Šāh-nāmah - The Šahnama of Firdausi, Volume 8

He read, his grief increased, the throne appeared
All mournful^260a to his eyes, and thus that world-lord
Said to Kharrád, son of Barzín: “That I
Esteem Khusrau Parwíz above myself,
Above my kindred and my fluent soul,
Is not a secret with discerning men.
I have arms, troops, and treasure. Now consider

Then Cæsar summoned

A well-experienced scribe and, seating him
Upon the royal dais, bade him write
An answer decked like meads of Paradise
With many a counsel, promise, and kind word
About past times and present. When the scribe
Had finished Cæsar chose a cavalier
Brave, fluent, ardent, and of heedful mind,
Wise, learned, a warrior, and scribe withal,
And said: “Go to Khusrau Parwíz and say:—
‘Thou seeker of God's way, shrewd-hearted Sháh!
I have men, arms, and treasure, and no need
To trouble any one but, if need were,
Would requisition drachms from every lord
Throughout the realm that thou mightst have thy wish,
And go hence to thine own home in Írán.
Grieve not while here, 'tis circling heaven's way,
Which is by turns our refuge and our bale,
By turns our loss and profit. While I find
Arms, troops, and money do thou take thine ease.’”
The envoy went and told Khusrau Parwíz.

Then Cæsar cleared the audience-room and sat
Deliberating with his counsellor,
And said thus to that priest: “This suppliant
Hath made choice of ourselves to refuge with:
What shall we do that he may gather strength,
And feel no more his subject's insolence?”
The counsellor thus answered: “What we need
Is that a few shrewd-hearted men of those
That are our well-advised philosophers
Shall act with us herein.”

So famous Cæsar

Dispatched a messenger and four arrived
Of those philosophers, two young, two old,
All Rúman-born, and thus they spake at large:—
“The Íránians, since Sikandar passed away,
Have deeply wounded us by frequent raiding,
By war and strife, and causeless, reckless bloodshed;
Now holy God requiteth their ill deeds
In kind. Since the Sásánians' fortune halteth
Forbear to intervene. Khusrau Parwíz,
If he shall gain the royal crown and raise

Now Cæsar having read the letter pondered,
And then addressed his noble minister:—
“Expound these problems. Call the Great and Brave,
Tell what hath passed at large and ascertain
If now Khusrau Parwíz in this contention
Will be successful or will writhe at fortune.
If ye shall say: ‘He will not be victorious,
Henceforth there is no New Year's Day for him,’
Then will we let him journey to the Khán,
And go, since he is ailing, to that cure;
But if he is to triumph and possess
The kingship, like his father, it were well
In all ways that he go hence with a host,
And so not contemplate revenge at heart.”
The prudent minister, on hearing this,
Gave orders and the readers of the stars
Came with their ancient tablets and consulted
Until three watches of the night had passed,
And in conclusion an astrologer
Spake thus to Cæsar: “O illustrious!
I have consulted these old tables made
In astrologic wise by Falátún.
²⁶⁴ Ere long Khusrau Parwíz will have the realm,
The kingship start afresh, and darksome dust
Receive him not for eight and thirty years.”
Thereat said Cæsar to his minister:—
“Our doubts are cleared about Khusrau Parwíz.
What shall we say? What answer shall we give?”
“Let us apply a salve,” he made reply.
“If he betake him to the Khán's domains,
Get aid from him, perceive himself secure,
And levy soldiers elsewhere than in Rúm,
He never will forgo revenge on thee.
Advise thou who art wiser and more potent
In compassing thy will.”

“We must,” said Cæsar,

“Dispatch him troops forthwith. When all is weighed
'Tis well to hold wealth cheap and keep from harm.”
He wrote forthwith, bestowing praise on praise:—
“We have consulted loyal, honest priests
On all points bad and good, and have returned,
Discussion over, to our former view.
All is arranged and now we will unlock

They answered him:—

“Whene'er this feud is o'er no chiefs will seek
The Sháh's crown, or such numbers live in want.
If in thy days such righteousness come down
Men will inscribe thy name on every crown.”

Now when they had approved this policy
Khusrau Parwíz put strangers forth and called
For inkhorn, pen, and silk of Chín, and bade
A scribe attend. He wrote, as Sháhs were wont,
Thus in the olden tongue in royal script:—
“Khusrau Parwíz doth swear by holy God,
By circling sun and stable earth that while
I sit as Sháh upon the seat of state,
Lord of Írán, its treasures and its troops,
I will not ask the chiefs of Rúm for tribute,
Or send a host against those fields and fells.
I will restore to Cæsar all the cities
Thereof however tradeless they may be
And worthless, and thereafter will return
Their documents and records. Further, I
Am well content to ask of him a daughter
Whose mother is both pure and of his race,
And by so asking illustrate my heart.
Entrust to those Íránians at thy court,
And under thy protection—Gustaham,
Kharrád, son of Barzín, of royal race,
Shápúr and Andiyán—thy daughter, wise
And high-renowned, when thou dost send the troops.
I am through mine affinity to thee
As my great family were heretofore.

All being said, he gave

The letter to Khúrshíd, son of Kharrád.
As swift as wind that chieftain rose and mounting
His chestnut steed sped till he came to Cæsar,
And gave the message of Khusrau Parwíz.
Then Cæsar, having snapped the band and read
The words of that exalted Sháh, commanded
The wise men and the eloquent to meet
Before him and inquired of them in turn:—
“What cure shall I adopt? How shall I make
A treaty with the monarch of Írán?
His letter leaveth us without excuse;
All we of Rúm and of Írán are one.”
The chiefs and sages rose to answer him,

When Cæsar

Heard he commended those shrewd, pious chiefs,
And waited till in the revolving sky
The lamp of day had lost its radiancy.

How Cæsar made a Talisman and deceived the Envoys of Khusrau Parwíz, and how Kharrád, Son of Barzín, solved the Mystery

When circling Sol grew pale, and in the tower
Of night the stars were stationed, Cæsar bade
His warlocks muse and frame a talisman—
A marvel—somewhere, such as none would know
From real—a woman modest, fair, and seated
In trailing raiment on a goodly throne
With handmaids on both sides of her and slaves
Before her and behind. She was to sit,
That moon-faced one in silence, to appear
A woman weeping, and from time to time
To raise one hand and dash her tears away.
The warlocks, as they were instructed, made
The semblance of a woman with long hair,
And all that from a distance gazed thereon
Took it to be a woman lovelorn, bright,
That sorely wept o'er Christ, her cheeks aflame,
Her lashes like Spring-clouds. When of the adepts
That talisman was set up in its place
One went and said to Cæsar: “We have finished
The matter in accord to what thou badest.”
When he had heard this from the expert, Cæsar
Came from his throne in haste and visited
The talisman. He marvelled at that feat
Of sorcery and sent for Gustaham.
He bounteously rewarded those magicians
With money and with divers other gifts,
Then said to Gustaham: “Famed warrior!
I had a daughter beautiful as Spring:
She grew up to a marriageable age.
I had a kinsman, an aspiring one,
To whom I married her with Christian rites.
I countenanced him unadvisedly,
And sent her to his palace. That youth's soul
Hath gone to Heaven; she is deeply grieved;
Bright day for her is lapis-lazuli;

He said: “I will: it may be I

Shall banish this affection from her breast.”
With cheerful heart and charged with potent words
That chief approached the guileful talisman,
Which bowed to greet him as he neared its throne.
Illustrious Gustaham sat humbly down,
And spake to that sad dame, beginning boldly
With such advice as seemed to him of profit:—
“O daughter born of Cæsar's race!” he said,
“The wise exclaim not at the course of nature:
The flying eagles, lions in the forests,
And fishes in the waters, are not free
From death,” but all his words were wind; no soul,
Or tongue had she but ever and anon
Would dash away the tear-drops from her eyes
As her physician talked. While Gustaham
Was lost in wonder Cæsar summoned him,
And asked: “How didst thou find that child of mine,
Whose pain and mourning cause me this distress?”
He answered: “I advised her much but vainly.”
The following day said Cæsar to Bálwí:—
“Go thou with Andiyán. Shápúr withal,
The nobly born, may help to make my heart
Glad in my daughter. Go to that sorrower,
And speak to her about the famous king.
She that is heaping fire upon my head
May answer thee. Be good enough to aid me
By converse with my mourning child; perchance
In view of your high rank she may accept
Your counsels. Sure I am that she will speak
To-day, and when she maketh fair reply
I shall be freed from this disconsolate,
Who raineth tears of blood upon her breast.”
Then those three noble Persians went to her,
And each one strove, but answer gat they none;
That tongueless dame was mute. The baffled three
Went back to Cæsar, that just judge, and said:—
“We spake and gave advice as best we could,
But there was no improvement.”

“'Tis ill hap

For us,” he said, “to grieve for one in grief.”

