Súdába, conscious that she was disgraced
And that the Sháh's heart was estranged from her,
Sought in her evil case some remedy,
And set anew the tree of her revenge.
She had a woman in the bower, adept
In charms and spells, deceit and artifice,
And one moreover who was great with child,
Near to the time of her delivery.
Súdába told her all and sought her aid,
But said: “First give a pledge of thy good faith.”
Súdába took her pledge, gave her much gold,
And said: “Make mention of this thing to none.
Prepare a drug that thou mayest make abortion,
Remain concealed, and keep my secret close.
It may be that my coil of many lies
May gain some credit through this babe of thine,
For I will tell Káús: ‘This is my child,
Thus murdered by the hand of Áhriman!’

This, it may be, will baffle Siyáwush;
So seek a way to compass it. If thou
Refusest then my lustre with the Sháh
Is dimmed: I shall no more approach the throne.”
The woman said to her: “I am thy slave,
And bow my head to thy command and will.”
When it was night the woman took the drug
And gave birth to a brood of Áhrimans—
Two children as they had been dív-begotten:
What should a sorceress and a dív produce?
Then, saying nothing to her servitors,*

Súdába had a golden salver brought
Whereon she laid those brats of Áhriman,
And shrieked and flung herself upon a couch.
She hid the woman and retired to bed:
Her wailing reached the palace from her chamber.
Then all the slaves within the palace came
In haste before Súdába, they beheld
Two infants lying dead upon the salver,
And cries rose o'er the palace and o'er Saturn.
The sound of wailing reached and woke Káús
Who listened trembling, asked, and heard how fortune
Had dealt with his fair spouse. Sleepless and anxious
He rose at dawn, went in and saw Súdába
Prostrate, the women frantic, and two babes
In evil plight, flung on a golden salver!
Súdába rained the water from her eyes,
And said: “Behold this bright sun—Siyáwush!
I often told thee of his evil deeds,
But thou didst foolishly believe his words.”
The heart of Sháh Káús was filled with doubt,
He went his way, remained a while in thought,
Then said: “What remedy shall I apply?
I must not treat the case with levity.”