While thus the Sháh sought pardon his own host
Was searching for him everywhere. When Rustam
With Gív and Tús gat news of him they marched
With many troops and drums. Said old Gúdarz
To Rustam: “Since my mother suckled me
I have been conversant with crown and throne,
With kings and great men of unsleeping fortune,
But have not seen in all the world a man
'Midst high and low so self-willed as Káús.
He hath no wisdom, common sense, or Faith,
He is wrong-headed and wrong-hearted too.
Thou wouldest say: ‘He hath no brains, his thoughts
Are all awry.’ None of the great of yore

Hath e'er essayed the heavens. Like witless madmen
He is borne off his feet by every wind.”
Whenas the paladins arrived they rated
The Sháh. “The madhouse is thy proper place,”
Gúdarz said, “not the city. Thou surrenderest
Thy seat to foes and tellest none thy whims.
Thrice hast thou been in trouble, yet thy head
Is none the wiser! To Mázandarán
Thou led'st a host, and look what mischief followed!
Again, thou madest merry with a foe,
Yet thou—his idol—hadst to worship him!
And when none in the world save holy God
Remained to read the title of thy sword,
Since earth was conquered, thou must needs try heaven,
Although to soar one hand-breadth is revolt.
What bale hast thou encountered yet escaped!
Hereafter folk will tell of thee: ‘A Sháh
Went to the sky to see the sun and moon,
And count the stars.’ Now do as princes do
When prudent, pious, and beneficent—
Serve God and Him alone in weal and woe.”
Káús, abashed before those famous heroes,
Replied: “No harm can come of righteous judgment;
Thy words are righteous and thou hast convinced me.”
He wept gall, called on God, and took his seat
Distressed and penitent within the litter.
He reached his lofty throne, but, being troubled
Still at his great offence, he quitted it
And entered not his palace out of shame,
But paced the dust in prayer before his God
For forty days. Thou wouldst have said: “His skin
Hath burst.” He prayed with tears of blood and
wailed
For Grace. Abashed to meet the mighty men
He ceased from banquetings and audiences,
Repented and did penance, giving largess,
And laid his cheek upon the darksome dust
In prayer to God who in a while forgave him.
His scattered troops assembled at his gate;
God's pardon gave him brightness; he was ware
That penance had borne fruit. He took his seat
Crowned on the throne of gold, gave to his troops
A donative, reformed the world, and grew
A Light to great and small; thou wouldst have said:—
“The world, now right is done, is all brocade,
The king of kings illumineth the throne.”
From every province those illustrious chiefs,
That had assumed the crown, renewed allegiance
And journeyed to his court, old times returned,
The monarch bathed his crown in love and faith,
The princes all attended as his slaves
Before him while he sat upon his throne
Of jewel-work with crown and ox-head mace.
I tell the tale as I have heard it told,
And none hath such another to unfold.
Such were the actions of the worldlord king
And Rustam, chief of paladins! Whene'er
A king is just then all is well and fair;
He needeth not to cry for succouring.
Káús saw what was right, did what was right,
A breath of wind was this world in his sight.