Now when the sky had half revolved, and when
The shining sun displayed its face once more,
The mighty men betook themselves to court
With covered heads to offer their respects.
Afrásiyáb convoked the experienced sages,
And thus addressed them: “It hath been my lot
To see no desert but that made by war,
And many great ones of the Íránians
Have perished by my hand upon the field.
What cities have been turned to hospitals!
What beds of roses into brakes of brambles!

What uplands have I made my battle-grounds!
My troops have left their traces everywhere.
It is because unjust kings rule the world
That good of every kind is vanishing.
No onagers are breeding in their season
Upon the plains; hawks rear a sightless brood;
Milk faileth in the udders of the game;
The water in the springs is turned to pitch,
And they are drying up throughout the world;
Musk-bags no longer yield the scent of musk;
All that is right is frayed by villainy,
And population faileth everywhere.
My heart is satiate of strife and outrage:
Fain would I walk the path of godliness.
Then be we just and wise again; let pleasures
Stand in the place of misery and travail.
For our part let us give the world some respite;
Death should not come upon men unawares.
The more part of the world is at my feet:
My court is in Írán and in Túrán,
For see how many of the mighty men
Bring heavy tribute to me year by year!
Now if it be your minds I will dispatch
An embassy to Rustam, and forthwith
Knock at the door of peace with Siyáwush,
And send him every kind of precious gift.”
The chieftains gave their answers one by one:
All were for peace and amity. They said:—
“Thou art the monarch and we are thy slaves,
With hearts devoted to perform thy hest.”
The councillors dispersed with minds intent
On justice, with no thought of strife and turmoil.
Then said Afrásiyáb to Garsíwaz:—
“Make all thy preparations for the journey
With speed, and tarry not upon the road.
Choose out two hundred horsemen from the host,
And carry precious things to Siyáwush
From all the divers treasures in our hoard.
Take Arab steeds with golden furniture
And Indian scimitars with golden sheaths,
A crown of jewels that a king might wear,
A hundred camel-loads of carpeting,
And take two hundred slaves both boys and girls.
Say thus to him: ‘I have no quarrel with thee.’
Hold converse with him and bespeak him thus:—
‘I do not set my face against Írán.
All from the bank of the Jíhún to Chín
Is mine, my home is Sughd—a realm distinct.
In truth it is through Túr and valiant Salm
That all the world is thus turned upside down,
And since the innocent Íraj was slain
Our warriors' brains have lost their wits. Írán
Is not divided from Túrán, but wars
And feuds prevented friendship. Now I trust
That God will give good days and joyful news.
He raised thee from the country of Irán,
And giveth thee the friendship of the brave.
Let thy fair fortune dower the world with peace,
Let war and every evil disappear.
Now Garsíwaz hath come to add his wits
To thine, and as the valiant Farídún
Erst shared the world among his gallant sons,
So be it now. Let us adopt his rede,
And turn our feet from battle and revenge.
Thou art a Sháh thyself; speak to the Sháh:
Perchance his warlike purpose may relax.’
Speak also unto elephantine Rustam
In fair words, plying him with arguments,
And, that the business may be carried through,
Give gifts to him like those to Siyáwush,
Except a golden throne; no Sháh is he;
Thrones are above a paladin's degree.”