Then at her leisure that young, prudent dame
Consulted with her counsellors and said:—
“A new thing, one that ne'er will stale with me,
Hath chanced: the Khán, that ruler of the world,
In flattering terms hath asked for me in marriage.
He hath no fault; he is a king, great, brave,
And master of the armies of Túrán.
None dared to name me while my Lion lived.
For twelve years after I had lost my sire
The brave Bahrám Chúbína took in charge
Mine orphanhood and raged when any one
Demanded me in marriage. Now the Khán
Is not a person of small consequence,
And he hath both ability and power.
Howbeit when he striveth to make kinship
Between the Turks and the Íránians
From that bond and connexion time will see
Both travail and affliction in the end.
Look what it was that Siyáwush received
Except sun-burning from Afrásiyáb!
That youth unmatched by other mother's son
Gave from the first his head up to the wind.
What did that chieftain's son too do but send
The dust up from Írán and from Túrán?
Contrive that unknown to the Turks we may
Convey this story to Írán forthwith.
I have dispatched a letter to Gurdwí,
For I had apprehensions on this score,
That he might ope my matter to the Sháh,
And tell my toil and care. God helping me,
He will both hear and grant my fair appeal.”
They said: “Thou art for life our youthful lady
In Chín and in Írán. An iron mountain
Could not displace thee, and thou guidest heroes
To manliness. Thou art more shrewd than sages,
More full of counsel than wise ministers.
We are thy subjects all; 'tis thine to bid,
And thine to judge and deal with this request.”
On hearing this she called the muster-roll,
And opened offices to pay the tropps,
Went forth, inspected every one of them,
And chose eleven hundred and three score,
Each one of whom would face ten cavaliers
In fight. She furnished drachms and then returning
To her abode harangued her warlike powers:—