King Alexander, not being able to believe it, wrote a second letter,
mentioning this word, and despatched to King Darius another ambassador,
charged to deliver it. When King Darius, reading the letter of King
Alexander, came to this special word, he took a knife and cut it out,
then wrote a letter to King Alexander, in which he said: "The sincerity
of the soul of the King is the foundation of his realm and his
greatness. His words, therefore, should be faithfully transmitted and
reproduced by his ambassador. I have cut out of your letter a certain
word, because it was never pronounced by me. And if your former
ambassador were only here I would cut out his lying tongue even as I
have cut out the word from your letter."
When this answer of King Darius's was borne to King Alexander he read
it and summoned before him the faithless ambassador. "Why," said he,
"were you willing, with a word, to cause the loss of many men and
countries?"
"Because they showed me little deference and did not treat me well."
King Alexander said: "Foolish man! And you thought that we sent you to
look after your own personal interests, and neglect those of the
nation?" He commanded that his tongue should be torn out, and made a
proclamation, saying, "This is the fate of traitors who falsely report
the words of kings."
In the Kitab Tarykh the following is recounted: The Sultan Homayoun
sent an ambassador to the King of Khorassan. When this ambassador, on
his arrival in the country, had delivered the letter of the Sultan to
the King, the latter asked:
"How does your King conduct himself regarding his subjects? How does he
govern them?"
"The rule of conduct and the mode of government used by my King,"
answered the ambassador, "are to make himself loved by all his
subjects."
The King asked, "Of what nature is the affection of your King for his
subjects?"
"That of a mother and father for their children and grandchildren."
"In hard and calamitous times, how does your King conduct himself?"
"He shows that he cares not for riches, for the door of his treasury is
always open."
"In the daily receptions how does your King behave?"
"The receptions of my King resemble the gardens of Paradise refreshed
by sweet breezes and scented with the balmy breath of sweetly smelling
plants or like a sea filled with pearls and corals."