He sent thereafter to Bahrám Chúbína
A fluent elder, saying: “Go and tell
This Persian: ‘Mar not out of foolishness
Thy reputation here, for surely thou
Must know this much—that that great king of thine
Would have thy life and therefore sendeth thee
To fight with one nigh peerless in the world.

He said to thee: “Go forth and seize their road,”
And thou unwillingly didst hear the words,
For with my troops and elephants I trample
A mountain if it cometh in my path.’”
Bahrám Chúbína, hearing what he said,
Smiled at that hasty traffiicking and answered:—
“If my death be the world-lord's hidden purpose
My duty is to do what pleaseth him
Though earth shall take the measure of my height.”
The messenger, returning to king Sáwa,
Reported what he heard the warrior say,
And Sáwa said: “Go, tell the Persian thus:—
‘Why talk so much? Why art thou in the field?
Ask what thou wilt of me.’”

The messenger

Went to Bahrám Chúbína and thus spake:—
“Reveal thy purposes because my king
Is favoured by the stars and he would have
Thee do his will.”

Bahrám Chúbína said:—

“Say: ‘If thou wouldst do right act openly.
If friendship with the monarch of the world
Be secretly thy wish I will receive thee
On this march as a guest and pledge myself
To grant thee thy desires. I will bestow
On thy troops gold and silver, crowns and girdles
Upon those worthy of them. I will send
The Sháh a cavalier that he may come
Half way to meet thee and, as equals do,
Provide thee provand. If thou art a friend
He will make much of thee, but if thou hast
Come hither for contention, to the deep,
And to the crocodile's maw, then thou shalt quit
The desert of Harát in such a plight
That all chiefs shall bewail thee. May a ditch
Be at thy door on thy return, may blast
Pursue and rain companion thee, for naught
But ill luck brought thee hither, being fain
That ill befall thy head.’”

The messenger

Turned back, came like the wind, and gave the answer
Of that aspirant. Hearing it king Sáwa
Was wroth with that stone-hearted opposite;
His heart was straitened at that chill response,
And thinking of it filled his cheeks with shame.
He said: “Go, take yon human dív this message:—
‘Thou hast no fame in war; I would not slay thee.
Such as thy Sháh are servants at my court,
And set by thee my meanest slaves are chiefs.
If thou shalt ask for quarter at my hands
I will exalt thy head above the throng,
Thou shalt have many gifts from me, and all
Thy troops shall be enriched; but one aspiring

To valour looketh not to futile words
And deeds of madness.’”

That pround monarch's envoy

Came to Bahrám Chúbína and delivered
Those biting words which yet were what he wished.
On hearing he informed the man: “Thy lord
Must hear my answer: ‘If I am so mean
That meanness covereth my head with shame,
The king of kings for his part was ashamed
To come out in his wrath to fight with thee.
'Tis through my meanness that I have marched forth
With troops to wreck the kindred of king Sáwa.
I will cut off his head and carry it
Before the Sháh; it is not worth my while
To stick it on my spear upon the road.
For me to grant thee quarter would demean thee,
But I will fall upon thee in my meanness.
Thou shalt not see me save upon the day
Of fight and followed by my dark-blue flag,
Because if thou upon that dragon glance
'Tis death; thy head and helm shall sheath my lance.’”