He had two sons, as 'twere two moons, well worthy
Of sovereignty, of throne, and diadem,
One hight Gushtásp, the other hight Zarír,
Who conquered lions, in all knowledge passed
Their father, and in valour raised their heads
Above the other troops. There were besides
Among those in attendance on Luhrásp
Two princes, both of whom he held in honour,*

Men of high rank whose steps were fortunate,
The grandsons of the worldlord Kai Káús.
The soul of Sháh Luhrásp rejoiced in them,
And thereby grew neglectful of Gushtásp,
Who took it in bad part, but folly still

Possessed Luhrásp, and so as time went on
The son was full of dudgeon with the father.
It was so that one day in Párs they set
The throne 'neath blossom-shedding trees. Luhrásp
Invited certain chieftains of the host,
Who at the table called for cups of wine,
And made his heart rejoice. Gushtásp too drank,
Then rose and said: “O just and righteous Sháh!
Blest be thy sitting on the royal throne,
And may thy name live on for evermore!
God hath bestowed upon thee casque and girdle,
Besides the crown of upright Kai Khusrau.
Now I am here a slave before thy gate,
A servant of thy star and diadem,
I hold not one a man of those that come
Before me on the day of fight save Rustam,
The son of Zál, the son of Sám the horseman,
For none is able to contend with him.
Now when Khusrau grew weary of the world
He gave the crown to thee and passed away.
If then I am of noble birth appoint me
Successor to the crown and Kaian throne,
And I will be a slave before thee still,
As I am now, and hail thee sovereign.”
Luhrásp made answer: “O my son! give ear,
For vehemence commendeth not the noble,
While I recall the advice of Kai Khusrau,
That thou mayst acquiesce in what is just.
‘If,’ said that righteous king to me, ‘a weed
Infesteth any garden in the spring,
And findeth water, it will grow and spoil
That garden utterly.’ Thou art still young:
Aspire not thus; speak weighty, measured words.”
Gushtásp, on hearing, left his father's presence
With dolorous heart and livid face, exclaiming:—
“Then cherish strangers and neglect thine offspring.”
He had three hundred horsemen as retainers,
All warriors and ready for the fray.
Alighting from his steed he summoned these
To tell them all the secrets of his heart;
He said: “Make ready to depart to-night,
And cease to think, or look, upon this court.”
One asked him saying: “Whither goest thou?
Where wilt thou shelter when thou settest forth.”
He said: “With those of Hind. The monarch there
Affecteth me. I have his letter written
On silk with ink musk-scented. Thus he saith:—
‘If thou wilt come to me I am thy servant,
Will do thy bidding and be thine ally.’”
Whenas night came he mounted with his men,
And started, full of choler, mace in hand.
Luhrásp, who had the news thereof at dawn,
Was grieved and all his joy was at an end.
He summoned to him veterans from the host,
And told the case to them in fitting terms.
“Behold,” said he, “that which Gushtásp hath done,
And filled my heart with pain, my head with dust!
I cherished him until he had grown up,
And was unparalleled in all the world,
But even as I said ‘He beareth fruit,’
The tree itself departed from my garden!”
He spake and for a while sat deep in thought,
Then ordered that Zarír should come and said:—
“Choose out a thousand valiant cavaliers,
Equipped for war. Toward Hindústán speed ye,
And may that land of warlocks cease to be.”