The reign of this Bahrám (Varahran II., A.D. 276-293), is in the Sháhnáma as bare of events as that of his predecessor, and Tabarí has next to nothing to say of him. Mas'údí, however, tells us that he began badly till once, when returning from the chase, the Sháh in company with the high priest passed through a hamlet, recently abandoned, amid whose ruins naught was heard but the hooting of the owls. The Sháh asked the high priest if he knew any one that understood their language. The high priest answered that he himself had that gift, and that what the bird said was true. The Sháh inquired what it was, and the high priest replied:—“This owl is a male and wishes to wed. He asked the female owl to accept him as her mate so that their offspring might bless God and perpetuate their name. The female said that she should like it of all things, but that she would accept him only on certain conditions. To begin with he must present her with twenty villages chosen from the chief demesnes that had become vacant under the reigning sovereign.” “What was the male's reply?” asked the Sháh. “Your majesty!” answered the high priest, “the owl made this response:—‘If the reign of this monarch prove a long one I shall be able to give you a good thousand villages, but what do you propose?’ ‘From our union’ rejoined the female, ‘will spring a numerous succession of children, and we shall be able to give each of them a share of these ruins.’ ‘Nothing can be simpler and easier than what you wish’ replied the male, ‘and I agree in advance, for I am overstocked with this kind of wealth. Toll me what you want more.’” The Sháh was struck by the high priest's apologue, and ruled thereafter for his people's good.*