As Rustam went forth from the tent-enclosure
He stood before the entry for awhile,
And thus addressed the tent: “O house of hope!
Blest were the days that saw Jamshíd within thee.
Great wert thou in the time of Kai Káús,
And in the days of favoured Kai Khusrau;
But now the door of Grace is shut upon thee,
For one unworthy sitteth on thy throne.”
Asfandiyár, the hero, heard the words,
Strode forth to noble Rustam, and spake thus:—
“Why art thou angry with the tent-enclosure,
Thou well-advised? Well might a man of sense
Bestow upon Zábulistán the name
Of ‘Babblestead.’ Why need a guest abuse
His host because the guest is weary of him?
The day too was when thou for Sháh Káús
Didst serve as veil and shelter for the troops,
Káús who sought to know God's mysteries,
And hankered to investigate the stars!*
The earth was all convulsed on his account,
And filled with depredation, sword, and arrow.
Gushtásp is now thine owner, and Jámásp
Is standing in his presence. At his side
Is seated on one hand Zarduhsht who brought
The Zandavasta out of Paradise;
Upon the other Bishútan, the brave
And good, not seeking this world's weal and woe;
In front is glorious Asfandiyár,
The man in whom the wheel of fortune joyeth,
In whom the hearts of good men live; the bad
Turn slaves through terror of his scimitar.”
The valiant cavalier passed through the gate.
Asfandiyár looked after him and, when
He had departed, said to Bishútan:—
“I must admit his manliness and prowess.
I have not looked on such a horse and horseman,
And know not how this combat will result.
A mighty elephant upon Mount Gang
Is he if he doth come forth armed to battle.
His Grace and comeliness surpass his height,
Yet will he see, I fear, a fall tomorrow.
The Glory of his countenance inflameth
My heart, but still I will not sever it
Said Bishútan: “List to my words:
I say to thee, my brother! do not so.
I said to thee before, I say again,
And will not purge my heart of what is right,
Aggrieve not any, for a noble man
Will not submit to injury and wrong.
Take rest tonight and at tomorrow's dawn
Go unattended to his palace, there
Let us enjoy some days of happiness,
And answer every question that he raiseth.
Among the mighty and among the mean
No good is done that is not done by him.
He will not turn away from thy commands,
For I perceive that he is true to thee.
Why struggle so in vengeance and in wrath?
Wash vengeance from thy heart, ire from thine eyes.”
Asfandiyár returned this answer: “Thorns
Are growing in the corner of the Rose-bed.”*
He said moreover: “Surely these thy words
Become not a professor of the Faith!
If thou art minister of all Írán,
The heart, the ears, and eyes of valiant men,
Canst thou approve a course however wise
That bringeth injury upon the Sháh?
Then all my cares and toils have turned to wind,
And all the doctrine of Zarduhsht is wrong,
Which teacheth us that those who disobey
The Sháh's commands shall have their place in Hell.
Thou bid'st me oft: ‘Be disobedient,
Reject thou the commandment of Gushtásp.’
Thou sayest it, but how can I convert
Yea into nay through any words of thine?
If thou hast fears about my person I
Now will relieve thee of them. No one dieth
Said Bishútan:—
“Thou talk'st so much of fight, O chief! because
The foul Iblís*
hath ceased to wish thee ill
Since thou cam'st hither with the sword and mace.
Thou hast given the Dív an entry to thy heart,
And hearkenest not to me, thy counsellor.
I see thy heart obscured, thy head fulfilled
With strife, and rend my clothes. Oh! how can I
Relieve my heart of terror once for all?
Of two such men, such warriors and brave Lions,
How can I know which body will go under?”
Still vapouring though full of misery
The noble prince returned him no reply.