Thereafter to the great king tidings came
About the Khán, who was a valiant chief,
The Haitálians and the warriors of that folk,
And how he had o'erthrown them in the fight;
Moreover of the monarch of Chaghán,
Just seated by new fortune on the throne,
How he had taken that imperial seat,
And, while the brave and glorious warriors
Stood, one and all, before his throne, was ever
Engaged in consultation with his magnates.
The monarch of the world sat full of care
At these his wary emissaries' words,
Then in his palace had a hall prepared
For session, and the warrior-lieges came
With the high priest Ardshír, with Yazdagird,
The scribe, and with Shápúr. These counsellors,
And sages, all held session at the throne
Of Núshírwán, who said: “Ye archimages
Experienced and ye ministers of state!
I have discomfortable news—accounts
At once unpleasant and injurious—
About the Haitálians and what the Khán
Of Chín and marchlords of Túrán have done.
Troops gathered past all count from Chách, from Chín,
Khutan and Turkistán. They bore their helms
And vengeful scimitars for one whole week,
And never once unsaddled. In the end
The Haitálians were discomfited and most
Were slain or wounded. With renown like theirs—
A folk whose world is mace and partisan—
'Tis wonderful that they were worsted thus:
Defend me from a foolish general!
Had but Ghátkar had prudence and good sense
The sky itself had routed not his host.
The Haitálians, since their land is thus distraught,
Have sought a man descended from Bahrám Gúr,
Have placed him on the throne as their new king,
And done obeisance to him, one and all.
The Khán is posted on this side of Chách
In all his pride with treasure, host, and crown;

He is descended from Afrásiyáb
And from Arjásp, and dreameth of Irán.
His triumph o'er the army of Ghátkar
Exalteth him in head above the sun.
It is not well for us that we should be
At one in such a story with the Khán.
Kashán, the land wherefrom this folk of Chín
Derive their strength, pertaineth to our realm.
Our subjects are oppressed by them and yield
To them their persons, boundaries, and treasure;
What are your views herein, and how shall we
Deal with the Turkmans and the Khán of Chín?”
The prudent magnates rose and made reply,
First praised the Sháh, and said: “O fortunate
And prescient Sháh! all the Haitàlian march
Is very Áhriman, the folk thereof
Are double-faced and hostile to our coast.
They merit any ill that they may get,
Although the Sháh is right to speak them fairly.
Had we no grievance, nothing to avenge
In their case save the blood of Sháh Pírúz,
That noble man whom suddenly they slew,
And such a king—the lustre of the world!
May they joy not one day, for right from wrong
Resulteth never. Such is God's requital:
Ill cometh on the heads of all ill-doers.
Now if the Sháh referreth to the Khán
As one vindictive with an ancient grudge,
It may be that he hath ill counsellors—
Some tearful scions of Afrásiyáb.
Success too may have heartened him: no marvel
If thou dost fear him. As for the Haitálians,
And for Ghátkar's host, neither think nor trouble
Concerning them, but let thy shrewd mind turn
To what the kindred of Afrásiyáb
And of Arjásp, and what the Khán, who now
Is stablished on our bank, are doing. Thou art
The world's exalted king, both soul and wisdom
Derive their light from thee, and he is blest
Whom wisdom nourisheth. Thou art more wise
Than this great concourse and thou hast no need
Of sage or counsellor. The crown and throne
Become thee best of all the world, for thou
Hast Grace divine and might, thou fortunate!
Still if the Sháh shall go to Khurásán
He will have cause to tremble for his realm.
Hosts ever and anon will come from Rúm,
On seeing that our land is left unkinged,
Exact revenge upon the Íránians,
And leave not to Írán or field or fell.
None yet hath set his foot upon our land,
Or meditated evil on this realm,
Yet if the Sháh show fight the crocodiles
Will stir not in the streams for fear of him.”
On hearing what they said of peace and war
That master of the world agnized full well
The feeling that those sages had at heart—
That none of them had any wish for war,
Preferring rather feasts and pleasuring—
And answered: “God be praised, whom I revere
In both worlds, that Írán through quiet, sleep,
And feasting, hath forgotten how to fight!
Preferring peaceful times and banquet-hall
Ye have become indifferent to war;
Yet ease should follow toil, the body's travail
Hath treasure for its fruit; so in God's strength
Will we at this month's end prepare to march.
I will lead forth a host to Khurásán,
Will summon troops from all the provinces—
The men of name and warriors—and bind
The drums upon the lusty elephants.
I will not leave Haitálian or Khán
To call down blessings on Íránian soil,
But I will weed the world of all the wicked,
And by my largess and mine equity
Regenerate the realm.”

The nobles marvelled,

Applauded him, excused themselves, and said:—
“Triumphant Sháh, endowed with Grace and justice!
Oh! may this age rejoice in thy commands.
We chiefs are all thy thralls and bow our heads
To thy behest and counsel. When the king
Shall bid us fight he will not find us wanting.”
So when the Sháh sat with his counsellors
The conclave held debate a while thereon.
Thus was it till the new moon rose and sat
On its new throne. They saw the moon withal
Upon the Sháh's own face, and acclamations
Rose from his court. Whenas the shining Lamp
O'ertopped the mountains, and the earth resembled
A golden saddle-cover, thou hadst said:—
“They have set a topaz cup upon a robe
Of lapis-lazuli.” A shout and blare
Of trump arose. They bound the kettledrums
Upon the elephants, the soldiers trooped
To camp, and with them went the tymbal-players.
Then Yazdagird, the scribe, came to the court
With counselling archmages and Ardshír.
They wrote a letter unto every province,
To every man of name and every chief:—
“The Sháh hath marched forth with the host to war,
So out of loyalty forgo your feastings.”
The Sháh bade send a letter to the Khán,
He offered greetings too to Faghánísh,
And marched an army forth from Madá'in
That covered all the world except the sea;

Earth was all troops from mountain unto mountain,
And at their centre was the world-lord's flag.
The monarch led forth to Gurgán a host
That hid the sun. He rested for a space
O'er mount and meadow to pursue the chase.