When tidings reached the chiefs and old Gúdarz,
The offspring of Kishwád: “Tús hath returned
With Faríburz, prepare thyself to go,”

He donned his mail, shouts rose, the world's new lord
Khusrau came forth. They set a golden throne,
Inlaid with emeralds, on an elephant;
Around the prince were warlike cavaliers
With flags of violet, with golden boots,
With crowns of amber, and with torques of gold
Adorned with divers gems. Gúdarz thus spake:—
“This is the first of days, for Kai Khusrau,
The atheling, accedeth to the throne.”
The atheling sat on the golden seat,
Crowned and with mace in hand; he with Gúdarz,
Gív, and a numerous host went toward the castle.
When near the hold he girded up his loins,
Put on his mail, and, mounted on his charger,
Dictated to a scribe in lofty terms
A letter, which they wrote in royal style
With ambergris, and in the olden tongue:—
“This letter cometh from the Almighty's slave—
From noble Kai Khusrau the atheling,
Who, freed from wicked Áhriman's constraint,
Hath cleansed his hands from ill by help of God,
Who is eternally the Lord most high,
The Giver of our daily bread, our Guide,
The Lord of Mars, of Saturn, and the Sun,
The Lord of Grace, the Lord of puissance,
Who gave the throne and Grace of kings to me,
Fierce lion's claws and elephantine bulk.
The whole world is my kingdom; all is mine
From Pisces downward to the Bull's head. Now
If this hold be of Áhriman's domain,
The enemy of Him who made the world,
I by the Grace, and Holy God's command,
Wilt cast it headlong from the clouds to dust;
And if it is a hold of sorcerers
I can dispose of them without a host,
For when I have looped up my leathern lasso
I take the heads of sorcerers in the noose;
While if the blest Surúsh himself is there
The host is one at the command of God.
I am not of the seed of Áhriman;
My soul hath Grace, my body lofty stature;
By God's command I will reduce the castle,
Such are the orders of the king of kings.”
Khusrau then took a lengthy lance and fixed
Thereto the haughty letter banner-wise;
He asked for naught on earth but royal Grace,
And ordered Gív to hasten with the spear
Up to the lofty ramparts, saying thus:—
“Take thou this letter of admonishment,
And bear it to yon lofty castle's wall;
Plant there the spear, call on the name of God,
Then quickly turn thy rein and hurry back.”
That worshipper of God, that glorious chief,
Gív, took the spear in hand and went his way.
He set the letter by the wall, delivered
The message of Khusrau, pronounced the name
Of God who giveth good, and fled like wind.
That noble letter vanished with a crash,
Dust flew, and by command of Holy God
The rampart of the stronghold split asunder;
Thou wouldst have said: “It thundereth as in spring.”
A shout went up from plain and mountain-top,
The earth became black as a negro's face,
Sun, Moon, and Pleiades were lost to sight,
And thou hadst said: “A murky cloud ariseth,
The air is like a mighty lion's maw.”
Then Kai Khusrau urged on his sable steed,
And shouted to the captains of the host:—
“Make arrows rain in showers upon the hold,
And let your bows be like a cloud in spring.”
Immediately a cloud rose charged with hail,
Hail charged with death; full many a dív was slain
And many venom-stricken fell to earth.
At length a brilliant light began to shine,
And all the heavy darkness cleared away;
A glorious breeze sprang up; the heaven above,
And all the face of earth, began to smile;
The world became as 'twere the shining moon
By God's name and the prince's Grace, the dívs
Went at his bidding, and the gate was seen.
The monarch of the free made entry there
With old Gúdarz, the offspring of Kishwád,
And saw a mighty city in the hold,
All gardens, spaces, halls, and palaces.
Upon the spot where darkness cleared and light
First shone Khusrau commanded to erect
A dome ascending to the darksome clouds.
It was ten lassos long and broad, its circuit
Was half a rapid Arab charger's course,
And round it there were lofty cupolas,
He brought and stablished there Ázargashasp,
And round it settled the astrologers.
The archmages, and the men of lore. He tarried
Till that Fire-fane attained to good repute,
And, when a year had passed, led forth his force,
Made up the baggage-train, and called to horse.