وَإِنِّيAnd indeed Iوَقَيْساًand Qaysكَالْمُسَمِّنِis like the one who fattensكَلْبَهُhis dog......فَخَدَّشَهُso it scratched himأَنْيَابُهُwith its fangsوَأَظَافِرُهُand its claws.
And indeed I and Qays are like the one who fattens his dog... so its fangs and claws scratched him.
[مَحَاسِنُ[The Virtues ofالدَّهَاءِCunningوَالْحِيَلِ]and Ruses]
[The Virtues of Cunning and Ruses]
ذَكَرُواThey mentionedأَنَّهُthatلَمْnotيَكُنْthere wasفِيamongمُلُوكِthe kingsالْعَجَمِof the Persiansأَدْهَىmore cunningمِنْthanكِسْرَىKhosrowأُنُوشِرْوَانَ،Anushirwan,وَأَنَّand thatالْخَزَرَthe Khazarsكَانَتْused toتُغِيرُraidفِيinسُلْطَانِthe dominion ofفَارِسَPersiaحَتَّىuntilتَبْلُغَthey reachedهَمَذَانَHamadanوَالْمَوْصِلَ،and Mosul.
They mentioned that there was no one among the kings of the Persians more cunning than Khosrow Anushirwan, and that the Khazars used to raid the dominion of Persia until they reached Hamadan and Mosul.
فَلَمَّاSo whenمَلَكَruledأُنُوشِرْوَانُAnushirwan,كَتَبَhe wroteإِلَىtoمَلِكِهِمْtheir kingفَخَطَبَand asked for the hand ofابْنَتَهُhis daughterعَلَىon the condition thatأَنْthatيُزَوِّجَهُhe would marry himأَيْضاًalsoابْنَتَهُhis daughterوَيَتَوَادَعَاand they would make peaceوَيَتَفَرَّغَاand devote themselvesإِلَىtoسَائِرِthe rest ofأَعْدَائِهِمَا،their enemies.
So when Anushirwan came to power, he wrote to their king and asked for the hand of his daughter, on the condition that he would also marry him his daughter, and that they would make peace and devote themselves to the rest of their enemies.
فَأَجَابَهُSo he answered himإِلَىtoذَلِكَ،that,وَعَمَدَand Anushirwan proceededأُنُوشِرْوَانُtoإِلَىtoجَارِيَةٍa slave girlمِنْfrom amongجَوَارِيهِhis slave girlsنَفِيسَةٍpreciousفَزَفَّهَاand sent her as a brideإِلَىtoصَاحِبِthe ruler ofالْخَزَرِthe Khazarsوَأَهْدَىand sent as a giftمَعَهَاwith herمَاwhatيُشْبِهُresemblesأَنْthat whichيُهْدَىis given as a giftمَعَwithبَنَاتِdaughters ofالْمُلُوكِkingsوَزَفَّand sent as a brideصَاحِبُthe ruler ofالْخَزَرِthe KhazarsإِلَىtoأُنُوشِرْوَانَAnushirwanابْنَتَهُ،his daughter.
So he agreed to that. Anushirwan then selected a precious slave girl from among his maidens and sent her as a bride to the ruler of the Khazars, sending along with her gifts befitting the daughters of kings, and the ruler of the Khazars sent his daughter as a bride to Anushirwan.
فَلَمَّاSo whenوَصَلَتْshe arrivedإِلَيْهِto himقَالَhe saidلِوُزَرَائِهِ:to his ministers:اكْتُبُواWriteإِلَىtoصَاحِبِthe ruler ofالْخَزَرِthe Khazarsلَوْthat ifالْتَقَيْنَاwe metوَأَكَّدْنَاand confirmedالْمَوَدَّةَthe affectionبَيْنَنَا،between us.
So when she arrived to him, he said to his ministers: Write to the ruler of the Khazars suggesting that we meet and strengthen the bonds of affection between us.
فَأَجَابَهُSo he answered himإِلَىtoذَلِكَthatوَوَعَدَهُand appointed for himمَوْضِعَthe place ofالدَّرْبِ،the Pass.
So he agreed to that and appointed the place of the Pass for the meeting.
فَالْتَقَيَاSo they metفَكَانَاand they used toيَخْلُوَانِspend time in privateفِيinلَذَاتِهِمَا،their pleasures.
So they met and used to spend private time enjoying themselves.
ثُمَّThenإِنَّindeedأُنُوشِرْوَانَAnushirwanأَمَرَcommandedقَائِداًa commanderمِنْfrom amongقُوَّادِهِhis commandersأَنْtoيَخْتَارَchooseثَلَاثَمِائَةِthree hundredرَجُلٍmenمِنْfromأَشَدِّthe bravest ofأَصْحَابِهِhis companionsفَإِذَاand whenهَدَأَتِcalmed downالْعُيُونُthe eyes (people fell asleep)أَغَارَhe should raidفِيinنَاحِيَةٍa quarterمِنْofعَسْكَرِthe camp ofالْخَزَرِ،the Khazars.
