When Kai Khusrau acceded, and the world
Had been apprised, he sat upon the throne
Of king of kings and donned the crown of greatness.
He meted justice out to each, uprooting
Injustice from the earth. Then all the nobles,
Possessed of crowns and sprung of royal race,
With foreign monarchs, potentates, and magnates,
Resorted to Khusrau: there was no head
Not taken in his toils. He cultivated
Waste lands and freed the mourners' hearts from woe;
The moisture rained down from the clouds in spring,
And cleansed the face of earth from rust and sorrow;
'Twas decked like Paradise with goodly havings
By reason of his justice and his bounty.

The world was full of happiness and peace,
The hands of Áhriman were barred from ill,
While envoys came from all the provinces,
From every man of name and potentate.
When tidings had been carried to Nímrúz,
And reached the chief, the Lustre of the earth:—
“The glorious prince is seated on the throne,
And hath his foot upon the sky of power,”
He summoned his retainers from all sides
To go to offer homage to the Sháh,
Departing on the journey in great state
And much content with Zál the son of Sám
The son of Narímán, and all the nobles,
Both great and little of Kábul—a host
Which made the desert as 'twere ebony
What while the tymbals split the leopards' ears.
Zál with an escort led the way; behind
Came Rustam followed by the violet flag.
When tidings reached the Sháh: “The loyal Rustam
Is on his way,” the people as one man
Arose prepared to go to welcome him.
The Sháh was glad and bade the courier: “Take
Thy pleasure here, for Rustam reared my father,
And all eyes recognise his excellence.”
The monarch ordered Gív, Gúdarz, and Tús
To set forth with the tymbals and the pipes,
The drums beat at the portal of the Sháh,
And all the warriors assumed their helms.
From every quarter of the land all went
With flag and kettledrum to welcome Rustam;
While those in chief command with many troops
Went forward two days' journey to receive him.
As soon as Rustam's standard came in sight,
And when the host's dust mounted o'er the sun,
Shouts rose with sound of trump and kettledrum,
And from the centre Gív, Gúdarz, and Tús
Approached in haste the elephantine chieftain,
And gave him salutations joyfully.
All three of them embraced him; he meanwhile—
The lion-queller—asked about the Sháh.
From Rustam they proceeded next to Zál,
The son of Sám, with open hearts and happy,
Then turned to Farámarz, rejoiced to see him.
Thence they approached the Sháh, approached to gaze
Upon the glorious crown. Now when Khusrau
Beheld the elephantine warrior
Tears trickled from his eyelids down his cheeks.
Descending from the throne he greeted Rustam,
Who kissed the ground. The Sháh said: “Paladin!
Live ever glad and happy, for thou art
The foster-sire of Siyáwush and likewise
Art of all men most wise and reticent.”
He clasped upon his breast the head of Zál,
And sorrowed for his own sire's sake the while,
Then seated both chiefs on the royal throne,
And blessed them in God's name. When Rustam
marked
From head to foot the person of the Sháh,
And how he sat, held converse, and advised,
The hero's cheek flushed up and his heart ached,
So much reminded him of Siyáwush.
He thus addressed the world's king: “To the world
Thou art, O Sháh! the memory of thy sire.
I have not seen a king with Grace like thine,
Or one so like thy father.”

When they rose

They had the tables spread and wine prepared.
Khusrau slept not till night was far advanced,
But held more converse touching what had chanced.