§ 18 How Kai Khusrau held Feast with the Paladins

The chamberlain threw wide the garden-gate,
And made all ready for a royal revel.
He gave command to set the golden crown
And throne beneath a bower that scattered roses,
And laid down court-brocade o'er all the pleasance,
Which shone as 'twere a lamp. They had a tree
Set up above the Sháh's throne to enshadow
It and the crown. The stem thereof was silver;
The branches were of gold and jewelry,
The jewels manifold and clustering,
The leaves of emeralds and carnelians,
And fruit hung down, like earrings, from the boughs.
The fruits were golden oranges and quinces
All hollow and all perforate like reeds,
And charged with musk worked up with wine that
when
The Sháh set any one upon the throne
The breeze might shower musk on him; such showers
Descended on the Sháh what time he came,
And took his seat upon the throne of gold.

V. 1109
All the cup-bearers wearing coronets
Of jewels, gold brocade, and robes of Chín,
With torques and earrings, stood before the throne,
All clad in gold. All hearts were full of mirth.
The wine was in their hands, their cheeks were flushed,
Though no one was bemused, like cercis-bloom,
Or like brocade of Chín. The aloe-wood
Burned and the harps descanted. Then the Sháh
Gave orders to the chamberlain on duty,
And said: “Call Tús, Gúdarz, and all the chiefs.”
He ordered Rustam to approach the throne,
And sit with him beneath the tree. He said:—
“Thou happy bond 'twixt fortune and ourselves!
Thou art a shield betwixt Írán and ill
For aye with outstretched wings like the Símurgh,
And oft hast toiled for country and for king.
Thou knowest how the offspring of Gúdarz
In peace and war, in profit and in loss,
Stand in my presence with their loins girt up,
And always are my guides to what is good,
While, more than all, Gív shielded me from harm.
Such grief ne'er came before upon this house
(What greater sorrow than to lose a son?)
And wert thou not to undertake the task
I see none other helper in the world.
Now remedy this matter of Bízhan's,
Who hath been ill-entreated by Túrán,
And take of steeds and armour, men and treasure,
Whate'er is needed. Think it not a toil.”
When Rustam heard he kissed the ground, sprang up,
And blessed the Sháh: “O thou fair-famed,” he said,
“Who like the sun art potent everywhere!
V. 1110
Be greed and wrath and need afar from thee,
And may thy foe's heart burn and agonize.
Thou art Sháh, lord, and chief above all kings,
And monarchs are the dust upon thy feet.
The throne, the bright sun, and the shining moon
Have never looked on such another Sháh.
Thou hast discerned between the good and bad,
And bound the Dragon with thy charms and chains.
My mother gave me birth to toil for thee;
Thine own part is enjoyment and repose.
I am obedient to the Sháh's commands,
And go where thou shalt bid. By royal Grace,
And by my massive mace, I plucked the heart
Out of the dívs erst in Mázandarán;
E'en so for Gív sake, though the sky should rain
Fire on my head, I will not heed and, though
The spear-points reach the lashes of mine eyes,
I will not turn rein from Khusrau's behest,
But by thy Grace will compass this achievement,
And ask for neither chief nor warriors.”
When Rustam had thus said, Gúdarz and Gív
With Faríburz, Farhád, the brave Shápúr,
And other chiefs, invoked on him God's blessing.
They took the cup and, pledging Zál and Rustam,
Became bemused with wine. Thus revelling
The Sháh oped festively the door of spring.