Before they left Túrán they loaded up
Crowns, thrones, and precious armour; they had captured
So many camels and such herds of horses
That none could murmur at the lack of beasts.
There rose a shouting and a blare of trumpets,
They brought the camel-bells and brazen gongs,
And entered on their march toward Írán,
A host thus decked with colour and perfume.

As soon as news of Rustam reached the Sháh
A shout came from the city and the court,
And cloudward from Írán rose tymbal-din
Proclaiming that the lord of mace and mail
Had come. One common joy was in the world
Among all classes and degrees of men.
The Sháh's heart grew like Paradise above,
He offered praises to Almighty God,
Bade bring the elephants, and journeyed forth.
The world was decked according to the custom,
Wine, harp, and minstrelsy were in request,
The necks of all the elephants that went
Were drenched with saffron, musk, and wine. The
drivers
Wore coronets upon their heads, and earrings
Depended from their ears. Men poured down saffron
And drachms, and sifted ambergris on musk.
When matchless Rustam saw the exalted crown,
While all around was echoing applause,
He lighted from his steed and did obeisance.
Khusrau inquired about the tedious march,
Embracing Rustam long and heartily,
And, calling many a blessing down on him,
Bade him remount and, as they fared together
Hand within hand, said thus: “Why hast thou stayed
So long and burnt us through our love of thee?”
“Apart from thee,” thus Rustam made reply,
“Our hearts have not enjoyed a moment's pleasure.”
They reached at length the palace of the Sháh,
The far-famed court; there on the golden throne
Sat Kai Khusrau with noble Rustam, Tús,
Gív, Faríburz, Gúdarz, Farhád, Gurgín,
And brave Ruhhám. The Sháh spake of the war,
The field, and fighting of the Turkman host.
Gúdarz replied: “O sire! the tale is long!
Our first needs are the flagon, wine, and rest,
And afterward thou mayest question us.”
They spread the tables and the Sháh said smiling:—
“Good sooth! thou hast been famished by the march.”*

He set wine on the board, called minstrelsy,
And then inquired of all that had occurred,
About Afrásiyáb and Púládwand,
The twisted lasso and the wrestling-bout,
About the Khán, Kámús, and Ashkabús,
And that vast army with its elephants
And drums. Gúdarz addressed him thus: “O Sháh!
No mother will bring forth a cavalier
Like Rustam. Though a dív or lion cometh
Or dragon, none escapeth his long clutch.
A thousand blessings be upon the king,
Above all on this famous paladin.”
The words so pleased Khusrau that thou hadst
said:—
“He raised his head to Saturn.” He rejoined:—
“World-conquering paladin, alert and shrewd!
The man with wisdom for his monitor
Is circumspect in time's vicissitudes.
Be evil's eye far from this paladin,
And may his life be one long festival.”

They spent a week with wine in hand. The crown,
The throne, and company rejoiced in Rustam,
While some to melody of pipe and strings
Sang in heroic strains his combatings.