“In what regard,” said Cæsar, “do the Indians
Err from the Path? Those that are worshippers,
Are they idolaters or what are they?”
Kharrád, son of Barzín, replied: “In Hind
They worship ox and moon, put not their trust
In God and circling heaven, and regard not
Their persons, look no higher than the sun,
And reckon not men like ourselves as wise.
Whoever kindleth fire, shall enter it,
And shall consume himself therein, believeth
That in the air there is a fire ordained
By God, whose word is law, which fire the sage
Of Hind entitleth ‘Ether’ and hath much
Of worth and interest to say thereon,
As thus: when earthly and etherial fires
Combine man's sin is purged; they must be kindled
Since burning is accounted righteousness.
Withal ye too speak not aright; hereto
Christ's life is testimony. Mark'st thou not
What Jesus, son of Mary,²⁷⁶ said when he
Was bringing secret things to light? ‘If one
Shall take thy skirt from thee resist him not,
And if one buffet thee upon the face,
So that thine eyes are darkened by the blows,
Be not enraged or let thy cheek turn pale,
But shut thine eyes and speak no chilling word.
^276a If thou hast little food let it suffice,
And if thou hast no carpet seek one not.
Hold not this kind of evil to be bad,
And ye without a pang will quit this Gloom.’
But now with you desire is king o'er wisdom,
Your hearts have erred through overweening greed,
For ye have raised your palaces to Saturn,
And camels bear your treasuries' keys. Besides
The treasures ye have mighty hosts with coats
Of mail from 'Ád and Rúman helms. Ye lead
Hosts everywhere unjustly and allow not
Your swords to rest. The wilderness is all
One fount of blood: Christ led you not to this.
He was a poor, unfurnished man who earned
His bread by toil and lived on curds and milk
With butter for his only other food.
Now when the Jews gat hold of him and saw
Him friendless and without resource they slew him,

Now Cæsar, when he heard that troops had come,
And that the world was black with horsemen's dust,
Chose from those Rúmans five-score thousand men,
All famed in battle, requisitioned arms,
War-steeds and drachms, and thus much time elapsed.
He had one daughter Maryam hight, wise, grave,
Well counselled and resolved, and later on
Brought forth such stores of bridal bravery
That e'en the speedy baggage-beasts grew slow—
Gold trinkets, jewels that a king might wear,
Gems, gold-embroidered raiment, carpetings,
Brocade of Rúm with golden patterns wrought
Upon a ground of silk, torques, bracelets, earrings,
And three most costly and bejewelled crowns.
He had four gilded litters too made ready,
Their curtains decorate with royal gems,
And forty others made of ebony
All jewelled like the eye of chanticleer.
Then came three hundred moon-faced waiting-maids
All colour and perfume, five hundred slave-boys
Intelligent and bright with ornaments
Of gold and silver, forty Rúman eunuchs
Fay-faced, illustrious, attractive men,
And four of the philosophers of Rúm,
Wise, learned and famed. He gave them their instructions,
And privily withal charged Maryam
To be obedient, order her desires,
To do her duty, to be bountiful,
As to her food and how to bear herself.
There was, as reckoned in the Rúman way,
More than three hundred millions' worth²⁷⁹ of goods.
To every envoy at his court he gave
A crown inlaid with jewels, robes withal,
Steeds and dínárs and much of all things fitting.
He bade write to the Sháh on painted silk:—
“Well may they raise their necks up to the moon,
These subjects of the Sháh! No man more courteous
Than Gustaham hath sprung from small or great.
Is there a champion like the chief Shápúr
To act as arbiter? Bálwí withal
Can keep a secret for he would not sell
His folk for aught, while none though he live long
Will see one like Kharrád, son of Barzín,

This written, he summoned

His counsellors and readers of the stars
To fix a lucky day for setting forth,
And started on Bahrám with favouring stars
And auguries. He went himself three stages,
And then resigned the conduct of the host,
Bade Maryam come to him, conversed with her
At large, and said: “Be ware of putting off
Thy girdle till thou comest to Írán.
Khusrau Parwíz must see thee not unveiled
Till then or things unlooked for may befall thee,”
Then bade her tenderly farewell: “May heaven
Protect thee on thy way.”

He had a brother,

The valiant Niyátús, who led his host
In that campaign, and “Maryam is akin
To thee,” he said, “in blood and, I would add,
In Faith. I charge thee with her, with this wealth,
And this well ordered army.”

Niyátús

Accepted all from Cæsar who, this said,
Turned back in tears. The host marched toward Warígh,
Led on by Niyátús with mace and sword.
Khusrau Parwíz, on hearing that the host
Had come, set out with forces from that city,
And when the leaders' dust-clouds and the flags
Of those mailed cavaliers appeared, and when
The troops came onward cloud-like, lapped in iron,
In helmet and cuirass, his heart laughed out,
Like Spring-tide roses, at that fine array;
He plucked up heart and gave his steed the heel.
He saw, embraced, and greeted Niyátús,
And testified his gratitude to Cæsar,
Who had endured such toil and with that toil
Of ordering the host had rendered void
His treasury; then going to the litter
Beheld the face of Maryam through her veil,
Saluted her and kissed her hand, rejoicing
To look upon the Fair. He bore her off
To his encampment where he gave his Moon
A bower and passed three days in converse with her.
Upon the fourth when Sol, the world's light, shone
They gat in readiness a choice pavilion,
And summoned Niyátús, Sarkab, and Kút,
The bold, with other chiefs both great and small,

Upon the seventh day that comely Sháh
Arrayed his host as 'twere the turning sky,
The din of tymbals went up from the court,
And air grew ebon with the dust of troops.
He chose a force of Persians and set out
Toward Ázar Ábádagán. There passed
Two weeks what while by order of the Sháh
The soldiers concentrated at his camp.
He pitched it on the plain of Dúk; the army
Was great and under Rúman discipline.
He gave the whole host up to Niyátús,
Thus saying: “Thou art master of the flock,”
And thence with certain valiant cavaliers
Let his swift steed have rein and made toward
Khanjast—an anxious journey—till he reached
Mausíl, the Armenian, who could hold his own
Among the great and had with him Bandwí,
The Sháh's maternal uncle. Now these twain,
On hearing that Khusrau Parwíz was stirring,
Sped from the waste to meet him on the way,
Preceding their own troops. To Gustaham
The Sháh said, seeing them upon the road:—
“O warrior! two are hurrying o'er the field:

“O sun-faced Sháh!

Hast thou no kindly welcome for Mausíl?”
He answered. “Since thou left'st Írán for Rúm
He hath not slept in lands inhabited,
But camped upon the plain, his palace been
Tent and pavilion. The troops with him
Are many; he hath all the gear of greatness,
With drachms and treasures. Now he hath been waiting
Upon the road and longed for thy return.”
“How came it,” asked the world-lord of Mausíl,
“That all thy toil was hidden? We will strive
To give thee happy days and make thy name
The greatest of the great.”

Mausíl replied:—

“Give me new life, O king! Let me approach
And kiss thy stirrup while I praise thy Grace
And splendour.”

“For these words,” replied the Sháh,

“I will make bright thy gains to pay thy pains,
Will grant thy wish and set thy name on high
Above the great.”

Then he withdrew one foot

Out of the stirrup, and that ardent soul,
All eagerness, kissed foot and stirrup both,
O'ercome by veneration for the Sháh,
Who, when that loyal liege was satisfied,
Bade him remount and urged his own steed on
Across that barren waste until he reached

This said, he girt

His golden belt and sought the plain of Dúk
With wounded heart in trouble for his way:
Night fell ere he reached camp.

He sent shrewd spies

To learn the posture of the world's affairs,
And when the army of Nímrúz had heard:—
“The Sháh, the lustre of the world, hath come,”
They bound the drums upon the elephants,
And earth became as 'twere the river Nile.
All folk at that intelligence, which made
Them young again, drew near to give him aid.

How Bahrám Chúbína had Tidings of the Coming of Khusrau Parwíz and wrote to the Chiefs of Írán, and how the Letter fell into the Hands of Khusrau Parwíz and his Answer

Bahrám Chúbína heard: “The Grace of kingship
Hath been revived,” and cast his eyes on one
Devoted to himself, one of the host,
Aspiring, sage, fair-famed—Dárá Panáh—
Then called a scribe of note whom he instructed
To write him letters of great charge to all
The valiant leaders—Gustaham, Bandwí,
Gurdwí, the warrior (for he had won
That name from all the other chiefs), Shápúr,
And Andiyán, the cavalier, and all
That were the living memories of the great.
The letters²⁸⁵ ran: “I offer to the Maker
Mine adoration privily that ye
May all awake from sleep and hasten not
To ill on this wise for from verge to centre,
With this Sásánian race in evidence,
Things worsen through their wrangling and self-seeking.

