Gurgín heard bruit of Rustam and, aware
That thus a key to loose his grief had come,
Dispatched this message: “Man of fortune, Grace,
And fame, thou Tree of greatness, loyalty,
And treasure, Gate of noble men and Bond
Of bale! if words of mine afflict thee not
I will address thee touching what I did.

Mark the behaviour of this hump-backed sky
In quenching wantonly the light within me,
And pointing out to me the path of darkness!
'Twas written thus, and what hath been hath been.
I will lie down in fire before the Sháh
If I may find forgiveness; all is over
With my hoar head if my good name be lost;
So, if thou wilt plead for me, I will go,
Swift as a mountain-sheep, along with thee,
And wallow in the dust before Bízhan
If I may win mine unstained honour back.”
When Rustam heard he heaved a deep, cold sigh;
The anguish shown and message sent perturbed him;
He grieved at that request so fondly urged,
And bade the envoy: “Go, return, and say:—
‘Insensate wretch! hast heard not what the leopard
Said by the deep stream to the crocodile:—
‘“If passion gain the upper hand of wit,
Then nobody will 'scape the clutch of it”?
The sage that quelleth passion hath a record
As of a noble Lion; thine hath been
An ancient fox's, yet thou didst o'erlook
The snare! I should not grant thy frantic wish
That I should bring thy name before Khusrau,
Yet, since I see thee in such straits and all
Confounded, I will ask him to forgive thee,
And lighten thy dark moon. Then, if Bízhan
By God the Ruler of the world's command
Escape, thou wilt be freed and save thy life
From Gív's revenge. Should heaven will otherwise
Deem life and person as unworth thy love.
First will I go forth on my quest and vengeful
In God's strength at the bidding of the Sháh,
But if I fail that man of prowess Gív
Will then take wreak on thee for his brave son.’”
Thus passed a night and day, and Rustam spake
Naught to the Sháh, but when upon the morrow
The sun displayed its crown and took its seat
Upon its silver-sheening ivory throne,
Came Rustam flying unto Kai Khusrau
To ask a boon of that victorious Sháh
While speaking of Gurgín, his fallen fortune,
And wretched plight. The Sháh said: “Chieftain
mine!
Thou wouldst then break my bonds and break with me,
Because I swore by throne, crown, Mars, and Venus,
And sun and moon: ‘Gurgín shall see but ill
From me unless Bízhan be freed from bondage.’
Excepting this ask of me what thou wilt
Of swords and signet-rings, of thrones and crowns.”
He answered: “Virtuous and famous prince!
If he intended harm he suffereth,
And is prepared to offer up his life;
But if the Sháh will not forgive him first
He will be outcast from the Faith and honour.
Whoever turneth from the way of wisdom
Will writhe for his ill-doing at the last.
Vouchsafe to call to mind Gurgín's exploits,
How he hath taken part in every fight,
And been a champion with thine ancestors;
If for my sake the Sháh will pardon him
His fortunes may be somewhat brightened yet.”
The Sháh, that Rustam might not plead in vain,
Released Gurgín from gloomy pit and chain.