Now on his side like flying dust came Rustam,
The Lion-man, with folded arms before

The Sháh, who met, embraced him, and inquired
About the prince, the progress of events,
The warriors, the battles, and the host,
And wherefore he had come. Then Rustam gave
The letter, first extolling Siyáwush;
A ready scribe then read it, and the face
Of Sháh Káús was pitch-like: “I allow,”
He said, “that he is young and all unversed
In ill—no wonder—but thou art a man
Experienced, and hast witnessed good and bad
Of all kinds: thou hast not thy peer on earth,
And Lions grow adept by fighting thee.
Hast thou not seen Afrásiyáb's ill deeds—
How he hath robbed us of food, rest, and sleep?
I should have gone myself but I forbore,
Although it was my wish to fight with him.
I went not, for men said: ‘Go not thyself:
Remain here that the young prince may command.’
When God had meant that vengeance should be taken,
And ills had asked a recompense of ill,
Ye sought to gain a heritage thereby,
And that it was which occupied your hearts.
Afrásiyáb hath led your wits astray
By riches plundered from the innocent.
A hundred hapless, misbegotten Turkmans,
Who do not even know their fathers' names!
He will think little of such hostages:
They are to him as water in a stream.
If ye have dealt unwisely I am not
Sick of the toils of war; I shall dispatch
A man endowed with wisdom and resource,
To bid the young prince: ‘Put those Turkmans’ feet
In fetters; burn the valuable things,
Retain not one, send me the men in bonds,
And I will take their heads off. Lead thy host
Intent on fight up to the foemen's gate,
At once relax all discipline, and loose
Thy troops like wolves among the sheep; while thou
Revengest, and thy soldiers sack and burn,
Afrásiyáb will come to fight with thee,
For ease and peace will yield him no delight.’”
Then Rustam said: “O Sháh! be not so moved
Because of this. First hear what I shall say;
And then—the world is under thy command.
Thou saidst: ‘In fighting with Afrásiyáb
Cross not the river hastily, but wait
Till he attacketh, for he will not linger.’
Accordingly we waited his advance,
But from the first he oped the door of peace;
It would be vile to haste to fight with one
Intent on peace and mirth; and thy well-wishers
Would never wish the Sháh to break a compact.
When Siyáwush obtained his victories
He charged like some brave crocodile. What wouldst
thou
But signet, crown, and throne, the Íránian treasure,
And safety? These thou hast; shun wanton strife;
Wash not a clear heart in a turbid stream.
Suppose that when Afrásiyáb consented
He inly purposed to break covenant:
We on our side are ready for the fight
With scimitars and lions' claws. Then thou
And noble Siyáwush upon the throne
Of gold shall laugh with gladness in Írán,
While I will lead a small force from Zábul,
And leave Túrán no throne or royal seat,
But with the mace wherewith I fight will make
The sunlight gloomy to Afrásiyáb;
For he and I have often fought, and he
Will scarcely care to try another bout.
Require not then thy son to break the treaty,
Enjoin not what amounteth to a crime.
Why should I hide the purport of my words?
Thy son will never break his promises,
And this deed that the Sháh is contemplating
Will horrify that most illustrious prince.
Dim not his fortunes or it cannot be
But that thine heart will suffer agony.”