The paladins of the Íránian host
All marvelled at the conduct of the Sháh,
And divers were those famous warriors' thoughts.
Now, when the illustrious Sháh resumed the state,
The chamberlain came to the door and bade
Remove the curtain and admit the host.
Then came with folded arms the mighty men—
The cavaliers and men of lion-looks—
Such men as Tús, Gúdarz, and gallant Gív,
Gurgín, Ruhhám the Lion, and Bízhan,
Shídúsh and Zanga, son of Sháwarán,
With Faríburz and Gustaham and others,
Who, having seen the Sháh and done obeisance,
Disclosed to him their secret thoughts and said:—
“O Sháh! O brave! O head! O cypress-tree!
O ruler of the world and chief of chiefs!
No Sháh like thee hath filled the ivory throne;
From thee both sun and moon derive their light,

Thou dost exalt steed, mail, and saddle, and give
To glorious Ázargashasp fresh lustre.
Not fearing travail, toying not with wealth,
Thou makest toils more numerous than treasures.
We paladins are all of us thy slaves,
Dependent for our lives on sight of thee,
Who hast trod all thine enemies to dust,
And in this world hast no one left to fear.
Thine are the troops and treasure of all realms:
Where'er thou settest foot thou labourest.
We know no reason why the monarch's thoughts
Have grown so gloomy at this present time;
This is thy season to enjoy the world,
Not to be sorrowful and fade away.
If now the Sháh is vexed by any fault
In us, so let him say that we may please him,
And fill our cheeks with blood, our hearts with fire;
Or if he tell us of some secret foe
All those that wear a royal crown themselves
Will pledge their thrones and crowns to take the head
Of that man off him, or to lose their own,
What time they don the helmet of the brave.
Let him inform us what the secret is,
And then devise with us.”

The noble Sháh

Replied: “O paladins, who seek the way!
I am not harassed in the world by foes,
My treasure is not squandered anywhere,
The army doth not trouble me at all,
Nor is there one in fault among yourselves.
When on his foemen I avenged my sire,
And decked the world with justice and the Faith,
No single foot of darksome earth was left
That had not read the inscription on my signet;
Return ye then your falchions to their scabbards,
And wield the goblet not the scimitar;
Instead of twanging bows make ready flutes
And harps with wine and colour and perfume,
For we have done what there was need to do,
And cleared the world of foes. For one whole week

Have I been standing in the sight of God,
Fulfilled with contemplation and good rede.
I have a secret longing which I ask
The Maker of the world to gratify,
And will declare it when He answereth,*

And by His answer maketh glad my days.
Do ye too offer praises unto God,
Entreating Him, who is the Source of power
For good and ill, to grant this boon and blessing:
Praise be to Him who hath revealed the way.
When this is done ensue all happiness,
And banish thoughts of evil from your hearts.
Know that the restless sky, discerning not
'Twixt fosterer and fostered, cherisheth
The old and young alike, and we are witness
Both to its justice and its tyranny.”
The paladins departed from the Sháh,
Their hearts distracted with their griefs. He bade
The chamberlain: “Sit down behind the curtain,
And let none, kin or alien, come to me.”
At night he went forth to the place of prayer,
Unclosed his lips before the almighty Judge,
And said to Him: “O higher than the height,
Thou who exaltest purity and goodness!
Vouchsafe to be my guide to Paradise
Or ever I shall quit this Wayside Inn;
May no perverseness turn my heart aside,
But let my soul among the blest abide.”