Whenas the sovereign had spoken thus,
Zarír, the leader, and Asfandiyár
Unsheathed their scimitars forthwith, and cried:—
“If there be any one in all the world
Who holdeth not Zarduhsht to be a prophet,
Is disobedient and approacheth not
The courtgate of the glorious Sháh, nor girdeth
His loins before the splendid throne, rejecting
The way and good religion, and refusing
To be a slave thereto, his life will we
Part from his body with our scimitars,
And set his head upon a lofty stake.”
He that was hight Zarír, the Íránian leader,
A hero valiant as the rending lion,
Said to the world's king: “O illustrious!
If I may have permission from the Sháh
To give Arjásp, the sorcerer, his answer…”
And Sháh Gushtásp approved thereof: “Go to,”
He said, “arise then, give him his reply,
And make his warriors*

of Khallukh like gleeds.”
Zarír, with glorious Asfandiyár,
And with that prosperous minister, Jámásp,
Departed with stern hearts and frowning looks,
And wrote a letter to Arjásp the foul—
A fit response. Zarír, chief of the host,
Took it still open, bare it to the Sháh,
And read it out to him. The world-lord marvelled
At that sage general and cavalier,
And at Jámásp, and at Asfandiyár,
Then fastened up the letter, wrote thereon
His name, and called to him the ambassadors.
“Take this,” he said, “and bear it to Arjásp.
Henceforth perchance ye will not tread my roads.
Were not safe-conduct for ambassadors
Enjoined expressly in the Zandavasta,

I would have wakened you from drowsihead,
And hung you all alive upon the gibbet,
In order that yon worthless one might learn
That he may not exalt his neck with kings.”
He threw the letter at them, saying: “Take it,
And bear it to the Turkman sorcerer.
Say: ‘Thy calamity is drawing nigh,
The need for blood and dust hath come upon thee.
Be thy neck smitten and thy spirit wounded,
And may thy bones be scattered on the ground.
Next Dai, God willing, I will habit me
In heavy iron mail, lead forth the host
Against the country of Túrán to war,
And ruinate the realm of the Gurgsár.’”*