Next day arose the tymbals' din, Gúdarz
And Tús led on the troops. Káús, their lustre,
Went with them, and upon a shaded spot
Set up his throne before Mount Ispurúz
For rest and sleep, while terror everywhere
Fell on the brutish dívs. Upon the heights
The Sháh spread cloth of gold: the air was fragrant

With luscious wine: the favoured paladins
Sat by his throne and spent the night together.
At dawn they woke and entered helmed and armed
The presence of the Sháh, who ordered Gív:—
“Choose from the warriors two thousand men—
Mace-wielders—to prepare for us a path
Mázandarán-ward, slaughter young and old,
Fire all the settlements, turn day to night,
And slay the warlocks ere they are aware.”
Gív girt him, left the portal of the Sháh,
Chose valiant warriors, and when he reached
Mázandarán showered scimitars and maces.
The women, children, and old men with staves,
Received no quarter from his sword; he sacked
And burned the cities, scattering bane instead
Of antidote. He lighted on a spot
Like Paradise, replete with all delights,
And in each street and quarter countless slaves
With necklaces and carrings, and still more
With casques and faces like the shining moon.
In every place were treasures stored away,
Here gold, there gems. The cattle were past count.
Thou wouldst have said: “'Tis Paradise itself!”
They told Káús the news, who cried: “Live happy
The man who said: ‘Mázandarán may match
With Paradise, and thou wouldst say that all
The country is an Idols' temple decked
With wreaths of roses and brocade of Chín;
Its Idols come from Paradise with faces
Bathed in pomegranate-blossoms by Rizwán.’”*

The Íránians plundered for one week, then ceased.
The monarch of Mázandarán received
The news; his heart was sad, his head was heavy.
There was a dív named Sanja at the court,
Who also grieved. The monarch said to him:—
“Go swift as Sol in yonder circling heaven
And tell the White Dív: ‘There hath come a host
Out of Írán to spoil Mázandarán;
They have burnt up our cities and inflamed
Our vengeance by the outrage. Kai Káús,
With many young and brave, is in command
Without thy help we shall be all destroyed.’”
When Sanja heard the message he sped forth
And carried to the dív the king's appeal.
The White Dív answered: “Be not in despair,
For I am coming with a mighty host
To cut the Sháh's foot from Mázandarán.”
He spake and like a mountain rose erect;
His head was level with the turning sky.
Night came, a cloud involved the Íránian host,
The world grew like a negro's face for blackness,
And thou hadst said: “'Tis like a sea of pitch,
And all its light is lost.”

The White Dív spread

Above their heads a tent of pitchy smoke,
Air dusked and eyes were darkened. From the sky
He showered stones and darts, the Íránian troops
Dispersed abroad, and many sought Írán,
Heart-broken at the doings of Káús.
When day had come the ambitious Sháh and most
Among his warriors were blind. The nobles
Were wroth with him, his troops were prisoners,
His treasures pillaged, and his fortunes old.
It is a ne'er to be forgotten tale,
For at such wonders wonder's self must fail!
Now when the Sháh perceived his plight he said:—
“A prudent minister is more than treasure;
Alas that I accepted not the counsel
Of Zál the worldlord but misdoubted it.”
When he had passed seven days in misery
And looked on no Íránian, on the eighth
The White Dív thundered at him: “O thou Sháh,
As fruitless as a willow! thou wouldst have
Complete supremacy and seize our pastures.
Like to a maddened elephant's appeared
Thy strength to thee, thou wouldst not yield to any!
Content not with the crown above thy throne
Thou hast perverted wisdom and hast wrought
Ill in Mázandarán, and slaughtered many

With massive mace. The news of mine achievements
Perchance ne'er reached thee, such a dullard thou
On thine imperial throne! Now thou hast gained
The fitting outcome of thy heart's desire.”
Then of the valiant dívs that drew the sword
He chose twelve thousand, setting them to guard
The Íránians, and afflicted grievously
Those headstrong men. He gave them food enough
To keep them living on from day to day,
While all the treasures of the Sháh and host,
The jewelled diadems and turquoise thrones,
All that he saw, he gave o'er to Arzhang,
The general of Mázandarán, and said:—
“Convey these to the king and say to him:—
‘Blame not thou Áhriman, for I have done
All that was needed, and have brought yon folk
To dust. The Sháh and paladins will never
Behold the bright sun or the moon again.
I have not threatened him with death, but taught him
The ups and downs of fortune. He will grow
Wise through his troubles, and hereafter none
Will listen to such schemes.’”

Thereat Arzhang

Went to the monarch of Mázandarán,
And took with him the treasure and the troops,
The captives and the steeds caparisoned.
This done the White Dív went back to his home
As glorious as the sun, while Kai Káús
Remained within Mázandarán to moan:—
“I was to blame for this and I alon??e.”