When morning dawned upon the mountain-tops,
And when the glittering Shield of Gold appeared,
The chief came to the palace of the Sháh,
And prostrate in the presence of the troops
Spake thus: “I was a man that had no claims,
But by thy Grace became the age's crown.
I have to beg one favour of the king—
That he will send with me a trusty man
To make a note of those that fight and lay
A hostile head beneath the dust and thus
Achieve their end.”

Hurmuzd replied: “Mihrán,

The old, is great,* observant, eloquent,”
Bade him accompany the chief and quit
The palace for the combat. From the province
Of Taisafún the army marched, their leader
Bahrám Chúbína. 'Twas a prudent, brave,
And dauntless host, and wary as a lion
Was their commander. When he had departed
The monarch of the world himself withdrew,
Was privy with his archimage* and said:—
“Upon the day of fight this man will laugh
For joy! What will result? Let us confer.”
The archmage answered: “Mayst thou live for ever,
For thou deservest everlasting life.
This paladin possessed of such a mien
And stature, ready speech and ardent soul,
Must needs be happy and victorious,
And cause a barren world to bring forth fruit;
But yet I fear me that he will revolt
At last against his sovereign and patron
Because he talked with such audacity,
And spake so like a lion to the Sháh.”

Hurmuzd made answer to him: “Mingle not
Bane with the antidote, misdoubting one!
If he shall prove victorious o'er king Sáwa
I ought to yield to him the crown and throne.
May he be ever as now for he will make
A glorious sovereign!”

The archimage,

On hearing what the Sháh said, paled and bit
His lips. The king himself moreover kept
The thing in mind, and in a while selected
A courtier as his confidant to learn
How matters stood, and said: “Pursue in haste
The paladin and tell what thou observest.”
The agent followed swiftly, known to none.
He was a guide, in omens skilled, and used
To utter his prognostics to the Sháh.
Bahrám Chúbína, quitting Taisafún,
Led on the host himself. In front appeared,
And far from him, one that purveyed sheep's heads,
Which rose above a clean draped wicker tray.
The chieftain urged his horse and, strange to tell!
Pierced one head with his spear, rode off with it
Aloft, then flung it where he would and drew
An omen from the matter, saying thus:—
“Just so will I cut off king Sáwa's head,
Will throw it in his army's line of march,
And shatter all his host.”

The emissary,

Sent by the Sháh, drew too his presage, saying:—
“This favourite of fortune will attain,
His labours done, the crown at last for when
His end is gained he will grow troublesome,
And will rebel.”

He went and told the king,

Who wedded grief and anguish for the words
Were worse than death to him. He withered up,
That verdant leaf grew sere. He called to him
A young man of the court and sent him off
In all haste to the paladin and said:—
“Depart and tell the captain of the host:—
‘For this night tarry where thou art. At dawn
Turn back and come to me for I would clear
The court of strangers and advise thee further,
For thoughts of profit have occurred to me.’”
The messenger came to the paladin,
And told what he had heard. Bahrám Chúbína
Made this reply: “Men do not, O wise Sháh!
Recall an army on the march; such action
Would be ill-omened and would reinforce

The foe. I will return when I have conquered,
And then thy kingdom and thy diadem
Shall shine.”

The messenger returned and gave

The warrior's answer to the Sháh and he
Was satisfied. That envoy's toil was vain.
At dawn the captain of the host led on
The troops and called God's blessing down on them.
He marched to Khúzistán:* the troops harmed none.
There came a woman with a sack of hay
Among them and a horseman purchased it,
Refused to pay her, and made off. She came
Lamenting to Bahrám Chúbína, saying:—
“I have some hay concealed. I brought a sack's worth,
And passed before thy troops. A cavalier,
With iron helm, hath taken it from me
While on the march!”

Forthwith they sought the man,

And haled him quickly to the general.
The brave Bahrám Chúbína said to him:—
“So thou didst think this fault a little one!”
They smashed his head and hands and feet. The chief
Had him dragged forth before the camp-enclosure,
Then clave him through the middle with the sword,
And filled the heart of the unjust with terror.
Then from the camp-enclosure 'twas proclaimed:—
“O ye illustrious men and of good will!
The stealer of a stalk of hay shall find
No intercessor. I will cleave his waist
Asunder with the sword. Let all procure
By payment what they need.”

