Anon news came to Hind, Rúm, Turkistán,
Chín, and all parts inhabited: “The heart
Of Sháh Bahrám is given up to sport,
He taketh no account of any one,
He hath no outposts, no men are on guard,
And on the marches are no paladins.
For love of sport he suffereth all to drift,
And knoweth nothing of the world's affairs.”
Now when the Khán of Chín heard this he levied
Troops from Khutan and Chín, paid them, and set
His face toward Írán. No one took thought
About Bahrám while Cæsar for his part
Marched forth in force from Rúm. When tidings
reached
Írán from Rúm and Hind, from Chín and all
The settled regions: “Cæsar hath assembled
And led an army forth while troops are seen
Advancing from Khutan and Chín,” the chieftains,
The warriors old and young within Írán,
All came before Bahrám Gúr, full of wrath,
Of rage, and bitterness, and bluntly said:—
“Thy glorious fortune hath displayed its back.
The heads of kings should be intent on fighting,
But thy heart is intent on sport and feasting;
The crown and throne are worthless in thine eyes,
So are Írán, the treasure, and the host.”

The Sháh, the ruler of the world, thus answered
Those archimages, his admonishers:—
“My helper is the Master of the world,
One who is wiser than the wisest sages.
I by the conquering virtue of great kings
Will guard Írán against the claws of Wolves;
By fortune, host, wealth, scimitar will I
Avert this pain and travail from the realm.”
He toyed on just the same, his nobles' eyes
Were full of blood through him, and all folk said:—
“This Sháh will alienate all good men's hearts.”
Yet Sháh Bahrám's heart was awake and full
Of trouble at the tidings. Secretly
He organised the host while folk at large
Knew not his privy purpose. All Írán
Was in dismay at what they saw of him
Their hearts were riven by anxiety;
They all were in despair about the king,
And held his rule and person in contempt.
Now when the Khán was drawing nigh Írán
News of him reached the monarch of the brave,
Who called to him the aspiring Gustaham,
And spake much of the Khán and of his host.
This Gustaham was paladin in chief,
And minister, and fight came as a feast
To him. The Sháh called Mihr Pírúz withal,
Son of Bihzád, he called too Mihr Barzín,
Son of Kharrád, Bahrám, son of Pírúz,
Son of Bahrám, Ruhhám and Kharzarwán,
Which twain were of Sásánian lineage,
One king of Rai, and of Gílán the other,
Who stood up stoutly on the day of battle,
With Rád, son of Barzín, approved in fight,
Who was the ruler of Zábulistán,
Káran too and Burzmihr and Dád the grim,
Son of Barzín, while of the Íránians
He chose him out a hundred thousand men,
Men of discretion, well beseen in war,
Committing to a scion of the race
In power—Narsí, the brother of the Sháh
So pure of Faith—those cavaliers and throne
And crown that he might guard the treasury
And realm. Narsí, that man of noble mien,
Possessed of Grace and Faith and loving looks,
Took up the charge, and thereupon the Sháh
Chose from the host twelve thousand cavaliers
Fit for the day of battle—veterans
With ox-head maces and in coats of mail—
And marched thence to Ázar Ábádagán;
But, as he took from Párs so small a host,
The mighty and the common folk alike
Thought: “Sháh Bahrám is fleeing from the fight,
And making off toward Ázargashasp.”
What time Bahrám set face toward the Fire
From Cæsar came an envoy swift as wind.
Narsí received and lodged him fittingly
Within the palace.

Now the host approached

The high priest to get knowledge of Bahrám,
And said: “Why scattereth he his treasures thus
Instead of heaping them like other Sháhs?
He squandereth gold everywhere because
He knoweth not its worth. Both citizens
And soldiers are dispersed, and all have sought
Some course of betterment.”

At length, when words

Had waxen old, all folk agreed to send
A man of reputation to the Khán
Of Chín, “Because,” said they, “ere evils come
With war and pillage we must try all means
To save Írán: the master of the house
Is lost.”

Narsí replied: “This is not well;

The world hath not a bed for such a stream.
Shall I ask quarter of the king of Chín?
I will clothe earth with men and elephants.
There are arms, treasure, and courageous men,
Whose swords would send dust out of fire itself.
Why this despair concerning Sháh Bahrám
Because he started with a little band?
Why have your thoughts turned evil thus? If ye
Think ill then ill will come.”

The Íránians heard,

And answered him perversely, saying: “Bahrám,
Departing hence, took not a host with him,
And must we not resign our hearts to grief,
For when the Khán shall come to fight Irán
Our land will lose both scent and hue? The foe
Will trample on us shamefully, Narsí
And all the host will be o'erthrown. All means
Will we endeavour to maintain our place
And standing here.”

There was an archimage,

A skilful, learnéd, single-hearted man,
Humái by name, and him the Íránians chose
To gird his loins and undertake their cause,
Then wrote the Khán upon their own behalf
A cringing letter which began: “Thy slaves
Are we and bow down to thy will and pleasure.
We send thee of the produce of Írán
Together with our homage and excuses,
With gifts too, toll and tribute, for we have
No power to stand against the king in war.”
So from Írán the blest Humái arrived
With certain nobles—men of honest counsels—
And gave the Khán the message of the chiefs,
Whereat his heart rejoiced. Humái withal
Spake of the swift remove of Sháh Bahrám,
And of his hasty flight without a host,

Before the noble Khán whose heart and soul
Expanded like a rose. He told the Turkmans:—
“Now we have saddled the revolving sky!
Who ever took Írán without a fight
As we have by our counsel, wit, and patience?”
He gave great presents to the messenger,
Drachms and no few dínárs, and wrote this answer:—
“May wisdom company the pure of soul.
I do agree to what hath been proposed
By this ambassador of honest men.
When with my host I reach Marv I will make
The clime like pheasant's plumes,*

and streams run
milk*

By justice, prudence, and magnificence.
I will await the tribute from Írán—
The Lions' gifts and taxes. I shall come
To Marv, or rather I shall pass it by,
Not wishing to cause damage by my troops.”
The messenger returned in haste and told
His converse with the Khán who led his host
To Marv, the world was black with horsemen's dust.
When he had rested he concerned himself
With feasting; no one thought about Bahrám.
At Marv there was no rest or sleep for sound
Of harp and lyre, the troops were all abroad.
There was no watch, no prospect of a shock,
But all was sport, wine, parties, twang of lyre,
And feeling night and day secure from war.
The Khán was looking for the Íránians' tribute,
Wroth that it came so late. Bahrám for his part
Slept not but guarded well his host from foes,
Kept his spies busy both by night and day,
And threw in feast and wine no time away.