Whenas Bahman sat on his grandsire's throne
He girt his girdle round him, oped his hands,
Bestowed a donative upon the troops,
And granted many a march and many a province.
He held a conclave of the men of wisdom,
The great men, and the officers of state,
And thus he said: “Ye all, both old and young,
Whoever hath an understanding mind,
Wot of the slaying of Asfandiyár,
Of fortune's changes both for good and ill,
Of Rustam's deeds while yet he lived and those
Of Zál, the sorcerer, that ancient man.
Now Farámarz in public and in private
Desireth naught but vengeance on ourselves,
While my head acheth and my heart is full,
And I too think of nothing but revenge:
Two warriors—Núsh Ázar and Mihr-i-Núsh—
Have given up their lives so wretchedly!*

By that same token too Asfandiyár—
A man without a peer in all the world—

Was slaughtered in Zábulistán. The beasts
Of prey and chase went wild with grief for him.
Yea, for the slaughter of Asfandiyár
The pictures in the palace weep for woe,
And for the blood of those our noble ones,
Our youths and gallant cavaliers withal.
No man that springeth from pure stock will leave
His finest jewel lying in the ditch,
But will come forward, like Sháh Farídún
(And while such men exist all will be well)
Who made Zahhák, in that he slew Jamshíd,
To cease among the warriors of the world.
For vengeance Minúchihr led from Ámul
A mighty host 'gainst Túr and valiant Salm,
Invaded Chín, took vengeance for his grandsire,
And levelled earth up to the hills with slain.*

When Kai Khusrau escaped Afrásiyáb
He made the world run river-like with blood.
My sire avenged the slaying of Luhrásp,
And like achievements should be told of me.
In vengeance for his father, Farámarz
Exalted to the shining sun his head,
Marched on Kábul, required revenge for Rustam,
And levelled to the dust its fields and fells.
No man could recognise the land for blood:
They made the horses trample on the slain.
More call have I to take revenge who urge
My steed against the elephant and lion,
Because thou wilt not see amongst earth's heroes
Another horseman like Asfandiyár.
What are your views? What answer do ye give
In this regard? Strive to advise me well.”
Thereat the assembled loyal lieges cried:—
“Thy slaves are we and have fulfilled our hearts
With love toward thee. Thou art more instructed
Than we about the past and mightier.
Do whatsoe'er thou wilt so long as fame
And Grace divine accrue to thee thereby.
No one will disobey thee; who will dare?”

Bahman, thus answered by his host, grew keener
For vengeance and made ready to invade
Sístán. This settled, the assembly rose.
At dawn the drums beat and the sky grew ebon
With dust of troops whereof there marched along
Sword-wielding horsemen five score thousand strong.