The chronicles of the Sassanids, the ancient Persian kings who extended their empire into India, the neighbouring islands and far beyond the Ganges, as far as China, inform us that there was once a king of this powerful kingdom whose family was considered the most perfect prince of his time. As much feared by his neighbours for his velvet and disciplined soldiers as he was loved by his subjects for his wisdom and prudence. He had two sons; the elder Shier-ear, the worthy heir of his father and endowed with all his virtues; the younger Shaw-zummaun, a prince of equal worth.
After a long and glorious reign this king died; and Shier-ear ascended the throne.
Shaw-zummaun, excluded by the laws of the empire from any share in the government and obliged to live a private life, was so far from being jealous of his brother's happiness that he did all his work to please him, and in this he succeeded without much difficulty. Shier-ear, who naturally felt great affection for his brother prince, gave him the kingdom of the Great Tartary. Shaw-zummaun immediately went and seized it and fixed the seat of his government in Samarkand, the metropolis of the country.
After ten years of separation, Shier-ear, eager to see his brother, decided to send an ambassador to invite him to his palace.
