One named Hírbad, purged heart and brain and soul
From evil, never left the Idol-house,
And kept the key. The Sháh commanded him:—
“What time the sun shall draw the sword of day
Seek Siyáwush and further his commands.
Instruct Súdába to present to him
A gift of gems and musk, and let withal
His sisters and the slaves pour emeralds
And saffron over him.”

When Sol o'ertopped

The mountains Siyáwush approached the Sháh
And did obeisance. When they had conversed
Awhile in private Kai Káús instructed
Hírbad, then said to Siyáwush: “Go with him
And be prepared to look on something new.”
The twain went off together merrily
Without a thought of care; but when Hírbad

Held up the veil that hung before the door
The mind of Siyáwush foreboded ill.
The women came before him one and all
In festival attire to gaze at him;
The house was full of musk, dínárs, and saffron,
And at his feet they strewed drachms, gold, and gems:
The floor was covered with brocade of Chín
Enriched with lustrous pearls. Wine, scent, and voice
Of minstrelsy were there, all heads were crowned
With jewels; 'twas like Paradise, replete
With lovely forms and sumptuous furniture.
Now Siyáwush on entering the bower
Beheld a brightly shining, golden throne,
With patterns wrought in turquoise, royally
Draped with brocade. There sat moon-faced Súdába,
Like Paradise itself in hue and perfume,
Sat like the bright Canopus of Yaman,
Her head adorned with ringlets, curl on curl.
Surmounted by a lofty crown her hair
Descended to her feet in musky lassos.
A slave stood humbly by with golden slippers.
When Siyáwush appeared within the veil
Súdába hastened to descend the throne,
Advanced with graceful gait, saluted him,
Embraced him long, long kissed his eyes and face,
And wearied not to look at him. She said:—
“I offer praise to God a hundred ways
All day and three whole watches of the night,
For no one hath a son resembling thee:
The Sháh himself hath not another such.”
Now Siyáwush knew well what that love meant,
And that such fondness was not in the way
Of God, and, since it was unseemly there,
Went quickly to his sisters, who enthroned him
With many a blessing on a golden seat.
He stayed awhile, then went back to the Sháh.
The bower was full of talk: the women said:—
“Behold the head and crown of courtesy!
‘He is not,’ thou hadst said, ‘like other men:
His soul diffuseth wisdom.’”

Siyáwush

Came to his father's presence and spake thus:—
“I have beheld the veil and what it hid.
All good things in the world are thine, no need
For thee to vindicate the ways of God
Who dost in treasure, scimitars, and troops
Surpass Húshang, Jamshíd, and Farídún.”
The Sháh joyed at the words. He decked his palace
Like jocund spring, had wine and harp and things
Prepared, and banned the future from the heart.
That night he went among his dames and talked
Thus with Súdába: “Hide not what thou thinkest
About the judgment and the courtesy
Of Siyáwush, his stature, looks, and speech.
Dost thou approve of him and is he wise?
Deserveth he what others say of him?”
Súdába answered: “Sháh and people never
Saw thy like on the throne, and who is there
To match thy son? Why speak with bated breath?”
The Sháh said: “If he is to live till manhood
We must protect him from the evil eye.”*

She said: “If my words please, and if thy son
And I are minded that I should bestow
A wife upon him out of his own kindred,
Not from the great ones that are round about—
A consort who shall bear to him a son
Such as he is himself among the mighty—
Then I myself have daughters like to thee,
Begotten of thy seed, of thy pure stock;
Or should he take a child of Kai Árash,
Or Kai Pashín, she would give thanks with joy.”

He said to her: “It is my wish. My name
And greatness are dependent on the issue.”
Next morning Siyáwush approached the Sháh,
And called down blessings on the crown and throne.
The monarch caused all strangers to depart
And, speaking with his son in privacy,
Said thus: “I have in me a secret longing,
Inspired by God, the Maker of the world,
That thou shouldst leave a memory of thy name,
And that a king should issue from thy loins,
That as my face refreshed at seeing thee,
Thy heart should be enlarged at sight of him.
I had thy horoscope to this effect
From archimages that can read the stars,
That from thy loins a king shall come and be
Thy monument. Now choose thyself a wife
Among the great from those within the veil
Of Kai Pashín or bower of Kai Árash;
Make all things ready and bestow thy hand.”
He said: “I am the Sháh's slave and I bow
My head before his counsel and behest.
His choice for me is good, whoe'er she be;
The world-lord is a monarch o'er his slaves.
Would that Súdába heard it not! her words
Are otherwise, she hath no mind thereto;
I cannot talk to her of this affair,
And have no business in that bower of hers.”
The Sháh smiled at the words of Siyáwush,
Not witting of the quag beneath the straw,
And said to him: “Thy wife must be thy choice.
Súdába least of all need be considered,
Her words are full of loving-kindliness;
She ??endereth thy welfare.”

Siyáwush

Was gladdened by the words, and reassured
Began to speak the world-king's praise and pay
Him reverence, falling down before the throne,
Yet privily Súdába with her schemes
Still vexed and troubled him, for well he knew,
And his skin burst: “This is her notion too!”