The heart of Sháh Káús revived thereat,
And thou hadst said: “He is another man!”
He set up in the halls his golden throne,
And decked his palace with the gauds of Chín.
They decorated all the towns and ways,
The streets, bázárs, and quarters of the city,
And all the nobles went to meet Khusrau,
The great men and the chieftains of Írán.
They put up cupolas on way and waste;
The world seemed all brocade of gold. The folk
Mixed musk and gems, and from the cupolas
Poured them upon the heads of those below.
When Kai Káús with his illustrious chiefs
Had come outside the city the young Sháh
Beheld his grandsire while a long way off,

And gave his steed the spur. The two embraced
With many a kiss upon the face and head,
And both of them shed tears of bitterness
For having lived disconsolate so long,
While Kai Káús applauded that young Sháh,
So favoured by the stars and fortunate,
And said: “Ne'er may the world, the crown of great-ness,
And throne of nobles be deprived of thee,
Because the sun hath seen not such a Sháh,
Such steeds, such mail or such a throne and helm,
Among the mighty none hath borne such toils,
Or viewed so much earth's sights and mysteries.
If Siyáwush could quit the charnel-house
He would desire the Grace that now is thine;
Since he is gone be thou the world's delight
And be thy foes uprooted, heart and soul!”
Khusrau replied: “All was by thy good fortune.
Thine Offshoot fruited, and the grass would grow
From flint for any grandson born to thee.”
His grandsire kissed him, teeth and lips, exclaiming:—
“May I be with thee ever, day and night.”
Khusrau brought rubies, gold, and emeralds,
And showered them upon the old Sháh's head
In such a manner that the jewelled throne
Had all its feet concealed with offerings.
Káús commanded: “Call the company,
And spread the board within another hall.”
The potent chiefs being seated with the Sháh
Within a rosary bedecked with gold,
Khusrau recounted all that he had seen—
Things seen and heard by none before that time.
His talk was of the sea and of Gang-dizh,
Which filled the lips of all the chiefs with sighs
For that delightful city, plain, and upland,
With meadow-lands and pleasances like lamps.
Káús was lost in wonderment at him,
And, estimating what he had achieved,

V. 1385

Said thus to him: “A young Sháh's youthful words
Make month and day both young. None in the world
Hath ever looked upon a Sháh like thee,
No ear hath heard these tales. Come let us pledge
This youthful star and drink to Kai Khusrau.”
He decked that rosary of golden work,
Brought wine and revellers with ruby lips,
And for a week a wave of wine o'erflowed
The goblet in the halls of Kai Káús.
The Sháh, the eighth day, oped his treasury,
And made a recompense for toils achieved.
For those great men that were with him in fight,
In feast and joy and grief, there was prepared
A robe of honour suited to their ranks,
And that the choicest in the treasury.
Then all departed, each to his own province,
Each noble followed by his famous troops.
The monarch dealt next with the common soldiers,
And from the treasury gave them one year's pay.
The grandsire and the atheling next sat
In conclave with the counsellors, and thus
Khusrau addressed Káús the Sháh, and said:—
“Of whom shall we seek guidance save of God?
We crossed the desert, spent a year at sea,
And journeyed seared of heart o'er mountain-ranges,
But nowhere on the mountain, sea, or desert
Saw any traces of Afrásiyáb.
If he shall suddenly arrive at Gang,
And gather troops, toils will confront us still,
Although the righteous Judge be on our side.”
The grandsire, giving an old man's advice,
Replied: “We two will mount our steeds and seek
In haste the temple of Ázargashasp,
Will bathe our heads and bodies, hands and feet,
As well becometh worshippers of God,
And to the almighty Maker of the world,
In this our trouble, proffer muttered praise.*

Then, as we stand in presence of the Fire,
It may be holy God will be our Guide,

V. 1386

And He that showeth justice show the way,
To where Afrásiyáb is lying hidden.”
This counsel they agreed to act upon,
Not swerving either of them from the path,
And, mounting swift as wind upon two chargers,
Sped to the temple of Ázargashasp,
In white robes, with hearts filled by hope and fear.
Whenas they looked upon the Fire they wept,
As though they were consuming in fierce flames,
Before the Master of the sun and moon;
They called upon the Maker of the world,
And showered jewels on the archimages.
Khusrau, while bathing still his face in tears,
Let fall dínárs upon the Zandavasta,
And thus they passed a sennight in God's presence;
But think not that they used in days of yore
To worship fire, 'twas but their cynosure.
Tears from the eyes of worshippers might pour,
Yet, though thou ponder long, when thought is done,
All holy God is still the needful One.
Thus at Ázar Ábádagán the two
Remained one whole month with their retinue.