Thus passed the sennight, then the king prepared
Great gifts of Arab steeds, sheep, coats of mail
Withal, helms, maces, lassos, and dínárs,
With purses full of drachms, suits of apparel,
And things both great and small. They drew a list
Of lands and cities 'twixt the sea of Chín
And their own march; the region was in length
A hundred leagues, its breadth no man could measure.
For all that sovereignty in royal fashion
They made the patent out on painted silk,
Which with a golden throne and golden crown
The king sent to the house of Siyáwush.
He next prepared the hall of banqueting,
And those that came to it from far and near
Found wine, and tables ready spread, and cooks;
Folks ??at, and whatsoever each could carry
He took away with him to his own home:
The monarch's guests thus passed a week in joy.

He opened wide the dungeons' bolted doors,
Exulting as the favourite of fortune.
The eighth day Siyáwush with brave Pírán
Approached the king at dawn for leave to go
To their own homes. Both offered compliments,
And said: “O gracious worldlord! may thy days
Be ever joyous and thy foes' backs bent.”
Thence they returned rejoicing and their talk
Was all about the monarch of the world.
Thus for a year in justice and in love
The circling heaven turned and brought no care;
Then from the presence of the monarch came
A friendly messenger to Siyáwush,
And said: “The king saith: ‘O illustrious chieftain!
I have bestowed upon thee all the realm
From here to Chín: go round and view the lands.
In any city where thou findest case,
Contentment, and no more to be desired,
Abide in gladness and prosperity;
Stint not thy soul one moment of delight.’”
Then Siyáwush, rejoicing at his words,
Struck up the pipes and drums, and packed the loads.
A host accompanied him on the way
With arms and treasure, signet-ring and crown.
They fitted many litters and arranged
The curtains for the ladies. In one litter
The prince placed Farangís and, having loaded
The baggage-train, led forth the company.
They went with merriment toward Khutan
With all the famous men escorting them,
Because Pírán, that general favourite,
Was of that state, and Siyáwush had promised
To spend a month with him. The days were passed
In banqueting or in the hunting-field
Until the month was ended; then there rose
The din of drum at cock-crow, and the prince
Went to his realm, preceded by Pírán,
And followed by his troops. The news got wind,
And all the nobles sought their overlord.
They set forth from their homes with joyful heartș,
And, as the custom was, bedecked the land,
And there was such a bruit within that realm
That thou hadst said: “The earth is raised to heaven.”
Such were the din and blast of clarions
That thou hadst said: “All hearts leap from their
seats.”
They found one day a cultivated tract:
It was a goodly and well favoured site,
On one side mountains, on another sea.
Upon a third side was a hunting-ground,
Secluded, full of trees and rivulets—
A place to make the old heart young again.
Then to Pírán spake Siyáwush and said:—
“See what a noble site these fields afford:
Here will I fashion me a goodly seat
To be my heart's delight, a spacious city
Containing palace, hall, and pleasure-grounds;
I will exalt the buildings to the moon,
And make them worthy of the crown and throne.”
Pírán replied: “O thou of goodly rede:
Accomplish all that thy heart purposeth.
If thou shalt bid, according to thy plans
I will erect a moon-attaining seat;
I ask thee not for treasure or for lands,
And for thy sake reck not of time or place.
And Siyáwush rejoined: “O blesséd one
Thou bring'st the tree of greatness into fruit.
Thine are my weal and wealth; I notice first
In every place thy toil on mine account.
I will erect a city on this ground
Such that beholders shall remain astound.”