A ready scribe was called to whom the prince
Gave full instructions. First invoking God—
The Assuager of His servant's grief—he spake
The praise of wisdom, blessed the king, and said:—
“O king victorious and fortunate!
May time ne'er prove thine only monument.
Thou calledst me and I rejoiced thereat:
May thy seat be amongst the archimages.
Moreover thou didst summon Farangís,
And fill her heart with love and loyalty
But Farangís is ailing at this present
With weakness and the loss of appetite,
She cannot rise and will not let me leave
Her side (I see her lying 'twixt two worlds)
Although my heart desired to look on thee,
And thy words gave new lustre to my spirit.
When Farangís is well she shall become
The ransom of the monarch of Túrán;
Her sufferings are also mine excuse,
For I am privy to her pains and griefs.”
He gave the letter, when it had been sealed,
At once to evil-natured Garsíwaz,
Who boldly made request for three fleet steeds,
And rode without a halt both day and night.
He traversed in three days the long, hard road
O'er hill and vale, and on the fourth day reached
The monarch's court, a villain bent on ill.

Afrásiyáb, on seeing him thus pressed,
And full of hurry, questioned him at large:—
“Why hast thou come in haste,” the monarch said,
“Why didst thou make a journey of such length?”
Then Garsíwaz replied: “When fortune loureth
It is not well to put thy trust therein.
Now Siyáwush showed no regard for me,
Nor even came to meet me on the way,
Would hear no words, would not peruse thy letter,
But set me on my knees below his throne.
He had much correspondence with Írán,
And kept his city's portals shut on us.
What with a host from Rúm and one from Chín
There is a constant bruit within the land.
Unless thou actest promptly thou wilt have
Naught left but wind. While thou art hesitating
He will attack thee, and obtain both realms,
For should he lead his ar??toward Írán
What man would dare come forth to challenge him?
My purpose in forewarning thee is this
That thou mayst suffer by no act of his.”