They sealed the letters with his seal,

And then the envoy went in merchants' guise
In haste to where Khusrau Parwíz held court.
He had a caravan of various goods,
And with the letters carried presents too.
He marked the grandeur and great host wherefor,
Thou wouldst have said: “Earth hath no thoroughfare,”
And thought: “With such a king who will confide
In brave Bahrám Chúbína? I am Persian,
I carry thirty camels' loads of goods,
And have no foes; why should I wreck myself
When majesty hath risen from the abyss?
I will deliver to Khusrau Parwíz
The letters—an unlooked for offering.”
Perturbed he reached the Sháh's court with those letters,
And all the presents of that hostile liege;
He brought the drachms, the letters, and the gifts,
Revealing all. The world-lord having read
Assigned the messenger a golden seat,
And said to him: “O man exceeding wise!
Speak of Bahrám Chúbína as one vile

Having sealed the letters

He gave them to that loyal chief and said:—
“For this thy conduct, sage! thou shalt have fruit
From toil,” then gave him jewels and dínárs,
And many precious gems. “Convey,” he said,
“These to Bahrám Chúbína and recount
What thou hast heard, and thou shalt want for nothing
When my high fortune brighteneth.”

From court

Dárá Panáh departed and achieved
His journey like the wind. The youth delivered
The letters which the paladin received.
When that aspirant had perused the letter
He summoned greed and banished rede, and led
By what the letters said prepared to march.
The Íránians were amazed. The elders went,
On seeing that blind act, and said: “Depart not,
Or thy young day will age. Khusrau Parwíz,
If he invadeth us, will only find
The maces and the scimitars of war;
But do not thou betray the royal throne,
Or fortune will beguile thee forwardly.”
²⁸⁷ Their words were vain; he bade the host assemble;
He loaded up the baggage, called to horse,
Struck up the drums, and led the army forth.
That valiant armament of Persians reached
Ázar Ábádagán. Host drew near host,
And ant and fly were barred from thoroughfare.
That warring subject said: “I fain would scan
Yon host and see what Rúman cavaliers
Are like, and if their troops are troops or what.”

Upon their side

The Rúman horsemen of the Sháh arrived
In all haste at the place of audience,
And girding up their loins exclaimed: “We long
To battle with the Íránians,” which thing
Accorded to the wishes of the king.

How Khusrau Parwíz fought with Bahrám Chúbína and how Kút, the Rúman, was slain

When Sol rose o'er the darksome hills the war-cry
Ascended from both hosts; thou wouldst have said:—
“Earth is a turning sky and swords eclipse
The sun!” The troops drew up to left and right;
Earth was an iron mountain. At the neighing
Of chargers and the shouting of the hosts
The desert fled for shelter to the hills.
When brave Bahrám Chúbína saw he drew
His glittering glaive, his heart conceived no fears
Though raging lions' hearts were rent asunder.²⁸⁹
He went himself to view the left and right,
And told Yalán-sína: “Take thou the centre,
And keep before the army for I champion
The troops to-day and tarry though they flee.”
Khusrau Parwíz surveyed the battlefield,
And saw the whole world blackened by the hosts;
The bright sun's face was like a lion's maw,
And thou hadst said: “The clouds are raining swords!”
Then Niyátús, Bandwí, and Gustaham
Went with the Sháh from battlefield to height.
Those leaders took their station on Mount Dúk,
Their eyes upon their followers, and thence
The Sháh surveyed his host, the right and left,
The centre and the wings. The tymbals sounded
From both sides and the eager warriors
Advanced to fight. “Earth is an iron mountain,”
Thou wouldst have said, “heaven lost in foemen's dust!”
Now when Khusrau Parwíz saw matters thus,
Saw heaven as woof and earth as warp, he prayed

Khusrau Parwíz was full

Of care, both heart and soul; the world appeared
A brake to him, for from among the troops
Kút, like a dark hill in his iron mail,
Brake from the centre to the height and cried:—
“Illustrious monarch! point me out the slave,
The doer of dív's work, 'gainst whom thou foughtest
When in Írán and fleddest while he triumphed.
Look to the army's left and right, and find him
Among the chieftains. I will teach him warfare,
And show what hearts and might true warriors have.”
Thereat all mindful of the former fight
The Sháh was vexed at heart because Kút said:—
“Thou didst let fall thy knightly equipage,
And flee before a slave,” but answered not;
His heart was full, he sighed. At length he said:—
“Approach yon rider on the piebald steed;
He will attack thee when he seeth thee;
Then fly not lest thou bite thy lips in shame.”
Kút sped back like the wind and spear in hand
Came furious as a maddened elephant
Upon the battlefield. Yalán-sína
Called to Bahrám Chúbína, saying: “Beware,
Brave cavalier! A dív armed with a lance,
And with a lasso in his straps, hath come
Like elephant gone mad.”

He heard, unsheathed

Like wind his falchion and proclaimed his name,
Which when the Sháh observed he rose and peered
Down from the mountain-top upon the pair,
Wet-eyed and wroth of heart. Now when the Rúman
Charged with his lance the aspirant gripped his steed,
Escaped the thrust, raised to his face his shield,
And clave his foe asunder to the breast.
The sword's clash reached Khusrau Parwíz who laughed
To see the stroke struck by Bahrám Chúbína,
While valaint Niyátús frown-blinded raged
Because the Sháh had laughed, and said: “Great sir!
One should not laugh in war whereof thou knowest

Then said he to Sarkab:—

“To-morrow take no Rúmans to engage,
But rest and I will lead the Íránian host
To battle.”

To the Íránians he said:—

“No more delay; to-morrow ye must fight,”
And one and all replied: “We will not fail
To level to the plain mount, waste, and dale.”

How Khusrau Parwíz fought with Bahrám Chúbína the second Time, was defeated, and escaped from him by the Help of Surúsh

When day's white banner rose aloft the main,
And when the stars grew hopeless of the dark,
The drummers went forth from both camp-enclosures
With elephants and clarions. There rose
The sound of pipes and horns, the trumpeting
Of elephants, and clash of brazen cymbals.
Thou wouldst have said: “The plains and uplands heave,
The sun's face is like raven's plumes,” and when
The Íránians ranged their ranks and grasped their spears,
And Indian swords, thou wouldst have said: “The earth
Is all cuirass, the spear-heads light the stars!”
Whenas Khusrau Parwíz arrayed the centre
The troops took heart. Gurdwí, that brave aspirant,
Commanded on the right, and on the left
A famed Armenian²⁹³ with cuirass and sword
Like Áhriman's. Shápúr with Sipansár
And Andiyán drew tight their loins for battle,
While close beside the Sháh was Gustaham
To guard him from the foe.

Bahrám Chúbína,

The hero, seeing not the Rúmans, paused
In silence, then commanded and they bound
The drums upon the elephants; the world
Was like the Nile. The elephant he rode
Was white and his antagonist despaired.
He charged the Sháh's right, shouting to Shápúr:—
“O knave! 'twas not thy promise in thy letter
To come against me on this field of blood!
This is not Persians' usage, and thou givest
Thy body to be slaughtered all for naught.”
Shápúr replied to him: “Thou dív-like one!
Thou hast lost all thy wits in slavery.

The Íránians,

All that were fortune-favoured, strung their bows.
The elephant's trunk was riddled so with shafts
That thou hadst said: “It is a Nile!”²⁹⁴ Forthwith
Bahrám Chúbína called for horse and helm,
King-worthy, and the arrows showered anew
Upon that proud one's steed. The warrior
Alighting, girt his mail-skirts round his waist,
And then with buckler raised above his head
Brought Doomsday with his trenchant scimitar
Upon the foe who dropped their bows of Chách,
And ran. They brought a horse. He mounted raging,
And shouting charged the centre of the foe—
The station of the Sháh—and pierced it through:
The standard of the leader disappeared.
Thence went he toward the foe's right and outflanked
The Persians and the baggage.^294a Now Gurdwí
Commanded there—a man of valiance
And of ambition. When he saw his brother
He strung and drew his bow. Those men of blood
Closed; thou hadst said: “They mingle.” Long they strove,
And neither would give way. Bahrám Chúbína
Cried: “Miscreant! wherefore girdest thou thy loins
To shed thy brother's blood?”

Gurdwí replied:—

“Old wolf! hast thou not heard the weighty saw:—
‘A brother as a friend is good: forego
Both skin and vein if he become thy foe.’

Then the Sháh

Made toward the centre, where his warriors reeled,
And sent one to Shápúr. “Assist Mausíl,”
He said, “put forth your power, fight back to back,
And ye may compass shining fortune yet.”
At that time said the king to Gustaham:—
If any Rúman shareth in this fight
Then when Bahrám Chúbína hath been worsted,
Or even wounded, they will raise their heads
Up to the sky and brag immeasurably.
I would not have the Rúmans waxing proud,
And glorying over us about the war.
I have seen all their prowess; they are like
A flock in Winter. 'Twill be best for me
To fight with him short-handed; I require not
Aid from another for I trust in God,
The Succourer.”

Said Gustaham: “O king!

Conspire not thou against thine own sweet life;
But if thou art determined choose some comrades;
Wreck not thy person on this battlefield.”
Khusrau Parwíz rejoined: “What thou hast said
Is well, so make thy choice of some to help
²⁹⁶ Out of the army.”

