart be troubled, trust not much
High heaven as thy support;
It acteth as it willeth; elephant
And lion are its sport.
'Twill outlast thee, its tale is long; be not
With pride of life o'erflown;
with crown and throne.*
From those exalt seven planets do thou well
Consider what to Yazdagird befell.”
When he sat happy on the throne of kingship,
And placed upon his head the crown of might,
He said: “By process of the turning sky
I am the true-born son of Núshírwán.
Mine is the sway from sire to sire and mine
Are Virgo, Sol, and Pisces. I will seek
For greatness, wisdom, hardihood, contention,
And manliness, for life and fortune stay
With none, nor treasure, kingship, crown, and throne.
Fame will abide for aye but not desire;
Put off desire then and exalt thy fame.
It is by fame that man shall live for ever
While his dead body lieth in the dust.
How good are Faith and justice in a Sháh!
The times are full of blessings on his fame.
I purpose while I live to pluck up ill,
Both root and branch.”
The chiefs applauded him,
And hailed him as the monarch of the earth,
And thus it was, till sixteen years had sped,
That sun and moon revolved above his head.