Then Anushirwan ordered one of his commanders to choose three hundred of his bravest men, and when people fell asleep, to raid a section of the Khazar camp.
فَفَعَلَSo he didذَلِكَ،that.
So he did that.
فَلَمَّاSo whenأَصْبَحَmorning cameبَعَثَsentإِلَيْهِto himصَاحِبُthe ruler ofالْخَزَرِ:the Khazars:مَاWhat isهَذَاthisيَنْهَبُplunderingعَسْكَرِيmy campالْبَارِحَةَ؟last night?
When morning came, the ruler of the Khazars sent to him: What is this plundering of my camp last night?
فَأَنْكَرَSo he deniedذَلِكَthatوَقَالَ:and said:لَمْNotتُؤْتَwere you attackedمِنْfromقِبَلِي.my side.
So he denied it and said: You were not attacked from my side.
فَأَمْهَلَهُSo he gave him respite forأَيَّاماًdaysثُمَّthenعَادَhe returnedإِلَىtoمِثْلِهَا،the like of it.
He gave him respite for a few days, then repeated it.
فَفَعَلَSo he didذَلِكَthatثَلَاثَthreeمَرَّاتٍtimesفِيinكُلِّeveryذَلِكَthatيَعْتَذِرُapologizesإِلَيْهِto himأُنُوشِرْوَانُAnushirwanوَيَسْأَلُهُand asks himالْبَحْثَto investigateفَيَبْحَثُso he investigatesفَلَاand does notيَقِفُfindعَلَىuponشَيْءٍ،anything.
He did that three times, and each time Anushirwan would apologize to him and ask him to investigate, and he would investigate but find nothing.
فَلَمَّاSo whenطَالَit took too longذَلِكَthatدَعَاsummonedصَاحِبُthe ruler ofالْخَزَرِthe Khazarsبِقَائِدٍa commanderمِنْfromقُوَّادِهِhis commandersوَأَمَرَهُand ordered himبِمِثْلِwith the like ofذَلِكَ،that.
When this took too long, the ruler of the Khazars summoned one of his commanders and gave him a similar order.
فَلَمَّاSo whenأَصْبَحَmorning cameبَعَثَsentإِلَيْهِto himأُنُوشِرْوَانُ:Anushirwan:مَاWhat isهَذَاthisأَتَسْتَبِيحُyou are pillagingعَسْكَرِيmy campالْبَارِحَةَ؟last night?
When morning came, Anushirwan sent to him: What is this? You are pillaging my camp last night!
فَأَرْسَلَSo he sentإِلَيْهِ:to him:مَاHowأَسْرَعَquickمَاwasضَجِرْتَ،your impatience,قَدْindeedفُعِلَit was doneبِعَسْكَرِيto my campثَلَاثَthreeمَرَّاتٍtimesوَإِنَّمَاand it has onlyفُعِلَbeen doneبِكَto youمَرَّةًonceوَاحِدَةً!time!
So he sent back to him: How quick you are to lose patience! This has been done to my camp three times, and it has only been done to you once!
فَبَعَثَSo sentإِلَيْهِto himأُنُوشِرْوَانُ:Anushirwan:إِنَّIndeedهَذَاthisعَمَلُis the work ofقَوْمٍpeopleيُرِيدُونَwho wantأَنْtoيُفْسِدُواcause corruptionبَيْنَنَاbetween usوَعِندِيand I haveرَأْيٌan opinionإِنْifقَبِلْتَهُ.you accept it.
So Anushirwan sent to him: This is the work of people who want to cause corruption between us, and I have a plan if you accept it.
فَقَالَ:So he said:وَمَاAnd what isهُوَ؟it?
He said: And what is it?
قَالَ:He said:تَدَعُنِيYou let meأَبْنِيbuildحَائِطاًa wallبَيْنِيbetween meوَبَيْنَكَand youوَأَجْعَلُand I placeعَلَيْهِon itبَاباًa doorفَلَاso that no oneيَدْخُلُwill enterعَلَيْكَto youإِلَّاexceptمَنْwhoتُحِبُّyou loveوَلَاand no oneيَدْخُلُwill enterعَلَيَّto meإِلَّاexceptمَنْwhoأُحِبُّ.I love.
He said: You let me build a wall between me and you, and I will place a door on it, so that no one enters upon you except the one you love, and no one enters upon me except the one I love.
