With bloodshot eyes and vengeance in his heart
Gív went before the Sháh, blessed him, and said:—
“For ever fleet the world in joy, O king!
Thou blesséd, well-starred monarch! seest thou not
What hath befallen me? I had one son—
A youth who was my care both night and day.
I wept for fear of danger to him, burned
For fear of losing him; and now, O Sháh!
Gurgín hath come back with an idle tongue,
With guilty soul, and evil news of him—
My stainless and illustrious minister.
Gurgín hath brought a steed in disarray,
But not another token of Bízhan!
If now my lord will carefully consider
My case, and see me righted in the matter,
He will do justice for me on Gurgín—
The man that put this dust upon my head.”
The Sháh was troubled at Gív's grief, assumed
The crown in anger, sat upon the throne
With pallid cheeks in sorrow for Bízhan,

And said to Gív: “What is Gurgín's account?
Where saith he that he left his upright comrade?”
Gív told the tale about his gallant son
As given by Gurgín. Then said Khusrau:—
“Brood not nor fret; Bízhan is safe; be easy
And hopeful touching that lost son of thine,
For I but now heard from the archimages—
The men of wisdom shrowd of heart and famous—
That I shall lead the Íránian cavaliers
Against Túrán anon to seek revenge
For Siyáwush, and with mine elephants
Destroy that land. Bízhan will take the field
And fight like Áhriman. Depart in peace;
Good sooth, I greatly long for him myself.”
So Gív withdrew in tears, pale and distraught.
Gurgín, on coming to the palace-gate,
Found it deserted; all the paladins
Had gone with Gív lamenting for Bízhan.
Gurgín, his wicked soul fulfilled with shame,
Went in to audience. Having reached Khusrau
He kissed the ground and offered reverence,
Then laid the boars' tusks hard as diamonds
Before the throne and did obeisance, saying:—
“May Kai Khusrau be all victorious,
His life like New Year's Day, and may the heads
Of all thy foes be severed by the shears,
E'en as the heads of these wild boars.”

The Sháh

Gazed on the tusks and asked: “How went the
journey?
Where did Bízhan part company? What evil
Hath Áhriman wrought on him?”

When Khusrau

Spake thus Gurgín stood all confused with tongue
That idly blabbed and guilty soul. His cheeks
Were pale, he shook in terror of the Sháh,
And babbled much and incoherently
Of forest, onager, and pasturage.
Now, when his words accorded not, Khusrau,
Perceiving him malicious and confused,
Was wroth and drave him out, upbraiding him,
And saying: “Hast thou heard not Zál's old saw:—
‘To meet the offspring of Gúdarz in strife
Would put a period to a lion's life?’
But for the shame, and that thou wouldest make
An evil ending in the sight of God,
I would bid Áhriman pluck off thy head,
As 'twere a bird's.”

Then said he to a smith:—

“Forge heavy shackles with the rivets strong.”
He had Gurgín's feet fettered presently,
Because the knave is schooled by bonds, and said
To Gív: “Compose thyself. Do thou be instant
In seeking for him everywhere, and I
Will send out many cavaliers well armed
In all directions to obtain some news
About him, and be prompt and vigilant;
But, if I hear not soon, still keep thy wits
And wait for Farwardín, until the sun—
The object of our worship—groweth bright.
When roses glad the garden, breezes strew
The petals o'er thy head, when earth is donning
Its robe of green, and zephyrs sigh o'er roses,
Then shall my pious prayers rise to Urmuzd—
Prayers that our God commandeth. Then will I
Call for the cup that mirroreth the world,
And stand before God's presence. In that cup

I shall behold the seven climes of earth,
Both field and fell and all the provinces,
Will offer reverence to mine ancestors,
My chosen, gracious lords, and thou shalt know
Where thy son is. The cup will show me all.”
Gív was rejoiced, ceased from solicitude,
And smiling did obeisance, saying thus:—
“May time and earth ne'er be deprived of thee!
May heaven above attend thy will, and may
No ill befall thee from the evil eye.”
When Gív had gone the Sháh sent cavaliers
To search in every quarter for Bízhan;
In all Írán and all Túrán they sought
For traces of him, but discovered naught.