The Sháh abode upon the battlefield
Awhile, employed upon the host's affairs,
Bestowing kingdoms, crowns, and robes of honour
On those that had deserved them; Ispahán,
The crown of greatness, and the throne of chiefs,

Was given to Gúdarz, while those that shared
With him the toil and glory of revenge
Had robes of honour equal to their meed.
Then from the Turkman troops still on the field,
O'er whom Pírán had held command, there came
A prudent envoy to the Sháh, and said:—
“We are the slaves and servants of the Sháh,
And take no step unless at his command.
None can escape the providence of God
E'en though he be within the Dragon's breath.
The monarch is aware what men we are,
And for what cause we girded up our loins.
The case of Siyáwush was not our fault,
But Áhriman seduced our monarch's heart.
He is a headstrong man and ill-advised,
With no respect for chiefs or fear of God,
And we have suffered from that day till now,
And washed our cheeks in heart-felt tears. At home
Our kindred is all sorrowful, our wives
And children mourn us. Not through lust of fighting,
Not for field, fell, and throne, have we come hither,
Yet evil hath befallen us herein,
And sires have lost their sons, and sons their sires.
If thou wilt give us quarter we will gird
Our loins as slaves before thee. We are all
Within the gullet of the Crocodile
In that we are at warfare with thy host;
But in our army there are many chiefs
Well worthy of the service of the Sháh.
We are in fault and he is sovereign;
Whate'er we suffer at his hands is well.
We will bring all our chiefs to him, but not
With any thought of strife or murmuring.
If in his heart he harboureth revenge
On us, use warranteth beheading foes,
While well it is if he shall pardon us:
Let him do that which seemeth good to him.”
Whenas the Sháh, that noble man, had heard
Their lamentable speech he pardoned them,
And bade them come before him. So they came
At his desire to seek to clear themselves,
And as they laid their heads upon the ground
Their hearts were full, their eyes shed vengeful tears.
Then looking up to heaven the monarch said:—
“Almighty Judge, our Help! these are the troops
That with their heads full of revenge desired
To bring the country of Írán to dust,
That scatter everywhere the bane that biteth,
And fling therein the heads of noble chiefs;
But now the Almighty hath so dealt with them
That they lack rede and knowledge, foot and head.
To Him I stretch my hands, for He sufficeth;
I want no other helper in the world.
In this regard a wise man spake a saw,
When mounting on his saddle for the fight:—
‘This charger is a shining throne to me,
The rest is left to sleepless destiny.
In this campaign a crown and throne we seek,
Or else the customary bier of teak;
Or I may fall within the leopard's claws,
Or with my brain replenish vultures' maws.’
Your evil deeds recoil upon yourselves
As every man of wisdom is aware.
I have not washed my hands in blood of yours,
Nor will I aggravate your evil plight.
Ye are in my protection, one and all,
However hostile to my throne ye be.
Whoever doth desire to stay can stay;
He shall experience neither gain nor loss;
And whosoever of you would return
To his own king, I will not hinder him,
For I have no occasion through God's strength
For more or less, for labour or for greed.”
The Turkmans, having heard the Sháh's harangue,
Removed their casques and owned themselves o'ercome;
Though warrior-leopards they became like deer.
The monarch of the world bade them surrender
Their armour, falchions, spears, and javelins.
Those haughty Turkmans piled up to the moon
Their armour for the steeds and Rúman helms,
And then they set up all around the heap
Their flags of yellow, red, and violet,
And sware great oaths: “We all through life will be
The servitors and bondslaves of the Sháh,
And charge our hearts with love for him.”

Thereon

The watchful Sháh forgave them their misdeeds
Completely, and dispersed them out of hand
In various settlements throughout the land.