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Caesar Bows Before the Crown He Wronged

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):

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

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