According to historians, this poet was once guaranteed a monetary accolade by the current Head of State to which evidently was abjured solomnly to a lesser stake. What little he did receive apparently he gave to a liquor salesman. Who was this poet, what was the title of the masterpiece to which is currently honoured by a world peace agency, and can you provide his final line of damnation to that Head of State?

lanfranco

This is the 10th-century poet Ferdowsi, author of the great "Shahnama," now on UNESCO's list of important items of cultural heritage. His "curse," directed to Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni, was: "Heaven's vengeance will not forget. Shrink tyrant from my words of fire, and tremble at a poet's ire." The Maven once did some interesting work on illustrations of the "Shahnama". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdowsi Jun 22 07, 8:50 AM

peasypod

Ahhh, yes, I thought you'd get this one no matter what degree of 'syntactical convolution' I could muster... I may be able to get another ball-breaker in before my flight to Italy, but if not this could well be the last Golden Thingy until my return in early August. Now it's time to go parade my swimwear for Griff... Jun 22 07, 6:35 PM