Gustaham selected

Twice seven Íránian horsemen brave and proud.
He wrote himself down first upon the list,
Then brave Shápúr with Andiyán, Bandwí,
Gurdwí—the prop of kings—Ázargashasp,
And then Shírzíl, Rangwí who could outface
The lion and the elephant, Tukhára—
A help in fight and to Yalán-sína
A mortal foe—illustrious Khusrau,
And Farrukhzád, Ustád son^296a of Pírúz,
Who caused his enemies to melt away,
Urmuzd and fortunate Khurshíd—a pair
To whom their foemen were as grass. Their chief
Was gallant Gustaham expert in war.
On this wise he made choice of fourteen men,
And hurried with them from the host apart.
Khusrau Parwíz harangued those chiefs and said:—

He gave

The host to one hight Jánfurúz, who loved
The night's gloom more than day, and then went forth
Himself and sped on with the wary three.
Khusrau Parwíz perceived Bahrám Chúbína,
And told his comrades: “There hath come a troop.
Be not perturbed for 'tis my time to stand.
Leave it to me and with my mace to deal
With vile Bahrám Chúbína: be it yours
To combat with his chiefs. Ye are fourteen
To three and may ye never see defeat.”
Then with his Rúman soldiers Niyátús
Must needs gird up the loins and from the field
Of fight they made their way toward the heights
To view both companies and all exclaimed:—
“Why bartereth the great Sháh life for crown?
Abundant horse are left and yet he goeth
To fight in person recklessly!”

All raised
Their hands to heaven because they deemed him slain.
Now when Bahrám Chúbína and his comrades—
Yalán-sína and brave Ízid Gashasp²⁹⁸ —
Charged, all the comrades of Khusrau Parwíz
Took flight. Bahrám Chúbína was the wolf,
These nobles were the flock and full of dudgeon
When they beheld that dív escaped from bonds:
Howbeit Bandwí, Gurdwí, and Gustaham
Stayed with the Sháh till, with a prayer to God,
He also, left resourceless, turned his steed,
Pressed by Ízid Gashasp.^298a “My fate,” he said,
Is on me! Why in folly did I court
This Doomsday, for the folk have looked upon
My back in flight?”

Said Gustaham: “The horsemen

Approach us: wherefore shouldst thou fight alone?”
The Sháh looked back and saw Bahrám Chúbína
The foremost of the four, and then to save
Himself cut loose his charger's sable mail.
His three^298b companion-horsemen lagged behind;
His vengeful foe pursued. A narrow gorge
Confronted him. Behind him warriors three
Came on like pards. The gorge was barred by rocks.
The world-lord was afar from his own troops.
That glorious youth dismounted fain to scale
Afoot in haste the heights. His path was barred:
The heart of that famed man was sore thereat.
He might not tarry and he could not flee,
While after him came fierce Bahrám Chúbína,
Who called to him: “O knave! the abyss is yawning
Before thy height of greatness! Why hast thou
Thus shouldered thine own fate and brought it me?”
Then straitened with the scimitar behind,
The rocks in front, the Sháh cried: “God almighty,
Who art above the processes of time!
Thou art my succour in my helpless strait:
I cry not unto Mercury and Saturn.”
Or ever from the mountain rose that cry
Surúsh, the glorious, grew manifest
Upon the pathway, garbed in green and riding
A white steed. At that sight Khusrau Parwíz
Recovered confidence. Surúsh drew near,
And having grasped the prince's hand (such things
Are not a marvel with all-holy God)
And borne him from his foe, placed him in safety,
And then let go his hold.

“What is thy name?”

Khusrau Parwíz inquired and spake and wept
By turns. He said: “Surúsh. Thou art in safety;

Having said,

He vanished: none hath looked on such a marvel.
Bahrám Chúbína saw and, all astound,
Invoked the Maker oft. A trembling came
Upon him when he saw his purpose foiled.
He said: “May pluck ne'er fail me while I fight
With men, but now that it hath come to fays
I needs must weep for my beclouded fortunes.”
For his part Niyátús upon the mountain
Asked God's protection, Maryam tore her cheeks
In anguish for her world-lord spouse. The host
Filled mountain, plain, and dale, the Rúmans' hearts
Were grieved and seared. Said Niyátús to her:—
“Stay here; I fear me that the Sháh is lost.”
With that upon the mountain's further side,
Far from the troops, Khusrau Parwíz appeared.
That famed host joyed and Maryam's heart was eased.
He came to her, informed her of that marvel,
And thus he said: “O spouse of Cæsar's line!
The just Judge hath done justice unto me;
'Twas not through slackness or through cowardice,
³⁰⁰ For cowards show their slackness in the fight.
I was companionless within the gorge,
And in my trouble called upon the Maker,
And He that ordereth the world's affairs
Revealed to me, His slave, His hidden purpose.
Not glorious Farídún or Túr or Salm,
Or yet Afrásiyáb, e'er dreamed such things,
For, nobles! what I looked upon to-day
Betokeneth victory and sovereignty.
Renew the struggle and remember me.”

Forthwith the host descended from the mountain;
The world was blackened by the horsemen's dust.
Bahrám Chúbína for his part was troubled,
Repenting all his conduct, but advanced,
Not having any choice, his powers apace.
There was no daylight left. He said: “All those
Commanding troops need wisdom, mastery,
And courage. Seeing how I ply the dart,
And have the making of a paladin,

Advancing rashly toward the Sháh

He strung his bow and loosed a whole wood arrow,
Which in a moment struck the Sháh's belt whence
It dangled point-arrested by the silk.
A slave that saw came and extracted it
From the brocade. The Sháh's spear struck his foe
Upon the belt which was of mail and broke not,
But though the spear-head snapped the usurper quailed.
The Sháh, indignant that his spear was broken,
Brought down his mace upon his foeman's casque.
The mace's head was broken by the blow,
And stuck upon the crest, while all that saw,
Or heard the iron ring, acclaimed the Sháh,
Whose troops were heartened, for Bahrám Chúbína
Had had a check, who, when the sun and moon
Loured on him, turned reluctantly away,
Aware how hard his task had grown—one past
Both prowess and endeavour. The Sháh's host,
When they beheld his lion-manlihood,
All—Rúmans and Íránians—unsheathed
The sword of vengeance and charged mountain-like
In mass. The magnates followed in his steps,
And utterly o'erthrew those mighty powers.
Bandwí came to the Sháh and said: “O thou,
Whose crown is higher than the sky and moon!
This host like ants and locusts is dispersed
Upon the plain, the sands, and stony ground.
It is unworthy to shed needless blood,
And for the Sháh to strive against his slave.
'Tis better that they should appeal to us
For quarter than be slain or maimed in fight.”
Khusrau Parwíz replied: “I seek not vengeance
On any that repent. I grant them grace;
They are the earrings of my crown.”

Night's flag

Rose o'er the darksome hills, both hosts withdrew,
The sentries challenged, bells rang, and the troops
Had little sleep. Bandwí, the ambitious, went
Between the hosts, chose from the troops a chief—
A herald fluent, with a goodly voice—
Bade him to mount upon his Arab steed,
And make him ready to proclaim. They rode
Between the hosts till close upon the foe,
And then the herald shouted: “O ye slaves,
In fault yourselves and followers of fortune!

How Khusrau Parwíz sent an Army under Nastúh³⁰³ 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.
^303a 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

“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.”^304a

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,

“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.

How Khusrau Parwíz pillaged the Camp of Bahrám Chúbína and wrote a Letter to Cæsar who answered it with a Robe of Honour and Gifts

Khusrau Parwíz on his side visited
Bahrám Chúbína's lines and pillaged them,
Bestowing on his soldiers purse and crown.
He mounted a fleet steed and girt himself
For prayer. Before him was a bramble-brake.
He entered that befitting place afoot,
And wallowed in the dust before his God.
“O righteous Judge!” he said, “Thou hast delivered
The country from the burden of the foe,
And hast surpassed our whole imaginings.
I am thy worshipper and worthless slave:
I walk according to the Lord's command.”
Thence he returned to camp; his counsellors
Assembled, and he called a scribe to write
A letter out on silk from Sháh to Cæsar,
Detailing what had passed in that campaign.
He first praised God—the Source of manliness,
Of prowess, and success, then said: “In secret
Much hath God favoured me. I and my host
Came to Ázargashasp. I hurried onward,
Returning for the fight. Bahrám Chúbína
So pressed me that I had not room to strive;
But when all-holy God ceased to assist
My foe the flaming blast of war died out,
And with resources failing and with troops
Deserting he withdrew at break of day.
I have destroyed his whole host, fired his camp,
And intercepted too by God's behest
His line of march.”

They set upon the letter

The Sháh's seal, and the messengers departing
Bare it to famous Cæsar's court where he,
Whose fortune was awake, on reading it,
Descended from his throne and cried to God:—
“O Guide! Thou changest never. Thou hast made
Thy slave triumphant and restored the outcast.”
He lavished alms and provand by the ass-load,

His counsellor

Replied: “O Sháh! clothes constitute not Faith.
Though Cæsar be thy kin thy Faith is still
That of Zarduhsht, the Prophet.”

