§ 24 How Kai Khusrau exhorted the Íránians

Khusrau addressed the Íránians: “Conquering fortune
Hath given us the kingdom, crown, and throne;
The whole realm of Túrán, which we have captured,
Shall, like Írán, be yours to dwell therein.
Put ye away all vengeance from your hearts,
And charm the land with loving-kindliness,
For in their hearts the people fear us greatly,
And all the dust is turned to mire with bloodshed.

V. 1347
I give to you the treasures of Túrán,
And look not even for your gratitude.
Be strenuous and be instant in well-doing,
And where ye found it winter make it spring.
My soldiers shall be satisfied anon
With treasures and dínárs, but let us keep
Our hands from bloodshed, not behead the guiltless;
It sorteth not with manhood to be moved
To anger lightly or to strike the fallen.
Avert your faces from the women—all
That veil themselves when going forth abroad;
Respect too others' wealth since for its sake
Friends are made foes; the Maker disapproveth
Of those that seek to harm the innocent,
And all that would assist my policy
Must not lay waste the land which now is mine.
Besides men call a prince who layeth waste
A peopled land unjust and sinister.”
The Sháh commanded then his troops to open
The treasures of the army of Túrán,
Save great Afrásiyáb's own privy hoards,
Which he reserved, but gave his men the rest—
The treasures and the weapons, thrones and crowns.
The scattered countless host of Turkmans flocked
From all sides to the Sháh, who gave them quarter,
Made much of them, and ordered their affairs
With all dispatch. He gave the chiefs their portion
Of Turkman lands, a city to each noble,
But in each province those that were rebellious
Received no quarter at his warriors' hands.
The country of Túrán was overcome,
And, when the letters to the chiefs arrived,
From every quarter messengers set forth
To carry to the Sháh the offerings
And letters of the potentates who now
Were one and all the servants of Khusrau.