The good Pírán said to the prince one day:—
“Thou knowest that the king our sovereign lord
Exalteth o'er the dome of heaven his crown,
And that by night and day thou art his soul,
His heart and intellect, his might and wisdom;
If thou shouldst be allied to him by marriage
Thou wouldst increase in greatness with each breath.
Now since my daughter hath become thy wife
I tender all thy interests great and small,
And though Jaríra hath much charm, and thou
Didst choose her out of all, it would become thee
To take a jewel from our monarch's skirt.
Of his fair daughters Farangís is best:
Thou wilt see nowhere else such face and hair.
She bettereth the cypress-tree in stature;
Her musky tresses form a sable crown;
Her parts and knowledge pass her loveliness,
While wisdom standeth as a slave before her.
Thou mayst well ask her of Afrásiyáb.
Where is a beauty like her in Kashmír,

Or in Kábul? The noble king will be
Thy kinsman, and thy Grace and throne will shine.
With thy permission I will speak to him,
And thus win from him favour for myself.”
Then Siyáwush gazed on Pírán and said:—
“God's word must be fulfilled; none can withstand
Heaven's secret purpose. If I may not go
To see Írán, the face of Kai Káús,
Or Zál who was a foster-sire to me,
Or matchless Rustam—mine own jocund Spring—
Bahrám or Zanga son of Sháwarán,
Or Gív, Shápúr, or other mighty men,
If I must needs be severed from their sight,
And have to choose a home within Túrán,
Do as thou sayest and arrange a match,
But speak not of it save in privacy.”
While thus he spake he heaved a deep, cold sigh,
And filled the lashes of his eyes with tears.
Pírán made answer: “Every man of wisdom
Will let his circumstances rule his action.
Thou canst not scape the turning of the sky
Whence come our retributions, wars, and loves.
Grant that thou hadest friends within Írán:
Thou didst commend them unto God and leave them.
Thy house and home are here; the Íránian throne
Is not at present to be made thine own.”