He stole away and made toward the house
Of barren Baráhám, knocked at the door,
And said: “The Sháh hath come back from the
chase,
But I was left behind. 'Tis night and I
Know not the way, can find not Sháh and escort.
If I may sojourn in this house to-night
I will not trouble any one.”

A slave

Went and reported this to Baráhám,
Who answered: “Trouble not thyself hereat,
But say: ‘Thou wilt not get a lodging here.’”
The messenger departed to Bahrám Gúr,
And said: “There is no shelter here for thee.”
Bahrám replied: “Return to him and say:
‘I mean to stop. I ask thee for a lodging
To-night and I will trouble thee no further.’”
The servant, hearing this, ran back and said:—
“This horseman will not budge to-night and saith
As much in many words.”

Said Baráhám:—

“Go instantly and say: ‘This house is small.
The Jew is very poor and every night
Reposeth, bare and hungry, on the ground.’”
They gave the message, and Bahrám Gúr said:—
“If here my lodging will prove troublesome
I will not enter but will sleep outside
The door, 'tis all I want.”

Said Baráhám:—

“Brave horseman! thoughtlessly*

thou troublest me.
Were any one to rob thee in thy sleep
I should be plagued enough on thine account.

Come in if thou art in distress and want,
But on condition that thou askest naught.
I have not e'en a napkin wherewithal
To wipe my body when 'tis washed at death,
Or shroud wherein to wind it.”

“My good sir!”

Bahrám rejoined, “I will not trouble thee
In any way. Thy portal will suffice.
I will be watchman, barring bell and cry.”
Then Baráhám was troubled, and his soul
A brake of cares. He thought: “This saucy fellow
Will not depart. How can I cause him trouble
About his steed?” then said again: “Great sir!
Thy many words afflict me. If thy steed
Shall leave its droppings here and stale or break
The tiles, thou shalt remove its dung at dawn,
Sweep up, bear off its refuse to the plain,
And pay for any breakages at once.”
Bahrám replied: “I pledge my head to this.”
Dismounting from his steed he tethered it
With its own bridle and unsheathed his sword.
He spread his saddle-cloth, used as his pillow
The saddle, and reposed upon the floor.
The Jew secured the door, brought victuals forth,
And sat him down to eat. “O cavalier!”
He said, “remember, having heard, this saw:—
‘Who hath may eat and who hath not look on.’”
He answered: “I have heard so from of old,
And now I have beheld made manifest
What thou hast quoted from a sage's words.”
The Jew brought wine forth and, when satiate
With food and blither for the drinking, bawled:—
“O toilful horseman! list this ancient saw:—
‘He that hath food and purposeth to eat
Will offer his thanksgiving for the meat,
For one of substance hath a happy mind,
And in his wealth a coat of mail will find;
But Empty Pockets is a dry-lipped wight,
And, like thee, ravenous at mid of night.’”
Bahrám replied: “'Tis passing wonderful
What I have seen, and must not be forgotten,
And if thy goblet give thee good at last
Then heigh for drinker, wine, and genial cup!”
When o'er the mountains Sol displayed its sword
Bahrám Gúr shunned more sleep and put the saddle
On his fleet grey. His saddle! Nay, hard pillow.
Came Baráhám and said: “O cavalier!
Thou art not faithful to thy word. Thou saidst:—

‘I will sweep up the droppings of the steed
At once.’ Away with them as thou didst promise.
I am annoyed by a dishonest guest.”
Bahrám Gúr answered: “Go and fetch a slave.
He will remove the droppings fast enough,*

And I will give him gold for sweeping up,
And bearing off, the refuse to the plain.”
“No one have I,” he said, “to sweep up refuse,
Take it away, and fling it in the ditch.
Break not thy promises deceitfully;
Let me not say that thou hast played the knave.”
Bahrám Gúr, hearing, took another course.
He had a dainty handkerchief of silk
Inside his boot, all musk and spicery;
He took it out and put therein the droppings,
Then flung them all together in the ditch.
Away went Baráhám and snatched it up
While Sháh Bahrám stood dazed. “Oho!” said he,
“Thou scrupulous! If the great king shall hear
Of all thy nobleness he will secure thee
From want in this world, and will set thee high
Among the chiefs.”

He went back to his palace,

And all night long was planning what to do.
Within his halls thought banished all repose,
He laughed himself but kept the matter close.