فَأَجَابَهُSo he answered himإِلَىtoذَلِكَthatوَتَحَمَّلَand he set offوَمَضَى،and departed,
So he agreed to that, packed up, and departed.
وَأَقَامَAnd remainedأُنُوشِرْوَانُAnushirwanفَأَمَرَ،and commanded,فَبُنِيَso it was builtبِالصَّخْرِwith stoneوَالرَّصَاصِand leadحَائِطٌa wallعَرْضُهُits widthثَلَاثُمِائَةِthree hundredذِرَاعٍcubitsحَتَّىuntilأَلْحَقَهُhe connected itبِرُؤُوسِto the peaks ofالْجِبَالِthe mountainsوَجَعَلَand placedعَلَيْهِon itأَبْوَابَgates ofحَدِيدٍironفَكَانَand it used toيَحْرُسُهُguard itمِائَةُone hundredرَجُلٍmenبَعْدَafterأَنْthatكَانَit usedيَحْتَاجُto requireإِلَىtoخَمْسَةِfiveآلَافِthousandرَجُلٍ،men.
Anushirwan stayed and gave his orders, and a wall of stone and lead was built, three hundred cubits wide, until he connected it to the mountain peaks and placed iron gates upon it, so that it was guarded by one hundred men after it used to require five thousand men.
فَلَمَّاSo whenفَرَغَhe finishedمِنَfromالسَّدِّthe damوَقُيِّدَand was securedالْفَنْدُthe promontoryفِيinالْبَحْرِthe seaوَأُحْكِمَand was reinforcedالْأَمْرُthe matterسُرَّhe rejoicedسُرُوراًwith a joyشَدِيداًintenseفَأَمَرَso he commandedأَنْthatيُنْصَبَbe set upعَلَىonالْفَنْدِthe promontoryسَرِيرُهُhis couchوَيُفْرَشَand be spreadلَهُfor himعَلَيْهِ،upon it.
When he finished the dam, secured the promontory in the sea, and reinforced the matter, he rejoiced greatly and ordered his couch to be set up on the promontory and spread for him.
ثُمَّThenقَامَhe stood upفَرَقَىand ascendedإِلَيْهِto itوَأَغْفَىand dozed offعَلَيْهِ،upon it.
Then he got up, ascended it, and dozed off upon it.
فَطَلَعَThen emergedطَالِعٌsomething emergingمِنَfromالْبَحْرِthe seaسَدَّwhich blockedالْأُفُقَthe horizonبِطُولِهِin its entiretyوَأَهْوَىand headedنَحْوَtowardالْفَنْدِ،the promontory.
Then something emerged from the sea, blocking the horizon in its entirety, and headed toward the promontory.
فَثَارَSo sprang upالْأَسَاوِرَةُthe knightsإِلَىtoقِسِيِّهِمْ،their bows.
The knights sprang up to their bows.
فَانْتَبَهَSo woke upالْمَلِكُthe kingفَقَالَ:and said:مَاWhat isشَأْنُكُمْ؟your matter?أَمْسِكُوا،Hold back,لَمْdid notيَكُنِbefitاللَّهُGodجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّand Exaltedلِيُلْهِمَنِيto inspire meالشَّخُوصَto leaveعَنْfromوَطَنِيmy homelandاثْنَتَيْtwelveعَشْرَةَyearsسَنَةًforفَأَسُدَّto blockثَغْراًa frontier passيَكُونُwhich would beعِزّاًan honorلِرَعِيَّتِنَاfor our subjectsوَرِدْءاًand a defenseوَمُرْتَقًىand a vantage pointلِعِبَادِهِfor His servantsثُمَّthenيُسَلِّطَHe would give powerعَلَيَّover meدَابَّةًto a beastمِنْfromدَوَابِّbeasts ofالْبَحْرِ.the sea.
The king woke up and said: What is the matter with you? Hold back! God, Majestic and Exalted, would not inspire me to leave my homeland for twelve years to seal a frontier pass that is an honor for our subjects, a defense, and a vantage point for His worshippers, only to empower a sea beast against me.
فَتَنَحَّىSo stepped asideالْأَسَاوِرَةُthe knightsوَأَقْبَلَand approachedالطَّالِعُthe emerging creatureنَحْوَtowardالْفَنْدِ،the promontory.
The knights stepped aside, and the emerging creature approached the promontory.
