How Khusrau Parwíz sent an Army under Nastúh* after Bahrám Chúbína, and how Bahrám Chúbína captured him and reached the Khán of Chín

Whenas the bright sun had arrayed its throne
Exploring parties went out from the Sháh;
They found the chieftain's tent unoccupied,
While of the other tents not many stood.
The scouts came in and told Khusrau Parwíz,
Who grieved the more about that battlefield.
* He choose three thousand cavaliers in mail
On barded steeds, then bade Nastúh to mount,
And gird his warlike loins for the pursuit.
He went in dudgeon; he was not the man
To fight Bahrám Chúbína who the while,
Uncertain of his kingdom and his rights,
Kept with himself his silver and his gold,
And marched all fearful by a trackless route.
Yalán-sína and brave Ízid Gashasp
Rode by the soldiers' side conducting them
Along those wayless ways and as they went

Told stories of the Sháhs. They saw afar
A ruined hamlet where no chief could dwell,
And as Bahrám Chúbína rode ahead,
Remorseful and in dudgeon, he and all
His men athirst, he found a carline's cot.
In courteous terms they asked for bread and water.
She brought a worn-out sieve, laid down a sheep-skin,
All tattered, and set out upon the sieve
Dry bread. Yalán-sína then handed him
The sacred twigs who thought not in his grief
Of muttering prayer.* They ate, then asked for wine,
And prayed.

“If ye would have wine,” said the crone,

There is some, and I have too an old gourd,
The end of which I cut off even now,
Have made a cup, and set it by the wine.”
Bahrám Chúbína said: “If wine is there,
What better cup could be?”

She went and fetched them,

And he was well content to use that cup.
He gave it brimming to her that she might
Be festive too, and said: “My gracious mother!
What tidings hast thou of the world's affairs?”
“My brain is worn out, I have heard so much,”
She answered. “Many came from town to-day,
And talked but of Bahrám Chúbína's battle,
How all his troops deserted to the Sháh,
And how the chief fled hostless.”

“Pious dame!”

He answered, “say if he hath acted wisely
Or followed his desires.”

“Famed man!” she said,

“How is it that the Div hath dimmed thine eyes?
Dost thou not know that since Bahrám Chúbína,
Son of Gashasp, urged on his steed against
Khusrau Parwíz, son of Hurmuzd, the sages
Laugh at him? None accounteth him a chief.”
Bahrám Chúbína said: “Since his desires
Have made him quaff wine from a gourd do thou
Keep barley-bread for him on this old sieve
Until next barley-harvest.”*

Having eaten

He passed withal the night there in his tunic,
His shoulders on his breastplate, but sleep came not:
He found no rest—to vain desires a prey.
Whenas the sun in heaven made secrets clear
The warlike chieftain had the tabor sounded,

What troops he had he gathered, and those nobles
Set forth and came upon a goodly reed-bed,
And many folk were harvesting the reeds,
Who when they saw afar Bahrám Chúbína
With his large body of determined men,
Said: “Blest be thou! Why take the reed-bed thus?
In front are many troops with hands blood-bathed
For fight.”

“They must be horse,” he made reply,

“Sent by the king. I heard, when we resolved
To quit our camp, that he had chosen Nastúh,
A man ambitious but inapt, to lead
Three thousand cavaliers—stiff opposites
In battle—in pursuit of us. When I
Behold him I will end his days. Now tighten
Your girths and ring him in.”

The cavaliers

Drew tight their girths and grasped their Indian swords.
They fired the reed-bed and o'erthrew their foes:
That bed of reeds was utterly consumed,
This man was slain, that burnt. Bahrám Chúbína,
The warrior, perceived Nastúh and gave
His fleet steed rein, and with the lasso's noose
Unhorsed Nastúh whose feckless hands they bound.
He begged for quarter, saying: “Famous king!
Why wish to shed my blood? Compassionate
My luckless fortune. Slay me not that I
May run before thee and approve myself
Thy wretched mendicant.”

Bahrám Chúbína

Replied: “I would not carry from the field
Of fight such men as thee. I will not sever
Thy head because I shame at having fought
A cavalier like thee. When thou art set
At liberty be off with you and tell
Khusrau Parwíz what thou hast seen of me.”
Nastúh, on hearing, kissed the ground and gave
Abundant thanks. This done, Bahrám Chúbína
Departed with his warriors good at need
To Rai, reposed, then sought the Khán with speed.