Then he donned

Those royal robes, hung up the jewelled crown,
Bade raise the curtain, and bring in the envoys.
Both Rúmans and Íránians crowded in
Without distinction. When the sages saw
The Sháh's attire they knew that he desired
To pleasure Cæsar, others said that he
Had of a truth turned Christian privily.

Next day Khusrau Parwíz prepared his throne,
And donned his crown of state. The festal board
Was spread within the rosary. “Invite,”
He said, “the Rúmans.”

Niyátús arrived

With the other Rúmans and they took their seats
Before the board with the philosophers.
Now when Khusrau Parwíz came from his throne
Of audience in the jewelled robes from Rúm,
Advanced with smiles and sat down at the board,
Bandwí came quickly, sacred twigs in hand.
The world-lord took them with intent to join
The other nobles in their muttered prayers,
³⁰⁹ While Niyátús, on seeing that, threw down
His bread and all disordered left the board,
Exclaiming: “Muttered prayer and Cross at once
Insulteth Christ through Cæsar!”

Seeing this

Bandwí, still at the board, back-handed smote
That servant of the Cross upon the face.
Khusrau Parwíz was grieved, beholding this;
His cheeks grew like the flower of fenugreek.
He said to Gustaham: “This valiant fool
Should wrangle not when drinking. What hath he
To do with Rúman Niyátús? He recked not
His person in this quarrel.”

Niyátús,

Departing, mounted and returned half drunk
To camp. He donned his Rúman mail and thought
To mar that feast. The Rúman cavaliers,
All eager for the fray, set face to where
Khusrau Parwíz held court, and Niyátús
Sent on a cavalier of Rúman race
Withal to go like wind to him and say:—
“Bandwí, the worthless, with a back-hand blow
Smote on the cheek God's servant. Now if thou
Wilt send him to me—well. If not, expect
A tumult of the folk. Thou wilt writhe more
At me than at the slave³¹⁰ ambitioning
The throne of king of kings.”

Khusrau Parwíz

Was wroth on hearing this. “None should ignore
The Faith of God,” he said. “From Gaiúmart
And from Jamshíd to Kai Kubád none spake
Of Christ, and God forbid that I shall quit
My fathers' Faith, those world-lords choice and holy,
Adopt the Faith of Christ, and murmur not
A prayer at meals but be a Christian!
If thou wilt take account thou art alone:
I saw of late what Rúman prowess is!”

When in this strain

Much talk had passed he sought his camp again.

How Khusrau Parwíz gave Presents to Niyátús and the Rúmans, how he dismissed them to Rúm, and wrote Patents for the Nobles of Írán

The Sháh then bade Kharrád, son of Barzín:—
“Hold a review and call a court. Let all
The Rúman troops be mustered, young and old.
Bestow on them two thirds of all my treasures;
They must feel well content with what we give.”
For all deserving of a robe of honour
By prowess shown in fight he bade make ready
Such, and to requisition splendid steeds
From his own court. He gave to Niyátús
Such jewels, steeds and handmaids girt with gold
That they exceeded measure and surpassed
Withal what potentates were used to give.
All cities taken by Kubád from Rúm,
Or captured by Hurmuzd and Núshírwán
Of glorious birth, he gave to Niyátús,
Had patents drawn for them and filled the cup
Of colocynth with honey. Then the Rúmans
Set forth for Rúm, that prosperous coast and land.
The great Khusrau Parwíz escorted them
Two stages, farewelled Niyátús, and then
Turned back. Next week he took ten cavaliers,
Both shrewd and true to him, and quitting camp
Fared to Ázargashasp. On seeing the dome
He lighted down and went afoot, his eyes
All wet, his cheeks sun-yellow. When he passed
The portal and approached the Fire his visage
Was hidden by his tears. There he recited
The Zandavasta for a se'nnight's space,
³¹² And humbly danced attendance on the Fire,
Departing on the eighth day for the feast
Of Sada was at hand. As he had promised
Before his lords he gave his share of spoil,
Of gold and silver, jewel-work, and gems
Fit for a monarch, to the Fire. He gave
Drachms to the poor abundantly and left
No one dissatisfied throughout the land.
He went thence to the country of Andív
To have his portion in the day of joy:
That province was the salt waste's boundary,
And none could put a value on the soil.
Within the palace built by Núshírwán,
Who dwelt there much, he had a splendid suite
Of rooms prepared, the golden throne arrayed,

Through his justice

The world became a Paradise on high,
And one may well acclaim Khusrau Parwíz,
For better is a great king of that kind
Than one impure albeit sage in mind.³¹⁵

At sixty-five 'tis ill to catch at pelf.
Oh! let me read that lesson to myself,
And muse upon the passing of my son.
My turn it was and yet the youth hath gone,
While I for sorrow am as soulless clay.
I will make haste, perchance o'ertake, and say
Reproachfully: “My turn it was to go;
Why hast thou gone then 'gainst my will and so
Robbed me of all my peace? Thou didst abate
My cares; why hast thou left thine agéd mate?
Didst thou perchance find younger company
That lightly thus thou hast abandoned me?”
Seven years and thirty o'er the youth had sped
When he distasted of the world and fled.
Harsh comrade proved he of my pilgrimage,
And, having turned his back on me in rage,
Went, but he left me his calamities,
His griefs, a full heart, and blood-weeping eyes.
Now whither he hath passed he doth aspire
To choose a habitation for his sire
In Light. Since then a weary time hath gone,
And of his way-mates hath returned not one.
Good sooth! he looketh for me wrathfully
Because I loiter. Five and sixty I,
He thirty-seven. He asked not agéd me,
But hurried off alone. I stayed to see
The outcome of my labours. May God grace
Thy soul with light and wisdom's breastplate place
Before thy life. It is my prayer that He,
Who giveth all and ruleth righteously,
The Holy, will forgive each fault of thine,
And cause thy moon now overcast to shine.

The Story of Bahrám Chúbína and the Khán of Chín

Tell now old tales, tell of Bahrám Chúbína.
When he drew near the country of the Turks,
Toward the Lions and the Khán, there went
Ten thousand shrewd and wary cavaliers,
Led by the son and brother of the Khán,
Each with a priest as counsellor, to meet him.
On reaching the Khán's throne Bahrám Chúbína
Gave praises to him and did reverence.
The Khán, upon beholding him, rose, kissed,
And stroked caressingly, his face, inquiring
At large about the travail of the way,
And of his warfare with the Sháh and host,
Then gave a welcome to Ízid Gashasp
Withal and to Yalán-sína—those chiefs
No longer hostile. When Bahrám Chúbína
Was seated on the silvern throne he took
In his the Khán's hand, saying: “Glorious prince,
The captain and ruler of the Turks
Of Chín! thou know'st that no one is secure
Within the world by reason of malign
Khusrau Parwíz who vexeth those that fain
Would rest from toil and doubleth it for those
That live at ease. If now thou wilt accept me,
And be mine aid in good and evil, I
Will be thy comrade in this priceless land,
And friend in good and ill, while shouldst thou suffer
Through me I will depart and seek a cistern
Elsewhere, and if thou wilt have none of me
Then I will journey unto Hindústán.”
The Khán said: “Noble chieftain! never mayst
Thou need that day. Like mine own kin will I
Hold thee. My kin? Nay, better than my child.
My whole land will co-operate with me
Herein, both lord and liege. Pre-eminence
I give thee o'er my chiefs and furthermore
I make thee independent of my lords.”
Bahrám Chúbína further asked an oath
To bind his soul, for so far all was tongue.
The Khán said: “By the most high God, the Guide
Of me and thee, I am thy mate indeed,
What while I live, and friend for good and ill.”
Thereafter they prepared two palaces,
And furnished them with vessels of all kinds.
Slaves, food, and raiment, needful carpeting,

Bahrám Chúbína,

The world-aspirant, said: “O king of men!
Thou hast made him a master o'er thyself.
When world-lords are both valiant and alert
They must not let a subject have the reins.
If I should rid thee of him wouldst thou be
Well pleased or dost thou care for his support?”
“'Tis thine to order this,” replied the Khán,
“And thine to plan and compass this desire.
If thou canst free me from him thou wilt bring
The question to an end.”

“To-morrow morn,”

He made reply, “when Makátúra cometh
For his dínárs, smile not, regard him not,
And answer not or, if at all, in wrath.”
That night passed and at dawn came Makátúra
Before the Khán. That world-lord neither saw him,
Nor heard what that bold Turk had got to say,
Who, angered, raged and glared at him, and cried:—

Bahrám Chúbína

Replied: “O warrior! why so fierce in talk?
I, if the Khán will follow mine advice,
And prudently regard our covenant,
Will let not thee come hither every morn
To waste his treasures with impunity.
Thou mayest be three hundred cavaliers,
And hunt the Lions on the battlefield;
It followeth not that thou each morn shouldst come,
And claim dínárs by ass-loads from the king.”
When Makátúra heard his head became
All vengeful at Bahrám Chúbína's scheme.
In wrath and passion he put forth his hand,
And plucked a poplar arrow from his quiver.
“This is my token and interpreter
In battle,” said he to Bahrám Chúbína,
“So look out for my point when thou shalt come
To court to-morrow morn.”

