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Bahram Burns the Ledgers of Arrears

Bahram Burns the Ledgers of Arrears

From D10.2, Bahram Pardons Iran and Remits the Arrears. It illustrates D10.2.28–35:

  • D10.2.28
    Then Bahram, friend of all, issued commandThat Gashasp, learned scribe, should take his stand.
  • D10.2.29
    With prudent Javanuy, chief of account,He came to calculate the tax amount.
  • D10.2.30
    The Shah commanded them to lift the loadOf all arrears the kingdom’s people owed.
  • D10.2.31
    They sought the counting-house to read each scroll,And went to Kayvan, master of the roll.
  • D10.2.32
    For he was expert in accounts and art,And knew the realm’s assessments part by part.
  • D10.2.33
    They summed arrears and found the total due,A mountain built from levies old and new.
  • D10.2.34
    They counted ninety-three million in arrears,In dirhams, debts accrued through former years.
  • D10.2.35
    He cleared the debts and burned each ledger-leaf;Iran rejoiced, its people freed from grief.

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