In Cæsar's palace was a belvedere
As lofty as his own resplendent throne,
And on the riding-ground both sons-in-law
Were wont to entertain his gladsome heart
With polo, javelin-play, and archery,
And wheeling to display their horsemanship;
Thou wouldst have said: “They are consummate
riders.”
It came to pass at length that Katáyún,
Who always took the lead, came to Gushtásp,

And said: “O thou that sittest moodily!
Why is it that thy heart is plunged in grief?
There are two chieftains in the land of Rúm,
Enjoying treasures, crowns, and diadems;
One slew the dragon mid no little peril,
And never showed his back, the other rent
The wolf's hide; Rúm is ringing with his fame.
Now on the riding-ground these two send dust
To heaven! Go see, for Cæsar will be there:
It may perchance relieve thy melancholy.”
Gushtásp replied: “My beauty! what remembrance
Or interest can Cæsar have in me?
He keepeth thee and me outside the city,
How then should he be friendly if we meet?
Yet notwithstanding if it be thy counsel
I will not disregard it, O my guide!”
Gushtásp bade put the saddle on a steed
That rolled the earth up under it. He came
To Cæsar's riding-ground and watched the polo,
Then asking for a stick and ball he cast
The ball amid the throng and urged his steed;
The warriors paused, not one could see the ball,
His stroke had made it vanish in mid air!
How could the cavaliers recover it?
Not one was minded to renew the game,
The Rúmans' faces paled and all was din
And clamour. Then they turned to archery.
Some gallant cavaliers advanced, and when
Gushtásp the hero saw them, “Now,” he said,
“Must I display my prowess.”

So he flung

The polo-stick away and gripped the bow.
Both string and arrow were astound at him.

When Cæsar looked upon that noble man,
With such a grasp, such shoulders, and long stirrups,
He asked and said: “Whence is this cavalier,
Who wheeleth on such wise to right and left?
Full many noble warriors have I seen,
But never heard of cavalier like that.
Call him that I may ask him who he is—
An angel or a mortal seeking fame.”
They called Gushtásp to Cæsar whose ill mind
Was troubled. Cæsar said: “Brave cavalier,
Head of the proud and coronal of war!
What is thy name? Tell me thy race and country.”
Gushtásp made no reply concerning this,
But answered thus: “A wretched stranger I
Whom Cæsar drave aforetime from the city.
When I became his son-in-law he banned me,
And no one readeth on his roll my name,
For Cæsar treated Katáyún with harshness
Because of all the world she chose a stranger,
Yet only followed custom in the matter,
And was disgraced albeit she did well.
Within the forest that pernicious wolf,
And on the mountain that ferocious dragon,
Lost through my blows their heads, to which emprises
My prompter was Híshwí. The teeth moreover
Are at my house, the blows that my sword dealeth
Are proof besides. Let Cæsar ask Híshwí;
The matter is still recent, not outworn.”
Whenas Híshwí had come and brought the teeth
He told to Cæsar what had passed, who framed
His tongue to make apology: “Injustice
Is over, youth! Now where is Katáyún,
My well-beloved? Well mayst thou call me tyrant!”
Indignant with Mírín and with Ahran
He said: “Things cannot be concealed for ever.”
Then mounting on his windfoot steed he went
To ask forgiveness of his prudent daughter,
And said: “O pure, well-fortuned child of mine!
Thou art my right eye in the world. My heart
Hath no wish but for thee. I prithee ask
Of him who is thy husband and companion
To tell the secret of his home and kindred,
For otherwise he will not speak the truth
To us.”

She answered: “I have questioned him,

But never saw him on the skirt thereof.
He talketh not before me of his secret,
And he is reticent to every one.
He answereth not with candour to my questions,
And only saith: ‘My name is Farukhzád.’
But I suspect that he is nobly born,
For he is fond of fight and valiant.”
Then Cæsar parted palace-ward and heaven
Turned for a while with matters in this stay
Until the morning when Gushtásp, whose head
Was full of wisdom, rose and went to him,
Who, when he saw Gushtásp, was mute but gave him
A seat upon the famous golden throne,

Called for a signet, belt, and jewelled crown,
Befitting princes, from the treasury,
And having kissed him placed it on his head,
Recounted his achievements in the past,
And said to those concerned: “Be diligent,
Both young and old! Do fully the commands
Of Farukhzád and not transgress herein.”
This order was dispatched on every hand
To all the ruling men throughout the land.