On hearing this

Bahrám Chúbína, growing mettlesome,
Gave him a poplar arrow tipped with steel,
And said: “Receive this keepsake and observe
Its usefulness.”

Then Makátúra went

Forth from the Khán and hurried to his tent.

When night withdrew its sombre skirt, and dawn
Brake o'er the gloomy mountains, Makátúra
Put on his battle-armour and went forth,
Túránian sword in hand. Bahrám Chúbína,
On hearing, called for steed and royal breastplate.
The spot they chose was one whose plain and waste
No leopards e'er resorted to for fight.
The Khán, on hearing, mounted on his steed,
And went accompanied by the loyal Turks
To see which raging Lion of the twain
Would have the better fortune. Makátúra,
On coming to the scene of strife, dispatched
Dust cloudward from the plain and shouted thus
To haught Bahrám Chúbína: “What hast thou
To say of manhood now? Wilt thou begin,
Or shall the loyal, lion-hearted Turk?”
Bahrám Chúbína said: “Begin thyself,
For thou didst start this quarrel by thy words.”
Then Makátúra called on God and strung

“O warrior!”

Bahrám Chúbína cried, “thou hast not slain me;
Depart not to thy tent. Thy say is said;
Stop and hear my reply and, if thou livest
When thou hast heard it, go.”

With that he chose

A breastplace-piercing shaft of poplar-wood,
One to which stone and iron were as wax,
And hit the valiant horseman on the girdle.
That chief grew satiate of dínárs and fight,
And wept and slept upon his bast-bound saddle,
For he, on mounting for the fray, had tied
His two feet to the saddle and thus kept
His seat though wounded, while his wounder rode
Up to the Khán and said: “Imperious!
Yon noble needeth one to dig his grave.”
The Khán said: “Look more closely. He is swooning,
But living on the saddle.”

Thus replied

Bahrám Chúbína: “Puissant sovereign!
His body cometh even now to dust.
May all thy foemen swoon as he is swooning
On his Túránian steed.”

The valiant Khán

Dispatched a cavalier to that famed Lion,
Whom they saw bound, slain vilely, and released
From fate's vicissitudes. The Khán thereat
Laughed to himself in secret, wondering
At that chief horseman of the world's exploit;
Then full of thought returned to his own palace
With crown that soared to Saturn in his joy.
He called for arms and drachms, for steeds and slaves,
Gemmed trinketry, imperial crown, dínárs,
King-worthy jewels, and all kinds of gear
Of war. These from the Khán a messenger
Bare to Bahrám Chúbína's treasurer.

How the Lion-ape slew a Daughter of the Khán, how it was slain by Bahrám Chúbína, and how the Khán gave him a Daughter and the Kingdom of Chín

Time passed and peace was tutor night and day.
There were at that time in the hills of Chín

She heard and joyed:

Pain for her daughter left her. She made haste
To see the Khán and tell him all. He said:—
“Where there is horseman such as I, and where
A lion-ape hath battened on my child,
'Twere shame for us to tell it; 'twould disgrace
My stock. Bahrám Chúbína knoweth not
That that terrific monster will make budge
An iron mountian with its breath. Although
The daughter of a king be famed life too
Is dear to him.”

She said: “I want revenge

For her who was mine Eye, so speak I will,
Shame or no shame, and haply gain mine end.”
Much time thus passed away. She kept her rancour
A secret. Now the Khán chanced to prepare
A feast and summoned thereunto his chiefs.
He sent and called the brave Bahrám Chúbína,
And seated him upon the silvern throne.
Now when the queen behind her curtains heard
She entered quickly, saw the hero, praised
And blessed him much, and said to him: “May Chín
And Turkistán be prosperous through thee!
Fain would I ask a favour of my lord;
May he accord it me.”

He said: “'Tis thine

To order and to will and win thy wish.”
She said: “Near by there is a meadow-land—
The very spot for feasting—and therein
The youths of Chín keep merrymake each Spring.
A bow-shot past the wood thou mayst behold
A mount more black than pitch. Upon that mount
Of flint there is a monster, and the realm
Of Chín is in distress because of it.
A lion-ape I term it for I know not
What else to call it. By the Khán I had
A daughter whom the sun was wont to praise.
She left the palace for that feasting-place
What while the Khán was hunting with his men.
Came from the mountain that ferocious monster,
And gulped down her that was our very Eye.
Now every Spring it visiteth that meadow

How Khusrau Parwíz heard of the Case of Bahrám Chúbína and wrote a Letter to the Khán, and how he replied

Thus matters fared till tidings reached Írán,
Reached the great monarch of the brave: “A kingship
And treasure greater than thine own are now
Bahrám Chúbína's and untoiled for!”

Vexed

And troubled by solicitude, his heart
Wrung by the doings of Bahrám Chúbína,
He held consult with his own magnates, spake,
Discussing all expedients, and at night
Called for a scribe and made an arrow-head
His pen-point. To the Khán of Chín he wrote
A letter, and thou wouldst have said: “He made
His sword the pen.”

He first praised God, “the One,

The Guide to good, who setteth up on high
Sun, moon, and Saturn, who enthroneth kings,

Within a month

The envoy reached the Sháh who when he read
The letter writhed and was in fear of fortune.
He called the Íránians, told the Khán's reply,
And showed the letter, and the Great, when they
Had read it, mused. He gat from them this answer:—
“O glory of the throne and crown of kings!
Weigh these things well; consult some ancient sage;
Let not this letter make thee rash; turn not
The torch of former Grace to gloom; select
Some old Íránian sage, wise, eloquent,
A warrior and a scribe, and let him go
Hence to the Khán to speak and hear his views,
Inform him what Bahrám Chúbína was
At first and, after, to what ends he used
His leadership, and having ordered all
Was fain to make a bondslave of his lord.
If this be not accomplished in one month
Then let the envoy stay a year forwhy
'Twill not be easy to disparage him
Because he is the Khán's own son-in-law.
The envoy must be very plausible,
And none must gather what his purpose is.”
Thereafter brave Bahrám Chúbína, hearing
That some one from Írán had brought the Khán
A letter, went to him forthwith and said:—
“My gracious lord! I hear yon recreant knave
Is plying thee with letters. Choose from Chín
A gallant host and occupy Írán.
My scimitar shall conquer it and Rúm;
I will salute thee monarch of those lands,
And there the watchmen of the night shall have
Thy name upon their lips. I will behead
Inglorious Khusrau Parwíz, and may
No top or toe be left him! I took service
That I might root out the Sásánians.”

Bahrám Chúbína's heart

Revived when this he heard; he laughed and changed
In bearing. All the warriors agreed
That they must choose two young men who were fit
To have command, inured to toil and soldiers.
There was in Chín a noble named Chínwí,
And one Zhangwí—a chief. The Khán sent, summoned,
And made those men of war his paymasters.
He bade them both: “Be circumspect in fight,
And ever look up to Bahrám Chúbína
Alike in times of joyance and of wrath,
Secure the fords of the Jíhún and send it
In dust up to the sky.”

He gave to them

A valiant host—all chiefs and warrior-lions.
Drums sounded at Bahrám Chúbína's portal,
And Sol's face changed to ebony with dust.
From Chín toward Írán he took his way
Upon Sapandármad at break of day.

How Khusrau Parwíz sent Kharrád, Son of Barzín, to the Khán and how he schemed to slay Bahrám Chúbína

Now when the great king heard: “The wolf hath come
Outside the wood, and bold Bahrám Chúbína
Hath brought a host that robbeth heaven of lustre,”
He said thus to Kharrád, son of Barzín:—
“Go to the Khán upon this business.
Thou art acquainted best both with Írán
And with Túrán, and with their divers tongues.”
He oped his treasury and brought forth such jewels,
Such scimitars and golden belts, as made

The Khán, on hearing this,

Prepared his throne and bade admit the envoy
Who, as he drew anear, made eloquent
His tongue and did obeisance, saying: “Thy slave
Will frame his tongue to speak at thy command.”
The Khán replied: “A sweet tongue maketh young
The heart of eld. Speak words of profit; they
Are pith when spoken but, unspoken, peel.”
Thereat Kharrád recalled old tales and first
Praised the Creator, who controlleth fortune,
The Almighty and the Lord of fate, who made
“Sky, earth, and time, high heaven and the world,
Who hath all power of right while we are slaves,
And tell his righteous acts. To one He giveth
The crown and lofty throne, another one
He maketh vile, afflicted, and cast down,
Not that He loveth this and hateth that,
But why He only knoweth. We, both great
And small, are born but to return to dust,
And have perforce resigned to death our bodies.
Begin we with pre-eminent Jamshíd,
Or with the glorious world-lord Tahmúras,
And thus pass on to Kai Kubád and all
The Great that we remember—Kai Khusrau,
The famous Rustam and by that same token
Continue till we reach Asfandiyár.
Their share of this world was the charnel-house;
They have drunk bane instead of antidote.
Our present Sháh is of thy kin; he joyeth
And sorroweth as thou dost wax and wane.
His great-grandsire upon the mother's side,
When glorious Sháhs held sway, was Khán of Chín.
Now in these latter days our covenant
Hath been renewed and everything is changed.
May He that giveth victory bless thee,
And be thine earth compact of heads of kings.”
He spake. The Khán gave ear and answered him:—
“O trafficker in lore! if in Írán
Be one like thee he knoweth well the sky!”
The Khán assigned him lodging in the palace,
And seat anear the throne, then bade him bring
The gifts and give all to the treasurer.

