Gúdarz then called to him a letter-writer,
And said: “I have some secrets to impart,
And if thou openest thy lips thereon
Thy tongue will bring disaster on thy head.”
He had a letter written to the Sháh
About the host, the parley with Pírán,
The ambassage of Gív to proffer league
And love, and show Pírán heaven's purposes,
The answer that Pírán had made to Gív,
And to the wise and valiant chiefs, and how
A Turkman host had pard-like followed him
Up to Mount Kanábad to battle there;
Then how they had prepared a battlefield,
And had relieved their hearts by combating.
Gúdarz gave to the Sháh a full report
About Húmán and valiant Nastíhan,
And how Bízhan upon the day of fight
Had served the mace-men of Túrán; that done,
Gúdarz spake thus about Afrásiyáb:—
“He hath approached the river; should he cross
Thou knowest that we cannot stand against him,
O monarch of Írán, lord of the world!
Unless Khusrau shall come to our support,
And set a crown upon his warriors' heads;
But if Pírán shall come alone the troops
Will need no help; Khusrau shall learn how I—
His slave—have by his fortune used Pírán;
And furthermore the conquering Sháh perchance
Will condescend to let his servant know
What Rustam—binder of the Dív—hath done,
And what Luhrásp hath done, and wise Ashkash.”
The letter being tied and sealed, Gúdarz
Bade bring out many rapid courier-steeds
With royal saddles. Then he called Hajír,
Who though a youth was prudent as an elder,
And said: “Wise son! give all thy heart hereto,
For thou, if ever thou desire my favour,
Canst win it now. Charged with this missive speed
Forth like a blast, repose not night and day,
Nor pausing e'en to scratch thy head, and bear
The Sháh my letter.”

He embraced Hajír,

Who came out from his glorious father's presence
And, calling from the host two of his kindred,
And mounting them upon swift-footed steeds,
Left his sire's camp-enclosure. With relays
Of horses for each stage they ate, reposed,
And slept upon their steeds both day and night,
And on the seventh day approached the Sháh.
One went to tell Khusrau, who sent Shammákh
With many haughty chiefs to welcome them.
“O lion-taking son of paladins!”
Shammákh said, “what hath chanced that thou hast
come
Thus all unlooked for to the worldlord's court?”
Then at the Sháh's command they raised the curtain,
And let Hajír ride through, who, when the Sháh
Perceived him, rubbed his visage in the dust.
Khusrau much greeted him, then made him sit
Beside the throne, and asked about Gúdarz,
The leaders, and the rest. The prudent youth
Of ardent soul gave him the great men's greetings,
Informed him fully of the host's affairs,
Then gave the letter of the paladin.

The monarch called a scribe and had it read,
Then filled Hajír's mouth with bright gems and ordered
The treasurer, “Bring dínárs forth and brocade,”
Who, when he heard the order, brought forth sacks
Of coin and emptied them upon Hajír
Until his head was hidden; then produced
A suit of king's apparel—cloth of gold—
And crown inlaid with jewels. Furthermore
They led before Hajír ten noble steeds
With golden saddles, while Hajír's companions
Were clad in robes of honour and received
Dínárs and drachms and goods of every kind.
They left the throne-room with the Sháh and sat
A night and day with wine and revelry.
Khusrau considered every circumstance,
And, having bathed his head and body, went
First, freshly garmented in robes of service,
While both his eyes were raining like a cloud,
At dawn before the Ruler of the world;
Then, stooping lowly with his head abased,
He offered praises to the righteous Judge,
To whom he prayed for Grace and victory,
And pleaded for the crown and throne of might.
He plained to God about Afrásiyáb,
And in his grief poured water from his eyes;
Then, like a stately cypress, left the place,
And sat upon the throne in all his Grace.