(So) in the morning when the gold-crowned dawn set up a chair of gold, an ivory-throne*⁸²⁴,

The officers and the authorities—those strong of arm and strong of judgment too—

Persian and also Arab took to horse, and towards the lions of the conflict rode.

The keepers, at the target of the affair let fly two lions, raveners of men*⁸²⁵.

They threw them (on the ground) together (quick), and dug, (’twas thought), the “gūr” of Bahrām Gūr*⁸²⁶.

The lion-keeper who was bold enough (then) threw the crown between the lions twain.

The golden crown in two black lions’ jaws as in two dragons’ jaws a (lustrous) moon—

A moon escaping with a basin’s noise the cloud, but with the basin eke a sword*⁸²⁷.

The two vindictive lions lashed their tails upon the ground like dragons twain (in wrath);

To say, Who’ll seize from us this golden crown? Who’ll dare a lion or a dragon rob?

They knew not of that man of iron heart, who captured lions, dragons hunted too.

Through terror no one ventured to approach in range of those two lions vast (and strong)*⁸²⁸.

’Twas settled that Bahrām of lion heart should take the field and meet the lions first*⁸²⁹.

The crown, if from them taken, should be his; the gold cup*⁸³⁰ and the ivory throne be his.

If fate against him had an ill design, behold! he had his place upon the ground*⁸³¹.

Bahrām from this arrangement did not swerve; he came upon the lions from the plain.—

In valley and in plain there was no height on which there were not lions (he had) killed.

The heads of hundred lions from their manes he’d cut;—his age was yet (but) twenty-two.

He who can hundred lions overcome, how should he (e’er) be overcome by two?—

He fastened on his waist the tunic-band*⁸³², and towards the lions’ jaws sped like the wind.

He shouted quickly at the savage beasts, (and) snatched the crown up from between the two.

When the (two) lions saw his hardihood, his lion taking power and fearlessness,

They made an onslaught like the strong and stout, with daggers in their claws, swords in their teeth,

To seize the head of him the crown adorned, reduce the taker of the world to straits.

When King (Bahrām) resolved to punish them, he threw the heads of both beneath his feet,

He tore their claws and broke their teeth, and saved from ’twixt the lions both his head and crown.

He crowned himself and sat upon the throne.—Does fortune show such favour (oft to man)?

His seizing of the crown from lions twain brought down (at once) the foxes*⁸³³ from the throne.

The horoscope of (Bahrām’s) throne and rule came out auspicious in goodwill to him.

Ere this the observer learned in the stars had taken observations for the throne.

Leo ascendant of the throne he’d found: stable ascendant of confirmed good luck*⁸³⁴.

A sun exalted to its apogee with Mercury in (its) conjunction joined.

Venus in Taurus was, and Jupiter was in the Bow, the house heaven-like from both.

The moon was in the tenth, Mars in the sixth adorned the assembly with (his) sword and cup.

Saturn’s hand holding Libra weighing hoards which reached to highest Saturn from the earth.