Correspondence between Vahrām IV and Husrav II

pārsīg

— Vahrām ō Husrav:

az Vahrām, yazdānfrī, vānīdār, xvarrahumand, sāstārān dušmen, vazurgān šahrab, spāhsālār ī Ērānšahr, xradīg, pādixšāy, yazdānperist, anikōh, āzād, farrox, zīr, arzumand, rāyēnīdār, dūrmenišn, carb, mardōmdōst, ō Husrav ī Ohrmazdān:

hān cē az tō nihang ud āhōgumand xrad nibišt ēstād ō dast ī man rasīd; u-m hān-z ī-t vistār-kunišnīhā abāg frestīd ēstād, nē pedīrift. cē nē fravardag ī šāhagān ud nē-z dāšnīhā ī-t frestīd hend, andar amāh nē sazāg, nāmcištīhādar ēd rāy cē-t vizīnišn ī abar xvadāyīh ī Ērānšahr anēvēnīhā [būd ēsted], ud nē vazurgān nē-z āmādagān jādag ī tō vizīr kird, [ud] ō avēšān anešnāsān ud vēsān nē peyvast hend.

ēg, dā kū andar bann ī anāgīh ī-t pidar mā ōftāy, dīdēm abar abēzag gāh bē hil, ud az gāh ī xvadāyīh bē ānām! ud avēšān kē abāg tō hamdādestān ud aōn ceōn tō ayārvand, ōh abāz ō bann bē kunišn! cē tū nē pādixšāy kū anākkirdārān adādestānīhā az pādifrāh ī-šān dādīdā sazed, višādan.

pas az hān ī-t ēdōn kird, pēš amāh āy dā andar zamān ō pāygōs-ē ī ped Ērānšahr šahrab bavāy.

ped drūd, hān cē-t sūdumand rāy ušiyārān bē handēš; ka juttar, ceōn-t niyāgān anast bavāy.

English

— Vahrām to Husrav:

Baram, beloved of the gods, conqueror, pre-eminent, enemy of tyrants, satrap of grandees, leader of the Persian force, prudent, commanding, god-fearing, irreproachable, noble, fortunate, shrewd, venerable, politic, provident, gentle, humane, to Chosroes the son of Hormisdas.

I have received what was written by your defective and minimal intelligence and I have not accepted what was dispatched by your brazen enterprise: for you should not have used either royal letters or gifts in dealing with us, especially since your election has come upon the Persian state in such an irregular way and the noble and distinguished did not take part in the voting along with the unranked and lower-born.

So, lest you encounter your father's dangers, lay down the crown in the holy places and withdraw from the royal places; while those caught in the transgression, whose daring has been like your own, must again be put away in prison. For it is not a prerogative of your power to release without investigation malefactors from the punishment appropriate to them under the laws.

When you have done this, come to us and you will at once become a regional commander of the Persian state.

Farewell and think wisely of what is advantageous. Otherwise perish like your ancestor.

— Husrav ō Vahrām

az Husrav, šāhān šāh, šahriyārān sālār, dehān xvadāy, rāmšahr, mardōmbōzāg, andar yazdān mard-ē ī ahlav ud anōšag, ud andar mardān yazd-ē ī hupēdāg, xvarrahumand, hamē pērōzgar, xvaršēd ham-āsān ud šabān cašm baxšīdār, vizīdag cihr, šāh ī kuxšišn-pahrēz ī abaxšāyišnīg, ahlavān kārframān ud Ērānšahr puštebān, ō Vahrām ī ērān-spāhbed, amāh dōst;

amāh nišān-ē az ašmāh dūrnāmīg nēvīh vindād, u-mān ceōn ka-tān tandrustīh dānist, hušnūd būd hem. soxan ēcand andar fravardag būd hend kē az tō menišn abar madan nē tuvān. šāyed kū fravardag dibīr, ka mastōg az may ud ped būšāsp griftār, xvamn-ē ī abēkār ud halag sāxt hē.

bē, az ēd cē nūn draxtān brahm frāmuxt ēsted ud xvamnīhā abādixšāy, višēg nē būd hem.

amāh gāh ī xvadāyīh dādīhā pedīrift hem, u-mān ēvēn ī ērān-xvadāyīh nē višuft; u-mān avēšān kē az bann višād hend, abāz ō bann nē kunem, cē dāšn ī xvadāyān rāy nē sazed abzōrīhistan.

ud nūn amāh abar abāz-nē-hilišnīh ī dīdēm ēdōn ōstīgān hem kū, ka anī oxān-z bavend, ēg-imān xvadāyīh abar hān šahrān-z rāy xvāhišn baved.

amāh aōn ceōn ka xvadāyān rāy sazed nazd ō tō āyem dā-t ped soxan ayāb ped zēn hunsand kunem.

ka bahrumandīh kāmē, bē handēš abar hān cē abāyišnīg.

drūd-at bavād, kū-mān pahlum ayyār bavāy.

— Husrav to Vahrām

Chosroes, king of kings, master of dynasts, lord of nations, prince of peace, saviour for mankind, among the gods a righteous immortal man, a god most manifest among men, exceedingly glorious, victorious, who rises with the sun and bestows eyes on the night, distinguished in his ancestry, a king who hates war, bounteous, who employs the Asones[?] and preserves the monarchy for Persians, to

Baram general of Persians and our friend;

We have received a reminder of your far-famed courage and were gladdened to know that you are in health. In your letter were set out certain words which did not spring from your heart. It was perhaps the drafter of the letter who, drunk on much wine and enfolded by unmeasured sleep, composed vain absurd dreams.

But since at the present time the trees have shed their raiment and dreams are powerless, therefore we were not perturbed.

We received the royal throne rightfully, we did not overturn Persian customs, and we do not attempt to imprison again those saved from prison; for it is not fitting for a king's gift to be deprived of force.

Now, we are so firmly confident of not relinquishing the diadem that, even if there are other worlds, we expect to rule over those as well.

We approach you as befits a king, either persuading with words or subjugating with arms.

If you wish to prosper, take thought for what is needful. Good health to you who will be our best ally.'