V. 547 Káús then summoned all the astrologers
Before him, welcomed them, assigning each
A golden throne, and spake about Súdába,
And of the warfare with Hámávarán,
That they might have a knowledge of her case,
And understand her conduct thoroughly;
He also spake at large about the children,
But kept his own suspicions to himself.
They then took planispheres and astrolabes,
And having spent a sennight on the business
Said: “How can wine be in a cup which thou
Hast filled with poison? These are spurious children,
Not from this mother and the monarch's loins:
We should have found them on the planisphere
With ease if they had been of royal race,
But know that heaven revealeth not their secret,
Nor is this wonder of the earth.”

They told

The Sháh and court of that foul, wicked woman.
Súdába wailed and cried aloud for justice,
She called upon the world-lord for redress,
And said: “I was the comrade of the Sháh
When he had suffered and had lost the throne.
My heart is tortured for my murdered babes,
And ever and anon I swoon away.”

The Sháh replied: “O woman! hold thy peace!
Why dost thou utter such offensive words?”
He gave commandment that the troops on guard
Should search the city and the neighbouring parts,
And bring the wicked woman to the court.
The experienced searchers soon discovered her,
Haled the unhappy woman through the streets,
And carried her in shame before the Sháh,
Who questioned her with kindness, held out hopes,
And made her promises for many days,
Howbeit she confessed not anything.
The noble Sháh was still dissatisfied,
And gave command to bear her forth and use
All means and work by spells, and in the end
To cut her down the middle with a saw
If she persisted, as is common justice.
They bore her from the palace of the Sháh,
And threatened her with sword and stake and pit.
The sorceress answered: “I am innocent.
What can I say before this noble court?”
They told the monarch of the woman's words,
And added: “God alone doth know the truth.”
The great king bade Súdába come to him;
The readers of the stars re-said their say:—
“Both babes are clearly children of the witch,
Begotten from the loins of Áhriman.”
Súdába said: “They know a different tale,
But dare not speak for fear of Siyáwush,
Who privily hath tied them down to silence.
The lions quake in troops for fear of him,
This chieftain of the elephantine form,
Who hath the strength of eighty elephants,
And stayeth at his will the river Nile!
A noble host, a hundred thousand strong,
Take flight before him in the ranks of war!
How shall I stand against him? In good sooth
Mine eyes will evermore weep tears of blood.
What have the readers of the stars to do
Save his command and seek his approbation?
While as for thee—thou mournest not thy babes,
Albeit they are thine as much as mine.
If thou believest such a foolish charge
I leave the question to the other world.”
The sun withdraweth from the river Nile
Less water than Súdába shed in tears.
The Sháh was sorely troubled at her speech;
He joined with her in weeping bitterly,
And then, and with a broken heart, dismissed her.
He brooded constantly upon the matter,
And said: “I will investigate it throughly,
And find out what the bottom of it is.”
He summoned all the archmages of the realm,
And spake about Súdába. One replied:—
“The monarch's grief will not remain a secret.
If thou wouldst clear up what hath been alleged
On each side, throw a stone and break the pitcher,
Because, however dear his son may be,
The Sháh's heart will be still disturbed by thoughts,
While this king's daughter of Hámávarán
Hath made thee doubtful on the other side.
Such being then the statements of the pair
Let one of them be made to pass through fire,
Because high heaven ordaineth that no harm
Shall in this way befall the innocent.”
The world-lord called Súdába, seated her
With Siyáwush to parley on the case,
And said at last: “My heart and my shrewd mind
Trust neither of you; fire will show the truth,
And quickly make the guilty infamous.”
Súdába answered: “What I said is true;
I showed the Sháh two babes untimely born:
What greater outrage can there be than mine?
'Tis Siyáwush that ought to right himself:
He sought to ruin me and did the wrong.”
The king of earth then asked his youthful son:—
“What seemeth good to thee as touching this?”
He answered: “Such a charge is worse than Hell!
I would pass o'er a mountain all aflame,
'Twere baseness not to rid me of this shame.”