When Rustam had cut off the vile dív's head
He mounted on his elephantine steed,
Collected all the herds in front of him,
With all the baggage that the Turkmans left,
And went off with the elephants and goods,
Illustrating the world. When to the Sháh
Came tidings: “Rustam hath returned in triumph!
He girt himself to noose that onager,
But he hath taken dív and elephant,
The elephant by land, the crocodile
By sea: the lions, dívs, and warriors
That counter him escape not from his sword!”
Khusrau prepared to go and welcome Rustam;
The warriors put their casques upon their heads,
And took the standard of the king of kings
With clarions, bells, and mighty elephants.
When Rustam saw the exalted monarch's flag
Advancing on the way to welcome him
He lighted from his steed and kissed the ground
Midst shouting troops and din of trump and drum.

The chieftains of the army went afoot
To him; the king of kings urged on his steed.
That chief of chiefs, the crown-bestowing prince,
Bade Rustam mount, and thus they reached the palace
With open hearts and mutual good-will.
Then Rustam portioned to the Íránians
The horse-herds, keeping Rakhsh as his own mount,
And sent the elephants to join the Sháh's,
Since Lions do not fare with elephants.
For one week there was feasting in the hall,
Wine, harp, and minstrelsy were in request,
While Rustam o'er the wine discoursed at large,
And told the Sháh the story of Akwán:—
“I never saw so fine an onager,
Such neck and limbs, and such magnificence!
But when my scimitar had cleft his hide
No friend or foe had pitied him. His head
Was like an elephant's, his hair was long,
His mouth was full of tusks like some wild boar's,
His eyes were white, his lips were black, his form
Was ill to see. No camel is so large
And strong. The waste became a sea with blood,
Which spurted, when I had beheaded him,
Up to the welkin and came down like rain!”
Then Kai Khusrau amazed put by his cup,
And gave God thanks for such a paladin,
Since none had seen such wonders—that a man
Such as was Rustam should exist at all
In all his manliness and mien and stature.
He said: “Unless the Lord had given me
A share both in His justice and His love
I never should have had a liege like this
With whom to hunt down dívs and elephants.”
Thus spent they two weeks joyfully; their talk
Was all of wine and banquet. On the third
The matchless Rustam purposed to go home
Victorious and glad. “I yearn for Zál,
The son of Sám,” he said, “and such desire
May not be blinked, but I will go apace,
And come back to the court. We must prepare
Fresh vengeance, for revenge for Siyáwush
Is not thus easily to be forgone
By taking steeds and herds.”

The world's great king

Unlocked the portal of his treasury,
Brought forth the precious jewels hoarded there,
And filled a cup with treasure. Of king's raiment
Five changes made throughout of cloth of gold,
With golden-girdled slave-boys brought from Rúm,
And likewise handmaids decked with golden torques,
With tapestries and thrones of ivory,
Embroideries, dínárs, and turquoise crowns,
All these the Sháh sent Rustam, saying: “Take
This gift with thee, but stay with us to-day,
And afterward make ready to depart.”
They spent the day together quaffing wine,
But Rustam was resolved to go at dawn.
The Sháh went two days with him and embraced him
At parting. Rustam cottoned to the road,
Khusrau returned. Well ordered 'neath his signet
The world became as he would have it be.
The ancient sky revolveth ever so,
At whiles like arrow and at whiles like bow.

The matter of Akwán with what befell
'Twixt him and Rustam endeth. Now I tell

The conflicts of Bízhan, and thou shalt hear
Of strivings that will ask of thee a tear.