[Sidenote: Persian sense of justice and equity.]
I have read in the Ain that it behoves the ruler to understand the jurisdiction of rightful justice, of justice which is not equity, of equity which is not justice, and to use his judgment with regard to evidence and eyewitnesses, and to refrain from doubtful matters. Since it is both justice and equity to kill a person for the slaughter of a person, and it is justice without equity to kill a master for the slaughter of a slave, and it is equity without justice to award the same punishment for a crime committed by a sane man as to one who was not in his senses. (p. 88).
And I have read in the Taj: Said Aberwez to his chamberlain; [and here follow very interesting instructions regarding the treatment which the chamberlain was to give to the various persons seeking an audience of the king.] (p. 74).
I have read in the Taj [here follows an address of a secretary to a king.]
[Sidenote: Speech from the throne.]
I have read in the Siyaral Ajam [one of the Arabic versions of Shah Nameh] that Ardeshir, when he was firmly established on the throne, gathered together his subjects and addressed them with eloquence exhorting them to love and obedience to himself, and warning them against sin and dividing the people into four classes, upon which those present made obeisance and their spokesman addressed the king as follows. [Here follows one of those typical speeches of which we have so many in Shah Nameh, and which leaves no doubt that the originals of them were composed in Pahlavi and that they were almost literally translated.]
JAHIZ.
KITAB-AL-BAYAN VA-AL-TABAYYIN.
(Egyptian Edition.)