Now Cæsar heard this and his heart was troubled,
His counsels were o'ercast by Núshírwán.
He chose of the philosophers of Rúm
From regions scathless of the enemy,
A man of eloquence and understanding,
While of the priests three score unsmirched in soul
And wisdom volunteered. He sent the Sháh
An embassage. Those magnates took their way.
Their leader was that man of wits, Mihrás—
A warrior old in wisdom, young in years.
There went before them treasures of all kinds
Past reckoning, while Cæsar, who repented
His language in the past, dispatched no stint
Of adulation, counsels, and fair words,
With heavy tribute and with hostages
Both of his own and of his nobles' kin.
Mihrás, when he had come to Núshírwán,
Pronounced his praises in the Rúman tongue,
And thou hadst said: “So shrewd and just is he,
He will produce stars from his sleeves!” 'Twas thus
He spake to Núshírwán: “Set not, O king!
Such value on the world. Thou art in Rúm
Now and Írán is void; it hath not worth
Or Glory. So, when Cæsar is away
From Rúm, this country valueth not one gnat.
The worth deriveth wholly from the man;
When he is lost the value is lost too.
If this commotion be but for wealth's sake—
That ruiner of wisdom and contentment—
Lo! I have brought thee all the wealth of Rúm,
For more than land and treasure is a soul
Serene.”

The king's heart, when he heard this, grew

As jocund as a garden in the spring,
And he accepted what the envoy brought—
The purses of gold coin, and hostages—
Gave commendations to the ambassadors,
Enlarging on the value of the gifts,
And said: “O clear in wisdom! any one
Whom wisdom feedeth is a mighty man.
If all the soil of Rúm were turned to gold
Thou wouldst out value still that noble land.”
They set as tribute on those fields and fells
A hundred ox-hides brimming with dínárs

To be dispatched by Cæsar to the king
Each year with other gifts and offerings.
His troops were not to ocupy Yaman,
Or to require aught of the people there.
Therewith was heard the blare of trump and clash
Of brazen cymbals, and the prudent world-lord
Led back his host. He went his way to Shám,
And tarried there awhile. He brought with him
So many implements of war and troops,
So many captives, purses, crowns, and thrones,
That earth's back bent beneath the elephants,
And purses full of drachms. When he resolved
To quit that land he set in charge thereof
Shírwí, son of Bahrám, and said: “Demand
The tribute due from Cæsar and accord not
Remission for a month or day.”

Shírwí,

Who kissed the ground, blessed and addressed the
Shah:—
“Mayst thou be happy and victorious,
And may the royal Tree ne'er pale its leaves.”
When at the monarch's portal had begun
The drum-roll flag and troops fared toward Arman.