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Spring Largesse and Willow Wreaths

Spring Largesse and Willow Wreaths

From D10.23, Bahram Instructs His Officials. It illustrates D10.23.55–63:

  • D10.23.55
    When spring arrived, the heralds cried at dawnBefore the court where royal signs were drawn:
  • D10.23.56
    “Let those with substance eat and give away,And count their food a blessing every day.
  • D10.23.57
    Let all the poor come straight to treasury doors,And take their portion from the royal stores:
  • D10.23.58
    Five weighed-out dirhams each shall now receive,With three full mans of old wine, when they leave,
  • D10.23.59
    Wine bright as gold or pomegranate bloom,To lift the heart and sweeten every room.”
  • D10.23.60
    The world made ready for delight and cheer;Through town and hamlet, joyful cries rang clear.
  • D10.23.61
    Two gold dinars bought each sweet willow wreath,While flowers bloomed in radiant light beneath.
  • D10.23.62
    One dirham bought a lone narcissus spray;No buyer grieved to pay that price that day.
  • D10.23.63
    The old grew young at heart in joy’s new light;The springs ran milk, their waters flowing white.

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