The next day when the sun rose o'er the hills,
And set its golden lantern in the sky,
There went up from the hold a mighty shout,
Which caused Khusrau to ponder. Thereupon
The portal of the hold was opened wide,
And then the mystery was unveiled, for Jahn
Came with ten cavaliers, all men of wisdom,
Estate, and knowledge, to the royal entry,
And there alighted with the other nobles.
The chamberlain went in before the Sháh,
And said: “'Tis Jahn with ten more cavaliers.”
The king of kings sat on the ivory throne,
And donned the crown that gladdeneth the heart,
While Manúshán, the warrior, went forth,
And brought wise Jahn to audience. At his coming
The face of Kai Khusrau was tear-bedimmed.
The valiant Jahn, lost in astonishment,
Removed his royal helm and drawing nigh

Did reverence, and said: “O famous king!
Be goodness aye thy partner through the world,
Be prosperous in our land, and may the hearts
And eyes of all thy foes be rooted out.
Live ever happily and serving God,
Thou that erst stretched thy hands upon our soil!
Blest was thy sojourn, happy is thy coming,
Kind hath been all thine intercourse with us.
I bring a message from Afrásiyáb,
Provided that the Sháh will bear with me.”
Thereat Khusrau bade bring a golden stool.
They set it 'neath that prudent man who took
His seat, recalled the message of his sire,
And thus addressed the Sháh: “Afrásiyáb
Is sitting with his eyes fulfilled with tears.
I first convey this greeting to the Sháh,
Sent by the heart-seared monarch of Túrán:—
‘Praise be to God, our Refuge, that a son
Of ours should have attained such eminence.
The Sháh upon the father's side is sprung
From Kai Kubád, upon the mother's side
From Túr: thy head is higher than earth's kings
Because thou comest of this noble stock.
The swiftly flying eagles in the clouds,
And in the streams the lusty crocodiles,
Are guardians of thy throne, and in thy fortune
The beasts rejoice; earth's great men with their crowns
And coronets are thine inferiors.
I marvel that the curst Dív never willeth
Me aught but harm. Why went my heart astray
From sense of right and loving-kindliness
So that my hand slew noble Siyáwush,
The son of Kai Káús, and for no fault?
My heart is sore thereat; I sit apart
In anguish taking neither sleep nor food.
I slew him not; it was the wicked Dív,
Who ravished from my heart the fear of God;
His time had come and that was mine excuse,
I was illuded. Both a sage and king
Art thou, approving men of holiness;
Mark then how many cities and how great,
With gardens, spaces, halls, and palaces,
Have been destroyed in vengeance and the plea
Hath been Afrásiyáb and Siyáwush!
Mark too the fights of cavaliers, as huge
As elephants and strong as crocodiles,
Whose heads are trunkless and whose only shrouds
Are lions' maws; the desert hath no hostel
Remaining, every city here is ruined.
Till Doom's Day nothing will be told of us
Save that we fought with trenchant scimitars,
The Maker of the world will be displeased,
And we shall writhe in anguish at the last.
If thou seek'st fight thy heart assuredly
Will never have a moment's peace from feuds.
Observe time's changes and no other teacher,
For though thy heart be full, thy head all vengeance,
We have the hold while thou art on the plain.
I speak of Gang; it is my paradise,
Its seed-time and its harvest are mine own;
Here are my hoards, my host, my crown, and signet;
It is a place for sowing and for feasting,
A place for Lions on the day of battle.
The summer-warmth is past, the rose and tulip
No longer bloom, cold, wintry days confront us
When hands are frozen to the hafts of spears.
Well know I how the clouds will lour above,
And rivers be firm ground. From every side
Troops at my call will come; thou canst not strive
Against the sun and moon. If thou supposest
That time will render unto thee the fruits
Of war, then heaven will belie thy thoughts,
And others eat the produce of thy toils.
If now thou sayest: “I will take the Turkmans
Of Chín, will dash the heaven upon the earth
And pierce this people with the scimitar,”
Shall I become a captive in thy hands?
Presume it not, for this shall never be;
None will erase a man indelible.
The grandson am I of Zádsham the king,
Descended from Jamshíd and Farídún,
My knowledge and my Grace are both from God,
And I possess a pinion like Surúsh.
When destiny oppresseth me my heart
Requireth not a ?? I will go
At slumber-time, as God commandeth me,
Like stars before the sun, cross the Kímák,
And yield thee realm and crown. Then shall Gang-dizh
Be thine abode, both land and troops shall lose me;
But when the day of vengeance shall arrive
I will array, hoar-headed as I am,
This host, will come to execute revenge
On thee, and everywhere restore my Faith;
But if thou wilt put vengeance from thy thoughts,
And charm the realm with loving-kindliness,
I will unlock my hoard of girdles, crowns,
Gold, jewels, and dínárs—whatever Túr,
The son of Farídún, took from Íraj.
Them take and never think again of vengeance.
If thou wilt have Chín and Machín, 'tis well,
Seize all according to thy heart's desire.
Before thee are Makrán and Khurásán;
Take less or more and I am satisfied.
By that same route which Kai Káús hath traversed
I will dispatch thee what thou wilt of troops,
I will enrich thy whole host and bestow
On thee the golden throne and diadem.
I will be thy support in every war,
And hail thee king in presence of all folk.
Say what thou wouldest have—all thy desire—
And by the past and future judge thine end;
But if thou shalt reject this rede of mine,
And wilt wage war upon thy mother's father,
Array thy host as soon as Jahn hath gone,
Fit as a pard am I for fighting on.’”