Káús, on hearing these wise words, dispatched
A messenger to summon both the chiefs.
He went before the captain of each host,
And mildly said: “Experienced veteran!
Put not fell poison in a cup of milk,
Replace thy sword, and loose thy girdlestead;
This gain of ours must not be turned to loss.
Let both the captains of the hosts appear
Before me and without a retinue.”
They went before the Sháh and Tús spake thus:—
“If now the Sháh is weary of the crown
And throne, his son should have the world, the might,
The diadem, and throne of majesty.

Why should a grandson, when there is a son,
Put on the crown and sit upon the throne?
Now Faríburz hath Grace and royal mien,
And girdeth him as 'twere a savage lion.”
Gúdarz replied: “O thou of little wit!
No sage would reekon thee to be a man.
None in the world hath equalled Siyáwush
Or been so great, discreet, and reticent.
Now this aspirant is a son of his,
‘The same,’ thou wouldest say, ‘in face and form.’
If on his mother's side he is from Túr
The grandson of the Sháh must still prove just.
There is not in Írán or in Túrán
One like him: to what end is thy crude talk?
Thine eyes have never even seen his face,
His lofty mien, and lovingkindliness.
He crossed Jíhún and needed not a boat,
Such were his royal Grace and steadfast purpose.
As with Sháh Farídún, who crossed the Arwand
Without a boat, his courage and God's Grace
Preserved him from the hand and eye of ill.
Moreover, to avenge his father's blood,
He like a savage lion girdeth him
To banish toil and trouble from Írán,
And over-reach astute Afrásiyáb.
Surúsh the glorious said to me in sleep:—
‘His Grace will still the war-cry in Írán,
And when he shall adorn the crown and throne
Of chiefs, the world will cease from toil and hardship.’
Thou art no alien; thou art from Naudar:
Thy father was perverse and thou art mad.
Had I my weapons I would drench thy neck
And breast in blood, would slay thee with my sword,
And end thy silly talk. Thou makest discord
Among the Kaians for thy selfish ends.
The king of kings acknowledgeth Khusrau,
And will bestow the throne on whom he will.
Tús said: “O ancient chief! what rancorous words!
Though thou art from Kishwád yet I am Tús,
Son of Naudar, a Sháh and a Sháh's son,
And if thy sword will penetrate an anvil
My spear will rend the centre of Mount Káf.
What booteth wordy war betwixt us twain?
The king of kings doth know who is the chief.”
Gúdarz replied to him: “Talk not so much;
I see not that thy glory is so great.”
Then said he to Káús: “Experienced Sháh!
Turn not from rule and custom, call before thee
The noble youths, and let thy clear mind judge;
Discern between them which is worthier
As having royal mien and Grace divine,
And give to him the crown and throne if thou
Art weary of the crown and host thyself.”
Káús replied to him: “This is not well,
For both alike are dear; when I have chosen
One then the other will seek vengeance on me.
I will take means that this may not betide
Among our folk. Let both, each with a host,
Go to the entering in of Ardabíl—
The march where is the castle of Bahman,
And Áhriman is ever making war
On those that worship fire. No archimages
Dare settle there. I will give up the throne
Of kings to him who captureth that fortress.”
Gúdarz and Tús, contented with the plan
Of their clear-sighted chief, proposed no better,
But set their hearts on its accomplishment,
And from the monarch's presence forth they went.