Then Núshírwán, the wise, made this resolve—
That he would sojourn for a while abroad
To make the circuit of the jocund world,
And bring whate'er was hidden to the light.
He beat the kettledrums, marched forth the host,
And sun and moon were both astound at him.
What with the troops and jewels, gold and silver,
The golden girdles and the golden shields,
Thou wouldst have said: “No gold is left within
The mines, no gems or lustrous pearls remain!”
He led his host toward Khurásán at leisure,
All heedful of Sásánian precedent.
Whenever he passed settlements he pitched
His camp and camp-enclosure on the waste,
And when the blare of clarions rose there went
A herald first afoot who thus proclaimed:—
“Ye subjects of the monarch of the world!
Is any privily aggrieved at us?
Sleep not despairing of the Sháh, allow not
Your souls to fail with care.”

He led the host

Thus to Gurgán and bare with him the crown
And throne of chiefs. Know, justice is no loss:
Sháhs should have prowess, rede, and noble birth.
Now when the nightingales were full of song
They went thence toward Sarí and toward Ámul,
Where hill and plain were elothed with forest-trees,
Which filled the Íránian monarch's heart with thought.
He left the plain and mounting to the heights,
Still seated on his Arab bay looked out
O'er mountain and o'er forest, and observed
Rose, hyacinth and game, and water there,
And thus he said: “O Thou almighty Judge,
The World-lord, Conqueror, and Fosterer!
Thou art the Maker of the sun and moon,
The Guide and the Revealer of the way.
Thou mad'st the world of such delightsomeness
That we distinguish not 'twixt earth and Heaven.
Whoe'er shall worship any save Thyself
Will send his soul to Hell. It was for this
That pious Farídún forwent Írán,
And made his dwelling here, so passing fair
Is this place and delightsome to the heart,
Where water is rose-water and the soil
Is spicery.”

One said: “O righteous judge!

If this were not a highway for the Turkmans
Our hearts would be not empty of delight,
Such are the wealth and glory of this place;
But as it is we cannot raise our necks
For constant murders, sack, and harryings.

There are not many left or even few
Of fowl or men or cattle on this spot.
This is the only route between the realms,
And causeth loss to the Íránian folk.
There came much toil and strife in former times,
But then the Turkmans' route was through Khárazm.
Now for the merchant or the thane to raise
His head would be in vain. However, now
That thou hast led an army to these parts,
Avert this ill from us and bar the way.
Thy treasures will be more, not less, thereby:
Now is the time to render us a service.”
The Sháh, whenas he heard the suppliant,
Showered tear-drops from his eyes and thereupon
Addressed his minister and said to him:—
“A very grievous toil confronteth us.
Henceforth 'tis not for us to fare and feast,
Or even tender our own crown, for God
Will sanction not the wrong in us that we
Shall be in happiness while thanes are grieving.
Such mountains as these are, such spacious plains,
All fit for gardens, grounds, and palaces,
And filled with cattle, game, and running water,
So that the soul is freshened by the sight—
We must not let the Turkmans lay them waste,
And desolate the country of Írán.
My kingly office, prudence, policy,
Humanity itself, will brook it not.
Men will invoke not blessings on our heads
What time Írán is lying desolate.”
He bade his minister: “From Hind and Rúm
Select men famous in those cultured lands
From all the provinces, foreseeing men,
Such masters in their craft as thou canst find,
And build me from the sea a lofty wall,
On broad foundations and ten lassos high,
Of stone and mortar, starting from the deep,
And rising to the fountain of the sun.
In this way surely we shall form a bar,
And loss from foes will come not on Írán.
Use no forced labour, ope our treasury,
And pay to every one what he demandeth.
The labourer, the thane, and man of birth
Must not be incommoded by the blast.”
He made an old archmage the overseer,
And shut out all the desert by the wall,
Wherein they set a mighty iron door,
And all the flock grew fearless of the wolf.
Of frontier-guards he stationed many a post,
And, having made all safe, led on the host.