They wrote a letter that might bear good fruit
To that victorious and exalted Ṣháh:—
“The Khán of Chín is suppliant for quarter;
He is beleaguered by Bahrám Chúbína,
And needeth a safe-conduct under seal;
The news thereof will be a feast to him.
Now since the suppliant is the Khán of Chín,
Fall'n from such dignity to wretchedness,
The king of kings should pity one whose worship
Hath passed away.”

Now when the letter reached

The Sháh he cloudward raised his glorious crown.
He sent and summoned the Íránians,
And set them by the famous throne of kingship,

Bade read the letter and strew gems upon
The reader, saying: “I thank my God and praise Him
Three watches of the night in that the Khán
Of Chín is now our subject and high heaven
Our crown. He raised his head to touch the sky,
And thought himself the monarch of the world;
But now this leader who attacked our coasts
Is made the slave of one still mightier,
And so the Turks' chief and the prince of Chín
Is offering his homage unto us.
Praise to the Ruler of the sun and moon,
The Source of this supremacy of ours.
* Do ye too offer praise to God and be
More instant in the practice of all good.”
He called the envoy of the paladin,
Gave him a long and gracious interview,
Called for a girdle set with royal gems,
A kingly robe of honour and a steed
With trappings decked with gold and every buckle
Bejewelled. To the messenger withal
He gave dínárs, a purse, and much beside
To be a present to that prudent man,
* Whom he held chief among the paladins,
Bade come a scribe and had a letter written
On silk: “Parmúda Khán is mine ally,
And in all regions under my protection.
God is the witness to this deed and seal;
His slaves are we and He is Lord.”

He wrote

An answer also to that world-aspirant,
* A letter all good will like Paradise,
And said: “Dispatch Parmúda to my court
With all observance but without his host.
The booty that thou tookest from his troops—
A service which thou didst right zealously—
Send thither too, whate'er of it is worthy.
The Maker aideth thee. Spy out the foe,
And if he hath a stronghold let thy guards
Seize and consume it through thy glorious fortune,
And world-illuming presages. If thou
Hast need of further troops they shall be thine,
And there shall be addition to thy treasures.
State thy demands in writing; we will send
Whatever troops are needed. In thy letter
Name those Íránians that have acted well
In thine esteem; their toils shall be rewarded.
Thy troops the guardians of the march shall be;
The crown of paladins I give to thee.”