ABSTRACT
Think of the day of death which closeth life, And how with death we are as leaves with wind. When thou art slack to act thou makest all Thy policy unsound. When envy swayeth The heart of man no leech can cure that ache. When passion mastereth wisdom is’t not proof Of madness ? Furthermore none honoureth The quarrelsome and talkative. The path That leadeth thee to guile is gloomier, To right is straiter. Skilful as thou art, If thou art lazy and perfunctory Thy work will turn out ill. Whene’er the tongue Is wedded to deceit it hath no lustre From heavenly fortune. Feckless folk resort To lying, and we can but weep for such. Whenas the Sháh is first to rise from slumber He will be safe from foes and hale of body. Be wise and have withal enough to eat, But more than this is anguish, toil, and greed. Whenas a Sháh is just and liberal The world is full of goodness and of peace, But if he thwarteth justice in its course He eateth colocynth and drinketh blood. All ye in this assembly ! hear what I Proclaim to you, learn it, observe it well, And all your years fare side by side with fortune : Full many a crownéd monarch have we scanned, And our choice is the path of right and wisdom ; Yet must ye listen to my minister, For good and ill appear not save through him.1 Whoever cometh to this court of mine With just cause whether in or out of season, No minister of mine will I approve That keepeth such a matter hid from me. As for the officers about my court,
And valiant cavaliers among my troops, As we stint not the stipend due to them So must they tender mine own name and fame. Let all be done humanely and uprightly C. 1620 Without defect of justice. Every one, That, being an Iranian, girdeth him To do his service in this court of ours, Shall have both treasure and kind words from us If he shall prove a shrewd and modest servant ; But if his underlings shall be oppressed, And he shall be unwise and fear not God, He shall be punished for his wickedness, And we should grieve not o’er the fall of one So despicable. Keep within your hearts The laws of holy God and fear not us, For He is King of kings, Lord of the world, Victorious, and One whose word is law, The Illuminer of crown and sun and moon, Who showeth us the way of righteousness. Lord of the world is He, the Judge of judges, And higher than the thoughts of every man. He hath created heaven, space, and time, And hath adorned our souls and hearts with love. He is the Guard of crown and lofty throne, And when thou seekest help will succour thee. ’Tis He hath fired your hearts with love of us, His will hath blinded, heart and eye, our foes. Well-being is all subject to His hest, All goodness underneath His providence. All from the stubble to the seventh heavenAir, fire, and water, and our gloomy earthBear witness to His being and afford Thereof a clear assurance to thy soul. Whate’er we praise is under His command, And all our worship dedicate to Him.”
