
Caesar Bows Before the Crown He Wronged
From D8.1.7, Shapur Attacks and Captures Caesar. It illustrates D8.1.7.57–68 (to D8.1.7.69):
- D8.1.7.57He bade them summon Caesar to his stand,The ruler and commander of that land.
- D8.1.7.58The guard dragged Caesar out, his hand held tight,Distraught, as though his mind had taken flight.
- D8.1.7.59When he beheld Shapur’s imperial crown,From both his eyes the tears came streaming down.
- D8.1.7.60He pressed his blood-red face upon the ground,And blessed the throne and crown, bowed low and bound.
- D8.1.7.61He swept the earth with lashes, bending low,His chin pressed to the dust in grief and woe.
- D8.1.7.62The Shah said, “You are evil through and through,A Christian, foe of God in all you do.
- D8.1.7.63You give a son to Him who stands alone,Whose life no start or final end has known.
- D8.1.7.64You know no speech but falsehood, wrong and dire;Lies give no light, though burning like a fire.
- D8.1.7.65Where were your wisdom, modesty, and heart,When you, as Caesar, played so base a part?
- D8.1.7.66Why bind me in an ass’s hide with shame,And cast to dust my royal rank and name?
- D8.1.7.67I came to feast in merchant’s hidden guise;I brought no tabiras, no battle cries.
- D8.1.7.68You bound your guest in hide, then chose to fight,And led your troops to Iran in your might.
In the picture
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