Of that throne which thou knowest as Tákdís,
And which Khusrau Parwíz set up within
The hippodrome, the origin occurred
Beneath Zahhák—that loathly infidel—
For when heroic Farídún came forth,
And from the Arabs carried off the style
Of kingship, on Mount Damáwand there dwelt
A man who was distinguished by the Sháh.

His name was Jahn, son of Barzín, a power
Within the realm, and for that Sháh renowned
He made a throne and studded it with gems,
So that Sháh Farídún rejoiced o'er him
When that grand throne was finished, and bestowed
Drachms thirty thousand with a golden crown,
And pair of earrings on him, and had written
On his behalf a patent for Sarí,
And for Ámul. The coast-lands thus assigned
Resembled Paradise.* When Farídún
Bestowed Írán upon Íraj—the youngest
Of his illustrious sons—he gave withal
Three things—this very throne, the ox-head mace
To serve as his memorial in the world,
And thirdly what the just Sháh used to term
“The Seven Founts”—a jewel. When Íraj
Departed these were left and Minúchihr
Had joy thereof. Each wearer of the crown
Made some addition to that throne, and when
It came to Kai Khusrau, the fortunate,
He added greatly to its height. It passed
In due succession to Luhrásp and so
On to Gushtásp who, when he saw it, cried:—
“The work of mighty men must not be hidden,”
And to Jámásp that man of worship said:—
What canst thou add to this achievement? Scan
It everywhere and see what supplement
Thereto will win us praises after death.”
Jámásp beheld the throne and saw therein
A key wherewith to open wisdom's door.
Upon it he inscribed the heavenly host,
Which hold the secrets of futurity,
And there portrayed by order of the Sháh
The planet-forms from Saturn to the moon.
The throne thus reached the era of Sikandar,
Each Sháh that looked upon it adding somewhat—
Gold, silver, ivory, and ebony—
Until through ignorance at one fell swoop
Sikandar broke it up; howbeit the nobles
Concealed and handed down full many a shard.
Thus was it till Ardshír began his reign,
And then the name e'en had grown obsolete.
He found no traces and so made another,
Not as he would, and had small joy therein.
He died and left it as thereafter did
Those that succeeded. When Khusrau Parwíz
Sat on the throne and all the chiefs were loyal
They spake about that other royal throne,
And its past history. Thus said the Sháh:—
“Ye chiefs! I ask a favour of my lieges
So that I may remake that throne renowned
To keep my name in mind. I need the plan
Drawn by Jámásp—the favourite of the sky—
The one adopted by Gushtásp, the Sháh,
Assisted by Jámásp's advice and skill.”
An archimagus reproduced the plan
Whereat the exalt Khusrau Parwíz was glad,
And, this obtained, made haste to reconstruct
With joy the throne, brought forth that of Ardshír,
And gathered all the craftsmen of Írán.
So in the days of that victorious Sháh
They reconstructed that resplendent throne.
The artificers came out of Rúm and Chín,
Makrán, Baghdád, and from Írán itself.
Of craftsmen there were one and sixty score,
Intent upon the fashioning thereof,
And each had thirty workers under him—
Men out of Rúm, Párs, and Baghdád. The Sháh
Commanded all to labour earnestly
To have the throne completed in two years,
And when it was set up high fortune shone.
The height thereof was five score royal cubits
* If thou wilt add thereto three score and ten;
The breadth six score for 'twas less broad than high.
A different carpet was laid down each morning
Throughout the month,* and seven score thousand plaques
Of gold with patterns fashioned of turquoise
Were set upon the throne, while every nail
And clamp were solid silver; each of them
Weighed sixty-six miskáls. When Sol displayed
Its lamp in Aries the desert lay
Behind the throne which fronted garden-wards,
But when Sol raged in Leo then the back
Was turned toward it;* in the month of Tír—
The time for fruit and festival—the throne
Stood fronting toward the garden and the fruits
To catch their scents; in Winter, in the days
Of wind and wet, none felt them seated thus;
The top was all shut in right royally
With beaver-skins and sables. A thousand balls
Withal of gold and silver glowed like brands
* Upon the fire, each five and twenty score
Miskáls in weight and coral-hued with heat.
One half was in the fire, the other half
Was turned towards the noble warriors.
The host of heaven, planets, Zodiac,
The bright moon in whatever Sign soe'er,
And all the bodies, fixed or wandering,
Were visible to the astronomer,
Who saw what portion of dark night had passed,
And how much sky had moved athwart the earth.
Among these tables some were made of gold,
And what a wealth of jewels was therein!
Not e'en an expert could compute their tale.
The cheapest ran to some three score dínárs
And ten; seven hundred would not purchase some,
So strike an average. Full many a ruby
Was there whose value none could estimate:
They lit the night like Venus in the sky.
Upon the throne-steps were three rows of seats
Enriched with gems. From one row to the next
There were four steps of gold inlaid with jewels.
One row, whose ornaments were shaped like heads
Of rams, took thence its name; the next above
Was known as “Lapis-lazuli” as higher
Than wind or dust-clouds, while the third was all
Turquoise, and every one that saw it burned
With longing. Rural chiefs and underlings
Sat on the Rams' Heads' row while cavaliers—
Men un-affeared upon the day of battle—
Sat on the cirque of lapis-lazuli.
The turquoise seat was for the minister
That was engaged in governing the realm,
And he that sat there must be wise and loyal.
A fabric was spread out of cloth of gold
Two score and seventeen cubits long, its fringe
All strung with jewels held by golden threads.
A map of heaven was inscribed thereon
Where Saturn, Mars, Sol, Jupiter,* and Venus,
With Mercury and shining Luna, showed
The fortunes of the Sháh; there too appeared
The Seven Climes, and peers of Párs and Rúm;
* The seven and forty Sháhs,* their faces, thrones,
And crowns, were shown, those of the kings of kings,
Of woven gold. The fabric was unique.
A man of Chín, unrivalled in such work,
Had given seven years to weaving it.
One New Year at Urmuzd of Farwardín
He came before the monarch of Írán,
And brought that royal carpet to the Sháh:
The nobles let him pass. He laid it down
On New Year's Day. The Sháh's joy was complete.
That carpet gave an opportunity
For mirth: they called for wine and minstrelsy.