§ 47
How Gurdya wrote to Khusrau Parwíz and how he summoned and married her

That dauntless lady called for pen and inkstand,
And sat at ease among her counsellors.
She wrote a letter to the Sháh concerning
His friends and foes, first praised those that eschew

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Revenge, then said: “The bidding of the Sháh
Hath been obeyed as loyal hearts would wish,
And through the fortune of the valiant world-lord
That great host hath dispersed. What further orders
Hast thou to give? What further wilt thou hang
On thy slave's earring?”

When the letter reached

Khusrau Parwíz he joyed in her the more.
The mighty Lion sought a messenger,
High-starred, an honest man and shrewd of soul,
And wrote a letter like the Artang of Chín,
* With many blessings in it, summoning
The noble lady to the court, and in it
Called her the Diadem upon the moon.
The envoy came dust-swift to her and told
All that the Sháh had said. The lion-lady
Became like radiant roses in the Spring-tide
By reason of that letter, called and paid
Her troops, and loaded up when it was day.
As she approached the city of the Sháh
An army met her; when she reached the court
The Sháh received her, and she found him kind.
Thereafter she produced great offerings,
As did the chieftains in her company,
Exhibited the goods and all the wealth,
Then gave them to the royal treasurer—
Dínárs and kingly jewels past compute,
Gold-woven brocade, crowns, girdles, golden thrones,
And golden shields. Khusrau-Parwíz beheld
That noble Cypress-tree with cheeks like Spring,
And pheasant's gait, with countenance like day,
And locks like night, while pearls, thou wouldst have said,
Rained from her lips. He sent her to his bower,
Gave her precedence there, sent to her brother—
His own resourceful minister—to ask her
In marriage, took and held her dear as life,
While robes of honour, coin, and much beside
He showered upon the comrades of his bride.