They prepared

For him a pleasant dwelling-place and draped it
With stuff of every kind. At board and chase,
At feast and drinking-bout this favourite
Was with the Khán, sought an occasion, found him
One day at leisure and made bold to say:—
“Bahrám Chúbína is a miscreant,
Worse than malicious Áhriman, and selleth
Men veteran for what it were not worth
A mite to mention. King Hurmuzd was first
To bring him forward, raising him by favour
Above the sun. Not one knew e'en his name,
And yet his will hath everywhere prevailed!
Although he doth thee many a kindly office,
Yet will he break faith with thee in the end
As with the Sháhs he did, regarding neither
The Sháh nor God. If to the Sháh thou wilt
Dispatch him thou wilt raise up to the moon
The Íránian monarch's head. Thenceforth Írán
And all Chín are thine own and thou mayst dwell
Where'er thou wilt.”

The Khán was stunned to hear

Such talk, regarded him with louring eyes,
And said to him: “Speak not such words as these,
For thou wilt blacken our regard for thee.
I am no miscreant and treaty-breaker
Because the shroud of such must be the dust.”
Kharrád, son of Barzín, on hearing that,
Knew that his novelty was out of date,
³³⁴ And made reply: “O thou of royal race!
Why dost thou think to speak such words? The Sháh
Is better than Bahrám Chúbína is
For thee because of old relationship.”
The Khán rejoined: “I will make plain my purpose:
If Cæsar broke his covenant by making
Agreement with Khusrau Parwíz shall I
Do likewise and act treacherously against
The brave Bahrám Chúbína? I possess
A thousand slaves such as Khusrau and come
Of an illustrious race. The king of Rúm
Did not oppress thy Sháh but gave him treasure
Land and a host. Since brave Bahrám Chúbína,
Whose gests are written in the chronicles,
Is my supporter and my son-in-law
How can I draw back from my covenant?”
Again Kharrád was foiled and took to guile.

The crafty steward answered him:—

“That will not serve because Bahrám Chúbína
Is now her son-in-law; she is his brains
And skin. Thou art a scribe; contrive some scheme;
Moreover let not thy design get wind.”
Kharrád, son of Barzín, on hearing this,
Discerned no top or bottom to his cares.
There was an agéd Turkman, named Kulún,
Whom other Turkmans scorned. He dressed in sheepskin,
And lived withal on millet.³³⁵ Makátúra
Was of his kindred, so he railed against
Bahrám Chúbína, ever cherishing
Revenge at heart and cursing him.^335a Kharrád
Sent to invite Kulún to his famed mansion,
Gave him dínárs and drachms, clothes, much to eat,
Invited him to feasts and seated him
Among the chiefs. Khárrád, exceeding wise
And patient-hearted, clever and expert,
Mused much, consulting on one hand the steward
About the queen of Chín but held his peace
When, day or night, he visited the Khán.
The agéd steward spake thus to Kharrád:—
“A man like thee, a noble and a scribe,
If he had skill and was of fame in leechcraft,
Would be a crown upon my lady's head,
And all the more so as her daughter aileth.”
Kharrád replied: “I have that knowledge too,
And, as thou say'st, will take the case in hand.”
The steward hastened to the queen and said:—
“A learned leech hath arrived.”

“Live and enjoy,”

She answered. “Scratch not thou thy head but bring him.”
He went and told Kharrád, son of Barzín:—
“Preserve thy secret, go announce thyself,
And act the cheerful leech.”

That schemer went

Before the queen and found the patient's liver
Disordered. He prescribed pomegranate-juice,
And therewithal a herb that flourisheth
Beside a stream; folk call it chicory.
He sought to stay the aching of her head.
Within a week, for God so ordered it,
The girl grew like the world-enlightening moon.
The queen brought from her treasury dínárs,
A purseful, and five gold-embroidered robes,
And said: “Take this unworthy recompense,
And ask what more thou wilt.”

He said: “Keep these,

And I will ask my guerdon when I please.”³³⁶

Bahrám Chúbína, for his part, arrayed
His army like a pheasant's wing and marched
To Marv. Then one came to the Khán to say:—
“Let none pass to Írán from Turkistán
Or Chín to tell Khusrau Parwíz about us,
And make a gift to him of our designs.”
The Khán proclaimed: “If one go to Írán
Without our seal him will I cleave asunder,
And money shall not buy him off, by God!”
Kharrád, son of Barzín, abode two months,
Intent on his close schemes. Then in concern
He called Kulún, gave him the seat of honour
One day and said to him: “None is exempt
From secret sorrow in this world. Thou oft
Hast begged for millet, barley-bread, and sheepskins
From all in Chín, but now thy food is bread
And lamb, and thou art richly clad withal.
Contrast thy present with thy past estate,
Past malisons with present benisons.
Thine years have reached a hundred or at least
Are great in sum. I have a dread emprise
For thee whereby thou mayest gain a throne,
Or darksome dust. I will obtain for thee
An impress from the signet of the Khán;
Then speed as though thou wouldst roll up the earth.
Thou must get access to Bahrám Chúbína,
And bide thy time at Marv. Don thy black sheepskin,
Provide a knife, and go. Note heedfully
The twentieth³³⁷ of the month and on that day
Approach this man world-famous for he holdeth
That day ill-omened as I have observed

To that sage Kulún

Made answer: “Need I any further guide?
Good sooth! although I am a hundred I
Fain would get somewhat so I have no choice.
Be both my body and my soul thy ransom,
Such is the covenant I make with thee.”
Kharrád, son of Barzín, on hearing that,
Sped to the queen and said: “The time hath come
For me to ask my boon, O gracious lady!
And I will tell it. Certain of my folk
Across the river are in bonds. Be pleased
To set mine own feet free. Procure for me
An impress of the Khán's seal and this know
That by so doing thou wilt give me life.”
She said: “He is asleep and drunk: I might
Put clay upon the signet on his hand.”
She asked Kharrád, son of Barzín, for seal-clay,
Went to that drunken sleeper's couch forthwith
From her apartments, presently impressed
The clay upon the signet, came, and gave it
To her petitioner. That scribe gave thanks
Therefor, then went and passed it to the elder.

Replied

Bahrám Chúbína: “Say to him: ‘Display
Thy visage also at the chamber-door.’”
Kulún drew near and from the doorway showed
His head. On seeing an old man weak and wretched
Bahrám Chúbína said to him: “If thou
Hast letters give them up.”

Kulún rejoined:—

“I have a message only and will speak not
With others by.”

Bahrám Chúbína said:—

“Approach without more mystery and tell it
Within mine ear.”

Kulún drew near. The knife

Was up his sleeve. His villainy grew plain.
He feigned to whisper and then struck. A cry
Rose from the room. Now when Bahrám Chúbína
Called out the people ran to him. He said:—
“Arrest the fellow. Ask who prompted him.”
Then all within the palace came and dragged
That hoary-headed man off by the feet,
The servants in their fury smiting him
With palms and fists. He took the buffetings,
And opened not his lips from noon till midnight,
Then when he had been broken, hand and foot,
They flung him down within the palace-court,
And gathered in their sorrow and dismay
About Bahrám Chúbína. He still bled,
And groaned. His cheeks were lapis-lazuli.
His sister too had come to him forthwith.
She tore her hair, laid on her lap his head,

The wounded man,

On hearing what she said and seeing all
Her heart and prudent counsellings, her cheeks
Rent by her nails, her hair plucked out, her heart
And eyes all blood, her face all dust, though faint
And suffering loosed his tongue and answered thus:—
“My noble sister! nothing ever matched
Thy counsel yet the measure of my days
Is full. I acted not on thine advice;
A dív-like guide led me in everything.
No prince was more exalted than Jamshíd,
Through whom the world was full of fear and hope,
Yet erred he at the bidding of the dívs
So that he made the world black for himself.
'Twas just the same with watchful Kai Káús,
Heaven's favourite whose steps were fortunate.
The loathly Dív's incitements ruined him;
The evils that befel him thou hast heard:
He mounted heavenward to look upon
The circling sky and course of sun and moon,
But fell into the deep beyond Sarí,
Headforemost.³⁴¹ In like manner hath the Dív
Caused me to err and docked my hand from good.
‘Thine is the royal diadem,’ he said,
‘From Aries to Pisces all is thine.’
I do repent mine evil deeds. God's pardon

He gave his sister

Much good advice, embraced her darling head,

How the Khán had Tidings of Bahrám Chúbína's Death and how he destroyed the House and Family of Kulún

When tidings came about Bahrám Chúbína,
And what his gory had entailed on him,
And when his letter too arrived, and when
The messenger had told his tale, the Khán
Was grieved at heart, his eyes were filled with blood,
His cheeks became like lapis-lazuli.
Amazed he called his veteran counsellors,
And told the fate of brave Bahrám Chúbína
While every one that heard it wept for woe.
All Chín bewailed right bitterly and burned,
Without a fire, for anguish. Then the Khán
Investigated all to ascertain
The author of the crime and, when he found
That 'twas Kharrád who planned that wicked deed,
Exclaimed: “How did that dog escape when he
Had turned such fire as this on us?”