فَذَكَرَThen mentionedالْمَوْبَذُthe MobadhأَنَّthatاللَّهَGodجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّand Exaltedأَنْطَقَmade to speakذَلِكَthatالْحَيَوَانَanimalفَقَالَ:and it said:أَيُّهَاOالْمَلِكُKingأَنَاI amسَاكِنٌan inhabitantمِنْfromسُكَّانِinhabitants ofهَذَاthisالْبَحْرِseaوَقَدْand indeedرَأَيْتُI have seenهَذَاthisالْفَنْدَpromontoryمَشْدُوداًbuilt upسَبْعَsevenمَرَّاتٍtimesوَخَرَاباًand ruinedسَبْعَsevenمَرَّاتٍ،times,وَأَوْحَىand revealedاللَّهُGodجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّand Exaltedإِلَيْنَاto usمَعْشَرَcompany ofسُكَّانِinhabitants ofهَذَاthisالْبَحْرِseaأَنَّthatمَلِكاًa kingعَصْرُهُhis eraعَصْرُكَis your eraوَصُورَتُهُand his likenessصُورَتُكَis your likenessيَبْعَثُهُwill send himاللَّهُGodجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّand Exaltedفَيَسُدُّto sealهَذَاthisالثَّغْرَfrontier passإِلَىuntilالْأَبَدِ،eternity,وَأَنْتَand you areذَلِكَthatالْمَلِكُ،king,فَأَحْسَنَso may God make excellentاللَّهُGodعَلَىinالْبَرِّthe landمَعُونَتكَ.your assistance.
The Mobadh mentioned that God, Majestic and Exalted, made that animal speak, and it said: O King, I am an inhabitant of this sea, and I have seen this promontory built up seven times and ruined seven times. God, Majestic and Exalted, revealed to us, the inhabitants of this sea, that a king whose era is your era and whose likeness is your likeness will be sent by God, Majestic and Exalted, to seal this frontier pass forever, and you are that king. May God grant you the best assistance on land.
ثُمَّThenغَابَit vanishedعَنْfromبَصَرِهِhis sightكَأَنَّمَاas ifغَابَit vanishedفِيinالْبَحْرِthe seaأَوْorطَارَflewفِيinالْجَوِّ،the air.
Then it vanished from his sight as if it had disappeared into the sea or flown away into the air.
وَسَأَلَAnd askedأُنُوشِرْوَانُAnushirwanعِنْدَuponفِرَاغِهِhis finishingمِنْofذَلِكَthatالسَّدِّdamعَنْaboutذَلِكَthatالْبَحْرِ،sea,فَقِيلَ:so it was said:هُوَIt isثَلَاثُمِائَةِthree hundredفَرْسَخٍfarsakhsفِيbyمِثْلِهَاthe like of itوَبَيْنَهُand between itوَبَيْنَandبَيْضَاءِthe White City ofالْخَزَرِthe Khazarsمَسِيرَةُa journey ofأَرْبَعَةِfourأَشْهُرٍmonthsعَلَىonهَذَاthisالسَّاحِلِcoastوَمِنْand fromبَيْضَاءِthe White City ofالْخَزَرِthe Khazarsإِلَىtoالْفَنْدِthe promontoryالَّذِيwhichبَنَاهُbuilt itأَسْفَنْدِيَاذُIsfandiyadhمَسِيرَةُis a journey ofشَهْرَيْنِ.two months.
Upon finishing that dam, Anushirwan asked about that sea, and it was said: It is three hundred farsakhs by three hundred, and between it and the White City of the Khazars is a journey of four months along this coast, and from the White City of the Khazars to the promontory built by Isfandiyadh is a journey of two months.
فَقَالَSo saidأُنُوشِرْوَانُ:Anushirwan:لَاThere isبُدَّno escapeمِنَfromالْوُقُوفِstandingعَلَيْهِupon itوَالنَّظَرِand lookingإِلَيْهِ.at it.
Anushirwan said: There is no alternative to visiting it and looking at it.
قَالُوا:They said:أَيُّهَاOالْمَلِكُKingإِنَّهُit isطَرِيقٌa pathلَاthat oneيُطْمَعُcan hopeفِيtoسُلُوكِهِtraverseلِمَوْضِعٍdue to a placeفِيهِin itيُقَالُcalledلَهُfor itدَهَانِDahanشِيرَ،Shir,يُرِيدُmeaningفَمَthe mouth ofالْأَسَدِ،the Lion,وَفِيهِand in itدَرْدُورٌis a whirlpoolلَاthat hardlyيَكَادُalmostتَسْلَمُsurvivesفِيهِin itسَفِينَةٌ.any ship.
They said: O King, it is a path that one cannot hope to traverse because of a place in it called Dahan Shir, meaning the Lion's Mouth, and in it is a whirlpool in which a ship scarcely survives.
قَالَSaidأُنُوشِرْوَانُ:Anushirwan:لَاThere isبُدَّno escapeمِنْfromرُكُوبِridingهَذَاthisالْبَحْرِseaوَالنَّظَرِand lookingإِلَىatهَذَاthisالسَّدِّ.dam.
Anushirwan said: There is no alternative to sailing this sea and looking at this dam.