How Bahrám Chúbína summoned the Magnates of Írán, how they discussed his Pretensions to the Kingship, and how he acceded to the Throne
When Sol unsheathed its sword, and when its veil
Of yellow showed, Bahrám Chúbína sent
And called the magnates, seating them upon
The dais of the kings on golden seats,
Which he had ranged around, and sat in joy
As conquering monarchs do. Thereafter he
Spake with a mighty utterance thus and said:—
“Ye that are worshipful! now make response
In full assurance and auspiciously
Advise upon my words. Give them all heed,
And note my prompt dispatch. Ye will not find
A worse Sháh than Zahhák, search as ye may,
Who slew his sire for kingship's sake, whereby
Írán fell to his hands;*
and now again
Khusrau Parwíz, a man unjust and cursed,
Hath slain his father and hath gone to Rúm;
And so till one of royal race appeareth,
One fit to claim the throne and make crown, girdle,
And fortune his who, think ye, is the man
To gird him at this present to restore
The precedents of kings? I swear by Him,
Who is the Master of the sun on high,
That I will give you aidance in the quest.”
The nobles heard the famous chieftain's words,
And none dissented. Then an elder rose—
Shahrán Guráz, a hoary warrior,
A chieftain eminent—and answered thus:—
“Thou art a benefactor to the world,
Illustrious prince! Hadst thou not been at Rai
No one had matched king Sáwa when he reached
Our coast with forces to enslave the Free;
But bravely thou didst arm thee and that trouble
Passed from the Íránians, and a host equipped,
He spake, ceased, and resumed his seat.
Then Farrukhzád stood up. “O helpful chief!”
He said, “just speech is better than mishap.
If justice then is better perish he
That joyeth in unjust words.”
Then he spake
Thus to Bahrám Chúbína: “Blest be thou,
And may the sight of thee sustain the world.
If these my words find favour and if God,
The Conqueror, assist us live for ever
As our blest Sháh, and be the hands and tongues
Of bad men far from thee.”
That valiant man
Sat down and Khazarwán, son of Khusrau,
Came forward lion-like and said: “Although
Both young and old talk much yet in the end,
If thou wouldst follow right, dispatch like wind
A cameleer and tarry not until
Khusrau Parwíz, the exalted one, shall tread
The longsome road a victim to injustice.
Excuse thy late behaviour and approach not
The throne thus boldly, for no general
Is worthy of it while the world-lord liveth.
If thou art fearful of Khusrau Parwíz
Break off thy love for Párs and Taisafún,
Now when
Bahrám Chúbína saw the scimitars
Drawn he did what was just and right, and said:—
“If any one shall leave his seat and touch
His scimitar I will cut off his hand
Forthwith and sober him.”
This said, he left
The nobles for the pleasance. That great conclave
Dispersed with faces lined and broken hearts.
Whenas the pitch-hued, star-illumined Veil
Appeared, and watchmen's calls were heard, he asked
For pen and paper, and a noble scribe,
And wise, approached, to whom he handed pen
And inkstand, saying: “Write out on this silk
This declaration from the Íránians:—
*
‘Bahrám Chúbína is the Sháh, triumphant,
Deserving crown, adorning throne, and seeking
Right publicly and privily.’”
This written
They lighted links and passed an anxious night,
But when the Veil of lapis-lazuli
Had passed away and when the world was sun-gilt,
One fortune-favoured came and set a state
Within the palace of Bahrám Chúbína;
Upon that golden state they placed a seat,
And oped the court. He took his place as Sháh,
And donned the royal crown. The scribe then brought
The declaration of his sovereignty
Inscribed upon the costly painted silk,
And each chief testified: “Bahrám Chúbína
Is monarch of the world.”
When they had signed
He sealed it with his golden seal and said:—
“All-holy God will testify to you
That now this realm is mine and may its kings
Be of my lineage for a thousand years,
'Twas on the day
Khurshíd of month Ázar that thus the Lion
Gave up the Onager's back.*
Bahrám Chúbína
Thereafter thus harangued the Íránians:—
“Revengeful strife hath risen in our midst.
Whoe'er accepteth not this settlement,
Be he an honest man or not, shall spend
But three days in Írán and on the fourth,
What time the world's Light mounteth to the sky,
Shall go to join Khusrau Parwíz and sleep not
In our dominions longer.”
Blessing him,
Not from their hearts, men said: “May earth ne'er
lack thee.”
Heart-broken that Bahrám Chúbína reigned
Those loyal to the kingdom's rightful lord
Departed Rúm-ward and dispersed abroad.