On his departure Cæsar asked Gushtásp:—
“Why madest thou no answer to Zarír?”
Gushtásp replied: “When I was with the Sháh
What deeds I did both troops and people tell.
The best course is for me to go and hold
A parley with them. I will get for thee
All that thou wishest, and will make thy fame
Shine in the world.”

“Thou art more wise than I.”

Said Cæsar, “and canst best achieve our ends.”
Gushtásp on that bestrode his eager steed,
And, crown on head, approached Zarír his brother.
Now when the Íránian host beheld Gushtásp,
Luhrásp's most glorious son, they went afoot
To welcome him, but in distress and tears,

Yet thankfully for their long toils were shortened.
Zarír, of discord weary, came to him
Afoot. Gushtásp embraced his well loved brother,
And with his first words sought to make excuse.
They sat upon the throne in company
With warriors, chiefs, and great men of Írán,
And blest Zarír said to Gushtásp: “Mayst thou
Companion with the throne while life shall last!
Our father's head is hoar, thy heart is young.
Why dash the expectations of the old?
The throne is but affliction at his age,
He hath become a devotee of God,
And herewithal he sendeth unto thee
The crown and treasure; let thy hardships cease.
His words were these: ‘Irán is all thine own,
The throne, the army, and the crown are thine.
For me a corner of the world sufficeth,
Because the throne of greatness is another's;
Thy brother bringeth thee the glorious crown,
The earrings, torque, and throne of ivory.’”
Gushtásp rejoiced to see his father's throne,
And, sitting down upon it, crowned his head.
The grandsons of the worldlord Kai Káús,
And all the prosperous scions of Gúdarz,
Bahrám too and Shápúr,*

Rívníz, and such
As were of high degree, with brave Ardshír,
Son of Bízhan, who was their general,
A lion-taking chief, and all the host,
Hailed him as Sháh and named him king of earth,
While all the warriors stood before his presence
With girded loins. Gushtásp perceived their love
And earnestness, and sent to Cæsar saying:—
“Thy business with Írán hath been achieved,
For matters have attained a pass indeed;
Zarír and all the army are in hopes
That thou wilt come alone and feast with us.

We all will join in league with thee and make
Our souls the pledges of our loyalty;
So, if it irk thee not, come to the plain,
For fortune hath accomplished thy desire.”
The envoy, having entered Cæsar's presence,
Declared what he had seen and heard; then Cæsar
Bestrode without delay a windfoot steed,
And sped as swiftly as an autumn-blast
Until he reached the warriors of Írán.
He saw upon the ivory throne and crowned
With turquoise crown Gushtásp who, coming forward,
Embraced him tenderly, and spake at large.
Then Cæsar, knowing him to be Gushtásp,
The lustre of the Sháh's throne, praised him greatly,
And showed him all respect. They took their seats,
And Cæsar made excuses for the past
In great amazement at that wondrous fortune.
Gushtásp accepted all the monarch's words
And, having clasped his head in fond embrace,
Said to him: “When the sky becometh dark,
And it is well to set the lamps alight,
Send to me her who chose me for her husband,
For she hath borne exceeding pain and travail.”
Ashamed and weary Cæsar went away
To reckon with his own ill bent at large.
He sent to Katáyún a store of wealth—
A ruddy coronet, five gems, a thousand
Young Rúman slaves, both boys and girls, a torque
That was one mass of jewels fit for kings,
Five camels' burden of brocade of Rúm,
And, in the charge of all that wealth, a sage,
Who, having carried them before Gushtásp,
Accounted to his treasurer for all.
Upon the troops and chieftains of Írán,
Upon the scions of the mighty men,
And every notable and valiant swordsman,
Did Cæsar then bestow both arms and money,
With presents to the captains every one.
He oped the portal of the treasuries,
With praise to Him who made both earth and time.
As soon as Katáyún had joined the Sháh
The roar of kettledrums rose from the court,
The troops began to march toward Írán,
And horses' dust to overcast the sky.
The Sháh turned Cæsar's rapid charger round
When he had gone two stages on the march,
Made him retrace his steps with oaths of friendship,
And sent him Rúm-ward with good wishes, saying:—
“I will not while I live ask any tribute
Of Rúm; that country is a joy to me.”
He journeyed on till he approached Írán,
Approached the monarch of the brave. The Sháh,
On hearing that Zarír came with Gushtásp,
His brother, that fierce Lion, went with all
The chiefs, great men, and warriors of Írán
To welcome them. Gushtásp alighted quickly,
And homaged joyfully Luhrásp who seeing
His son embraced him, grievously deploring
The tyranny of heaven. Whenas they reached
The royal palace at their journey's end,
Like Sol in Pisces, said Luhrásp to him:—
“Look not askance, the Maker so ordained,
And thus perchance 'twas written o'er thy head
That thou shouldst be an exile from thy kingdom.”
Luhrásp then kissed Gushtásp and, having crowned
him,
Did homage to him and rejoiced in him.
Then said Gushtásp: “O Sháh! God grant that time
May never look on me deprived of thee.
Thou art the king; I am thy liege and I
Will trample on the fortune of the foe.
May all thine ends be prosperous. God grant
Thy fame may never perish, for the world
Abideth not with any one and each,
While in the body, hath full many a toil.”
Such is this fickle world! With might and main
From sowing seeds of ill therein refrain.
One day a man may be in want of bread,
Another day may be a king instead.
The righteous Judge, and only God, I pray
That from this world I may not pass away
Till in my goodly tongue I shall have told
This story of the kings in days of old;
Then let mine honoured body go to dust,
And my poetic spirit join the just.