There was a certain Rúman hight Mírín,
Rich, noble, wise, and prosperous withal.
He sent a message unto Cæsar saying:—
“A man am I of rank, wealth, and renown.
Bestow on me thy daughter Dilánjám,
And give thy name and crown new life through me.”
“No more such marriages for me,” said Cæsar,
“For Katáyún and that ignoble man
Have stayed me. Now who seeketh such alliance,
Or wisheth to exalt his head before me,
Must carry out some mighty enterprise
That folk may call him brave among the great;
So will he prove both famous in the world
And helpful to ourselves. Let such an one
Go to the forest of Fáskún and bathe
Heart, hand, and thoughts in blood. There will he see
A wolf as huge as any elephant,
Of dragon-form and mighty as the Nile.
It hath two horns; its tushes are like boar's.
The elephants themselves dare not approach it,
But they, the lions, tigers, and the brave
Among the people, all avoid the wood.
Whoe'er shall rend that wolf's hide shall become
My son-in-law, my comrade, and my friend.”
Mírín said thus: “Within this noble land,
Since first the Maker laid the base of Rúm,
Mine ancestors have ne'er engaged in combat
Unless with chiefs and with the massive mace.

Now what with me would Cæsar? Speaketh he
Thus out of malice? I will practise craft,
And take all prudent counsel.”

So that worthy

Departed to his palace, and considered
The matter every way. He brought and set
Before him writings, tables of the stars,
And his own horoscope, and there he saw
Upon this wise: “At such and such a time
A famous man will come forth from Írán,
And by his hand three weighty enterprises,
That balk the chiefs of Rúm, will be achieved.
He will become the son-in-law of Cæsar,
A diadem on that imperial head.
Within the realm two wild beasts will appear,
Inflicting general calamity,
And both of them will perish by his hand:
He will not be afraid for all their might.”
Mírín had heard the case of Katáyún,
How she had mated with the bold Gushtásp,
And how Híshwí and that famed village-chief
Were both of them regarding him with favour,
So hurried to Híshwí, told what had passed
And of the wonders that philosophers
Of Rúm predicted would befall the land.
Híshwí replied: “Be pleased to tarry here
With us to-day in friendship and good will.
The man whereof thou speakest is a person
Illustrious mid the great, and all his days
He giveth to the chase, he heedeth not
The throne of him who ruleth o'er the West.
He came not yesterday to me to gladden
My gloomy soul, but presently will come
Back from the hunting-field and doubtlessly
His way will lie by us.”

He furnished wine

And boon-companions. Mid perfumes and flowers
They sat with golden goblets. Now when they
Had drained four cups that valiant cavalier
Appeared afar. The twain descried his dust,
And went to meet him on the field. Mírín,

When he beheld Gushtásp, said to Híshwí:—
“This man hath not his equal in the world!
He is a noble warrior by birth
To have such limbs, such neck, and excellence.”
Híshwí returned reply: “This noble man
Is lion-hearted on the battlefield.
His prowess, modesty, high birth, and wisdom
Surpass his looks.”

When he drew near, the twain

Advanced afoot dust-swift to welcome him;
Híshwí prepared a place where they might sit
Beside the water and then called in haste
To spread the board afresh and brought out wine
To have another bout with his new comrades.
When cheeks were flushed with rosy wine he thus
Addressed Gushtásp: “Great man! thou call'st me
friend
On earth, and knowest not another such.
Mírín the warrior—a man of name
And puissant—hath just appealed to me.
He is a scribe both learned and well-advised,
He taketh reckoning of the stars above,
Discourseth of philosophers of Rúm,
Of regions populous and desolate,
And furthermore is of the stock of Salm,
Can tell his ancestors from sire to sire,
And hath the scimitar that Salm was wont
To carry all his years. He is right valiant,
A gallant rider, and a hero-taker,
And bringeth down the eagle with his arrow.
He wisheth further to obtain distinction
By making an affinity with Cæsar,
To whom he spake; but when he heard the answer
His heart was verily perturbed thereby,
For ‘In the forest of Fáskún thou'lt find,’
So Cæsar said, ‘a wolf huge as a camel,
And if it shall be slaughtered by thy hand
Thou shalt be my most honoured guest in Rúm,

Shalt be a worldlord and my son-in-law;
Then all the world will yield to me my rights.’
Now if thou wilt assist us I will be
Thy slave and he will be thy noble kinsman.”
Gushtásp said: “Good! Agreed. Where is the
forest?
What is this beast that frayeth small and great?”
“It is a savage wolf,” replied Híshwí,
“Whose head is higher than a lusty camel's.
It hath two tusks like elephant's, with eyes
Like jujubes, and a hide like indigo;
Its horns are like two beams of ebony,
And in its rage it will bear off a horse.
Upon this quest full many famous chiefs
Have gone with heavy maces, but returned
Successless, worsted, and with melting hearts.”
Gushtásp replied: “Bring me that sword of Salm's
Together with a noble, fiery steed.
I call that beast a dragon not a wolf,
Do thou too deem it so.”

Mírín departed,

And chose a sable charger from his stalls,
With costly mail and Rúman casque; he took
That splendid sword of diamond-sheen which Salm
Had tempered both in poison and in blood,
Chose also many presents from his treasures,
And five of every kind of precious jewels.
Whenas the sun had rent its pitch-hued robe,
And left its bower, Mírín, the ambitious one,
Departed from his palace in all haste,
And reached Híshwí just as Gushtásp returned
From hunting, and Híshwí observing him
Went with Mírín to welcome him. Both marvelled
To see his charger and his scimitar.

Gushtásp, when he had looked upon the presents,
Chose for himself the steed and sword, and gave
Híshwí the rest which pleased his soaring soul.
Gushtásp arrayed himself as quick as dust,
And mounted on the charger with his bow
Upon his arm, his lasso at the saddle—
A noble cavalier and stately steed.
Híshwí went with him and Mírín withal,
The aspiring one, who had invoked his aid.
Their hearts were full, they hurried on and soon
Were hard upon the forest of Fáskún.