The Story of Bahrám Chúbína and the Khán of Chín

Tell now old tales, tell of Bahrám Chúbína.
When he drew near the country of the Turks,
Toward the Lions and the Khán, there went
Ten thousand shrewd and wary cavaliers,
Led by the son and brother of the Khán,
Each with a priest as counsellor, to meet him.
On reaching the Khán's throne Bahrám Chúbína
Gave praises to him and did reverence.
The Khán, upon beholding him, rose, kissed,
And stroked caressingly, his face, inquiring
At large about the travail of the way,
And of his warfare with the Sháh and host,
Then gave a welcome to Ízid Gashasp
Withal and to Yalán-sína—those chiefs
No longer hostile. When Bahrám Chúbína
Was seated on the silvern throne he took
In his the Khán's hand, saying: “Glorious prince,
The captain and ruler of the Turks
Of Chín! thou know'st that no one is secure
Within the world by reason of malign
Khusrau Parwíz who vexeth those that fain
Would rest from toil and doubleth it for those
That live at ease. If now thou wilt accept me,
And be mine aid in good and evil, I
Will be thy comrade in this priceless land,
And friend in good and ill, while shouldst thou suffer
Through me I will depart and seek a cistern
Elsewhere, and if thou wilt have none of me
Then I will journey unto Hindústán.”
The Khán said: “Noble chieftain! never mayst
Thou need that day. Like mine own kin will I
Hold thee. My kin? Nay, better than my child.
My whole land will co-operate with me
Herein, both lord and liege. Pre-eminence
I give thee o'er my chiefs and furthermore
I make thee independent of my lords.”
Bahrám Chúbína further asked an oath
To bind his soul, for so far all was tongue.
The Khán said: “By the most high God, the Guide
Of me and thee, I am thy mate indeed,
What while I live, and friend for good and ill.”
Thereafter they prepared two palaces,
And furnished them with vessels of all kinds.
Slaves, food, and raiment, needful carpeting,

With serviceable plate of gold and silver,
Dínárs and royal jewelry, the Khán
Sent to Bahrám Chúbína whose dark soul
Grew bright, and save with whom the Khán went not
To polo, the assembly, and the chase,
Remaining in this mind and lauding him.
The Khán possessed a chief who was his friend,
His help in war and of a stronger nature,
* Named Makátúra, by whose means the Khán
Had won success and fame. He used to visit
The Khán at dawn with fingers on his lips,
For thus did subjects offer reverence,
To those illustrious potentates of Chín,
And each time from the veteran monarch's treasure
Would carry fifty score dínárs away.
Bahrám Chúbína marked this for a while,
Astonied at the Khán, then laughed and said
One day: “Exalted one! thou art esteemed
Among the potentates, yet every morn
At audience-time this Turk thus beareth off
These fifty score dínárs! If he receiveth
A mine 'tis not for rendered services,
* The Khán replied: “This is a way of ours—
The glory of our Faith—that all our bravest,
And stanchest on the day of stress, should meet
With no refusal when they ask for more,
And plead with importunity. His power
Is more than mine. I charm him with dínárs.
If I refused the troops would mutiny,
And dim my shining day.”

Bahrám Chúbína,

The world-aspirant, said: “O king of men!
Thou hast made him a master o'er thyself.
When world-lords are both valiant and alert
They must not let a subject have the reins.
If I should rid thee of him wouldst thou be
Well pleased or dost thou care for his support?”
“'Tis thine to order this,” replied the Khán,
“And thine to plan and compass this desire.
If thou canst free me from him thou wilt bring
The question to an end.”

“To-morrow morn,”

He made reply, “when Makátúra cometh
For his dínárs, smile not, regard him not,
And answer not or, if at all, in wrath.”
That night passed and at dawn came Makátúra
Before the Khán. That world-lord neither saw him,
Nor heard what that bold Turk had got to say,
Who, angered, raged and glared at him, and cried:—

“Why is it that to-day I have grown vile,
My lord? Assuredly this Persian prince,
Who reached our land with thirty friends, is striving
To turn thee from the right and would consign
Thine army to the wind.”

Bahrám Chúbína

Replied: “O warrior! why so fierce in talk?
I, if the Khán will follow mine advice,
And prudently regard our covenant,
Will let not thee come hither every morn
To waste his treasures with impunity.
Thou mayest be three hundred cavaliers,
And hunt the Lions on the battlefield;
It followeth not that thou each morn shouldst come,
And claim dínárs by ass-loads from the king.”
When Makátúra heard his head became
All vengeful at Bahrám Chúbína's scheme.
In wrath and passion he put forth his hand,
And plucked a poplar arrow from his quiver.
“This is my token and interpreter
In battle,” said he to Bahrám Chúbína,
“So look out for my point when thou shalt come
To court to-morrow morn.”

On hearing this

Bahrám Chúbína, growing mettlesome,
Gave him a poplar arrow tipped with steel,
And said: “Receive this keepsake and observe
Its usefulness.”

Then Makátúra went

Forth from the Khán and hurried to his tent.