Now when they had approved this policy
Khusrau Parwíz put strangers forth and called
For inkhorn, pen, and silk of Chín, and bade
A scribe attend. He wrote, as Sháhs were wont,
Thus in the olden tongue in royal script:—
“Khusrau Parwíz doth swear by holy God,
By circling sun and stable earth that while
I sit as Sháh upon the seat of state,
Lord of Írán, its treasures and its troops,
I will not ask the chiefs of Rúm for tribute,
Or send a host against those fields and fells.
I will restore to Cæsar all the cities
Thereof however tradeless they may be
And worthless, and thereafter will return
Their documents and records. Further, I
Am well content to ask of him a daughter
Whose mother is both pure and of his race,
And by so asking illustrate my heart.
Entrust to those Íránians at thy court,
And under thy protection—Gustaham,
Kharrád, son of Barzín, of royal race,
Shápúr and Andiyán—thy daughter, wise
And high-renowned, when thou dost send the troops.
I am through mine affinity to thee
As my great family were heretofore.

The first was Gaiúmart, the next Jamshíd—
A source of hope and terror to the world—
Then followed others of the glorious stock,
Great men in wisdom and in royalty.
From those old monarchs, wearers of the crown,
The story runneth on to Kai Káús,
And Kai Khusrau, and by the selfsame token
To mighty Kai Kúbád* whose justice made
The sheep and wolf akin. Pursue the tale
To Sháh Luhrasp through whom to Sháh Gushtásp
There came the glorious Asfanfiyár,
That chief of chiefs, from whom sprang great Bahman,
And thus we come to Ardshír Pápakán
'Neath whom our ancient star regained its youth.
Now when Khusrau Parwíz, son of Hurmuzd,
Is one in heart and sentiment with Cæsar,
Among whose distant ancestors was Salm
(I seek no fables and I tell no lies)
We shall abolish all the feud between us,
And Rúman and Íránian will be one.
I do accept from Cæsar Cæsar's daughter—
The crown of all his daughters. Whatsoever
May be her faults or virtues it is well,
And holy God is witness to this letter,
Writ in mine own hand known throughout the world,
And I have sealed the letter with my seal
According to our customs, ways, and faith.
For thy successors—world-lords crowned and throned—
That which is written here shall be my pledge,
With mind and wisdom to corroborate,
That I will keep my word in great and small.
That what I say is true my heart and star,
And holy God, bear witness, so delay not
To act upon thy words, for I have lingered
Long in this city.”

All being said, he gave

The letter to Khúrshíd, son of Kharrád.
As swift as wind that chieftain rose and mounting
His chestnut steed sped till he came to Cæsar,
And gave the message of Khusrau Parwíz.
Then Cæsar, having snapped the band and read
The words of that exalted Sháh, commanded
The wise men and the eloquent to meet
Before him and inquired of them in turn:—
“What cure shall I adopt? How shall I make
A treaty with the monarch of Írán?
His letter leaveth us without excuse;
All we of Rúm and of Írán are one.”
The chiefs and sages rose to answer him,

And said: “We are but subjects; thou art Cæsar,
The world-lord throned and crowned. Do thou advise,
Who hast both counsel and authority:
Our bodies and our souls are thine.”

When Cæsar

Heard he commended those shrewd, pious chiefs,
And waited till in the revolving sky
The lamp of day had lost its radiancy.