The letter sealed, aspiring Rustam flung
His mace upon the saddle and approached

Mázandarán, whose monarch heard: “Káús
Hath sent another letter and an envoy—
One like a savage lion—with a lasso
Of sixty coils within the straps. Beneath him
There is a speedy charger; one would say:—
‘It bulketh like a mighty elephant.’”
On hearing this the king selected chiefs
And bade them go to meet this savage Lion.
As Rustam saw them he beheld beside
The road a spreading tree, seized on two branches,
And twisting round the tree with might and main
Uprooted it, himself unscathed the while,
Then poised it like a dart, while all the troops
Looked on astound. As they came up he hurled
The tree, whose boughs hid many cavaliers.
One of the chiefest of Mázandarán
Seized Rustam's hand and squeezed it to assay
His fortitude in pain, but Rustam laughed
While all the company looked on in wonder,
And as he laughed he crushed the other's hand.
That strength-assayer lost all strength himself,
Paled, and fell off his steed. One went before
And told the monarch of Mázandarán
That which had chanced. There was a cavalier
Hight Kaláhúr, whose fame rang through the land,
And who, like some fierce pard, loved fighting only.
The king, who mightily esteemed his valour,
Called him and sent him forth to counter Rustam,
Thus saying: “Meet the envoy, give fresh proofs
Of prowess, shame him, make him weep hot tears.”
So Kaláhúr came lion-like to Rustam
With louring looks and with a leopard's greeting,
Then took and squeezed the Elephantine's hand
Till it turned blue with pain, who bore it lightly,
As holding manhood's patent from the sun,
And stoutly wrung the hand of Kaláhúr,
Whose nails fell off like leaves. He went and showed
The king his mangled hand. “I cannot hide,”
He said, “the anguish that I feel. Enjoy
Thyself in peace: thou canst not fight this hero.
If he is willing let us pay the tribute,
Submitting to preserve Mázandarán,
And portion out the tax to great and small
To make this heavy travail light; 'tis better
Than quaking for our lives.”

The matchless Rustam

That moment came like some fierce elephant
Before the king who, seeing him, assigned him
A place of honour, asked about Káús,
The host, the travail of the longsome road,
Its ups and downs, and then said: “Thou art Rustam;
Thy breast and arm befit a paladin.”
He said: “I am a slave if fit to serve.
Where Rustam, that brave paladin, is present

There I am useless. Since God made the world
A chief so eminent hath not appeared.
In fight he is a mountain. What and how
Am I to speak about his mace and Rakhsh?
What army can withstand him when he warreth?
He maketh mountains seas, and seas like mountains.
What lion, elephant, or dív will raise
The battle-cry against him when he fighteth?
He is a noble army in himself
And not a messenger; 'twas he that sent me
To say: ‘If thou are prudent sow not seed
Of evil. Thou hast sown it in abundance,
And lightly left the path of manliness.
How hast thou used the monarch of Írán,
His troops, and paladins in thy revenge?
Thou hast not heard perchance of Rustam's name,
Who hath the welkin for his meanest thrall;
But if I had permission from the Sháh
To come to this thy folk I would not leave
One of thy host alive, and thine own head
Should be upon a spear.’”

He gave the letter—

A message from ambition to self-will—
And said: “The scimitar is bearing fruit,
It beareth on its lap the heads of nobles.”
The king when he had heard the embassage,
And read the letter, was displeased and marvelled.
He spake to Rustam, saying: “To what end
Are all these frivolous demands of thine?
Say to Káús: ‘Thou art indeed the Sháh,
But, though thou hast the heart and claws of lions,
Still I am monarch of Mázandarán,
Possess a host, sit on the golden throne,
And wear the crown. To summon me??absurdly
Before thee thus is neither right nor royal.
Think, and ambition not the thrones of kings,
For in the quest dishonour will befall thee.
Ride thou Íránward or a lance's point
Shall end thy days. If I lead forth my host

Thou'lt know not head from foot. 'Tis thy conceit;
Be wise and cast away thy bow, for when
We meet thy talk and violence will cease.’
Say too for me to Rustam: ‘Famous chief!
Whatever Kai Káús may give to thee
I will bestow a hundred to his one,
Will make thee chief of chiefs, rich past desire,
Exalt thy head above the sun and moon,
And give to thee command of all my troops.’”
But Rustam, with his shrewd mind contemplating
Throne, host, and court, esteemed the king's speech
brainless.
Such insults angered him, and he replied:—
“O witless king! good sooth thy fortunes lour!
Hath Rustam, that exalted paladin,
Need of thy treasury and of thy troops?
The son of Zál is monarch of Nímrúz
And hath no peer; so cease to wag thy tongue
Or he will pluck it out.”

The king was wroth;

His evil nature turned his thoughts to bloodshed;
He cried: “Arrest the envoy in my presence,
Disseat him and behead him.”

Instantly

An executioner approached the throne
To seize his wrists and hale him from his seat,
But Rustam, roaring like a lion, caught
The executioner's wrists and dragged him close,
Then flung him down and, holding one foot fast,
Set his own foot upon the other one

And rent the man asunder! None e'er saw
A sight like that! Then noble Rustam cried:—
“If I had but permission from the Sháh
To war against thine army I would put thee
This instant into pitiable plight.”
He spake and went forth from the court, his eyes
Like bowls of blood, while quaking at his words
And might the king made ready royal gifts
Of raiment, steeds, and gold, and proffered them
To Rustam, but he would accept of naught,
Because such presents would involve disgrace,
And left the country of Mázandarán,
Concerned at these grave doings. Full of vengeance,
And in hot blood, he came before the Sháh,
Told his experience in Mázandarán,
And said to him: “Be not concerned one whit,
Show courage and prepare to fight the dívs.
I do not value them a single grain
Of dust, and I will make this mace their bane.”