The noble Siyáwush went with Pírán
One day to see the place whereof the sight
Would make the agéd young. It was delightful,
With treasuries everywhere fulfilled with wealth;
And this imperial seat pleased Siyáwush
More than all other seats of kings and nobles.
When they were leaving Siyáwush was sad,

And asked the astrologers: “Will this abode
Secure me Grace and fortune, or shall I
Regret what I have done?”

They all replied:—

“This place will not prove very fortunate.”
The prince was angry with the astrologers;
His heart was full of pain, his eyes shed tears;
His hand relaxed his swift-paced courser's reins,
And hot tears trickled down. Pírán exclaimed:—
“My lord! what is the cause of this distress?”
“High heaven.” he said, “hath filled my heart and soul
With pain and trouble, since what I amass,
My home, and treasury, will be my foe's
At last. Ill will be ill and I shall die.
The fairest spot in this world is Gang-dizh
Where by the Grace of Him Who giveth good
My wisdom and my fortune have not slept,
And I have raised the summit to the Pl??iads.
Still am I busy gathering works of art,
But when the place is decked, and precious things
Abound, mine own enjoyment will be short;
Another will be seated in this palace.
The joy is not for me, or for my child,
Or hero of my race. My life will close
Ere long; I shall not want a hall or palace.
Afrásiyáb will have this for his throne,
And death will overtake me for no fault
Of mine. Such is the mystéry of heaven
With its vicissitudes of joy and grief!”

Pírán replied: “My lord! encourage not
Vain thoughts, Afrásiyáb safe-guardeth thee,
And on thy finger is a royal signet.
I also, while my soul is in my body,
Will strive to keep my faith to thee unbroken;
I will not let the wind pass over thee.
Or breezes tell the hairs upon thy head.”
Then Siyáwush: “O honourable man!
I see that honour is thy one desire.
Thou knowest all the secrets that I have,
Thou who art shrewd of heart and sound of limb!
Now will I tell thee by the Grace of God
What I have learned of heaven's purposes,
And advertise thee what will be hereafter
When I am gone from halls and palaces,
So that thou mayst not, seeing such, exclaim:—
‘Why were they not disclosed to Siyáwush?’
Pírán, thou warrior exceeding wise!
Hear what I say; no lengthy time will pass
Ere by the hand of our shrewd-hearted monarch
I shall, though guiltless, cruelly be slain.
Another will possess this crown and throne.
Thou wilt prove just and true, but heaven's purpose
May not be thwarted. By a slanderer's words,
And evil fate, my blameless head will suffer.
Írán will be in conflict with Túrán,
Revenge will make life wretched, and the earth
Will be in travail through its length and breadth;
The scimitar of feud will rule the age.
Thou wilt see many standards from Írán
Approach Túrán—red, yellow, black, and violet—
With ravaging and bearing off of spoil,
And scattering of treasures. Provinces
In plenty will be trampled underfoot
Of horses, and the streams of water fouled.
The monarch of Túrán will then repent
Both of his words and works, but penitence
Will not avail when homesteads are in flames.
Both here and in Írán will be the din
Of war, and my blood will convulse the world.
Thus hath the Almighty written in the sky
By Whose decree seed sown will bear its fruit.…
Come, let us give ourselves to joy and feast:
When it is time for us to pass we pass.
Why set thy heart upon this Wayside Inn?
Why toy with treasure? Why complain of toil?
Our wealth will be another's. Why should one,
Because he is a king, enrich his foe?”
Whenas Pírán had heard and taken thought
His heart was filled with trouble at these words.
He said: “I have brought evil on myself
If this that he hath spoken be the truth.
I drew him to the country of Túrán,
And scattered through the world the seeds of feud.
I drew him to Túrán by mine own efforts,
And gave to him a province, crown, and wealth,
Not recking of the king's repeated warnings.”
And then his loving heart suggested this:—
“Who hath revealed to him these mysteries—
The motions and the purpose of the sky?
He surely must be thinking of Írán,
Of Kai Káús, and of the imperial throne;
It is the memory of happier days.”
Pírán with these words solaced his own heart,
And entered on no prudent policy.
The two discussed the future all the way,
Then lighting from their steeds they ceased from
talk,
And, having had a golden table dressed,
Wine, harp, and minstrelsy were in request.