The Sháh replied: “'Tis ill to turn from right.
Till now thou hast been better than thy word:
The Maker of the world be thine ally.
I see not at this present anywhere
A public or a private foe. What man
Shall catch thy name and shall not writhe thereat?
Did I say writhe? Nay verily not live!
Thou hast no peer except the worshipful
And famous son of Zál, who hath for life
Zábulistán, Kábulistán, Ghaznín
And Bust, and is exalted o'er the sky
In valour, but accounteth not himself
A subject and transgresseth my commands
And counsels, stooping not to league with me
Although he was a slave to Kai Káús,
And was devoted unto Kai Khusrau,
But sayeth of the kingship of Gushtásp:—
‘He hath a new crown while my crown is old.’
Now thou hast not a rival in the world
Midst Rúmans, Turkmans, or our own free folk,

And must set forward to Sístán forthwith,
And put in practice colour, force, and guile,
Lay bare the sword and mace, and bring me Rustam,
The son of Zál, Zawára, Farámarz,
In bonds and suffer none to mount the saddle.
Then by the Judge of all the world, the Source
Of strength, who kindleth star and moon and sun,
Then by the Zandavasta and Zarduhsht,
The good religion, and by Núsh Ázar,
The Fire and Grace divine, as soon as thou
Accomplishest these things thou shalt not hear
Of further opposition at my hands,
But I will give thee treasure, throne, and casque,
And seat thee crowned upon the state myself.”
Asfandiyár replied: “O worshipful
And noble Sháh! thou quitt'st the ancient rule;
Thou shouldst speak measured words. Fight with the
king
Of Chín and send dust from his warriors,
But wherefore fight against an agèd man,
Whom Kai Káús dubbed ‘Lion-capturer’?
From Minúchihr as far as Kai Kubád
The whole state of Írán rejoiced in him.
Men called him: ‘Lord of Rakhsh,’ ‘World-conqueror,’
‘King-maker,’ ‘Lion-queller.’ He is great;
His fame is not a new thing in the world;
He hath his patent from Sháh Kai Khusrau,
And if the patents of the Sháhs are void
One should not seek for patents from Gushtásp!”
The Sháh replied: “My famed, illustrious son!
Whoe'er hath turned him from the way of God,
His patent is as is the desert-wind.
Thou surely must have heard how Sháh Káús
Went erring at the bidding of Iblís
And, having sealed the sky on eagles' wings,
Fell vilely into water at Sárí.*

He brought a dív's child from Hámávarán,
And made her mistress in the royal bower.*

By her malpractice Siyáwush was slain,
The day departed from his family.*

It is not well to pass the gate of one
That turneth from his fealty to God.
If thou art eager for the crown and throne
Lead forth the host and hie thee to Sístán.
Upon arriving there bind Rustam's hands,
And bring him with the lasso on thine arm.
As for Zawára, Farámarz, and Zál,
See that they set no traps upon thy way.
Bring them afoot and running to my court,
And bring them so that all the troops may see;
Then none hereafter will revolt from us
However he may wish it and repugn.”
The chieftain frowned. “Go not about,” he said,
“To compass such designs, for neither Zál
Nor Rustam is in question here, but thou
Wouldst rid thee of Asfandiyár; thou art
Concerned about the throne of empiry,
And wouldst be quit of me. Let crown and throne
Of chiefs remain thine own, for me the world
Hath nooks enough, yet I am still thy slave,
And bow my head to thy command and will.”
Gushtásp said: “Be not angry. Thou shalt have
This greatness yet and therefore be not downeast.
Choose from the army many cavaliers—
All veterans in war. At thy disposal

Are implements of war and troops and money;
'Tis for thy foemen to despond. Without thee
What are the treasure and the host, the throne
Of kingship and the golden casque, to me?”
Asfandiyár replied: “No host will serve;
The world-lord, if my fate is drawing nigh,
Will not withhold it with his troops!”

He quitted

The presence of his sire with indignation
Both for the crown's sake and his father's words,
And entered his own hall in doleful wise,
His heart all sorrowful, his lips all sighs.