At length Gushtásp, when fortune had become
So ruggèd, showed his back. The enemy
Pursued him for two stages and were instant
To take him captive. In the way before him
There lay a mountain full of pasturage,
Wherein there were a mill-stream and a mill,
And having in its whole circumference
But one sole path: thereof Gushtásp was ware,

And heart-seared scaled the mountain with his troops,
But left a force upon the road behind him.
Arjásp, arriving with his host, went round
The mountain, but discovered not the path.
On all sides they laid leaguer. When the Sháh,
That noble man, was left without resource
His troops lit fires upon the mountain-top,
And burnt thorns on the flints;*

each leader slew
A steed and pondered on his helpless plight.
The proud Sháh, compassed thus, was sore dismayed,
And called to him Jámásp, the veteran,
Held talk at large about the stars, and said:—
“Declare whate'er thou knowest of heaven's will,
And wait not to be asked. Thou needs must tell
Who is to succour me in this distress.”
Jámásp, on hearing, rose and said: “Just king!
If now the Sháh will hearken to my words,
Confiding in the process of the stars,
I will discover to him what I know
If he will recognise my truthfulness.”
The Sháh replied: “Whatever secret thing
Thou knowest, tell it to me and be brief;
My head may touch the clouds, but heaven's changes
I cannot 'scape.”

Jámásp replied: “O Sháh!

List to my words and let me have thine ear.
Asfandiyár, the glorious, by thy bidding
Is wearing chains in this his evil day.
If he were set at liberty the Sháh
Would not be left on this high mountain-top.”
Gushtásp replied: “O trusty counsellor,
Who art a man of truth and of resource!

When in my wrath I put him into bonds—
The heavy chains by blacksmiths riveted—
I was remorseful all the time and sought
With aching heart to find a remedy
For having bound him in the audience,
Though he was guiltless, at his foeman's charge.
I, if I see him on this day of battle,
Will give him crown and throne and signet-ring;
But who will dare to go to that beloved one,
And free the innocent?”

Jámásp said: “I

Will go, O king! because the case is urgent.”
Gushtásp rejoined: “O thou fulfilled with wisdom!
Thy virtues are as music to my soul;
Depart forthwith by night, greet him at large
From me, and say: ‘The man that did the wrong
Hath left this world with anguish in his heart,
While I, who acted as that little-wit
Desired, repent that I have done amiss,
And will prepare a goodly recompense.
Now if thou wilt put vengeance from thy heart,
And shalt bring down our foemen's heads to dust,
For else the realm and throne have reached their end,
And foemen will uproot the Kaian Tree,
On thee, if thou shalt come, I will bestow
Crown, treasure, and whate'er I have amassed
By toil, and will devote myself to prayer
Thenceforth as did my sire Luhrásp, the world-lord.
God is my witness to these words of mine,
As is Jámásp who is my counsello??
Jámásp attired him in Túránian mail,
And came down from the heights without a guide.

Whenas that man of wisdom reached the plain
He passed the army of the foe by night;
To Gumbadán, the hold, he made his way,
Preserved from ill hands and his evil day.