In Section 48 of the Khosrow Nameh, Farid al-Din Attar describes Caesar ordering his royal scribe—whose skill is said to surpass Mercury, the celestial scribe—to write a letter to the King of Ispahan (Isfahan).

Key Themes

• The Royal Scribe as a Celestial Figure: The scribe's pen (kalk) is described with high praise, symbolically snatching the ball of excellence from Mercury (Atarid), the traditional astrological patron of writing and intellect.
• The Theological Preamble: Adhering to Islamic and classical Persian administrative conventions, the scribe begins the letter by praising God (nam-e haq). God is glorified as the transcendent ruler of both worlds, who fashioned the ancient celestial spheres and established intellect (kherd) as the foster-mother of speech (sokhan).
• Cosmic Sovereignty: The preamble outlines God's absolute oneness, grace, and ultimate control over creation, including the alternation of night and day, the animation of souls, and t...