Now when Kubád had reigned for forty years
The grief of death's day came upon his heart.
He had a writing fairly drawn on silk
In that befitting and engaging script,*

And first he offered praise to that just Judge,
“Who gave us Faith, accomplishment, and wisdom,
Whose word is certain, whatsoe'er He saith,
Alike in secret things and manifest.
None hath beheld His height of sovereignty,
And His elect ne'er are contemptible.
All ye that see the writing of Kubád!
Give heed but to the counsel of the wise.
I have bestowed the honourable throne
Upon Kisrá. Fair fortune will be his
When I am dead. May God accept my son,
And may his foes' hearts be fulfilled with smoke.
By this our signet-ring we do require
Of archimages, chiefs, and other subjects
That ye in no wise shall transgress his bidding,
But joy in him and fill your treasuries.”
He set his golden signet on that writing,
And placed it with the archmage Rám Barzín.
Kubád had come to four-score years and yet,
Old as he was, he did not wish for death.
Is any in the world content to die
Since no man knoweth what will come thereby?
He died and left the world as his bequest;
His travail, ease, and pleasures passed away.
Who profiteth by what he hath amast
Since empty-handed go he must at last?
They draped the body with brocade and called
For rose and musk, for camphor and for wine.
They made for him a royal charnel-house,
A golden throne and crown of majesty.
They set the Sháh upon the throne of gold,
Barred up the way thereto for evermore,
And thenceforth looked not on him. Thus he passed
O'er this world, as thou mightst have said, like wind!
How canst thou trust then in this ancient sky
Since it will end thee irremediably?
The mourning being o'er, the high priest spread
The royal document upon the throne,
The magnates and archmages of Írán,
And all the famous sages, met in conclave,
The document was read before them all,
And with rejoicing they enthroned the heir.*

Now when Kisrá ascended his new throne
The people hailed him as their new-made Sháh,
Called praises down on him as sovereign,
And time and earth submitted to his sway.

His throne revived the world, and at the stream
The sheep drank water with the wolf.*

Folk said:—
“May this Sháh live for ever. May his Grace
Surpass Jamshíd's.”

His goodness and his justice,

His institutions, Faith, and far-famed knowledge
Were such that people called him Núshírwán,*

For love and signet were both young with him.
The story of Kubád is at an end,
And henceforth to Kisrá my thoughts I bend.