Bahrám Chúbína

Led on his host well ordered and they marched
Toward Dámaghán.

The Sháh was full of care

At Sáwa's army, elephants, and treasures,
* And spake thus to Kharrád, son of Barzín,
One night at rise of moon: “Prepare to go
To our opponent and be diligent,
Not slumbering but speeding. Mark his troops
As to their numbers and their quality,
And who their leader and their warriors are.”
He ordered that a letter of advice
Should be indited to the hostile king,
And countless royal presents sent therewith.
He said thus to the messenger: “Proceed
Toward Harát and if a host appear
Know it for that of brave Bahrám Chúbína,

And not another. Then approach and tell him
What thou hast heard from me, thus saying: ‘I
By good news and by blandishment will spread
A fresh snare for the foe. Thy secret purpose
Must be kept hidden. If he hear thy name
And fame …! I will induce him to thy net,
Employing fair and lengthy parleyings.’”
Kharrád, son of Barzín, prepared to start,
Came as the Sháh had bidden and delivered
The message when he saw Bahrám Chúbína.
He went thence to king Sáwa, to the place
Where were the elephants and troops and treasure,
And, having audience, did him reverence,
Delivering the message privily,
And adding to it every argument
To draw the army to Harát. When Sáwa
Arrived and camped upon the river-bank
The outposts went forth, marked Bahrám Chúbína
With all his troops and, seeing that stout host,
Returned in all haste to king Sáwa, saying:—
“A force hath reached the desert of Harát,
Commanded by a famous chief.”

King Sáwa,

Concerned what course to take, called from the tent
The envoy of the Sháh and rated him:—
“Didst not foresee, thou crafty Áhriman!
A fall from thy high station? From the court
Of that vile Sháh thou camest to ensnare me,
And leadest forth to war a Persian host,
Encamping on the meadows of Harát!”
Kharrád, son of Barzín, replied: “The force
Confronting thine is small. Take not its coming
In ill part; 'tis some marchlord passing by,
Or some chief seeking shelter with the Sháh,
Or merchants who have brought an escort with them
To guard them on their way. Who would confront thee,
Though mountains turn to seas, to seek revenge?
I will send one to find out who or what
This traveller is.”*

His words rejoiced king Sáwa,

Who said: “In truth that is the course to take.
We will dispatch to learn if friend or foe
They be.”

Now as Kharrád, son of Barzín,

Withdrew to his own tent the night o'ertopped
The mountains, and he gat in readiness
To flee the wrath to come. At dead of night
The monarch bade Faghfúr go with an escort

Forth from his father to the paladin.
That understanding youth went forth and reaching
The Íránian host dispatched a cavalier
To ask: “Who are these warriors and wherefore
March they?”

The horseman went like dust and cried:—
“Who are your chiefs and leader, noble sirs!
And champion in the combat, for Faghfúr,
Who is king Sáwa's heart and eyes, would see him
Without attendance?”

Came a warrior

Forth from the troops and told Bahrám Chúbína
What he had heard. The captain of the host
Went from the tent-enclosure and his flag
Was reared resplendent over him. Faghfúr
Of Chín, perceiving, hasted and made sweat
His prancing steed, and questioned: “Whence art thou?
Why haltest here? I hear that thou hast fled
From Párs as one who being wronged shed blood.”
Bahrám Chúbína answered: “God forbid
That I should purpose vengeance on the Sháh.
I came forth from Baghdád with this array
To fight by his command, for when the news
About king Sáwa and his host reached court
He said to me: ‘Go forth and hold the road
With arrows, maces, spears, and scimitars.’”
On hearing this Faghfúr sped back to tell
His sire how matters stood. Being thus apprised,
And grown suspicious, Sáwa sought forthwith
The envoy of the Sháh but some one said:—
“Kharrád, son of Barzín, hath fled with tears
Of blood at having come.”

“How could that foe,”

Said Sáwa to his son, “get clear away
At night from such a countless host as this,
And wherefore have the guards been so remiss?”