Kulún

Had two sons living in Túrán as well
As divers friends and kinsmen. When the Khán
Had learned the truth he burned Kulún's house down,
And all about it, flinging on the flames
His sons and giving all their goods to spoil.
Then when the queen's turn came he had her haled
Forth from the curtains by her hair, seized all
Her goods, and heeded not her misery.
He sent swift dromedaries everywhere:
Kharrád, son of Barzín, came not to hand.
The Khán grieved long, arraying all his slaves
Throughout the land of Chín in mourning weeds,
For he had loved Bahrám Chúbína's deeds.

How Khusrau Parwíz had Tidings of the Slaying of Bahrám Chúbína and honoured Kharrád, Son of Barzín

Now when Kharrád, son of Barzín, approached
Khusrau Parwíz and told what he had done,
And seen and heard, the Sháh's heart joyed for he
Was quit of that opponent worshipful.
He showered many drachms, robes, and much else
Upon the poor. They wrote to every king
And chief a letter in the ancient tongue
To tell what God almighty, the All-just,
Had brought to pass and how He had sent up
Dust from that foe. The Sháh too wrote a letter
In royal wise to Cæsar. For a se'nnight
They held festivities and called for harp
And wine in every quarter of the city.
The Sháh sent offerings to the fanes of Fire,
And robes of honour to the Great. He told
Kharrád, son of Barzín: “Thou hast deserved
To have the crown and throne,” and filled his mouth
With royal gems; the treasurer poured dínárs,
Some hundred thousand, out before his feet
On such wise that they grew as high as he.
The Sháh said: “Whoso turneth from the way
³⁴⁵ Shall have his day bedimmed although he be
In battle like the brave Bahrám Chúbína
From whom an ancient Turk hath raised the dust.”
The chiefs all blessed Khusrau Parwíz and said:—
“Without thee never be the crown and signet,
And if, in spite of all thy loving-kindness,
A man would have thy face lack radiancy
Then let him as Bahrám Chúbína be.”

How the Khán sent his Brother to Gurdya, the Sister of Bahrám Chúbína, with a Letter touching her Brother's Death and asking her in Marriage as his Queen, and her Answer

Now when the Khán's heart was relieved and Chín
Was all like clay with gore he said one day:—
“Weak men, weak deeds! but I was well content
And gladdened through Bahrám Chúbína's prowess.
Now why have I allowed the hero's kin
To bide in so much weakness and contempt?

Then he gave the sister,

But privily, the letter and the message
Sent by the Khán. He spake of their connexion,
Her counsel and fair words, of past and present,
And of the purity and piety
Of women that both counsel and console.
The young man spake, the lady of the skirt
Unsullied heard him but made choice of silence.
Thereafter, when she had perused the letter,
And all the words of the imperious Khán,
She made her wisdom and her knowledge mates,
Thought out her answer and informed the brother:—
“I have perused this letter and held session
With wisdom. Just what kings, experienced folk,
And potentates would do the Khán hath done.
Oh! may our eyes be bright upon the man
That seeketh thus to avenge us! May the world
Ne'er lack the Khán, and may the crown of greatness
Rejoice in him. May care ne'er wound his heart,
And may he ne'er despair. We sat in counsel.
I read thy letter over, every whit,
And all the men of wisdom and of might
Agree to entertain this wish of thine.
Howbeit all my family are now
In sorrow and the subject is ill-timed.
When mourning for so great a chief is over
The Khán's commandment shall not be transgressed.
I purpose not to go back to Írán.
Naught can be better for a virtuous dame
Than to be married, but if I shall come
In haste what will the wise king say of me?
If in the midst of grief I aim at joy
I shall not act with virtue or respect;
The wise will say that I lack modesty,
The Khán himself will think me indiscreet.
When four months of this mourning have elapsed
I will dispatch a horseman to the king.
Meanwhile hear will I what I ought to hear—.
All that my counsellors may have to urge—
And state it in a letter to the king
When mine adviser goeth unto him.
As for the present, fare rejoicing hence,
And tell the Khán the message that I send.”
She gave the envoy many gifts, and he,
A man experienced, left Marv joyfully.

Then at her leisure that young, prudent dame
Consulted with her counsellors and said:—
“A new thing, one that ne'er will stale with me,
Hath chanced: the Khán, that ruler of the world,
In flattering terms hath asked for me in marriage.
He hath no fault; he is a king, great, brave,
And master of the armies of Túrán.
None dared to name me while my Lion lived.
For twelve years after I had lost my sire
The brave Bahrám Chúbína took in charge
Mine orphanhood and raged when any one
Demanded me in marriage. Now the Khán
Is not a person of small consequence,
And he hath both ability and power.
Howbeit when he striveth to make kinship
Between the Turks and the Íránians
From that bond and connexion time will see
Both travail and affliction in the end.
Look what it was that Siyáwush received
Except sun-burning from Afrásiyáb!
That youth unmatched by other mother's son
Gave from the first his head up to the wind.
What did that chieftain's son too do but send
The dust up from Írán and from Túrán?
Contrive that unknown to the Turks we may
Convey this story to Írán forthwith.
I have dispatched a letter to Gurdwí,
For I had apprehensions on this score,
That he might ope my matter to the Sháh,
And tell my toil and care. God helping me,
He will both hear and grant my fair appeal.”
They said: “Thou art for life our youthful lady
In Chín and in Írán. An iron mountain
Could not displace thee, and thou guidest heroes
To manliness. Thou art more shrewd than sages,
More full of counsel than wise ministers.
We are thy subjects all; 'tis thine to bid,
And thine to judge and deal with this request.”
On hearing this she called the muster-roll,
And opened offices to pay the tropps,
Went forth, inspected every one of them,
And chose eleven hundred and three score,
Each one of whom would face ten cavaliers
In fight. She furnished drachms and then returning
To her abode harangued her warlike powers:—

How the Khán received Tidings of the Flight of Gurdya and how he sent Tuwurg³⁵¹ with an Army after her, and how Gurdya slew Tuwurg

A number of deserters from her force
Arrived to seek protection from the Khán.
His brother came and said: “O famous chief,
And lover of the fray! some valiant troops
Have made toward Írán, and many others
Have sought for my protection. Realm and host
Will laugh for ever at thy court's disgrace.”
The chieftain's cheek, when he had heard the words,

When he heard the voice

Of her that rode a lusty lion-steed
He was amazed and said: “The Khán of Chín
Of all the kingdom made a choice of thee
To keep him mindful of Bahrám Chúbína,
The Lion and the chosen cavalier.
He said: ‘I will requite the favour done
If only thou wilt listen to my words.’
He said to me: ‘Haste unto her and say:—
‘If what I spake was not acceptable
Know that my words were not imperative,
And that I have renounced what I proposed.
If is not well for thee to quit our coasts:
Attempt it not although thou wilt not wed.’
Join words together unto this effect,
And if she will not take advice use bonds
For her and all that have supported her.
This is too much!’”³⁵³

She answered: “Let us quit

The field and troops, and I will answer thee
Advisedly on all points.”

He approached

That famed and valiant dame who, seeing him
Alone, displayed to him her face beneath
Her sable casque, and said: “Thou hast beheld
“Bahrám Chúbína's horsemanship and courage
With admiration: his full sister I.
His day is done so I now will essay thee.
I long to fight with thee. If thou shalt find
That I am worthy of a husband say so.
Good sooth! thou mayst approve me as thy spouse!”
She spake, then spurred her steed. Ízid Gashasp
Rode close behind her. With her spear she struck
The girdle of Tuwurg and pierced his mail.
He tumbled headlong, and the sand beneath
Ran blood. With chosen warriors Yalán-sína
Charged and discomfited the host of Chín,
Slew, overthrew, and wounded many a man,
Pursued the foe two leagues and left few mounted.
The whole plain was a-stream with blood that day,
This man was headless, that head-downward lay.