vast multitude of people, until his kingdom was nearly emptied of landowners (dihqans), officials, scribes, commanders, nobles, clients, and soldiers.

While he was persisting in this, and as the time of his travel to this hall drew near to do what he usually did—for he would travel to it from al-Mada'in and stay for one, two, or three days—when he was on his way, two days' distance from al-Mada'in, and there remained between him and..." this place only one day: he departed at the break of dawn, his processions and his titans marching forward. He followed in the rear of the group among his elite giants and the sons of kings. A man from his prominent stewards (qaharamata), called Hormuz Shahryar, said to him: "O King, today you are taking us to a dwelling where you find pleasure, delight, and mirth, but for others, there is only grief, sorrow, ruin, and strife."

The King [Khosrow] replied: "And how is that? Every year, when I travel to this place, I carry five thousand loads of silver (wariq), and the same of gold, and twenty thousand loads of brocade (dibaj), and the same of silk (khazz), and similar amounts of embroidered garments (washy), Egyptian linens (qabati), and others. I also bring one hundred thousand pack-mules (shahri) and the same of long-necked horses, and the same of mules.

I pour all of that into my kingdom, the army, and the people of the gentry (dihqans), and I return to the seat of my kingdom empty of all of