Bahrám returning said to Tús: “May wisdom
And thy pure soul be mates! This is Farúd,
The son of guiltless, murdered Siyáwush!
He showed to me the mark which all the race
Inherit from Káús and Kai Kubád.”

The overbearing general replied:—
“The host, the trumpets, and the drums are mine.
My words to thee were: ‘Bring the man to me,
Ask him no questions.’ If he be a king
Who then am I, and wherefore am I here
With this array? A man of Turkman race,
Like some black raven on the mountain there,
Is hindering the progress of the troops!
Among the froward offspring of Gúdarz
I can see naught but mischief to the host.
Thou wast afraid of one unskilful horseman!
It was no savage Lion on the height.
He saw our host, and duped thee. Thou hast gone
Both up and down for naught!” Then to the chiefs:—
“O men of name and slayers of the foe!
I need some noble and aspiring man
To face the height and Turkman, to behead him,
And bring his head to me before the host.”
Rívníz girt up his loins for that encounter,
Which cost his life. Then said Bahrám to Tús:—
‘O paladin! stain not thy soul so rashly.
Revere the Ruler of the sun and moon:
Respect the Sháh, for yonder is his kinsman—
A famous horseman and a warrior;
And even if a hundred cavaliers
Should go against him to the mountain-top
They would not 'scape his clutches with their lives:
Thou wilt but bring glad hearts to misery.”
This angered Tús, who would not be advised,
But bade some chiefs to hasten to the mountain,
And many valiant men rushed forth and raised
Their heads to make an onslaught on Farúd,
But “Hold not,” thus spake brave Bahrám to them,
“This matter lightly; he on yonder height
Is of Khusrau's own kin, one hair of whom
Is better than a hundred paladins.
He that ne'er saw the face of Siyáwush
Will find repose in gazing on his son.”
Now when Bahrám told of Farúd the men
That had set forth retraced their steps again.