Now when the monarch's minister had finished
The letter, all the captains being present,
Arjásp rolled, sealed, and then delivered it
To those old sorcerers, instructing them:—

“Be prudent, go together to his palace,
And, when ye see him on the throne of state,
Both bow yourselves forthwith, and proffer him
The worship that pertaineth unto kings,
With eyes upon the ground. When ye are seated,
Look steadfastly upon his shining crown,
Deliver mine enlightening embassage,
Attend to what he sayeth in reply,
And, having heard the answer every whit,
Kiss ye the ground before him and depart.”
Then Bídirafsh, the vengeful, left the presence,
And bare his banner forth toward famous Balkh,
While with him fared Námkhást, his headstrong com-rade—
One to be shunned by all that seek for fame.
Arrived at Balkh they went toward the court
Afoot and, drawing nearer to Gushtásp,
Bowed down themselves before him on the threshold.
When they beheld his visage o'er the throne,
As though it were the sun above the moon,
They did obeisance, such as slaves would do,
Before the Sháh—the monarch of the happy—
Then gave to him the letter of the king,
The letter written in the Turkman*

script.

V. 1507

The Sháh, on opening the letter, raged
And writhed. He called his counsellor Jámásp,
The chosen chiefs, the captains of the host,
The experienced magnates and the archimages,
Then spread the Zandavasta out before him.
He called his Prophet and archmage, he called
Zarír, his well beloved, his general,
Who was his brother and the chief of all
The warriors, and then world-paladin
Because Asfandiyár, the cavalier,
Was still a youth. Zarír was leader, warden,
The refuge of the world, the horsemen's stay:
'Twas his to clear the earth of evil doers,
And couch his lance in battle. Said Gushtásp:—
“Arjásp, the ruler of Túrán and Chín,
Hath written unto me in terms like these!”
And he informed them of the scurrile words
Addressed to him by the Túránian king.
“What are your views herein,” he said to them,
“What do ye say? How will the matter end?
How very ill-advised was amity
With one who hath so small a stock of wisdom!
My race is from Íraj of holy birth,
While he is sprung from Túr, the sorcerer.
How then can there be peace betwixt us twain,
Although I used to deem it possible?
And now let him that is the most possest
Of reputation speak before the rest.”