It came to pass that soon that straight-stemmed
Cypress,
Like blossom, came to fruit. Shápúr conveyed her
To his own palace from the chieftain's house,
And cherished her like some ripe quince.*

Now when
Nine months had passed that Moon-face bare a son,
The image of his sire. Thou wouldst have said:—
“Asfandiyár hath come again or famed
Ardshír, the cavalier.”*

The prince, his sire,
Named him Urmuzd, for he was like a cypress
Midst herbs, and after seven years possessed
No equal in the world. His parents hid him,
And never let him go abroad to play.
Once when Ardshír went hunting for a week,
As did Shápúr withal, Urmuzd escaped
Unnoticed, weary of his tasks, and ran
Forth to the riding-ground of Sháh Ardshír,
A lasso in one hand and in the other
Two shafts, with other boys with balls and sticks,
Just as the world-lord with his retinue,
And with his shrewd high priest, came from the chase.
When he was nigh the ground one of the youths
Smote strongly and awry so that the ball
Rolled near the Sháh. None followed it, the boys
Stopped short, balked in their game, except Urmuzd
Who, rushing like a blast before the Sháh,
Bare off the ball before his grandsire's face,
Amid the soldiers' hue and cry, and shouted,
So that the conquering Sháh was all amazement:—
“The sticks, the riding-ground, and pluck are mine,
And mine it is to battle with the brave!”
Thus to the archmage said Ardshír: “Inquire
About the lineage of this noble youth.”
The archmage asked. None knew, or would not say.
“Take up the youth and bring him,” said the king.
The archmage went and raised him from the dust,
Then bare him to the Sháh of noble men,
Who said: “Illustrious child! what is thy stock?”
He answered in loud tones: “My name and race

Should not be hidden: thy son's son am I—
Shápúr's—born from the daughter of Mihrak.”
The monarch of the world was in amaze
Thereat, smiled, mused, bade come Shápúr, and asked
Questions past count. Shápúr, that noble man,
Was terrified, his heart was sorrowful,
His cheek was wan. The great Sháh smiled on him,
And said: “Hide not thy child; we need a son,
And whencesoe'er he cometh, it is well,
Since, so they say, he is a prince's child.”
Shápúr replied: “Be blest and with thy looks
Sustain the world! He cometh from my loins,
And he is named Urmuzd; he shineth like
A tulip midst the grass. I have awhile
Concealed him from the king until the fruit-tree
Should bring forth fruit. The daughter of Mihrak
Bare this illustrious child, who is my child
Beyond all doubt.”

Then, while his father listened,

He told at large what happened at the well.
Ardshír rejoiced to hear the tale and went
Back to the palace with his minister,
Embraced that darling child, then sought his throne.
He had a golden ante-throne prepared,
And bade bring torque and golden coronet
Wherewith they decked the young child's head, then
fetched
Both gold and jewels from the treasury,
And heaped them till the boy's head disappeared,
Whereat his grandsire drew him from the heap,
Bestowed the gold and jewels on the poor,
And still more splendid presents on the sages,
Decked with brocade the Fire-fanes and the hall
Wherein were held Naurúz, and Sada-feast,*

Made ready with his lords a banquet-house,
Placed minstrels everywhere, and then addressed
The land's wise chieftains: “Never should one slight
The sayings of a learned astrologer,
For thus said Kaid of Hind: ‘Ne'er will thy fortune,
Thy throne, thy realm, thy crown, thy treasure, host,
Thy royal diadem, thy Grace, and state,
Be glad and jocund till the families
Of thee and of Mihrak, son of Núshzád,
Shall be conjoined in blood.’ For eight years now
The sky hath blessed our wishes. Ever since
Urmuzd was added to my peace the world
Hath granted what I would, earth's seven climes
All have been ordered, and my heart hath had
Its will of fortune.”

All his underlings

Gave him thenceforth the style of “King of kings.”*