He went thus minded to the Turkman court
Without repose or sleep. Afrásiyáb
Asked many questions which his brother answered
And gave the letter; this the smiling king
Perused with joy. The famous noble marked
The brightened features of Afrásiyáb,
And sunset found him all revenge and anguish.
All night he writhed and when its pitch-hued robe
Was riven by clear day his vengeful head
Still slept not, and he sought Afrásiyáb.
They sat and talked in private. Garsíwaz
Said to his brother: “Siyáwush, O king!
Hath wholly changed, the envoys of Káús
Come often secretly, he correspondeth
With Rúm and Chín, and drinketh to his father.

Moreover he hath gathered many troops.
And soon will v??x the king's soul. Had not Túr
Become so fierce he had not wronged Íraj,
But now our hearts resemble fire and water
Opposed; thou wouldest, but in vain, unite them,
And keep the tempest hidden out of sight.
Had I withheld this trouble from thy knowledge
I should have smirched my name before the world.”
The king was grieved and said to Garsíwaz:—
“The bond of blood between us moveth thee.
We will take counsel with ourself three days
For more assurance; if the case be clear
It shall be thy part to undo the coil.”
The fourth day Garsíwaz appeared at court
With helmet on and tightly girded loins.
The monarch called him to an interview,
Talked much about the case of Siyáwush,
And said: “O thou memorial of Pashang!
Whom have I in the world at hand but thee?
I must disclose the secret of my mind;
Observe what thoughts occur to thine. My heart
Was troubled at that evil dream, my brain
Affected somewhat, yet I kept from war,
And Siyáwush for his part hurt me not.
When he farewelled the throne of might he made
My love the weft across his wisdom's warp.
He was obedient and I used him well.
I gave to him a province and my treasure,
But kept my griefs and sorrows for mine own.
I bound him to me by the ties of blood,
Foregoing thoughts of vengeance on Írán,
And did not grudge my treasures or my child,
But trusted him with both my precious Eyes.
Now, after all these pains and benefits,
And sacrifice of province, crown, and wealth,
For me to purpose ill to Siyáwush
Would raise no little outcry. If I do
An injury however slight to him
The mighty men will cry out shame on me,
And I shall be a butt for every one.
Of beasts the lion hath the sharpest teeth,
His heart is not afraid of scimitars,
And if a whelp of his shall be aggrieved
He will lay all the meadow desolate;
Moreover if we persecute the guiltless
How shall the Judge of sun and moon approve?
I know none else that I can take to me,
Yet now I will dismiss him to his father.
So, if he seeketh throne and signet-ring,
He will not make our coasts the scene of strife.”
But Garsíwaz: “O king! treat not so lightly
This grave affair. If he departeth home
He will bring desolation on our coasts,
For when an alien is made a kinsman
He learneth all thy secrets great and small.
A sage once spake a proverb as to this:—
‘Domestic storms that burst externally
Will prove but travail and distress to thee,
And dissipate wealth, fame, and family.’
Dost thou not know that he who reareth leopards
Will get no recompense but pain and strife?”
Afrásiyáb, when he had mused awhile
And thought that Garsíwaz had spoken rightly,
Repenting of his own advice and conduct,
And owning that his policy had failed,
Thus answered Garsíwaz: “From this affair
I see no good appear in any way.
Let us be patient till the turning sky
Shall make its aspects known. In everything
Delay is better than precipitance;
Wait till the sun hath shone on this awhile;
I shall discern God's purpose, and to whom
The bright cheek of revolving heaven is turned,
And then if I recall him to the court
I shall discover what his secret is.
All will no doubt be clear in course of time,
And if his villainy be manifest,
So that my heart must needs be pitiless,
No one will blame me afterward, for naught
But evil fitly recompenseth evil.”
Then vengeful Garsíwaz: “Discerning king,
Whose words are righteous! Siyáwush possesseth
Grace, stature, maces, swords, and god-like hands;
He will not come to court without a host,
But make both sun and moon turn dark to thee.
He is much changed, his crown is raised to heaven,
And Farangís thou wouldst not recognize,
But say: ‘This world can give her nothing more.’
Thy troops will all go over to his side,
And when there is no flock there is no shepherd.
An army having seen a king like him,
So generous, so beaming, and so wise,
Thenceforth would never have thee for their king;
The Ram would be his throne and thine the Fish.
Moreover wilt thou call on him to quit
The noble city and the prosperous seat
That he hath built, and bid him: ‘Be my slave,
Content with meanness and obscurity?’
None seeth lions couch with elephants,
Or flames upon the surface of a stream.
If one should take a lion's whelp unsuckled
As yet, should bring it up on milk and sugar,
And nurse it on his bosom constantly,
It will revert to nature when full-grown
And fear no furious elephant's assault.”
The monarch's heart was straitened at his words;
He grew despondent, anxious, and distressed,
But judged it best to pause, for prudent men
Win in the end, while those of windy pate
Obtain no praise. A wise man spake this saw:—
“A tempest that hath not been unforeseen
Thou mayst encounter with untroubled mien,
While Feather-brains will be in evil plight
Albeit cypress-tall and men of might.”
Unrest and talk went on; their hearts were full
Of vengeance for the wrongs of ancient days,
For ever and anon came Garsíwaz—
The villain full of malice—to the king,
Concocting lying tales of Siyáwush,
And stirring the Túránian monarch's heart,
Until he was possessed by care and vengeance.
One day the king in private conference
With Garsíwaz declared his purposes,
And said: “Thou must go hence. Hold intercourse
With Siyáwush for long, then speak him fairly
From me, and say: ‘Thou in thy happy home
Hast no desire to look on any one;
But my heart resteth not for love of thee.
Arise! Come hither, thou and Farangís,
Awhile, because we yearn to look upon thee,
With thy shrewd mind so full of excellence.
We too have game upon our hills, we too
Quaff wine and milk in cups of emerald.
Thus let us pass a season and be glad,
And, when thou longest for thy prosperous city,
Go thou with singing and with happiness.
Why are the wine and cup denied to us?
Think not about thy throne of majesty,
But straitly gird thy loins and come to me.’”