History of the Parsis : including their manners, customs, religion and present position : with coloured and other illustrations : in two volumes

CHAP. I.] VAZDEZARD. 15

ideas of taking (burdan), burning (sukhtan), and lamenting (nalidan), appeared so ominous of ill to the monarch and his officers that they all changed colour.

“What motive brings you here?” then asked the king, “and why has your nation taken up arms against us?” Noman Makarin, who was the spokesman of the deputation, replied: ‘“ Allah commanded us, by the mouth of His Prophet, to extend the dominion of Islam over all nations. That order we obey, and say to you, Become our brothers by adopting the Faith, or consent to pay tribute if you wish to avoid war.”

“The dissensions which have for some years troubled Persia must have greatly emboldened you,” said Yazdezard; “but we are now in a position to make you feel our power as you formerly experienced it, when the ordinary garrisons of our frontiers sufficed to stop your progress and to inflict chastisement. Mice and serpents are your food, and you have nothing to dress with except the wool of camels and sheep. Who are you that you think yourselves able to fasten on to our empire? Of all the nations of the world you are the poorest, the most disunited, the most ignorant, the most estranged from the arts which constitute the sources of wealth and power. If a foolish presumption has taken hold of you, open your eyes and cease to indulge deceitful illusions. If misery and want have driven you out from your deserts, we will grant