Two weeks passed, then Bahrám Chúbína left
His palace for the waste. In front of him
There was a forest furnished well with trees —
The very place for lucky revellers.
Upon the mead he saw an onager,
And none will see a fairer one. He followed
At leisure, heating not his steed. Appeared
Within that woodland-chase a narrow path,
Which when that gallant onager had traversed
A pleasance next was seen upon the plain.
Bahrám Chúbína, marking this, proceeded
Until a splendid palace came in sight.
Led by the onager he turned and rode
Thereto; behind him was Ízid Gashasp,
To whom he gave his fleet steed's reins and said:—
“May wisdom ever be thy mate,” then entered
The porch alone. Ízid Gashasp the while
Abode without and held the noble steed.
Behind him hurrying came Yalán-sína
Armed on a swift horse. Brave Ízid Gashasp
Said: “Lion! enter thou and find out whither
Our chief, the heroic captain of the host,
Our succourer, hath gone.”

Yalán-sína

Made for the palace with an anxious heart
To seek the chief. He saw it and its hall
Magnifical; its like he had not seen
Or heard of in Írán. Upon one side
Thereof there was a cupola whose top
Was viewless through its height and under it
A throne of gold with steps begemmed. The throne
Was covered with brocade of Rúm in patterns
Picked out with jewels on a ground of gold.
Upon the throne there sat a lady crowned,
Of cypress-height and with a face like Spring.
*

Beside it was a seat and thereupon
The captain of the host while many slaves,
Idols fay-faced and blooming, were around.
On seeing Yalán-sína the lady bade
A handmaid: “Hasten to yon lion-heart,
Fair mate, and say: ‘Thou mayst not enter here.
Stay with thy comrades. He will come anon,
But go thou first. As from Bahrám Chúbína
Speak this and ease them as to his return.’”
She sent some also to his retinue
To bring the warriors' horses to the stalls,
And take good care of all their equipage.
The gardener unlocked the garden-gate
By hest of that fair hostess,* and they set
About the garden victuals past conceit.
Whenas the warriors had eaten bread
They led the chargers to the place assigned.
Bahrám Chúbína, when he left the lady,
Spake thus: “May Jupiter espouse thy crown.”
She answered: “Be victorious and ever
Of patient heart and wise.* Go thou! the throne
And the Íránian diadem are thine.
The world shall be set straight by thee, so win it
By might and sword from dark dust to the stars.”
* Now when he came forth from that garth of roses
Thou wouldst have said: “He weepeth blood!”
So changed
Was he in temper and in talk that thou
Hadst said: “He raiseth to the Pleiades
His head.”

Anon the onager appeared;

The chieftain followed after on his steed,
And it was so that till he cleared the forest
The onager still served him as a guide.
He went back to the city from the chace,
But spake not of the matter to the host.
Kharrád, son of Barzín, regarded him
And said thus: “O thou chief that speakest sooth!
What was this marvel seen and heard by none
That happened in the chace?”

The paladin

Vouchsafed no answer but in dudgeon sought
The palace, and none else dared ask: “What might
This matter mean, this vision of delight?”