How Khusrau Parwíz sent Kharrád, Son of Barzín, to the Khán and how he schemed to slay Bahrám Chúbína

Now when the great king heard: “The wolf hath come
Outside the wood, and bold Bahrám Chúbína
Hath brought a host that robbeth heaven of lustre,”
He said thus to Kharrád, son of Barzín:—
“Go to the Khán upon this business.
Thou art acquainted best both with Írán
And with Túrán, and with their divers tongues.”
He oped his treasury and brought forth such jewels,
Such scimitars and golden belts, as made

Kharrád astound and secretly invoke
The name of God. With these he left for Chín,
Crossed the Jíhún and took unwonted paths,
Neared the Sháh's palace, looked around and chose
One to announce: “An envoy from the Sháh
Hath come to court.”

The Khán, on hearing this,

Prepared his throne and bade admit the envoy
Who, as he drew anear, made eloquent
His tongue and did obeisance, saying: “Thy slave
Will frame his tongue to speak at thy command.”
The Khán replied: “A sweet tongue maketh young
The heart of eld. Speak words of profit; they
Are pith when spoken but, unspoken, peel.”
Thereat Kharrád recalled old tales and first
Praised the Creator, who controlleth fortune,
The Almighty and the Lord of fate, who made
“Sky, earth, and time, high heaven and the world,
Who hath all power of right while we are slaves,
And tell his righteous acts. To one He giveth
The crown and lofty throne, another one
He maketh vile, afflicted, and cast down,
Not that He loveth this and hateth that,
But why He only knoweth. We, both great
And small, are born but to return to dust,
And have perforce resigned to death our bodies.
Begin we with pre-eminent Jamshíd,
Or with the glorious world-lord Tahmúras,
And thus pass on to Kai Kubád and all
The Great that we remember—Kai Khusrau,
The famous Rustam and by that same token
Continue till we reach Asfandiyár.
Their share of this world was the charnel-house;
They have drunk bane instead of antidote.
Our present Sháh is of thy kin; he joyeth
And sorroweth as thou dost wax and wane.
His great-grandsire upon the mother's side,
When glorious Sháhs held sway, was Khán of Chín.
Now in these latter days our covenant
Hath been renewed and everything is changed.
May He that giveth victory bless thee,
And be thine earth compact of heads of kings.”
He spake. The Khán gave ear and answered him:—
“O trafficker in lore! if in Írán
Be one like thee he knoweth well the sky!”
The Khán assigned him lodging in the palace,
And seat anear the throne, then bade him bring
The gifts and give all to the treasurer.

The Khán said: “Mayst thou lack not worldly wealth.
If thou wilt take a present of me speak
That I too may accept what thou hast brought,
But if not thou art brighter than a gift—
The crown of chiefs in knowledge.”

They prepared

For him a pleasant dwelling-place and draped it
With stuff of every kind. At board and chase,
At feast and drinking-bout this favourite
Was with the Khán, sought an occasion, found him
One day at leisure and made bold to say:—
“Bahrám Chúbína is a miscreant,
Worse than malicious Áhriman, and selleth
Men veteran for what it were not worth
A mite to mention. King Hurmuzd was first
To bring him forward, raising him by favour
Above the sun. Not one knew e'en his name,
And yet his will hath everywhere prevailed!
Although he doth thee many a kindly office,
Yet will he break faith with thee in the end
As with the Sháhs he did, regarding neither
The Sháh nor God. If to the Sháh thou wilt
Dispatch him thou wilt raise up to the moon
The Íránian monarch's head. Thenceforth Írán
And all Chín are thine own and thou mayst dwell
Where'er thou wilt.”

The Khán was stunned to hear

Such talk, regarded him with louring eyes,
And said to him: “Speak not such words as these,
For thou wilt blacken our regard for thee.
I am no miscreant and treaty-breaker
Because the shroud of such must be the dust.”
Kharrád, son of Barzín, on hearing that,
Knew that his novelty was out of date,
* And made reply: “O thou of royal race!
Why dost thou think to speak such words? The Sháh
Is better than Bahrám Chúbína is
For thee because of old relationship.”
The Khán rejoined: “I will make plain my purpose:
If Cæsar broke his covenant by making
Agreement with Khusrau Parwíz shall I
Do likewise and act treacherously against
The brave Bahrám Chúbína? I possess
A thousand slaves such as Khusrau and come
Of an illustrious race. The king of Rúm
Did not oppress thy Sháh but gave him treasure
Land and a host. Since brave Bahrám Chúbína,
Whose gests are written in the chronicles,
Is my supporter and my son-in-law
How can I draw back from my covenant?”
Again Kharrád was foiled and took to guile.

He thought: “The Khán is not concerned for us,
Because Bahrám Chúbína hath suggested
Írán to him. My words are willow's fruit.”
In black despair about the Khán he turned,
He had no choice, toward the queen and sought
Among her suite one that could cheer his soul.
He found a steward and was privy with him,
Recounted what Khusrau Parwíz had said,
And made that wretch's heart rejoice, then added:—
“Speak for me to the queen that I may be
Her scribe.”

The crafty steward answered him:—

“That will not serve because Bahrám Chúbína
Is now her son-in-law; she is his brains
And skin. Thou art a scribe; contrive some scheme;
Moreover let not thy design get wind.”
Kharrád, son of Barzín, on hearing this,
Discerned no top or bottom to his cares.
There was an agéd Turkman, named Kulún,
Whom other Turkmans scorned. He dressed in sheep­skin,
And lived withal on millet.* Makátúra
Was of his kindred, so he railed against
Bahrám Chúbína, ever cherishing
Revenge at heart and cursing him.* Kharrád
Sent to invite Kulún to his famed mansion,
Gave him dínárs and drachms, clothes, much to eat,
Invited him to feasts and seated him
Among the chiefs. Khárrád, exceeding wise
And patient-hearted, clever and expert,
Mused much, consulting on one hand the steward
About the queen of Chín but held his peace
When, day or night, he visited the Khán.
The agéd steward spake thus to Kharrád:—
“A man like thee, a noble and a scribe,
If he had skill and was of fame in leechcraft,
Would be a crown upon my lady's head,
And all the more so as her daughter aileth.”
Kharrád replied: “I have that knowledge too,
And, as thou say'st, will take the case in hand.”
The steward hastened to the queen and said:—
“A learned leech hath arrived.”

“Live and enjoy,”

She answered. “Scratch not thou thy head but bring him.”
He went and told Kharrád, son of Barzín:—
“Preserve thy secret, go announce thyself,
And act the cheerful leech.”

That schemer went

Before the queen and found the patient's liver
Disordered. He prescribed pomegranate-juice,
And therewithal a herb that flourisheth
Beside a stream; folk call it chicory.
He sought to stay the aching of her head.
Within a week, for God so ordered it,
The girl grew like the world-enlightening moon.
The queen brought from her treasury dínárs,
A purseful, and five gold-embroidered robes,
And said: “Take this unworthy recompense,
And ask what more thou wilt.”

He said: “Keep these,

And I will ask my guerdon when I please.”*