Anooshirvan Dictates His Command

From D13.18, Anooshirvan Orders Nushzad’s Capture. It illustrates D13.18.1–12 (to D13.18.48):

D13.18.1
The Shah, sore-hearted, with a frowning face,With sighing lips began his words to trace.
D13.18.2
He first gave praise to Him who fashioned all,The heavens, time, and earth beneath His call,
D13.18.3
The Maker of the sun and moon on high,Of Saturn, crown, and farr that kings live by.
D13.18.4
“From worthless stubble to the elephant’s might,From lions’ strength to ants in dust, so slight,
D13.18.5
From smallest ant to Nile’s abundant flow,All creatures under God’s commandment go.
D13.18.6
His great command holds each created soul;No hand can ever wrest from Him control.
D13.18.7
I read the bitter letter that made knownThe harm my son has wrought against the throne.
D13.18.8
I heard of felons broken from their ward,Who now around Nushzad have drawn the sword.
D13.18.9
Better to quit the world than see this day;All born must die and pass from earth away.
D13.18.10
First Anooshirvan, then Nushzad must go;No earthly life escapes death’s overthrow.
D13.18.11
From gnat and ant to elephant in power,All meet death’s claw and beak at their last hour.
D13.18.12
If earth revealed the secrets in its breast,And showed the first and last within its chest,