When Kai Khusrau went forth to take revenge,
And sought to change the order of the world,
The throne and state departed from Túrán,
But his throne topped the sun because he leagued
Heaven and Írán together, and lavished love
Upon the noble race, the age renewed
Its youth and bathed his face in loyalty;
And though the prudent maketh not his couch
A torrent-bed though dry, yet for a while
The more part of the world acknowledged him
That sought to be avenged for Siyáwush.
One day he sat carousing in his joy,
And drinking to the warriors of the host.
His throne was ornate with brocade, a crown
Of gems was on his head, and in his hand
A jewelled cup of wine. Thus, all enraptured,
He listened to the harp. The nobles present
Were Faríburz the son of Kai Káús,

And Gustaham, Gúdarz son of Kishwád,
Gurgín son of Mílád, Farhád, and Gív,
Shápúr the brave, Tús, shatterer of hosts—
Head of the scions of Naudar—Kharrád,
And bold Bízhan. These loyal paladins
Had royal wine in hand. Inside the goblets
The wine was like carnelian of Yaman,
And in the midst were handfuls of dog-roses.
Before Khusrau stood slaves with fairy-faces,
Whose musk-black ringlets fell on skins of jasmine.
The banquet-hall was decked, and in the presence
Girt for attendance stood the chamberlain.
Approaching him discreetly from the curtain
An usher said: “Irmánians wait without—
Chiefs of the march between this and Túrán:
They fain would have an audience of the Sháh,
For they have travelled far to seek redress.”
The prudent chamberlain approached the throne,
Announced his tidings, sought the royal pleasure,
And introduced the envoys in due form.
They came before the presence of the Sháh
With tears and cries for aid; their arms were folded,
Their faces swept the ground; as they drew nigh
They said: “O Sháh triumphant! live for ever,
For thou art worthy of unending life.
We come for succour from a distant land,
Khán-i-Irmán, between this and Túrán,
And bring this message: ‘Ever live, O Sháh!
In every clime the succourer from the evil,
O'er all seven climes the king, and in each state
The help against the bad. Túrán and we
Confine, which is a source of bale to us,
While toward Írán there was a forest-tract—
Our present cause of trouble. What a wealth
Of cultivated lands was ours therein,
And fruit trees, our chief means of sustenance!
Now do us right, O monarch of Írán!
Because wild boars in numbers numberless,
With tusks like elephants', and big as hills,
Have seized on all those woods and meads, and put
The country of Irmán in consternation.
What mighty ruin have they brought on us
Both in our cattle and our growing crops!
The boars delight in rending with their tusks
The cultivated trees whereof we speak.
Hard stones will not withstand such tusks, and fortune
May be hath utterly abandoned us!”
Now when the Sháh had heard the suppliants'
words
He was much grieved and, pitying them, addressed
The exalted warriors: “Who among my chiefs
And mighty men is eager for renown?
Let such depart to yon boar-wasted forest,
And, all intent on fame and combating,
Behead them with his sword. I will not grudge him
My gems and other treasures.”

At his bidding

The treasurer laid upon the daïs a salver
Of gold whereon they showered mingled gems;
They brought ten steeds, whose brand-mark was “Káús,”
With golden bridles, trapped them with brocade
Of Rúm, and called the nobles from the throng.
“O men of name and worship!” said earth's king,
“What man will make my toil his own and then
My treasure his?”

None answered him a word

Except the son of Gív of glorious race—
Bízhan—who stood forth midst the warriors,
And called God's blessing down upon the Sháh:—

“Ne'er may thy palace see another master,
And be thy bidding done throughout the world.
I will adventure on this enterprise
At they command: I only live for thee.”
Gív, who was standing by, marked with displeasure
His son's words, called down blessings on the Sháh,
Then took Bízhan to task: “What boyishness
Is this, and this conceit of thine own might?
A youth may have both wit and native worth,
But he must train to win accomplishment;
He must exhaust all kinds of good and ill,
Must taste of every salt and bitter. Go not
By paths that thou hast never trodden or brag
Before the Sháh so recklessly.”

Bízhan,

Shrewd, though impulsive, and of sleepless fortune,
Replied in anger: “My victorious sire!
Impute not weakness to me in thy thoughts,
But bear with what I tell thee: I am young
In enterprise but I am old in counsel,
And I, Bízhan, who am the son of Gív,
The army-shatterer, will behead the boars.”
The Sháh rejoiced thereat, invoked God's blessing,
Bade him depart, and said: “Thou man of worship!
Thou art a buckler ever 'gainst all ill.
The lord that hath such lieges as thou art
Would be a fool to fear a foe.”

He then

Said to Gurgín son of Mílád: “Bízhan
Is ignorant of the road toward Irmán,
So bear him company with mule and steed
To show the way and be his help in need.”