Bahrám Chúbína stayed before the hold
Three days but sent at sun-rise on the fourth
This message to Parmúda as the chief
Both of the realm and race: “O noble king
Of Chín and of the Turks! why hast thou chosen
To occupy this stronghold? Where are now
King Sáwa's passion to possess the world,
And all his treasure, power, and elephants,
His armour for the steeds and ardent chiefs?
Where are thy witchcraft and thy sorcery
That now thou dost seclude thyself? Time was
When all the Turks'domain was not enough
For thee, thy father peerless in the world.
Now womanlike thou sittest in this hold,
With full heart, beating thine own head. Undo
The castle-gate, seek quarter, ask of me
To plead for thee before my king. Dispatch
Thy treasures of dínárs and all thy purses
From this hold plain-ward or if thou keep them
Keep not the realm for kings despise dínárs.
Myself will intercede for thee at court
Because I am the champion of Írán;
Thee will I make chief of all chiefs and treat thee
Above thine aims and thine imaginings.
Now if thou hast some hidden policy,
One that will make thy gloomy prospects bright,
Confide in me; since thine affairs are thus
Be not thou distant. I have given thee quarter,
As thou dost know, and opened thee a way
To scape by, else thou hadst been lifeless now,
As is thy sire, and seen not son or kindred:
But if thou hast companions for the fight,
With treasure and abundance of dínárs,
Exert thyself herein and take revenge,
For troops are not to seek where there is treasure.”
The messenger arriving told his message,
Which when Parmúda, the ambitious, heard
He answered: “Say: ‘If so thou canst forbear
To search out this world's secrets. Thou perchance
Hast made too bold therewith because thy toils
Have brought forth fruit; yet in thy victory
Joy not; though thou art young the world is old.
The secret of the turning sky is known
To none; it never showeth us its face.
To mock becometh not a general.
I too had soldiers, elephants, and drums,