When Kai Khusrau appeared before the Sháh
The world was filled with colour, seent, and beauty,
And everywhere in festal trim. The doors,
The roofs, and walls were full of precious things,
While minstrels had been stationed in all quarters,
And there were wine, rose-water, musk, and saffron.
The horses' manes were drenched with musk and wine,
While sweets and drachms were scattered under foot.
The tears coursed down the cheeks of Kai Káús
When he beheld the visage of Khusrau.
He came down from his throne, approached the prince,
And with his face caressed the prince's head
And eyes. The youthful atheling did homage,
And then they paced back to the throne together.
The Shah inquired at large about the Turkmans,
And how the ruler of that people fared.
The prince replied: “That man of little wit
Still walketh on the face of earth for ill.
Why doth the Sháh inquire about that wretch?
May pleasure, crown, and throne be never his!
He slew my father vilely, shamefully,
And beat my mother with harsh blows that I
Might perish in the womb! May he ne'er scape
From woe! As soon as my pure mother bare me
That miscreant dispatched me to the mountains.
Among the cattle, goats, and buffaloes,
I reckoned by the sun my nights and days.
At length Pírán arrived, and from the heights
Conducted me to that vindictive king.
I trembled at his rage and savagery,
Afraid of what might come. He asked me questions,
While I concealed what wit and worth I had.
If he inquired of heads I spake of feet,
If he inquired of food I talked of place.
God took away his sense and intellect,
And so the dullard took me for a fool,
Conceived my head to be ill stocked with brains,
And sent me to my mother with a curse.”
Káús said: “Noble youth! the world desireth
That thou shouldst wear the crown, for thou'rt a prince,
And, like the king of kings, both wise and worthy.”
Khusrau said: “Monarch of this ancient throne!
If I should give thee an account of Gív,
And what hath been accomplished by his hands,
The Sháh would wonder, and no marvel too,
Because it passeth bounds. Full many a hardship
Did he endure, and sought me in Túrán
With strivings, yet he bore not toils so great
As those which followed in my company,
For then two noble paladins with troops
Came after us like fire upon the road.
Idolater of Hindústán beholdeth
No maddened elephant do what I saw
Gív do. Methought: ‘No crocodile will come
Forth from the streams to fight thus!’ That great host,
And those two paladins, were seized with panic—
Both old and young alike—and afterward,
What time Pírán came boldly with girt loins
Upon a wind-foot steed, Gív flung his lasso
And caught the paladin. I interceded,
O king! for him, else Gív had ruthlessly
Struck off his head. Know that Pírán had suffered
Through anguish for my sire, had never spoken
Aught ill of me, and saved me and withal
My mother from the fierce, grim Lion's claws,
Who else had ta'en my head just like my father's.
Thus till we reached the banks of the Jíhún
Gív with his ox-head mace ceased not from combat.
A paladin like him should keep his youth
For ever.”

When Káús had heard Khusrau

His cheeks bloomed like a rose. He clasped Gív's head,
And kissed his face and bosom many times,
Then gave him presents such as in the world
None, whether great or small, had seen before.
They wrote a patent out on painted silk
For Khurásán. Rai, Kum, and Ispahán.
The prince, whose Grace divine was as Jamshíd's,
Gave these to Gív, whose head rose to the sun.
“Thou hast,” the Sháh said, “undergone much toil,
So now, O toiler! take thy fill of treasure.”
Gúdarz and all his sons with faces laid
Upon the ground called blessings down on him.
He had a golden pleasure-house prepared
For Farangís with earrings and a torque,
Set golden seats within the halls thereof,
Embellished the interior with brocade
Of Chín, and said to her: “O chief of dames!
May'st thou ne'er weep for sorrow. Thou hast left
Both land and kin, and borne much on the way.
Írán is now thy home, thy rede my guide.”

That Moon of ladies blessed him. “May,” said she, “The world and age ne'er be deprived of thee.”