How Gustaham rebelled against Khusrau Parwíz and took Gurdya to Wife

When Gustaham heard this he summoned all
His scattered troops, set forth upon the march,
And passing by Sarí and by Ámul
Came to Gurgán—the country of the Great—
Heard that the Sháh had grown severe and slain
Bandwí, his brother, unexpectedly,
Whereat he gnawed his hands, gat from his steed,
Rent all his raiment as a paladin,
And wailing poured the dust upon his head,
Perceiving that the world-lord would avenge
Hurmuzd on him. He turned back sorrowing,
And, thou hadst said: “Companioning the wind.”
Collecting all his scattered troops he marched
Toward the forest of Nárwan and, when
He reached the mountains of Ámul, drew up
His army in that forest, thence made raids,
And thus began a system of revenge.

He found a living for all workless men,
And where he heard that royal troops were camped
Descended on them and destroyed them all.
Now when Gurdwí arrived he told the Sháh
All that his sister with her warriors
Had done against the marchlords of the Khán,
And how she made their dust go up at Marv,
While Gustaham, on his side, was informed
That brave Bahrám Chúbína's days were done,
And that Gurdya with many troops had fled
That fierce chief,* that a host had followed her
To take revenge, and how she had entreated
Those famous men of Chín. He called to horse,
And from that forest led his troops like wind
To meet her. When Gurdya was ware she went
Forth with her chiefs and nobles. Gustaham,
On seeing them, rode out before his troops.
He met Gurdya and was o'ercome by pain
And much remorse about Bahrám Chúbína,
Spake also of his sorrow for Bandwí,
And wiped blood from his eyelids with his sleeve.
He lighted weeping from his steed at sight
Of Yalán-sína and Ízid Gashasp,
* And said: “The Sháh hath slain Bandwí; his day
Is over and thou wouldst have said: ‘The Sháh
Was not his sister's son. Bandwí bled not
For him who used to pour his very soul
Out at Bandwí's feet and lamented him
When absent!’ Now upon the earliest chance
The Sháh, true to the instincts of his race,
Hath severed from Bandwí both hands and feet!
So now what hope can ye have in the Sháh,
For never came fruit from the willow's bough?
He will entreat your kindred even worse,
And make meat in the city cheap enough.
E'en at a distance he will rage to see,
And plan new vengeance on, Yalán-sína,
Thou being Bahrám Chúbína's general,
And having power through him. Let each that knoweth
The Sháh be ware or better cut his throat!
If ye will stay with us we will consult
On all things great and small.”

The hearers took

His counsel; they all shunned destruction's path.
He spake in earnest to Gurdya, recounting
Bahrám Chúbína's acts. She was o'ercome
By what he said, and felt that he was right.
All joined him and his clouded counsels cleared.

“Doth not,” thus said he to Yalán-sína,
“This lady talk of marriage and desire
Its honours?”

He replied: “Wait till I speak,

And by long converse ascertain her will.”
He said to her: “O lady! I have seen thee
Act as adviser. Thou didst well to flee
The Khán, preferring wisely thine own race.
What sayest thou to the Sháh's maternal uncle,
The valiant and the wealthy Gustaham,
The captain and the leader of a host?”
She said: “A spouse that cometh from Írán
Ne'er will despoil my kindred.”

So Yalán-sína

Gave her to Gustaham—a gallant hero
Of royal lineage—who tended her
Like a fresh apple, for he saw in this
His exaltation nothing of a fall.
The armies sent forth by Khusrau Parwíz
Found their old fortune altogether changed,
And Gustaham, on seeing a host o'erthrown,
Would spare the troops and take them for his own.