ABSTRACT
Another week the monarch of the world Went forth to hunt with lords and archimages, Prepared to spend a month upon the chase, To revel with his meiny, and to take Illimitable game on waste and mountain. C. 1505 He and his escort reached in merry pin A town. The night came on, and all was dark. The chiefs dismissed the escort and recited Tales of the Sháhs. He saw afar a fire, Such as Sháhs kindle on Bahman’s high day.1 The king of kings gazed at the light and spied A pleasant village with a mill before it, Where sat the village-chiefs, while all the maidens, Each with a crown of roses on her head, Were feasting by themselves beside the fire. The minstrels sat about, the maidens sang Tales of the royal wars, and every one Began to tell a story in her turn. They all were moon-faced, all had locks a-curl, All were sweet-spoken, and all savoured musk. They sat ranked on the grass and close before The mill-door, singing, with a posy each, And half bemused with wine and merriment. Then from that scene of revel rose a cry, And one exclaimed : “ The toast of Sháh Bahrám ! He hath Grace, stature, mien, and love. Before him The rolling sphere upstandeth. Thou wouldst say :— ‘ His face distilleth wine, the scent of musk Proceedeth from his hair.’ He only hunteth The lion and the onager, and so Folk title him ‘ Bahrám Gúr.’ ”
And rode toward them. Drawing near the girls He scanned the plain, beheld it filled with Moons, And saw that he should stop short of the city. He bade, and from the road cup-bearers came, Provided wine and boon-companions, And handed him a crystal cup. Meanwhile Four of the girls, those chief in rank, came forthOne Mushkináb,1 the others Mushkinak, Náztáb, and Súsanak. With cheeks like spring, With stately mien, and hand in hand, they went Before the Sháh and sang about Bahrám, The king of kings, the wise and prosperous. Bahrám Gúr asked, for they perturbed his heart :— “ Who are ye,2 rose-cheeked ? Wherefore is this fire? ”
