We have received it both from archimage
And ancient bard of rustic lineage
That afterward Káús resolved to make
A progress through his kingdom. From Írán
He journeyed to Túrán and Chín, and after
Passed to Makrán, and thence down to the sea
In state; men's waists knew neither belt nor buckle.
The chiefs all paid their tribute and their dues,
The Ox took care not to provoke the Lion.
Thence to Barbar they went—a brilliant throng
With crown and diadem, intent on conquest.
The monarch of Barbar prepared for war,
And matters changed their hue. A host came forth
And stayed the revels of the great king's troops,
The elephants were hidden by the dust,
Men saw not hand or rein. The hosts encountered
Like mighty waves. Gúdarz beholding this
Took from the saddle-bow his mighty mace,
Urged on his steed and, with a thousand warriors
With javelins and with breast plate-piercing arrows,
Closed with and brake the centre of the foe.
Behind him charged the Sháh, thou wouldst have
said:—
“There is not left a cavalier or spearman
Within Barbar.” The elders of the country,
On seeing that the blast of war had passed,
Came to Káús, heart-broken, to seek peace,
And said: “We are thy slaves and bow our necks
To tribute; we will pay in gold and jewels
Instead of drachms, and earn thy treasurer's praise.”
Káús received them graciously and taught them
New laws and ways. Anon the sound of bells
And cymbals rose with shouts and clarion-blare,
And he departed westward toward Mount Káf.
The people when they heard about the Sháh
Came forth to him and proffered fealty,
While all the great men went to welcome him,
And laid a heavy tribute on themselves.
When men performed his will with due submission
He and his host passed by and hurt them not.
He led the army to Zábulistán
As Rustam's guests and tarried there a month
With hawk and cheetah, song and minstrelsy.
Ere long a bramble grew among the roses.
To meet with trials is the lot of all,
And he that mounteth must expect a fall.
The Arabs rose when all seemed going well.
A wealthy and aspiring man of parts
Set up his standard both in Misr and Shám,
The people turned away from Kai Káús,
Renouncing fealty, who when he heard
Bade the drums sound and marched forth from Nímrúz
Light-heartedly, the soldiers wrote his name
Upon their shields, their swords shook in their
scabbards.
Unnoticed by the foe he led his host
Down to the sea, built ships of war and transports
Beyond compute, embarked the host and sailed
A thousand leagues as thou wouldst count on land
Till he arrived to win his own again
Where three states met—Misr on his left; Barbar
Upon his right; 'twixt him and his objective
Hámávarán, which fronted him, the sea.
Each had a mighty host. News came to them:—
“Káús hath crossed the water with his troops.”
The three conferred, their troops met at Barbar—
An army such that desert, sea, and mountain
Were all aweary of the horses' hoofs.
There was no room left for the ravening lion,
Or path for onager across the plains;
The fish in water and the pard on rock,
The cloud and flying eagle in the air,
Sought passage, but what passage could there be
For wild things in a region so bested?
Now when Káús had disembarked his host
One saw not plain or mount. “The world is mailed,”
Thou wouldst have said, “each spearpoint is a star:”
What with the golden he??s and golden shields,
And glittering axes borne upon the shoulder,
Thou wouldst have said: “The earth is running gold,
And Indian scimitars are raining souls.”
The army's dust made heaven like sandarach,
The whole world turned as black as ebony,
The mountains shivered at the trumpets' blast,
And earth was bent beneath the horses' hoofs,
The din of tymbals would have made thee say:—
“Earth is one camp.”

When from the Íránian host

The trump and drum were heard Bahrám, Gurgín,
And Tús came forth and, where Gúdarz was stationed,

Shídúsh, Farhád, and Gív let fall their reins,
And steeped the heads of all their spears in bane.
The horsemen bent upon the saddlebow,
And shout and crash of battle-ax were heard;
Thou wouldst have said: “They quarry stone and iron,
Or dash down heaven to earth.” When at the centre
Káús advanced and host encountered host,
The eyes of men grew dim, vermilion rained
On lapislazuli, and thou hadst said:—
“The air is hailing and is planting tulips
Among the rocks.” The javelins' eyes flashed fire,
And earth became as 'twere a sea of blood.
The Íránians so dismayed the three allies
That end and middle were all one to them.
The monarch of Hámávarán was first
To drop the scimitar and massive mace,
Saw that the day was lost and sorrowing sought
Peace with the Sháh, agreeing to send tribute,
Steeds, implements of war, and thrones and crowns,
Provided that Káús, when all was paid,
Should go and keep his troops from harrying.
Káús replied: “I grant you all protection.
Seek not my crown and throne.”

He then marched back

Well pleased to camp, and from Hámávarán
An envoy brought him treasures, stores of arms,
With emeralds and other gems and said:—
“O just and mighty lord! we chiefs and commons
Are dust upon thy feet and slaves of thine.
Be joyful and triumphant all thy years,
And be the heads and fortunes of thy foes
O'erturned.”

He kissed the ground and bore to Tús

The store of gold and gems, who therewithal
Gave to each man a largess great or small.