“In what regard,” said Cæsar, “do the Indians
Err from the Path? Those that are worshippers,
Are they idolaters or what are they?”
Kharrád, son of Barzín, replied: “In Hind
They worship ox and moon, put not their trust
In God and circling heaven, and regard not
Their persons, look no higher than the sun,
And reckon not men like ourselves as wise.
Whoever kindleth fire, shall enter it,
And shall consume himself therein, believeth
That in the air there is a fire ordained
By God, whose word is law, which fire the sage
Of Hind entitleth ‘Ether’ and hath much
Of worth and interest to say thereon,
As thus: when earthly and etherial fires
Combine man's sin is purged; they must be kindled
Since burning is accounted righteousness.
Withal ye too speak not aright; hereto
Christ's life is testimony. Mark'st thou not
What Jesus, son of Mary,* said when he
Was bringing secret things to light? ‘If one
Shall take thy skirt from thee resist him not,
And if one buffet thee upon the face,
So that thine eyes are darkened by the blows,
Be not enraged or let thy cheek turn pale,
But shut thine eyes and speak no chilling word.
* If thou hast little food let it suffice,
And if thou hast no carpet seek one not.
Hold not this kind of evil to be bad,
And ye without a pang will quit this Gloom.’
But now with you desire is king o'er wisdom,
Your hearts have erred through overweening greed,
For ye have raised your palaces to Saturn,
And camels bear your treasuries' keys. Besides
The treasures ye have mighty hosts with coats
Of mail from 'Ád and Rúman helms. Ye lead
Hosts everywhere unjustly and allow not
Your swords to rest. The wilderness is all
One fount of blood: Christ led you not to this.
He was a poor, unfurnished man who earned
His bread by toil and lived on curds and milk
With butter for his only other food.
Now when the Jews gat hold of him and saw
Him friendless and without resource they slew him,

And having slain him set him on the gibbet
To make thereby his Faith contemptible.
His father was an ancient man, his mother
A temple-keeper and a trier out
Of good and ill.* Grown ardent and desirous
Of knowledge, eloquent, instructed, mindful,
He made withal disciples by his teaching,
And compassed in his youth his will by shrewdness.
Thou sayest that he was God's son and smiled
When slain upon the gibbet!* At such things
The sage doth smile. If thou art wise fear God,
Who hath no need of consort and of son,
And unto whom all mysteries are clear.
Why turn'st thou from the Faith of Gaiúmart,
The path and precedent of Tahmúras,
Which tell us that the Judge of earth is One,
And that our only course is serving Him?
The experienced thane and worshipper of God,
When muttering prayer he taketh in his hand
The sacred twigs, may taste no drop of water
Albeit for very thirst he dream thereof;
He trusteth God upon the day of battle,
And asketh not cold water in the fight.
Withal he taketh for his cynosure
The highest element which is above
Earth, air, and water. Our Sháhs barter not
Their Faith but list to Him, the Lord of all.
They joy not in dínárs and gems but seek
To make their name and mark by justice only,
By gifts of lofty palaces or joying
The hearts of mourners. Fourthly, they pronounce
None wise but one that on the day of battle
Doth veil the bright sun's face with dust and guardeth
The land from foes. Be curses his, not blessings,
That seeketh from religion aught but right.”
When Cæsar heard this he approved; the words
Seemed profitable to him, and he said:—
“The Maker made thee foremost of the great;
One needs must hearken to thy pure discourse.
Thou hast the key that openeth the door
Of mysteries. The head of one with liege
Like this is higher than the moon's own crown.”
Then from his treasury he bade to bring
Dínárs and drachms and crown magnifical,
Bestowed them on Kharrád, son of Barzín,
And uttered many praises: “Cultured be
The country of Írán,” he said, “through thee.”