How Bahrám Chúbína sent a Letter announcing his Victory, and the Head of King Sáwa, to Hur-muzd, and his Answer

When night had curled its locks and sent thereby
The eye to sleep, and when the Ebon Veil
Appeared, the world had respite from the drum.
Meanwhile the wheel of heaven turned apace
In view of darksome night and hurried on
Till from the deep a Golden Vessel rose,
And travail waxed and slumber fined away.
Then came the captain of the host and sent
Some one to bid his comrades good at need:—
“All those that have been slain among the chiefs,
War-cavaliers and captains of the Turks,
Each leader of the folk, behead and set

Behind the heads of all of them that were
Those warriors' diadem a flaunting flag.”
He had the captives and the heads collected,
And carried from the field, then called a scribe
And spake at large of that famed, countless host,
The movements and the day's vicissitudes,
The battle and* the divers stratagems
That he had used against so vast a foe,
The toils and fighting of the Íránians,
And how no horsemen loosed his belt all day.
When he had written to the Sháh he chose
A courier from the troops, first put upon
A lance the head of Sáwa, then bade bear
The standard of that monarch and the heads
Of those chiefs of Túrán and cavaliers
Of Chín withal upon a dromedary
With all speed to the Sháh. The prisoners,
And whatsoever spoil there was he kept
Intact within Harát until the king
Should make his pleasure known. He sent withal
Experienced horsemen to escort the heads,
And to obtain permission from the Sháh
To march against Parmúda with the host.
The dromedary started, and a guide
Led on the cavaliers who toiled and trod
The way that quickly they might see the Sháh,
And greet him from the paladin and chiefs.
Upon their side the Turks all destitute
Went horseless, weaponless, and baggageless,
And both their cavaliers and those of Chín
Returned toward Túrán. Now when the news
Came to Parmúda he put off his crown,
While from the Turks arose a grievous wail;
The day was bitter for those chiefs; all heads
Were full of dust, all eyes of tears, and none
Ate or reposed or slumbered. Then he summoned
The warriors and, weeping his heart's blood,
Inquired of them: “Why did that countless host
Prove impotent upon the day of battle?”
A counsellor replied: “We held the foe
To be but weak, but none will see in time
Of action such another cavalier
As brave Bahrám Chúbína. Not one man
For every century of ours had he,
Yet not a youth of his brave troops was wounded,
For God directed him! I might say more,
But thou hast heard enough.”

On this Parmúda

Reflected on Bahrám Chúbína's deeds,

Was wroth, turned pale of cheek, and was resolved
In his distress of heart to battle on.
A hundred thousand of the host remained—
All men of name and ready for the fray.
He led his army plain-ward from the camp
Toward the Jíhún in order to avenge
His noble father on Bahrám Chúbína.
What time the letter of that paladin
Came to the Sháh of ardent soul that world-lord
Was sitting on his throne and holding forth
Concerning his own fortune to the court:—
“Strange! that no tidings of Bahrám Chúbína
Have reached our court! What say ye, and hence­forth
What shall we do? We must advise thereon.”
Now as he spake the words the chamberlain
Came from the gate and brought the king of kings
The glad news: “May the Sháh rejoice for ever!
Bahrám Chúbína hath prevailed o'er Sáwa,
And grown the lustre of the world in fight.”
At once the Sháh called in the messenger
Sent by Bahrám Chúbína, seating him
Above the nobles present, and inquired
Concerning host and paladin and those
Illustrious and glorious warriors.
The messenger replied: “Exalted Sháh!
The battle went as thou didst wish. Mayst thou
Live ever happily and joyously,
For thy foe's fortune hath grown old. The heads
Both of king Sáwa and his younger son—
Him whom his father used to call Faghfúr—
Are at thy gate on spears—a sight for all
The city.”

Hearing this, the king of kings

Rose, quickly bowed, and standing in God's presence
Said: “O Thou righteous Guide! Thou hast des­troyed
Our foes, Thou Fashioner of sun and moon!
Great was my wretchedness and my despair
What time the foe came headlong from his throne!
'Twas neither chieftain nor the warrior-host
That did this, but God's goodness to His slave.”
Then from the treasures that his sire had left
He had a hundred thousand drachms brought forth,
With one third first gave largess to the poor,
But the more part to his own servitors,
And sent the Fanes of Fire another third,
There to be given over to the priests
To grace the Feasts of New Year and of Sada.
With what was left men sought out and repaired
The ruined sites and caravansaries
In desert places, rendering the roads

Secure and easy. He remitted imposts
For four years to the poor, and subject kings,
And then had letters written to each province,
To all the nobles, thus: “Bahrám Chúbína
Hath triumphed o'er the foe and with his sword
Cut off king Sáwa's head.”

The Sháh next passed

Two weeks in prayer; then when the world's light rose
He called the envoy of the paladin,
And seated him rejoicing 'mongst the lords;
Then wrote an answer instantly and set
A tree within the garth of majesty,
Sent too a silver throne and golden boots,
And wealth of all sorts. All that lay between
Haitál and the great river* he bestowed
On that bold paladin* and bade: “Distribute
Spoil ta'en on way and waste among the troops
Except king Sáwa's private property;
Let that be sent to court. This done, make war
Upon Parmúda till he is o'erthrown.”
Hurmuzd sent gifts too to the Íránians,
Confirmed by letters written to each city.
They gave the messenger a robe of honour,
And called thereafter for the nobles' steeds.
Bahrám Chúbína, when the envoy came,
Joyed well content and gave the troops much booty,
Except the wealth pertaining to king Sáwa,
The impure of heart; this he dispatched with horse­men,
Famed veterans of his kin, who bore it all
To court what while the chieftain went his way,
He and his army, to renew the fray.