Heaven turned awhile with matters in this stay,
Concealed its purposes, and made no sign,
Till Cæsar spake thus to Gushtásp: “Great chieftain!
Consider wisely what I say; 'tis matter
Requiring thought. I will dispatch an envoy,
Experienced and noble, to Luhrásp
To say to him: ‘Thou hast without dispute
The treasures of the great and half the world.
If thou wilt pay me tribute for thy land
Both wealth and worship shall continue thine;
But if not I will send a host from Rúm,
Such that thou wilt not see the land for horse-hoofs.’”
“'Tis thine,” Gushtásp made answer, “to determine,
For all the world is underneath thy feet.”
There was a nobleman Kálús by name,
Wise, learnèd, well advised, and powerful;

Famed Cæsar called that sage and said: “Depart,
And tell the Sháh: ‘If thou wilt pay me tribute,
Perform my bidding, and submit thyself,
Thou mayest keep the Íránian crown and throne,
And thou shalt be a conquering worldlord still;
If not, behold forthwith a mighty host
Of Rúmans and the spearmen of the desert!
Their battle-shout shall rise above the plain,
Victorious Farukhzád shall be their leader;
I will make all your country desolate,
The lurking-place of leopards and of lions.’”
The envoy came as swift as wind; his head
Was full of wisdom and his heart of justice;
On drawing near the mighty Sháh he saw
The portal and the splendid audience-chamber,
And when the chamberlain was 'ware he came
With stately step before the monarch, saying:—
“There is an ancient statesman at the gate;
In sooth he is an envoy sent by Cæsar,
A cavalier with whom are many spearmen,
And seeketh audience of the Sháh.”

Luhrásp,

On hearing this, sat on the ivory throne,
And donned the crown that gladdeneth the heart,
While all the great men of the kingdom sat
Below him, happy in their high estate.
The monarch gave command to raise the curtain,
And introduce the envoy cordially,
Who, coming near the throne, called blessings down
Thereon, did reverence and, himself a man
Of wisdom and of justice, gave the message
Of noble Cæsar. At his words the Sháh
Was grieved and raged against this turn of fortune.
They had a splendid banquet-hall prepared,
And called for wine and harp and minstrelsy.
The Sháh sent tapestries of cloth of gold,
With raiment and with provand; but at night
Lay down distracted by anxiety,
“The spouse of pain and grief,” as thou hadst said.

Now when the sun sat on the golden throne,
And dark night tore its visage with its nails,
The monarch called Zarír who spake at large.
They cleared the hall of strangers, introduced
The envoy for an audience, and Luhrásp
Addressed him thus: “O man fulfilled with wisdom!
May thy soul have no other sustenance.
I will interrogate thee. Answer truly,
And pander not to guile if thou art wise.
Such puissance was not heretofore in Rúm,
And Cæsar was submissive to the Sháhs,
Yet now he sendeth and requireth tribute
Of every realm, demanding throne and state!
Ilyás, who ruled the kingdom of Khazar,
A warrior with the Grace, hath Cæsar taken
A captive, binding him and all his host.
From whom hath Cæsar learned the path of glory?”
The envoy said: “I went, wise Sháh! to ask
For tribute to the marches of Khazar,
And bare much travail in the embassage,
But no one ever questioned me in this wise.
Yet hath the Sháh entreated me so kindly
That I must not essay to misinform him.
A cavalier, who taketh with his hands
The lion from the wood, hath come to Cæsar;
On battle-days he laugheth at the brave,
In banquet he is mighty at the goblet.
In fight, in feast, and on the hunting-day
The eye ne'er looked on such a cavalier.
Upon him Cæsar hath bestowed his daughter,
The goodliest and dearer than the crown.
This cavalier hath made his mark in Rúm
By vanquishing a dragon; furthermore
A wolf, like elephant upon the plain,
Such that e'en Cæsar dared not pass that way,
He overthrew, prized out the teeth thereof,
And kept Rúm scathless.”

Said Luhrásp: “Truth-speaker!

Whom doth that lover of the fray resemble?”
The envoy answered: “Thou wouldst say at once:—
‘In countenance he favoureth Zarír.’
And further: ‘It is brave Zarír himself
In height, appearance, courtesy, and counsel.’”
Whenas Luhrásp heard this his visage cleared.
He showed much kindness to that man of Rúm,
And gave him many slaves and many purses,
So that on leaving he was well content,
But said the Sháh: “Give Cæsar this reply:—
‘I march against thee as an enemy.’”