Kishwád possessed a palace at Istakhr—
The glory of the nobles. Thither went,
Their audience with the monarch being closed,
Gúdarz with Kai Khusrau. When they had reached
That pleasance with its arabesques of gold
They placed the prince upon a golden throne,
And called down blessings on him as their Sháh.
The warriors of Írán all did him service
Save Tús, son of Naudar, who turned away:
'T was he that had the drums, the golden shoes,
And charge of Káwa's standard. Much displeased
Gúdarz dispatched a friendly embassage
By brave, ambitious Gív, the man that had
The clutch of heroes and the leap of lions.
Gúdarz said: “Say to Tús, son of Naudar:—
Seek for no pretexts at this time of joy.
The nobles and the Lions of Írán
Have all invoked a blessing on the prince.
Why dost thou draw back at the Dív's command,
And quit the way of Him who ruleth earth?
If thou refusest to obey Khusrau
There will be strife and vengeance 'twixt us twain.
The messenger is Gív, the words are mine,
And sanctioned by the nobles here assembled.”
Gív left the presence of his sire with words
Of anger in his heart. On reaching Tús

He said: “Thy rede and wisdom are not mates.”
Tús hearing that replied: “It is not good
To play off tricks on me, for in Írán,
Save elephantine Rustam, I am first
Among the chieftains that command the host,
And grandson of the valiant Minúchihr,
The Sháh who with his sword subdued the world.
Naudar my father was the king of earth,
I represent the race of Farídún.
Whenever I engage myself in fight
I rend the lion's heart and leopard's hide.
Ye have, without my counsel and consent,
Established a new monarch in the world:
I will not be a party to this thing,
So talk not in my presence of Khusrau.
If from the offspring of Afrásiyáb
We make a king, then will our fortunes sleep.
We want no Sháh descended from Pashang;
A flock is ill entrusted to a leopard.
This is the fruitage of these toils of thine,
For Kai Khusrau is young and violent,
While he that ruleth earth should have high lineage,
Worth, Faith, and Grace. Now Faríburz, the son
Of Sháh Káús, is worthier of crown
And throne, not sprung from foes on either side,
But having Grace and glory, fame and right.”
Then Gív arose in dudgeon, doubting both
The wisdom and the honesty of Tús,
And said: “O Tús, illustrious warrior!
Withdraw not when the drums sound. When thou
seest
The spear-heads of the kindred of Gúdarz
The gain that thou expectest will prove loss.
The many toils that we have borne together
Thou throwest to the winds. Hadst thou the Grace
And counsel we had sought not from Alburz
A monarch; and thy head hath not the crown
Because thou lackest brains and royal rede:
God doth bestow the throne of sovereignty
On one who hath the Grace, mien, sense, and counsel.”
He spake thus wrathfully and showed his back
In anger; thence returning to Gúdarz
He said: “Tús is no mate for rede and wisdom.
Thou wouldest say: ‘His eyes are blind.’ His choice
Is Faríburz, although no sovereign
On golden saddle is our prince's peer,
Nor have we such another cavalier.”